Mr. Frederick Douglass: Dear Sir:—

Your paper of the 16th of last month contains an article from your corresponding editor, John Thomas, Esq., under the caption, "What is to be done." The author of the article appears to be quite desirous that "the Free Democracy at Pittsburg in August, and at Canastota in September, could agree upon Charles Curkee of Wisconsin for President," remarking, that "all kinds of anti-slavery men would unite joyfully on the Hon. Charles Durkee."

I was under the impression that the Convention to be holden at Canastota on the first day of next month is to be a Liberty Party Convention, not a Free Soil meeting. If I am not greatly mistaken, Mr. Thomas has been very anxious for some time past, to bring about a unity of the Liberty Party and the Free Soil (???) party; but I was not aware until reading the article under consideration, that the union had already taken place. I should think that Libery Party people had suffered sufficient in consequence of the absorption that had taken place at the great Buffalo Convention in 1848, without seeking a similar treatment. Or has Mr. Thomas left the Liberty Party, and gone over to the Free Soil? Since the unfortunate dissension among Anti-Slavery people, many years since, and the consequent disruption, I have not ceased to deplore the situation of affairs, and have always used what means at my command, in my humble ways, to, if possible, heal the breach, and unite all Anti-Slavery persons in suitable efficient action against the accursed demon slavery. But I have never [considered] it my duty—never felt myself "called"—to enlist in the ranks of the Free Soil (???) party. On the contrary, I have ever considered, since the organization of that party, that it has been a great hinderance to the abolition of Slavery. If the wing of the Anti-Slavery party, of which William Lloyd Garrison, Esq., is justly the pride, and leader, and the Liberty Party could unite, there would then be a true land of true Abolitionists. Oh! that the Union could be brought about! I love the term Abolitionist, so hated by Free Soilers, Whigs, Democrats (??) and other Pro-Slavery people.

What pretension the Hon. Charles Durkee can have to a nomination from the Liberty Party, I am at a loss to know. I should think that he would not wish one. He is among the number of those who left the Liberty Party, and joined the Free Soilers in 1848, and canvassed the State of Wisconsin for the purpose of converting Liberty Party men to that organization, telling them that they were "behind the times." The progress that he made was of a retrograde movement.—He is not one of that number—and there are many of them—who, after having joined the Free Soil party, became convinced of their error, repented, and done "works meet for repentance." He holds his present seat in Congress as a Free Soil Democrat.

For "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,"

Jacob Lybrand.

LyBrand, Allmakee Co., Iowa,

August 10, 1852.