Frederick Douglass to Sydney H. Gay, August 31, 1847
Austinburg,1Austinburg is at least eighty miles from Medina and Massillon, the origin and destination of Douglass at the time, rendering it highly suspect as the site where Douglass wrote this letter. [Ohio. 31 August] 1847.2The letter is dated September 1847, but given Douglass's report in the letter that he would go to Massillon the next day, it is more likely that the letter was written on 31 August 1847. Merrill and Ruchames, , 3:524.
The infernal system of Slavery is receiving a powerful shock in the West. The enthusiasm of our friends is unequalled. I am informed, on all sides, that the meetings now being held, are such as were never held before. The whole Western Reserve3The WesternReserve is a region in northeastern Ohio, bordering on Lake Erie, so named because Connecticut retained this territory when it ceded the rest of its western claims in the Old Northwest Territory in 1786. Established in 1796, Cleveland was the first settlement in the Reserve, and Connecticut ceded the district to the U.S. government in 1800. Cohen, , 3:3448. is now in a healthy state of Anti-Slavery agitation.
The theme is on every lip, and is spreading far and wide. We are having a real Anti-Slavery revival. The most astonishing crowds flock to hear, and, I trust, to believe. Opposition to our holy cause seems stunned. Scarce a head is seen above the multitude to oppose the triumphant success of our glorious enterprise. The power of Church and State are shaken. The proslavery priesthood look woful as they behold their glory departing. The people are fired with a noble indignation against a slaveholding Church, and filled with unutterable loathing of a slave-trading religion. The real character of our Government is being exposed. The flimsy arguments with which our Liberty party friends have attempted to make out a case of AntiSlavery for the Constitution are blown into fragments.4Liberty party platforms in 1840 and 1844 denied that the U.S. Constitution gave the federal government the power to abolish slavery in states where it already existed. They did believe that Congress could abolish slavery in the federal territories, including the District of Columbia, end the interstate slave trade, and bar new slave states from being admitted to the Union. Beginning in the late 1840s, the radical political abolitionist faction, including Gerrit Smith, William Goodell, Lysander Spooner, and eventually Douglass, advanced the argument that most of the Founding Fathers in Philadelphia in 1787 had antislavery intentions. They also contended that slavery violated overriding natural-law principles. On the basis of those premises, these radicals proclaimed the southern institution inherently unconstitutional. James Brewer Stewart, (New York, 1976), 98-99; William M. Wiecek, (Ithaca, N.Y., 1977), 206-19, 249-75.—The present administration5James K. Polk was president from 1845 to 1849. is justly regarded as a combination of land-pirates and freebooters. Our gallant army in Mexico is looked upon as a band of legalized murderers and plunderers.6The official policy of the U.S. Army toward the Mexican population during the MexicanAmerican War was to treat civilians with respect, refraining from harming either the people or their property and paying for any items taken or destroyed. Many of the American military companies, however, consisted of volunteers and earned a reputation for unruly behavior long before marching into Mexico. Once on foreign soil, all semblance of discipline evaporated into a rape-and-pillage mentality. Volunteers from Texas, with years of pent-up hatred toward Mexico, proved particularly troublesome. For those who opposed the war on the basis of antislavery or anti-imperialist sentiment, this behavior only confirmed the immorality of the conflict. Crawford, , 21-22; Justin H. Smith, "American Rule in Mexico," , 23:287-302 (January 1918). Our psalm-singing, praying, pro-slavery priesthood are stamped with hypocrisy; and all their pretensions to a love for God, while they hate and neglect their fellow-man,7A reference to 1 John 4:20. is branded as impudent blasphemy. The fire is lighted,—let it rise—let it spread. Let the winds of an approving Heaven fan it, and, guided by the hand that stays the thunderbolt, and directs the storm, its holy flames shall bum up, and utterly consume the last vestige of tyranny in our land. The West is decidedly the best Anti-Slavery field in the country.—The people are more disposed to hear—less confined and narrowed in their views, and less circumscribed in their action by sectarian trammels, than are the people of the East. Iseriously believe, had we the means to follow up the agitation already commenced in this State for six months, twelve months would not pass, ere every black law8Between 1802 and 1831, Ohio passed a series of laws intended to discourage the immigration of African Americans into the state. These "Black Laws" required black people to register with a county clerk, to obtain a work certificate, and to post a bond of $500. They also imposed strict penalties on any white person who hired an uncertified black worker. Additionally these laws restricted blacks from testifying in court cases involving whites and prohibited them from serving on juries and in state militia units. Laws denying blacks status as legal residents of Ohio rendered them ineligible for any public relief, charity, or education. Not until 1849 did Ohio legislation require that some funding be allocated for the support of black schools. David A. Gerber, which now disgraces the statute-books of Ohio would be repealed, and the free coloured people stand on as good a footing as that enjoyed by the coloured people of Massachusetts. The field here is truly ripe for the harvest, and my spirit is only cast down when I remember how few there are to labour in this part of our vineyard.9An allusion to Matt. 9:37. With money and rightminded men we could place Ohio in advance of Massachusetts in twelve
months. The people of this vast State are now ready to hear, believe, and act, but how can they hear without a preacher? We have now five lecturing agents in this field,10Two of the five Garrisonian agents were James W. Walker and N. N. Selby. The two spoke before antislavery meetings in the southern Ohio towns of Harveysburg and Yankeetown in August 1847. NASS, 22 July 1847; Merrill and Ruchames, , 3:480n. besides Messrs. Foster,11Stephen S. Foster. Garrison and myself; we are all labouring ardently, but we are few when you consider the vastness of the field and the readiness to hear on the subject.
I meant ere this to have sent you a hasty sketch of the character and proceedings of the Anniversary Meeting of the Western Anti-Slavery Society,12Douglass, Garrison, Stephen S. Foster, and James N. Buffum attended the annual meeting of the Western Anti-Slavery Society, held 18-20 August 1847 in New Lyme, Ohio. This organization began as the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society, but became known as the Ohio American Anti-Slavery Society after the divisions within the abolitionist movement in 1840. In 1846 the organization changed its name again to the Western Anti-Slavery Society when members of a defunct western Pennsylvania society joined its ranks. , 9 September 1847; Merrill and Ruchames, , 3:514n. but have been so hurried and driven by appointments, and so completely occupied with immediate and indispensable duties, as to make attention to this impossible. I have attended many Anti-Slavery meetings in the East, and in the West, but this exceeded, by far, any which I ever attended. It will long be remembered as one of the most interesting gatherings ever summoned at the bugle call of liberty. The presence of friends Garrison and Foster did much to give a zest and glory to the occasion, but added to these we had our cause pleaded by the magic eloquence of Music. The charms of liberty were set forth in song by the "Cowles family"13Betsy Mix Cowles (1810- 76) and Cornelia Cowles (c. 1807-69) were the daughters of the minister Giles Hooker Cowles. Recognized by Ohio congressman Joshua R. Giddings as the "greatest woman on the Reserve," Betsy was the better known and more publicly active of the sisters, being a key organizer of antislavery fairs and bazaars across the Western Reserve, including one held in Ravenna on 8 and 9 September 184 7. In 1835 she helped to organize the Ashtabula County Female Anti-Slavery Society in Ohio, for which she was secretary. She was also active in the Western AntiSlavery Society, contributed to the Anti-Slavery Bugle, and worked for the repeal of Ohio's Black Laws. Later becoming an ardent supporter of women's rights, she presided over a women's rights convention in Salem, Ohio, in 1850 and was one of the organizers of the Akron Women's Rights Convention in 1851. In addition to her reform activities, she pursued a career as a tec;1.cherin New York, Ohio, and Indiana from 1827 until her retirement in 1865. She was among the first women to attend Oberlin College, being in the third female graduating class in 1840. Known for her innovative teaching methods, she began her career at Ashtabula County subscription schools, where she fought numerous attempts to remove African American students from her classrooms. She then moved into an administrative role as principal of the female department at the Grand River Institute in Ashtabula County and rose to superintendent of schools in Painesville, Ohio. Cornelia, a professional singer, supported her sister as a domestic companion. Linda L. Geary, (Lewisburg, Ohio, 1989); Sterling, , 229-31; Donna Marie DeBlasio, "Her Own Society: The Life and Times of Betsey Mix Cowles, 1810-1876" (Ph.D. diss., Kent State University, 1980); Merrill and Ruchames, , 3:518-20; , 1:393-94; , 1:613-14. of Austinburg, and greatly was the cause enhanced by their efforts. I shall never forget the impression made upon the audience by the first song. Four thousand persons stood charmed, and overcome by the melting melody of our friends; there was scarcely a dry eye among the vast audience, and all hearts seemed melted into one. The meeting was held three days, and was full of interest to the last. The first day was rather unpropitious, the weather being uncomfortably cold and cloudy, but the second and third were fine, clear, bright, warm, and beautiful. The heavens above and the earth below smiled naturally and lovingly upon our philanthropic gathering, and added
their beauty and splendour to the scene, making the whole "superb and glorious." The meeting was held in what is extensively known in this region as the great "Oberlin Tent."14Friends of Charles Finney donated a circular tent to Oberlin College. One hundred feet in diameter, this tent was capable of holding an audience of 3,000. James H. Fairchild, (Oberlin, Ohio, 1883), 73- 74. Some idea of its greatness may be learned by the fact that it will hold five thousand persons. This portable "Fanuil Hall"15Built by the merchant Peter Faneuil in 1742 and enlarged by Charles Bulfinch in 1805, Faneuil Hall served as a market and town meeting place for most of its existence. The city of Boston required a permit, obtained through petition, for public use of the hall. The city often denied permits to organizations that might cause a disturbance, such as temperance or abolitionist groups, charging those organizations for damages incurred during any disturbance. Reputed to be the gathering place of revolutionaries during the War for Independence, the structure earned the nickname the "Cradle of Liberty." Thomas O'Connor, (Cambridge, Mass., 2000), 124-26; Walter Muir Whitehill and Lawrence W. Kennedy, (1959; Cambridge, Mass., 2000), 41-44, 69, 95-96. was spread out in an open field near the main road through Lyme, and for three days was the scene of more human life than has been witnessed in these regions since the days of "hard Cider and Coonskins."16During the 1840 Whig presidential campaign, William Henry Harrison appealed to voters by portraying himself as a frontiersman who drank "hard cider" and wore a "coonskin" cap, two items representing the common American citizen. The campaign included a newspaper titled the Log Cabin and Hard Cider Press, edited by Horace Greeley, and much paraphernalia depicting Harrison and his running mate John Tyler standing near a log cabin with raccoons and barrels of hard cider in the foreground. The campaign became famous for its "conventions" in hastily erected log cabins where hard cider was served to potential Harrison supporters. Dorothy Burne Goebel, (1926; Philadelphia, 1974 ), 348-50; Anthony Banning Norton, (Mount Vernon, Ohio, 1888), 7-16. Besides the thousands who crowded to hear on the subject of Slavery, there were hundreds who came from curiosity to see the crowd, and many for purposes of gain. Those who came for gain had their booths, and tents, and covered wagons, pitched all around us. There was a constant auctioneering going on without, while our meetings were going on within. In this respect our meeting resembled more the great political gatherings of the day than our usual Anti-Slavery meetings, except that our meeting was more orderly
than they. It was pleasant to see our cause look popular for once. Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the Anti-Slavery friends in New Lyme.17The Western Anti-Slavery Society held its annual meeting in New Lyme, Ohio. , 9
September 1847. Their industry, and hospitality were abundant and soul-cheering. You will be pleased to know that the women of the place took an active and intelligent interest in the meeting, and in the cause. When in the West four years ago, the lack of interest on the part of the women was, (you will remember,) the most painful part of our experience. I have observed that where an interest is taken in this subject there is more intellectual life and vigour among women, and much more happiness. Anti-Slavery is doing much here for the elevation and improvement of woman. The political Anti-Slavery meetings, are generally regarded as meetings with which women have nothing to do, and they can do little or nothing toward quickening their energies or expanding their intellects. On this occasion the women held AntiSlavery fairs, and though little was realized, it was not for want of persevering effort. There was one mistake on their part which caused a failure, but it was a mistake on the side of liberty. They admitted all persons free of charge; and curiosity being on tiptoe, the room was so crowded with spectators that no room was left for buyers. Not one half of the useful and beautiful articles brought together were sold. They intend holding another in a few days at Ravenna,18Douglass and Garrison were scheduled to speak at Ravenna, Ohio, on 9 and 10 September 1847, in conjunction with the antislavery fair organized there by Betsy Cowles for 8 and 9 September 1847. , 13 August, 3 September 1847; Lib., 17 September 1847; Merrill and Ruchames, , 3:525. where I presume they will profit by their experience at New Lyme. The leading lady of this Bazaar movement,19Betsy Cowles. is well entitled to be called the Mrs. Chapman20Maria Weston Chapman. of the West. I think she will eventually be quite as successful. She is young in the cause but thoroughly devoted to it. She became deeply interested in the movement by the noble efforts of that faithful, eloquent, and intrepid advocate of the fettered bondman, Abby Kelley Foster. To this friend of God and man, the praise belongs of giving to the West, and to the cause, another Maria Weston Chapman.
Since the anniversary, we have held large meetings at Painsville, Munson, Twinsburg, Oberlin, Richfield, and Medina.21Douglass and Garrison rode forty miles from New Lyme to Painesville, Ohio, where they spoke at a midmorning meeting on Saturday, 21 August 1847. Next on the schedule were large meetings in Munson on 22 and 23 August 1847, two afternoon meetings in Twinsburg on 24 August 1847, four gatherings totaling more than 3,000 in Oberlin on 27 and 28 August 1847, and six meetings in Richfield beginning on 28 August 1847. From there the abolitionists held two meetings at the courthouse in Medina, Ohio, on 30 and 31 August 1847. , 10 September 1847; Merrill and Ruchames, , 3:522-25. All the meetings have been well attended, but those of Munson, and Richfield may be called monster meetings, numbering from three to six thousand. At all of these meetings, aside from the Anti-Slavery speeches, and the good resulting from them, a great deal of practical work has been done. No opportunity is missed to get in our publications, a great many useful books are sold, and subscribers to our papers obtained. We have done but little yet for the Standard or Liberator, as our efforts have been mainly directed to the support of the Bugle.22Published from 1845 to 1861 in Salem, Ohio, the weekly Anti-Slavery Bugle was the official newspaper of the Western Anti-Slavery Society and of the Garrisonians in the western states. Editors of the newspaper included Benjamin S. and Jane Elizabeth Hitchcock Jones (1845-49, 1859-61) and Marius Robinson ( 1851-59). In addition to abolition, the paper was dedicated to reform efforts including temperance, peace, and opposition to capital punishment. Circulation remained small, with the AntiSlavery Bugle reaching about 1,500 readers each week. As a result, in 184 7 one of its investors and editorial board members, Samuel Brooke, considered entering into a partnership with Douglass in which the North Star would subsume the Bugle. When the other board members and the leadership of the Boston Garrisonians learned of this plan, they quickly reorganized and placed management of the Bugle completely in the hands of the Western Anti-Slavery Society. Donations from Pennsylvania supporters helped to sustain the paper through 1848, and in 1849 the Boston clique sealed its influence on the paper by placing Oliver Johnson in the editor's chair. Gamble, "Moral Suasion in the West," 350-56; Ripley, , 4: 185n. We go to Massillon to-morrow.
You shall hear from me just as often as I can get time to write, but you must not be surprised if you do not receive a communication from me each
week while on this tour. We have a meeting appointed for every day from this place to Albany, and what little time I have is stolen from the social circle of friends, who have a right to my society while under their roofs, and who out here are not backward in demanding their rights.
Yours,
F.D.
PLir: NASS, 9 September 1847. Reprinted in , 16 September 1847. PLelr: Foner, , 1:262-65. PLe: JNH, 10:742-45 (October 1925); Woodson, , 478-81.