FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO GERRIT SMITH

Rochester[, N.Y.] 12 April 1856[.]
HON. GERRIT SMITHSmith, Gerrit

Gerrit Smith (1797– 1874), a New York businessman and land speculator, became best known for his philanthropic work for such reform causes as temperance and abolition. Between 1828 and 1835, he donated large sums of money to the American Colonization Society, but abandoned that movement in 1835 when his sympathies shifted to the immediate abolitionists. In the 1840s, he gave approximately 140,000 acres of land in upstate New York to three thousand black settlers, thus qualifying them to vote. Smith was a founder and frequent candidate of the Liberty party, running for governor of New York on that ticket in 1840 and winning a seat in Congress in 1852. When the Free Soil merger with moderate antislavery Democrats and Whigs lured away many Liberty party supporters, Smith helped bankroll that organization until 1860. Smith befriended Douglass when the latter moved to Rochester, and Smith frequently helped finance Frederick Douglass’ Paper. Like Douglass, Smith supported John Brown, but psychological stress caused by the failure at Harpers Ferry brought on the first of a series of bipolar episodes that greatly reduced his subsequent reform activities. Ralph Volney Harlow, Gerrit Smith: Philanthropist and Reformer (1939; New York, 1972); Gerald Sorin, The New York Abolitionists: A Case Study of Political Radicalism (Westport, Conn., 1971), 269– 87; Lewis Perry, Radical Abolitionism: Anarchy and the Government of God in Antislavery Thought (Ithaca, N.Y., 1973), 170– 80; John R. McKivigan and Madeleine Leveille, “The ‘Black Dream’ of Gerrit Smith, New York Abolitionist,” Syracuse University Library Associates Courier, 20:61– 76 (Fall 1985); NCAB , 2:322– 23; DAB, 17:270– 71.
MY DEAR SIR.
My throat is better¹A notice posted in the 2 March 1856 issue of Frederick Douglass’ Paper announced that Douglass, having returned “from his recent arduous and protracted tour," was ill and unable to answer his correspondence. Douglass suffered from a “throat disorder," which he mentioned in a letter to Smith dated 22 March 1856. In another letter to Smith, dated 16 April 1856, Douglass stated that he would not be making a planned trip to Watertown because he had lost his voice. Douglass to Gerrit Smith, 22 March, 16 April 1856; FDP, 2 March 1856; Douglass Papers, ser. 1, 3:xxv.
—and for ten days I have been out on a lecturing
tour—I am now quite hoarse—and am [illegible] to lecture in Water
town Jefferson Co²Douglass did not make his lecture appointment in Watertown, as he related in his letter to Gerrit Smith dated 16 April 1856, printed later in this volume: “I did not go to Watertown as I told you. My voice forsook me two days before and is just returning.” Watertown, New York, was the seat of Jefferson County, located approximately 160 miles west-northwest of Albany and 86 miles north-northwest of Utica. Douglass to Gerrit Smith, 16 April 1856, Gerrit Smith Papers, NSyU; Thomas and Baldwin, Lippincott’s Gazetteer, 2:2082.—Tues day and Wednesday of next week. My meetings are fully attended, and I beleave, make a good impression for the
cause. I however, find it hard work to get new Subscribers—or to keep
old ones—and my list has fallen off considerably—from what it was last
year—The coming presidential Campaign will Severely try, and perhaps
break down my paper. Radical Abolitionism—is too far a head of these

degenerate times—to be well Supported. I Shall, however nail my colors
to the maSt—and 1f I go down—1it will be with all colors flying. I Shall not
be able to be preSent at our nominating Convention in Syracuse³The first Radical Abolitionist Convention was held at city hall in Syracuse, New York, on
26-28 June 1855. Gerrit Smith was named the party’s nominee for the 1856 presidential election. A second party convention was called for on 28 May 1856, again at Syracuse’s city hall. Douglass Papers, ser. 1, 3:xxv, 134-42; Foner, Life and Writings, 5:385-90; Stauffer, Black Hearts of Men, 8-9, 20; EAAH, 3:89.—I have
appointments in Ohio at that time.⁴Douglass spoke at the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society meeting at Corinthian Hall on 22 May 1856. It is unknown what other speaking engagements he had in late May, but he must have rescheduled them, because he spoke at the Radical Abolitionist Convention on the 28th. FDP, 30 May 1856; Douglass Papers, ser. 1, 3:xxv, 114-133. My presence there would be more
important to myself than to any Body else Upon this rely—I Shall stand
by the action of the Convention—unless it Shall be less radical—than I
expect it will be. Please accept my thanks for your kind mention of me,
to the assembled wisdom of the State in your speech on the colored negro suffrage question.
With love to your Dear family yours Truly

FREDERICK DOUGLASS—

ALS: Gerrit Smith Papers, NSyU.