Joseph C. Holly to Frederick Douglass, February 5, 1852
Letter from Joseph C. Holley.
Mr. Editor:—Though somewhat of a chevalier, I am not much disposed to "run a tilt" against the world-renowned Horace Greeley. But as he has put his spear in rest, and bore down with helm and buckler upon the colored race, "Let's have at him."
It has been truly remarked, that the majesty of American slavery bows all intellects, moulds all morals to its own standard. The hero of universal intervention in behalf of freedom and against tyranny elsewhere, dwindles into the mere selfish and partial politician. The stern rebuker of slavery in Ireland dwarfs into the timid non-committalist in its august presence.
Alike is the power of the American Congress upon all who come in contact with its deadly venom, whose hearts are not touched with the fire of freedom.
Horace Greeley entered the thirtieth congress the acknowledged champion of universal equality; political and social—the representative of all the progressive idea's of the present day—of the sublime idea that moral and intellectual worth, the qualities of the head and heart, and not exterior appearances, either natural or artificial, make the man. But one short winter's saturation with the national elixir, sufficed to purge him essentially of all his isms. His social fabric is to be built of Parian marble alone, rejecting the ebon beauties of the Egyptian article.
So we black fellow-passengers in the ship of state are to let the American "Gods" be entirely oblivious that such characters are aboard. Well done, philosopher Greeley. The age of wise men is not extinct.
"How shall we write thee on Historic page,
Thou more than sapient. yea, little more than sage?"
But come to sober facts; Mr. Greeley says, that, six years ago, our state was brought to a fresh decision on the question of alowing black men the same political rights with white. The property qualification for colored persons was sustained by an overwhelming majority. That it (the vote) was strongest against equal suffrage, just where the African race is most abundant.—That he advised Dr. Smith and others to do nothing.
In relation to the cause of Ireland, Italy, and Hungary, Horace Greeley repeats with Kossuth the sentiment.
"Hereditary bondsmen know ye not
Who would be free, themselves must strike the blow!"
But all rules, all maxims, are reversed in two cases; in favor of slavery, and against American blacks.
Too long have we laid supinely on our backs, quietly expecting our car to be lifted from the mire by Hurculean arms. But the bony fingers of the past, the signs of the present, and the hopes of the futures, bid us put our shoulder to the wheel.
There was another Grecian, whose writings are quite familiar to the American reader.—Aesop, who tells of a hermit seeing a vulture let fall a bird at the feet of a famishing fox, determined to give himself no more care for the morrow, but trust to Providence; but when most famished, heard, in thunder
tones, Providence helps such as strive to help themselves.
Horace Greeley has a peculiar way to "serve the colored race." No wonder that he "incurs the displeasure" of all intelligent members of that race.
"Governor Hunt has indicated his despair of any improvement in our colored population, so long as they shall remain among us." We are much obliged to him for his kind solicitude. If he will make some effort to remove the evils he enumerates, we will thank him. But we hope he will leave the agony of despair to us, and not wreck his gentle bosom, and gentler brain. We ask, first, justice of American Colonizationists, and then it will be time enough to talk about benevolence. When a soi disant Free Soil Senator* from
*J. A. Dix.
your state urged the same reasons in favor of removal of the black, Mr. Greeley combatted his cold-blooded theories. He thought then as we think now. If free colored people are deprived of the social and political rights, without which freedom is but an empty name, remove the wrong and not the wronged, the hate and not the hated, why did not Governor Hunt use his official influence to procure an appropriation to enlighten his fellow citizens of the wickedness of thus depriving an innocent class of their God-given rights? Why are not H. Greeley and J. A. Dix in the field, with pen and lips to urge the Righteousness of making the native citizens—whose crime is the color of their skin—an element of strength in the
body politic? Does the unpopularity of the cause make their coward hearts quake? Does failure of success heretofore throw the gloom of despair over them? Oh ye of little faith!
"Freedom's battle once begun,
Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son,
Tho' baffled oft, is ever won."
Horace Greeley has often stood drill with the Army of Freedom, but when the battle raged he was not there. Methinks that when the surgeon general of that anti-slavery host shall inspect the troops, for precision or promotion, it will be found that the Hon. H. G.'s scars, if any, are in the back, received retreating from the enemy. But I must cease. I may be met with the charge of ingratitude for services done my race, and I would not be ungrateful for all the world, perhaps my sin, common with my race generally, is an "obliviousness" of those services.
Yours for Liberty and Reform,
Joseph C. Holley.