AUSTIN WILLEY¹The Reverend Austin Willey (1806-96) was a clergyman, abolitionist, author, and newspaper editor. Born in Campton, New Hampshire, Willey attended Pembroke Academy and graduated from the Bangor Theological Seminary in 1837. He edited a number of abolitionist newspapers from 1837 to 1858: the (Augusta, Maine) Advocate of Freedom, the (Hallowell, Maine) Liberty Standard, and the Portland, Maine Inquirer. Willey received his license to preach in 1850, but devoted himself o journalism until 1859, when he was ordained a pastor in Anoka, Minnesota. That position was terminated within one year because of his ill health. Willey participated in the organization of the Free Soil party in Maine and supported John P. Hale’s 1852 presidential bid. Willey moved in 1861 to Northfield, Minnesota, where he edited and published the Northfield Journal, a religious newspaper, and wrote antislavery and temperance articles until his death. Willey was the author of (1886) and “History of Prohibition in Maine: A Paper Prepared for the Minnesota Temperance Union Convention,” presented in St. Paul in September 1876. New York , 17 November 1847; Oscar Fay Adams, (1884; Boston, 1970), 425; Carter, , 89-90; Herringshaw, National Library of American Biography, 5:704; Edward O. Schriver, “Antislavery: The Free Soil and Free Democratic Parties in Maine, 1848-1855,” , 42:83 (March 1969). TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Northfield, Minnesota[.] 26 July 1862.

FRIEND DOUGLASS:—

I cannot well avoid writing you a line at this time, which is so momentous
to our country, and to mankind—To the colored population of the United States it is the hour of destiny. At last instead of expatriation or degradation, the country has been brought to a position to ask in effect, the aid of its colored population, and pledge them a common share in its rescued liberties.²In an attempt to prevent the secession of several border states, the Lincoln administration initially resisted calls to recruit black troops for the Union army. By the summer of 1862, however, deaths, battle fatigue, and the failure to win decisive victories was cutting into the North’s ability to recruit soldiers. New calls for black soldiers came from several generals in the field. In South Carolina, David Hunter was already recruiting former slaves into regiments by July 1862, and the Union government was slowly adapting to the idea. The first sign of this change was likely the Second Confiscation Act and the Militia Act, both enacted 17 July 1862. After passage of the acts, which allowed blacks to participate in the war, the recruitment of blacks began in earnest. Cleveland , 8 July 1862; William E. Alt and Betty L. Alt, (Westport, Conn., 2002), 33-41. Now let them meet this advance of the government with the magnanimity, enthusiasm and valor of which we know them to be capable, and their winter of wrongs will open to a glorious spring. How long since we affirmed that the white and colored population of the land were bound to a common fate, Liberty to both or to none! Now it is admitted, and our
colored countrymen enslaved and free, must act their part like men who are worthy of the crisis and of the glory!

And I know of no man who can do more than yourself to rouse these
people to their duty. Whether others can do more or less, put the trumpet
to your lips, let it be heard in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, to Canada,
and if possible all over the south. New York should turn out a regiment,
Massachusetts another, Pennsylvania another, and large bodies should
rally from other States and from Canada West without delay for this war.
We now have the monster by the throat, will colored men strike?— Have
they not felt its fangs long enough!—The colored people of the free States
can reach those in the south better than others can. Will they not now jus-
tify the defense which so many of us made during long years of suffering
and toil in their behalf?

I know not your views at this time for it is a long time since I have
heard from you, but past acquainstance leaves no room to doubt that you
are ready for the hour. God, Humanity and the Country call now to the
field, and Liberty throughout all the land is the prize.

Yours fraternally still, in the conflict.

A. WILLEY.

PLSr: DM, 5:719 (September 1862).