ort. The slave, when made free,
might mix with, without straining the blood of his master. But
with us a second is necessary, unknown to history. When freed, he
is to be removed beyond the reach of mixture.[53]

Writing to John Lynch in 1811, Jeff arson gave his ideas as to the
possibility of successful African colonization.

You ask my opinion on the proposition of Mrs. Mifflin, to take
measures for procuring, on the coast of Africa, an establishment
to which the people of color of these States might, from time to
time be colonized, under the auspices of different governments.
Having long ago made up my mind on this subject, I have no
hesitation in saying that I have ever thought it the most
desirable measure which could be adopted, for gradually drawing
off this part of our population, most advantageously for
themselves as well as for us. Going from a country possessing all
the useful arts, they might be the means of transplanting them
among the inhabitants of Africa, and would thus carry back to the
country of their origin, the seeds of civilization which might
render their sojournment and sufferings here a blessing in the
end to that country.[54]

Nothing is more to be wished than that the United States would
themselves undertake to make such an establishment on the coast
of Africa. Exclusive of motives of humanity, the commercial
advantages to be derived from it might repay all its expenses.
But for this, the national mind is not yet prepared. It may
perhaps be doubted whether many of these people would voluntarily
consent to such an exchange of situation, and very certain that
few of those advanced to a certain age in habits of slavery,
would be capable of self-government. This should not, however,
discourage the experiment, not the early trial of it.[55]

I received in the first year of my coming into the administration
of the General Government, a letter from the Governor of Virginia
(Colonel Monroe), consulting me, at the request of the
Legislature of the State, on the means of procuring some such
asylum, to which these people might be occasionally sent. I
proposed to him the establishment of Sierra Leone, in which a
private company in England had already colonized a number of
negroes and particularly the fugitives from these States du