NEW! Documents for Transcription (1853-1865)

little ones who are not lost but gone before,. With kind regards & best wishes for yourself & family I am yours after. John Smith.

Fredk Douglass Esq. Rochester N.Yk. U.S.

Have you had time to listen to Lee and Fogg[?] -- to write Tom my dear friend godblessyou

CATSKILL, Jan. 5, 1855 [1856].

Editors of Frederick Douglass' Paper:

DEAR SIRS:—I observe by your paper of Dec. 28th, that Mr. Junius C. Morrel, Secretary of the New York State Council, testified that Wm. Dietz, and David Van Vrankin, of Albany, have been returned to him as members elect of the N. Y. State Council for the cusuing two years.

Having taken some interest in the election of members of the Council, and knowing that a majority of the votes of the 11th District were cast for Stephen Myers and J. W. Randolph, I am not a little surprised that the Secretary should return other persons as elected.

Permit me, Messrs. Editors, to point attention to the canvass, viz:

GREENE COUNTY.

J. W. Randolph, - - - - - 145 Stephen Myers, - - - - - 127

ALBANY COUNTY.

David Van Vrankin, - - - - 105 Wm. A. Deitz, - - - - - - - - 105

Thus it will be seen, that Messrs. Randolph and Myers are chosen by majorities of 40 and 22 respectively.

With this brief statement you will understand my astonishment in observing the returns which Junius C. Morrel testifies to. I fail to see how such a result has been attained. I am at a loss to perceive how, when, and by whom, Mr. Morrel was invested with authority to trample under foot the decided will of the majority as expressed through the ballot-box. If, after we have chosen our delegates, our expressed preferences are to be cast aside at the dictum of one man, it is time that we understand our position. If there is no virtue in the Elective Franchise, as exhibited in our organization, why cumber ourselves with its machinery?

For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

THE BASIS OF ANNI-SLAVERY EFFORT

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ: DEAR SIR:—

Permit me to "bear my testimony" in vindication of the principles laid down as "The Basis of the Anti-Slavery Effort," in an editorial in your more than valuable and ably conducted paper, under date of 11th ultimo. Who, that is an Abolitionist of the Old School, but that must feel the force and truth therein advanced! Yes, Mr. Douglass, my brother, much, and far the most that is now called Anti-Slavery, lacks the vital principal that it needs to have, to make it "practicable." The heart sickens at the selfishness and low moral standard of many opposed to, or who profess to be opposed to that most damnable of all damnable "Institutions," AMERICAN Slavery. Were people but honest in their professions, they would have long since hurled that hellish monster to perdition where it belongs; if it belongs anywhere!

People, Patriots, Republicans, profess to hate Slavery, and yet will not do anything to ABOLISH it for fear that it will interfere with State Rights; (?) they should say State Wrongs; and for fear that it will cause a dissolution of our "Glorious Union." The sooner a Union is dissolved that upholds such a blasting, withering, such a Heaven-defying, hell-upholding system, the better. Rather than that Slavery should be sanctified by the United States Constitution, far better had it never been formed; if it should be proved that it tolerates Slavery, the sooner it is broken into atoms the better.— "The Rights of Man" are dearer and more sacred than any written Constitution! The abolition of Slavery will never be the means of dissolving the Union; but unless Slavery is abolished, and that soon, Liberty will not only remain in jeopardy, but, will be abolished.—

For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

MY FIRST VISIT TO PETERBORO.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ: MY DEAR SIR: —After an hour's ride on the rail road from this city, I was landed at Canastota, and two hours more, by sleigh over high snow drifts for nine miles, I was set down at a rickety looking place called a tavern. If it had been most any other place than Peterboro, I should have said it lived by selling the infernal article which causes so much trouble and loss of life at the far west. Such were the indications inside as well as out. It required positive information to remove this impression. The "home" contains about eighty houses, generally small, but neat and comfortable. Very many of these homes are the gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Smith to the present occupants. They stand most of them on the south side of the Park, which extends the length of the Village.

The place takes its name from Peter Smith, father of Gerrit, who bought form the Oneidas sixty thousand acres of land more than a half century ago, laid out the town, and built the house now occupied by his son, the world renowned and loved Gerrit. May he live to occupy it a half century to come!

This house has lately undergone most thor ough repairs, having been enlarged, macademized, &c., with all the improvements of warming and ventilation. Its amplitude partakes of the heart and mind of its owner. Gerrit Smith, from home, is seen and heard, to be loved and admired; Gerrit Smith, at home, settles this love into a conviction; you instinctively venerate the man, for that noble simplicity which governs all things within and without. You see and hear, yourself to become a better man.

He is physically, mentally, and religiously, an illustration of the paradox, a "Man-Child."— It is hard to understand this spontaneous outflow of warm-harted impulses, from a man possessing such great wealth and such superior physical and mental capabilities, only as it is inspired by the love that flows through the channel of redemption. The stranger is made to feel at his case, and to drink in of the spirit of love that penetrates every department of his household.

The Family Devotion around the domestic Altar, is not the least feature of interest of this remarkable house. Mr. S. leads the exercises, by reading a hymn after putting in the hands of each member a book, and with that deep, mellow voice strikes the tune. After which, be repeated without the Bible, the Psalm, "The Lord is my Shepherd," with that impressiveness, which makes one feel as though the words were dropping from the lips that first spoke them.— Because of feebleness of health, I saw but little of Mrs. Smith, but enough to convince me that Mr. Smith showed as much wisdom in the choice of a wife, as he has manifested benevolence, in the distribution of a large fortune.

Mr. Smith is deeply interested in the "Free State" movements of Kansas, and thinks that blood will have to be shed before the question is settled. He is, therefore, very anxious that the best, and most speedy preparations should be made to meet any and every contingency that may arise of invasion of the Territory.— He says one hundred thousand dollars ought immediately to be raised for the purpose of buying arms, ammunition, and provisions, to be forwarded as early as possible, and has paid himself already one thousand dollars for that purpose, besides giving me one hundred dollars towards the "Fund" for the redemption of "Kansas Free State Scrip."

In the course of conversation, his controversy with the New York Tribune incidentally came up. He observed that he considered their attack upon him very unjust, as well as unkind; but still he had great respect for the Tribune, as able and generally honest, and read it next in interest to the Bible.

Yours, truly,

PHILIP C. SCHUYLER.

SYRACUSE, Feb. 10th, '56.

against me, says God, wrongeth his own soul— all that hate me, love Death. Both civil and ecclesiastical authority, are of God's appointment, and, as such, are His deputed authority, and ought to be regarded accordingly. Notwithstanding, God has not vacated his throne, nor given unlimited authority to frail erring man. God declared His essential attributes to Moses, and the Israelites—and God said unto Moses, I am that I am, and he said, thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you—I am He that exists, implying self-existence, independence, unchangeableness, eternity, the source of existence and perfection. Again He said to them, and by the same authority, to us, when He delivered the law from Mount Sinai, I am the Lord thy God. God spake all these words saying, I am the Lord thy God—I am Jehovah, the source of existence, and, consequently, of all power and authority. By this high authority, the grat Law-giver enforces obedience to the moral law. God alone is qualified to be the law-giver and judge to the universe.

The moral law, given by God himself, is an emanation of His own nature, and has its foundation in the nature of God and man, in the relation man bears to Him, and each other, and in the duties resulting from them, and is unmistakeable and universally obligatory. Scott.— Although God has appointed the authorities in Church and State, yet, as I have said, He had not abidicated His throne, nor resigned His supremacy as the moral Governor of the Universe. " For the Lord your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh rewards. He doth executure the judgement of the fatherless, and widow, and loveth the stranger in giving him food and rainment. Love ye therefore the stranger—thou shalt love him as thyself. Again, God standeth in the congregation (or congress) of the Mighty .; He judgeth among the Gods. "How long (says He) will ye judge unjustly, and accept the per-

For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

THE MORAL BASIS.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS: DEAR SIR:—I was much pleased with a late editorial in your paper, on the Moral Basis of the Anti-Slavery Movement. There are but few in the North, who zealously oppose slavery from a moral stand point. The great body of the political abolitionists are governed by one or all of the following motives:—

1. Slavery impedes the physical progress of a State.

2. Slavery degrades free labor, and it should not be extended; for our children may seek homes in the West.

3. We are not allowed to own slaves at the North, and it is not fair to guaranty extra privileges to the South.

4. Slavery is hostile to education, and our children or grand children, may be heathenized, if the institution be extended.

5. It don't look well for Republicans to be slaveholders, especially in the eyes of other nations.

The natural rights of man, rarely enter the thoughts of those who are governed by such motives. His manhood is not regarded, but his "nigger"-hood enters largely into their prejudices, and they would not consent to the abolition of slavery, unless the "niggers" are to be transported, and they won't give a cent toward the expense of their emigration.

The consequence of the general neglect of the moral principles involved in the iniquity of slavery, is the continuance of the institution under the power of Northern energy. Slavery would have been abolished about a quarter of a century ago; in all the States, except Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and

Great Britain proceeded to cast out the articles of broken furniture, and the family, one by one, till they come to the bed on which reposed the wife and mother, with an infant two days old by her side. To remove her, they took the sheet by its corners, and carrying her out some distance from the hovel, laid her down in the grass! The husband and father in distraction, ran for help, and found a lodgment in a dilapidated barn! The officers then, demolished the shanty. The ancestors of this family had lived on that kingly domain for centuries, and were serfs, originally bought and sold, or seized and given away with the land. And this eviction occurred under the eyes of the Duchess of Sutherland, whose brilliant name led the long list of English ladies, who indignantly protested against American Slavery! Now, the young man educated in an abolition family that justifies Land Monopoly, says to himself, if that was a righteous transaction, slavery is not so very iniquitous after all; and removing South, he readily becomes a slaveholder! Can a devil in the pulpit, make many converts to Christianity while preaching the gospel, which he tramples under foot in his daily life? Can he see clearly to cast the mote out of our brother's eye while the beam is in our own? Northern energy will continue to sustain slavery, until our moral system shall be essentially overhauled, and our people educated in the principles of Eternal Right.

That slavery would not now curse so many States, and rob so many human beings of liberty and happiness, had it not been for emigration of Northern energy to the South, and that, what slavery there might be, would soon be abolished, were it not for this support, is evident to me from a few considerations.

1. The aristocracy of our country, embracing the non-workers and monopolists of the North, and the slaveholders of the South, is constantly in process of extinction. All families, thus un-

and the slaveholders of the South, is constantly in process of extinction. All families, thus unfortunately situated, grow weaker and weaker, and about three generations wind them up.— The aristocracy is continued only by the energy that rises from the poor and middle classes, to fill the places of exhausted families. If the "Upper-tendom" of the North, could be forced to rely on its own blood for the preservation of its caste, within three generations there would be no "Upper-tendom." If the slaveholders of the South were compelled to rely upon their own constitutional forces for the perpetuity of their class, there would be no slaveholders within fifty years. This is evident, from the fact that the slaves are growing stronger, generation after generation, while their masters are becoming weaker and weaker. Within the specified time, the slaves would be sufficiently strengthened to look down with contempt upon their puny masters, and to execute divine vengeance upon all their throats. A few facts convince me, that this is not parndoxical.

Louisiana, 255,491 whites, 80 over 100 years old. " 17,462 free col'd, 88 " " " " " 244,809 slaves, 263 " " " "

Here are now over four colored persons, slave and free, to one white, in proportion to the number of each class, reaching one hundred years of age, and upwards. And the longevity of the Free Colored is about sixteen times greater than that of the whites!

Virginia, 894,800 whites, 63 over 100 years old. " 54,333 free col'd, 55 " " " " " 472,528 slaves 27 " " " "

In this State, the free colored enjoy nearly five times, and the slaves nearly three times the longevity of the whites!

N. Carolina, 553,028 whites, 61 over 100 years old. " 27,463 free col., 164 " " " " " 288,458 slaves 90 " " " "