For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

ALBANY, April 24, 1855

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ.: DEAR SIR: —
The Assembly adopted a resolution by a vote
of 66 ayes to 36 noes, to amend the
Constitution, so as to allow colored citizens to vote,
without regard to property qualification,
although the Senate did not adopt it; and,
therefore, the practical effect will not be
anything, yet the moral effect will, no doubt, be
great. I said, some time since, in an article,
that the late Legislature, for several reason,
were disposed to regard with favor, petitions,
and getting a hearing before the Legislative
Committee, the Legislature would have done
all in their power to remove the disabilities
under which we now labor. Alas! we are
too apt to think that nothing can be done.—
So long as we continue to think so, nothing
will be done. It is worthy of remark here,
that the Know Nothings, almost to a man,
true to their instincts, voted against us. To
embrace Know Nothingism in this State,
seems to cut out one's anti-slavery. That
faction will not be known in this State 24
months hence.

We now have a Prohibitory Law. Some
of its quasi friends, in the Senate, tried hard
to strike out the search and seizure clause,
but did not succeed, of which I, for one, am
glad—nay, rejoice; for, in my opinion, a
Prohibitory Law, without the search and
seizure clause, is just as useless to shut down
the floor gates of intemperance as a large
dog would be to guard your premise, if
devested of his seizure clause—his teeth. Its
enemies know that—hence their desire to
strike out that clause; but they failed.

Hon. Charles Sumner lectured in this city
some weeks since, on the subject of slavery.
The audience was select in numbers as well
as in position. Mr. Sumner not being
accustomed to address small audiences, was
not as happy and eloquent as is his want;
but, notwithstanding that, his speech was a
masterly production. A person would have
to be pro slavery indeed, who could listen to
the honorable gentleman without having
some of it driven out of him. When such
uses as Charles Sumner espouse a cause,
there is hope of success. His speech was
peculiarly calculated to inspire the timid and
strengthen the strong. Speaking of small
audiences, I will say, without the fear of
[illegible], the simple announcement that
"Frederick Douglass" will speak anywhere
in this city, will bring out a larger number
of persons of all classes, than that of any
other orator in this country, without regard
to complexion. I say this much to show
that the efforts made by certain persons, in
certain quarters, to render Frederick
Douglass unpopular, have failed--[illegible]
and ever must fail