FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO HELEN DONCASTER¹Helen Doncaster was the first secretary of the Sheffield Female Anti-Slavery Society after its revival in 1857. She took over as secretary when the original secretary, Mary Anne Rawson, was elected president. Doncaster was active in other social reforms; she was a member of the Sheffield Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and joined the temperance movement in the latter half of the nineteenth century. BFASR, 5:77 (April 1857); Sheffield and Rotherham (Eng.) Independent, 6 May 1871, 8 December 1876, 3 October 1882.

Halifax[, Eng.] 7 Dec[ember] 1859.

HELEN DONCASTER.
SECY- SHEFFIELD A. S. S.

MY DEAR FRIEND,
Having, for the moment, very much upon my hands, I cannot go fully into
the question of the right of an enslaved people to gain their freedom by a
resort to force. Nor indeed is it necessary that I should—I can, however, at
once, give you the assurance that my advocacy of the cause of the Slave in
England has no reference whatever to any plan or purpose involving a re-
sort to arms, for the liberation of my Brothers & Sisters in bondage Slav-
ery. My Mission is wholly peaceful. On that point you may feel wholly
at rest. On the subject of Harper’s Ferry, I can be equally explicit—I nei-
ther took part in that transaction no counselled the taking it, but opposed
the measure as fraught only with disaster and ruin, to the main object of
the enterprize, which was to run off Slaves into the mountains, and into
Canada where they could protect and defend themselves. I do hope that
a difference of opinion on any one point will not defeat our co-operating
against Slavery at other points where we agree; but of that you must judge,
the liberties of England are bulwarked about by ten thousand cannon[.|
The Slave is a victim of a constant insurrection, by which his blood is
drawn out drop by drop! It may not be altogether impartial to lay down the
rule of submission to him, too sternly—especially since he has submitted
already two hundred years—First pure, then peaceable.

Very truly & gratefully your friend,
FREDERICK DOUGLASS—

ALS: John Rylands Library, Manchester, Eng.