A[bner] H. Francis to Frederick Douglass, November 7, 1860

LETTER FROM A. H. FRANCIS.

PORTLAND, Oregon, Nov. 5, 1860.

MR. FREDERICK DOUGLASS: ESTEEMED FRIEND:—It has been some time, my friend, since I have taken my pen to say a few words to you. Think not that I have forgotten you. I have followed you through the varied scenes of importance among which you have been the actor. I have felt most deeply for your welfare, never doubting for a moment that God and the right was with you. Your important trip to Europe, the attack made upon you from those you ought to have expected better things, and your return to your native, slave-cursed land, I have been with you throughout the whole journey. I welcome you to your post. Never was there a time that you were more needed than the present. Those dark days of twenty years ago, when first we met and were giving battle to the dark spirit of slavery, now begin to shadow forth a prospective future, the dawn of that brighter era then predicted. The battle thus far has been desperate; yet right must triumph.

Yesterday was election. The battle was strongly contested. For the first time, the city of Portland, the stronghold of Democracy, was fairly routed. The general opinion is that Lincoln will carry the State. It is also thought that California will go for Lincoln. My private opinion is to the contrary. I shall be glad to see Lincoln elected. If there is not in the Republican party all that we might wish, still it would be a great achievement.

I have recently arrived from Victoria, where I have, together with Mrs. F., been passing a few weeks. Victoria, Vancouver's Island, and British Columbia, must, aside from San Francisco, become the most important point on the Pacific coast. Already in the past two years her importance has been felt to an extent outstripping all other points between San Francisco and the intermediate ports north, including Crescent City, California, Portland, Oregon, Olympia, and other cities on Pengent Sound, Washington Territory.

Already busy strife and dissatisfaction has arisen between the two nations. It is no use for Uncle Same to worry, for John Bull has already a force in the beautiful bay of Esquimalt, three miles from Victoria. Some of his best men-of-war and gun boats are there, that would blow satisfaction into Uncle Sam in double quick time. The great difficulty seems

to be: the English are holding out the hand of kindness and protection to the colored people. The Yankee and the Americanized foreigner are taking it in high dudgeon, to think they are for once compelled to yield to their prejudices, or leave the country. The last election in Victoria was most beautifully controlled by the colored people putting in and throwing out at pleasure—our old friends Lester and Gibbs taking the lead. I have almost become a British subject, and if I live long enough, think I will. Victoria contains about three thousand inhabitants. Two and a half years ago there were only fifty. Beautiful buildings are now being erected in large numbers, and all is thrift. This state of things must continue. The mines are growing richer and richer as their resources become more and more developed. Large quantities of fine farming lands have been found, and the country is fast filling up. To be brief, I have never seen a more beautiful place for a city than Victoria. The harbor is rock bound, standing at an elevation of about fifty feet on the street fronting the water, and gradually running back on the first half mile of about two hundred feet, overlooking the whole bay as far as Esquimalt. Large vessels cannot enter the harbor at the city, on account of some large boulders obstructing the passage. An appropriation has already been made of some $40,000 to free the channel.

In relation to colorphobia, I must close by saying that there is a grand future for the colored man in the British possessions on the north Pacific.

Yours, &c.,

A. H. FRANCIS.