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J[ermain] W[esley] Loguen to Frederick Douglass, April 6, 1855

Page 1

For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

LETTER FROM J. W. LOGUEN.

MR. FREDERICK DOUGLASS: Dear Sir: __ I am at present laboring in our common cause, among the rough hills of Deleware. I find many warm hearts that respond to the truth, and I am touched with the story of the slave's wrongs. The portion of the country in which I have been laboring, is noted for its prompt attendance at these meetings. Men and women often travel miles to listen to a lecture on slavery. A strong desire is felt by many to see and hear a fugitive slave, and thus my meetings are largely attended.

I have held two meetings in the village of Franklin-- the locality of the "Delaware Institute." The last was the largest I have attended for a long time; and I felt encouraged in my mark. We have many true friends in Franklin. There is a "Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society" here, which is in a flourishing condition, and accomplishing much good --- Would to God that woman's voice might everywhere be raised against the damning wrongs which crush our race. How eloquent might it be in hastening the our of our deliverance. Mrs. Stillson, President of the above Society, and her husband, are true-hearted friends of our cause. I saw on their table one striking proof of their devotion to the slave, viz : Frederick Douglass' Paper.-- Wherever this paper is read, I find men and women whose hearts are true to the slave-- who labor for the colored man's good as well as the white man's. In this they differ widely from many I have found of late, who are very willing to work in the name of the slave, if the thing pays, and the pay goes directly to their pockets. The colored man is "all right;" he is a "good nigger" so long as he will worship at their shirne, and pour money into their coffers; but let him only presume to think and set for himself, like an independent and accountable being, and above all, to put his own penny into his own pocket, and, he is no longer a "good nigger !'-- Away with such arrant hypocrisy, that would save a man from the clutches of the slave-driver only to fasten upon him the sshackles of another despotism! I am sick of all such friends of the slave. The less we have of them the better. From such we may well pray to be delivered. Years ago, while a toiling slave in Tennessee, I resolved, that

sixteen passengers in one week in this city-- I speak officially, as the agent and keeper of an Underground Railroad Depot. Let them come; we ahve some true hearts ready to recieve them, and God will raise up more. I send you a copy of our Constitution and By-Laws. Please give them an insertion in your good paper. "Speak the Truth-- God defend the Right."

Truly yours,

J. W. LOGUEN.

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Creator

Loguen, Jermain Wesley

Date

1855-04-06

Description

J[ermain] W[esley] Loguen to Frederick Douglass. PLSr: Frederick DouglassP, 6 April 1855. Recounts speeches made in Deleware; describes the growing antislavery sentiment there and of Underground Railroad stations in that state.

Publisher

This document was calendared in the published volume and has not been published in full before.

Collection

Frederick Douglass' Paper

Type

Letters

Publication Status

Unpublished

Source

Frederick Douglass' Paper