George W. Goines to Frederick Douglass, December 1855

For Frederick Douglass' Paper

LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA.

BENDIGO, OR SANDHURST, AUSTRALIA, December, 1855.

DEAR DOUGLASS:—I avail myself of the present opportunity of dropping you a line by way of keeping you booked up in our movements in the great colony of Victoria, Australia.

Since my last we have passed a very important epoch in our history. The digging and commercial interest, it was thought, by the people, would be advanced by having a Representative in the Legislative Council—meeting once a year. Application was made to the Home Government for such Representation, which was granted; and accordingly on the 15th of November an election took place generally on the gold fields. The qualification entitling one to exercise the right of Franchise being within the reach of all, I was very much pleased to see the number of our brethren who exercised the right of voting for such men as they thought would fill the office with dignity and honor to those they represented. The manner that our people conducted themselves, and the order that was observed, gives the lie to those States in which they say that the colored people are not capable of sufficient discrimination to exercise the right of Franchise. I never witnessed a more orderly election of mixed people of every nation. We had none of that braggadocia, such as we see in the States, or California.

I tell you, sir, that the laws of an English Colony are more palatable to a colored American, than the proscriptive laws of America. Where a man is deprived of rights, when he is equally as deserving as others, he keenly feels

the smart. And I am glad to say that these privileges are appreciated by those who have taken shelter under the Union Jack, and that they bid fair to be loyal subjects of Her Majesty, who may well boast that no slaves can tread her soil. All I would ask of any Government in the United States, or any where, is granted in this, and that is an equal chance to remove the prejudice, and if we can't swim, let us sink. But to use a colonial phrase, "No fear," but that we will swim.

As a general thing we are doing as well in a gold country as others. Some are making money, others making a living, for all do not make a fortune that dig gold.

I am very much pleased at "Nubia's" letters from California. They remind me of olden times I often think of, when I used to walk the streets of San Francisco, and see but a very few colored people, and how they have increased since, and it does my soul good to hear they are making progress in all that is calculated to exalt man in the eyes of his fellows.

You would hardly believe it if I were to tell you that Bendigo, or Sandhurst, with a supposed population of eight thousand (floating,) have raised six hundred pounds sterling, for the Patriotic Fund, in the last few weeks, by volunteer subscription. Just imagine three thousand dollars among a working class of people.

There is a great deal of feeling manifested in this country in regard to the Russian war.

I have just received your paper containing the information that you had been prevailed upon to publish a Book entitled "MY BONDAGE AND MY FREEDOM;" and from the Extracts that I saw I would be delighted to have a look at one of them. If it is possible, Friend Douglass, for you to send one of them by mail, do so, and I will be at all the expense.

I receive two or more of your papers on the arrival of every mail. But I can't get a letter from my family above once in three months, and the cause of it I can't imagine. I like much your remarks in regard to the Wheeler Drama that took place in Philadelphia. It really seems that those colored men that acted their part in that matter have been forgotten; for feeling a deep interest in what goes on at home, I looked anxiously for their names, and have been disappointed. I would say let their names stand forth in blazing letters, that the tyrants may know that their pound of flesh is in danger of taking wings and flying from them, whenever they dare to pollute the soil of Pennsylvania.

Believe me ever, yours respectfully,

GEO. W. GOINES.