FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO GERRIT SMITH

Rochester, 6 March [1854].¹Several of the events to which Douglass refers to in this letter to Gerrit Smith occurred in April 1854, leading the editors to conclude that the letter was misdated. The most probable correct date is 6 May 1854.

HON: GERRIT SMITH.
MY DEAR SIR:
I am Slowly recovering from my illness²Although it is impossible to determine the exact nature of Douglass’s illness, it is likely that it resulted from exposure to the cold and snow that he complained about in his “Letters from the Editor” column in February while on a lecture tour of New England. Whatever the nature of his illness,it probably occurred in the later weeks of February, since he reported on 8 February that he expected to arrive back in Rochester before the next edition of Frederick Douglass’ Paper was published on the 17th. In fact, he did not return to Rochester until 3 March. FDP, 3 February, 17 February, 3 March 1854.—and hope Soon to be at work
again. I am, with you, quite Sorry, that W. H. Seward’s abolitionism is not
of a more decided a type; and that he annexes So many hard conditions to
the freedom of the Slave, in the D.C.³Perhaps an allusion to the position taken by William H. Seward in an address in the U.S.
Senate on 17 February 1854 in opposition to passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Seward attacked the Democratic party’s position that popular sovereignty should guide whether slavery could be established in a federal territory. Seward ridiculed the Democrats’ claim that Congress had no authority over slavery in a territory, since that matter is constitutionally the right of the citizens of a territory, by noting that Congress had often exercised its authority over slavery in the District of Columbia. Smith and Douglass appear to regret that Seward did not advocate that Congress exercise those same powers to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. FDP, 10 March 1854. yet So anxious am I, to See Emancipation there, I would See it at almost any price, and Since we cannot
have you, and Such as you to propose plans in Congress for Emancipation I am glad of even So much as Wm H. Seward’s plan. As to “indemnifying” Slaveholders, that is by no means So repulsive to me Since your great Speech on the Nebraska Bill⁴Smith delivered his principal address in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act in the House of Representatives on 6 April 1854. Douglass published a brief synopsis of that speech in his paper on 21 April 1854 and the entire text of the speech on 12 May 1854. Douglass alludes to a passage in Smith’s speech in which the veteran abolitionist conceded that the North had long profited from the establishment of slavery in the South and was thereby obligated to aid in its extinguishment. Smith advocated a federal appropriation of $400 million to compensate slaveholders for emancipation. In 1857, well after the end of his congressional career, Smith joined with the Quaker abolitionist Elihu Burritt to hold a national convention to advocate for compensated emancipation. Harlow, Gerrit Smith, 326–31; Betty L. Fladeland, “Compensated Emancipation: A Rejected Alternative,” JSH, 42:183–84 (May 1976).—which Speech by the way, I was read-
ing but yesterday—I hope it will not be long before I Shall See and hear
you again—for I always feel the better for having Seen —I am Dear Sir,
Yours as ever truly and affectionately
FREDERICK DOUGLASS

PLSr: FDP, 17 March 1854. Reprinted in NASS, 25 March 1854; Philadelphia Freeman, 30 March 1854; Lib., 31 March 1854; ASB, 1 April 1854.