JOHN BOYER VASHON TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Pittsburgh, [Pa.] 17 Dec[ember] 1853.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ:—

MY DEAR TRIED FRIEND:—
Your paper of the 9th inst. came to hand a few days ago, and was wel-
comed to my table as it always is; and when I read the first page, and saw
that some of the strongest arms in the Anti-Slavery cause were flinging
darts at your head, I began to fear and tremble with dread, for I verily
thought, that bold, unceasing and untiring friend (Frederick Douglass) of
the poor bleeding Slave, would have been crushed, and that the usefulness
of him, who is the praise of our whole people, was lost forever,—but after
I turned to the second and third pages, I there saw that you had fended
off every blow, that had been thrown at you by the “Superior Class," and
that not a hair of your head was hurt. I regret very much to see our Anti
Slavery friends wasting their powers upon each other; and if it is possible,
I regret much more when such feuds are carried into the household, and
make a savage attack upon an innocent female,¹Julia Griffiths. whose humanity, caused
her to leave native country, home and friends, to help the Anti-Slavery
cause, and do something for her poor bleeding sisters, who are whipped,
outraged and sold by the “Superior Class.” I have the pleasure of being
acquainted with that Lady,[]and have conversed with her on the subject
of American Slavery, and I am satisfied, that she is a philanthropist of the
right stamp. Now, Friend Douglass, I hope you never will leave the Anti-
Slavery field so long as there is one slave whose throat is under the heel of
one of the members of the “Superior Class.”

Yours for Liberty,
J. B. VASHON.²Douglass added the following comment immediately after Vashon’s letter: “We publish the above letter as the testimony of a true and courageous friend of his people—assured that in so doing, we are only performing an act which, were Mr. Vashon living, he would entirely approve.—It is right that this letter should go on record as a part of the antislavery history of the times, for it shows that the writer of it stood on the side of his people, even when they were attacked by his venerated friends.—Editor.”

PLSr: FDP, 17 December 1853.