ELIZABETH THOMPSON TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

New York[, N.Y.] 14 April [18]79[.]

DEAR MR DOUGLAS

Could you not arouse the people of the North to the awful situation of the
colored people all through the South and in this way raise many to enable
the colored people who wish to leave that part of the country to do so?¹Elizabeth Thompson alludes to the “Colored Exodus” issue, which consumed Douglass’s attention during much of the year.

Could we not in some way help them to settle in colonies?

Think how they must suffer in their poverty and helplessness helpless
ignorance when separated from each other.

Could you realize how my heart aches not only for these poor creatures but for that can think or feel you would not wonder that
am tired of life and ask no other future than annilation.

Who can wish to live forever? I have lived enough—

But this is bluer in tone than in color, so I will change the subject

can use my name whenever & whereever it will do any good or
give any strength to the [illegible]—except in the praises of many, in this
I always be consulted—Pardon my being a little divided in this, but
I have been so awfully bit so many times because I was too impulsive and

in my remark, that it makes me overcautious perhaps when
there is no reason for it—but at least will not misunderstand me.

I wish you would write me so often as you can find time and inclination. I am always more than glad to see your hand writing

May you live long and be both happy and useful through this life and
the life to come²Thompson outlived Douglass and died on 20 July 1899 in Littleton, New Hampshire.

With best wishes

I am as ever

Sincerely

E THOMPSON

ALS: General Correspondence File, reel 3, frames 377–79L, FD Papers, DLC.