The Central American Question

In the years building up to the Civil War, there were continuing searches by anti-slavery proponents for solutions to the slavery problem involving moving the black population to lands where they could live in freedom while still contributing to the interests of the United States. This paper, The Central American Question, Speech of Hon. Eli Thayer of Massachusetts, Delivered in the House of Representatives, January 7, 1858, was intended to lay before Congress the possibility that the lands of Central America could be "Americanized" and serve as the home for the U. S. black population.

The paper, which measures approximately 6 x 9 inches, contains 8 pages of 2-column text and was printed by Buell & Blanchard, Printers in 1858. The paper lacks a cover, its pages are tanned and chipped around the edges with several small tears on the outer edges, some dog-earing on the outer bottom corner, and some dirt accumulation on the front and rear pages. The text is nevertheless clear and easily read. The overall condition of the paper is fair/good.

The illustrations accompanying this description show the first page and a typical 2-page spread of text.

Eli Thayer (June 11, 1819 – April 15, 1899) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1857 to 1861. He was born in Mendon, Massachusetts. He graduated from Worcestor Academy in 1840, from Brown University in 1845, and in 1848 founded Oread Institute, a school for young women in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is buried at Hope Cemetary, Worcester. [Wikipedia]