[Letter to] Dear friend May [manuscript]

GLASGOW NEW ISSOGIATIOX

FOIt THE

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.

Glasgow, Oetohei; 1S55.

It gives us much pleasure to commend the accompanying notice of
Feederick Douglass' Paper, to the consideration of all who feel au
interest in the cause of Emancipation.

This Journal, which is the property, and edited by one of the
despised race, who long suffered under the crushing influence of
Slavery, is a standing testimony against the calumnies uttered
respecting the inferiority of the coloured man. Besides this, it is
highly useful in opening its columns to the earliest literary efforts of
the free coloured people of the United States, and has thus a direct
influence in elevating their aims. If is specially the exponent of tha
views of the free coloured population, and is, as far as we have had
opportunity of judging of it, conducted on sound moral and reli-
gious principles.

Miss Griffiths, the Secretary of the Rochester United States
Ladies' Anti-Slavert Society, who has devoted her time and
energies to the cause of the Slave, is now in this country to obtain
additional Funds for this paper, and we cordially recommend her
appeal to your benevolent support.

Signed, on behalf of the Glasgow New Association foe tub
AiiOLiTiON OF Slavery,

J. M'DowALL, 250, Renfrew Street, President.
J. Smith, 173, Trongate,

A. Livingston, 24, St. Enoch Square,

Sc

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"Wlien Frederick Douglass left England in 1847, his BriUsli f,ien<ls
presented him with a printing-piess, which enabled lii.a to begin a weelily
Ant.-slavery newspaper. The singiJar ability with wliich that jonrnal has
been conducted ; its aims, its efforts, and its success for tlie last seven jears

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amply prove that the donors of the press were right, both xn their estimate
of the man and their ehoice of a testimonial. Bat the paper thus com-
menced never had a capital to sustain it, beyond that which conducted it
to the staiting-point ; and no Anti-slavery paper published m the XJui ted
States, with one exception, has ever been able to support itself on its sub-
scription list. Frederick Douglass' journal, like the others, must have aid
from external sources, if its efficiency be maintained.

"In a peculiar manner it requires such aid, as its circulation among the
poor and ignorant section of the free coloured people must be at a very low
.rate, and in many cases gratuitously, if it realizes the noble object of its
proprietor-to infuse a spirit of self-exertion and more self-reliance among
the depressed victims of American injustice.

•' Further, whenever Frederick Douglas,s receives a call for his paper from
any of the Slave States, he deems it most important to furnish it promptly,
without looking for payment at aU-it^very existence being proof positive
of what a fugitive slave can do, and a practical refutation of the oft-repeated
incapacity of the coloured man.

"The paper should have a vested capital, the interest of which would bring
in a regular income, that would enable it to stand its ground, otherwise it
must go down. Heretofore Frederick Douglass has given his services to its
supervision without any pecuniarsfe-eward ; but he pays a coloured man as
assistant editor,' and labours hintelf as a lecturer, by whicli means he
struggles to support his family. Eeligious benevolence and ardent devotion
to the cause of his crushed brethren have stimulated Douglass to the ex-
ercise of all his mental powers, not only in arousing them, but m pleading
their cause, both in high and in low places. And all this has he nobly done
amid difficulties and discouragements enough to annihilate the energies of
any ordinary mind. These difficulties are not solely what naturally spring
out of the advocacy of the rights of an ignorant and down-trodden people
in opposition to the wealth, power, and prejudice which are arrayed agamst
them Worse than all else, he has had latterly to maintain his onward
course amid the slanders and the malice of parties who were formerly his
warm eulogists and admiring friends. This painful feature arises out of
the following circumstances :-Whilst Frederick Douglass, after his escape
from slavery in the year 1841, was labouring on the wharves of New
Bedford, and availing himself of such opportunities as he could command,
to address his coloured brethren with reference to their common mterests,
his efforts came under the cognizance of some of William Lloyd Garrisons
Anti-slavery friends. AViUiam Lloyd Garrison was soon made acquauited
with his talents and his position, and cordially invited him to the Anti-
Blaveiy platform of the Gan-isonian Society. With the Abohtionists to
whom he was thus introduced he continued to labour for seven years, as the
talented representative and champion of three millions of southern slaves.

"During that period the Garrison organiziition had become remarkable for
other manifestations besides those of Anti-slavery. The leaders m the

society having become disgusted with the pro-slavery spirit manifested by
tlie generality of the ministers of the American churches, came to the con- f f

elusion that all sectarian association led to evil, and forthwith they came ' ""

out in denunciations against the churches in general, and many of them
withdrew from all church fellowship. This attracted to their ranks some
talented men of latitudinariau principles, whose arguments tended to con-
firm and deepen the infidelity which had been creeping in amongst the
Garrisoniaus — of these we may cite H. C. Wright, and Joseph Barker as
types. Garrison's paper, the Liberator, whilst its owner claimed to be
recognized as a Christian, opened its columns to the outpourings of those
infidel minds, and was thus made a vehicle for spreading their poisonous
sentiments far and wide.

X,.

"Not only in that relation, but as respects the medium through which
Anti-slavery principles could be brought most effectually to bear on the
abolition of Slavery, he began to doubt the correctness of the Gamsonian
course. That section held that no true abolitionist could either vote or hold .
office of any kind under the American government, and their society would ( I I
not admit or circulate any Anti-slavery paper which took the opposite ' ' *
views.

"As Frederick t)ouglaS3 by degrees iecame acquainted with some of the
other section of A)|^itionistg, who dic^ot approve of WilUam Lloyd Gar-
*ison's preeeedingsVi regard t(>+hrfi^rch'fe3, biitA(*o wisJed <o ftiaintain
Anti-slavery action unmingled with discussion on infidelity, and on other
subjects entirely foreign to the good cause, he found it expedient to act
apart, whilst maintaining the sentiments so admirably expressed by Pbe-
SIDENT Mahon ; — ' / am willing to join with infidels, Mahometans, and
Hindoos even, in vindicating the rights of crushed humanity, but I am not "i
willing to lend m-ij countenance for a moment to a society which, maski'/Kj
itself as an Anti-slavery Society, is, in fact, aiming to prostrate Christianity
jitsel^.'

)\

"Matters stood thus without any schism till-May, 1851, when, at the annual
meeting of the American Anti-slavery, Society, Douglass came out openly
'and nobly, avowing' his change of viev*s, and stating that his paper shouliS
not be admitted to their society under false colours. This avowal brought
forth a burst of indignation, and seemed to originate feelings of animosity, ( ( lit
that have ever since been rlirected agr""'it Douglass, with the apparent view c t «/«/••
ut' crushing his influence a. nis paj

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