Lockport, May 13, 1855

Frederick Douglass, Esq : Dear Sir:—We have organized, in this village, a Free Labor Produce Association, and have ninety-eight names pledged to support a Free Labor Produce Store. Those names have all been obtained in this village, and but few of whom are residents in our out towns of our County, where little or no effort has been made to obtain signatures to our Constitution; and if I could make the necessary effort, I have no doubt several hundred signatures could be obtained to our Constitution, who would stand pledged to support a free labor store.—And now, what we want most, is some trust-worthy person of sufficient capital to establish a dry goods and grocery free labor store; and I would thank you to confer with your anti-slavery friends in Rochester or elsewhere, on the subject of coming here and opening such a store, which, I think, would be well sustained. I find many who approve of the principle of giving preference to the use of free labor produce, that decline pledging themselves to abstain altogether from the use of slave labor produce. They want to see the goods on the shelves and behind the counter, before they sign a pledge. I presume you are aware that cotton goods, manufactured from free labor raised cotton can be obtained in Philadelphia, also from England, through George W. Taylor, of Philadelphia, who is a manufacturer of free labor cotton in Philadelphia—who sent me samples of goods manufactured in England from free labor cotton sent there by friend Taylor. These samples compare well in price and quality, with the like style of goods in the stores here.

I am, respectfully yours,

Marcus Stickney