Hamilton was devoted to journalistic efforts, and proved eminently successful therein.
The motto of The Anglo-African was as significant as that of any paper ever published. It was—"Man must be free; if not through the law, then above the law." With this motto, it manfully contended for Afro-American freedom and citizenship.
Mr. Thomas Hamilton continued to be the owner and editor of The Anglo-African until it was bought by Mr. James Redpath, one of the old and substantial Abolitionists,—the object of his purchase being the advocating of the Haytian Emigration Movement; a project that seemed then to be the only hope for the Afro-Americans. This occurred in the early part of 1860.
After its purchase by Mr. Redpath, the paper was known as The Weekly Anglo-African, for a short time, when the following notice appeared in Vol. II, No. 13, May 11, 1861: The Anglo-African will appear next week under a new name—The Pine and Palm.
"What does it mean? Wait and you will see."
George Lawrence, Jr., Publisher.
While Mr. Redpath was owner, Mr. Lawrence seems to have done the work for him, and carried out his wishes with respect to the Haytian Emigration Movement. This Movement was pressed with earnestness by Mr. Redpath and by his representative, Mr. Lawrence, through The African, as well as The Pine and Palm.
The Anglo-African of March 23, 1861, Vol. II, No. 36, contained a full outline of the Movement, and some very pertinent and interesting articles on the feasibility of it.
Mr. Redpath, the General Agent, resided in Boston, and used The African, afterwards The Pine and Palm, as the surest medium through which the Afro-American could be reached.
