W[illia]m James Watkins to Frederick Douglass, March 24, 1856

Letter from Mr. Watkins.

MR. EDITOR:—Allow me a short space in your columns, to thank you for the praiseworthy magnanimity you have displayed in the publication in full of my communication in favor of Senator Brooks' proposed Constitutional Amendment.— And I would not again intrude upon your accustomed liberality, but for your unintentional misrepresentation of that portion of my article, adverting to the ignorance of the Irish population.

You accuse me of exhibiting "a rancorus hatred" of that portion of the White race that was born in the "Emrald Isle." And you further remark, "whether this fact is chargeable to the Natural Antagonism of Black to White, asserting its prerogative, fitfully, and feebly in this instance; or whether this deep-seated hostility is chargeable rather to the writer's Hindoo affiliations, we assume not to determine," &c.

Allow me, Mr. Editor, most respectfully to disavow in toto, the gentle imputation. I am certainly unconscious of the possession of any hostility, deep-seated, or otherwise, to any one, whether "born in the Emerald Isle," or out of it. And I am quite sure, that in my communication, no unprejudiced mind will discern the least ebullition of that "rancorous hatred," to which you so forcibly allude. In adverting to the comparative merits of Colored Americans, and of our Irish popula tion, I narrated an incident which I certainly regarded as peculiarly appropriate to the subject matter under consideration. The facts of the case, without exaggeration, were stated as they occurred. The point I wished to make was this: A foreigner, the descendant perhaps, of one who fought against this country, however ignorant and degraded he may be, is allowed, after his residence here a certain time, to vote on a question, of the merits of which he can form no intelligible appreciation; while on the other hand, a Colored American, one who cannot be naturalized by any legal process, as he brings his "naturalization papers" into the world with him—a man perhaps, whose ancestors loved the country well enough to fight for it; one whose intelligence and respectability are not called [page cut off] question, is virtually driven from the polls, to [page cut off] himself, if he can, with the theory of the [page cut off] repulsion of the races," or with some [page cut off] dissertation upon the diverse origin of the [page cut off] Race.

I am, Mr. Editor, too ardent a believer in the Unity of the Brotherhood of MAN, to look with contempt upon our Irish fellow-citizens, in consequence of an Ignorance which is the legitimate sequence of influences over which they have had no control. And I am unwilling that your numerous readers should entertain for one moment, the idea that, while struggling for my own recognition as a MAN AMONG MEN, I can look for one moment with complacency upon any movement which makes them the victims of that "rancorous hate," for the development of which you must look to some other source than that from which this communication emanates.

I conclude, Mr. Editor, by remarking that your assertion concerning the Natural Antagonism of the races, is abundantly refuted by the homogeneous testimony of the Southern States of the Union; and as for your favorite theory concerning the Natural Laws which govern the so-called races, the great ethnological lights of the Age are against you. You have Messrs. Nott and Gliddon, it is true; but we have the word of God, declaring that He hath made of one blood all nations. Let God be true, and every man a liar.

Respectfully,

WM. JAMES WATKINS.

Rochester, March 24, 1856.