Abraham Lincoln's Recognition of Haiti and Liberia's Independence (1861)
Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives: . . .
If any good reason exists why we should persevere longer in withholding our recognition of the independence and sovereignty of Hayti and Liberia, I am unable to discern it. Unwilling, however, to inaugurate a novel policy in regard to them without the approbation of Congress, I submit for your consideration the expediency of an appropriation for maintaining a chargé d'affaires near each of those new States. It does not admit of doubt that important commercial advantages might be secured by favorable treaties with them. . . .
Abraham Lincoln.
December 3, 1861
- Title
- Abraham Lincoln's Recognition of Haiti and Liberia's Independence (1861)
- Description
- In his annual message to Congress, President Abraham Lincoln expressed his desire to recognize the independence and sovereignty of Black republics Haiti and Liberia. While Haiti had sought international recognition following the success of the revolution in 1804, many members of Congress refused to validate an independent Black nation that gained its independence through the revolution of its enslaved population. Liberia faced similar rejection after declaring independence in 1847. In the absence of members of Congress from the seceded Southern states, formal recognition the two countries was passed in 1862 and diplomatic representatives were appointed to each.
- Excerpted
- Yes
- Date
- 1861-12-03
- Author
- Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
- Document Type
- Speech
- Document Category
- Primary Source
- Bibliographic Citation
- Journal of the Senate of the United States of America, Being the Second Session of the Thirty-Seventh Congress; Begun and Held at the City of Washington, December 2, 1861, In the Eighty-Sixth Year of the Independence of the United States. Government Printing Office (1861), 9.
- Digital Repository
- Congress.Gov
- Title
- Abraham Lincoln's Recognition of Haiti and Liberia's Independence (1861)
- Description
- In his annual message to Congress, President Abraham Lincoln expressed his desire to recognize the independence and sovereignty of Black republics Haiti and Liberia. While Haiti had sought international recognition following the success of the revolution in 1804, many members of Congress refused to validate an independent Black nation that gained its independence through the revolution of its enslaved population. Liberia faced similar rejection after declaring independence in 1847. In the absence of members of Congress from the seceded Southern states, formal recognition the two countries was passed in 1862 and diplomatic representatives were appointed to each.
- Excerpted
- Yes
- Date
- 1861-12-03
- Author
- Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
- Document Type
- Speech
- Document Category
- Primary Source
- Bibliographic Citation
- Journal of the Senate of the United States of America, Being the Second Session of the Thirty-Seventh Congress; Begun and Held at the City of Washington, December 2, 1861, In the Eighty-Sixth Year of the Independence of the United States. Government Printing Office (1861), 9.
- Digital Repository
- Congress.Gov