Coudersport, Pa., March 30, 1852.

Frederick Douglass: Dear Sir:—I desire to thank you for your kindness in exchanging with the Journal, and I desire to appreciate the difference between your paper and ours. Enclosed is two dollars, as the evidence of my perception in this respect.—I read your paper with great interest, and I do hope the freemen of Western New York will give it a living, energetic and generous support.

Yours truly,

Thomas S. MannMann, John Smith

John Smith Mann (1816-79), one of the editors of the People’s Journal of Coudersport, Pennsylvania. John Mann was a lawyer and store owner and later became very active in politics. He was first elected to be the director of school in the 1840s. Mann then served with the postal service and was elected as a burgess in Coudersport as a Republican. After the war, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives several times in the late 1860s and early 1870s. In addition to the People’s Journal, Mann helped edit the Potter Journal through the 1870s. His home was said to be part of the Underground Railroad. 1860 U.S. Census, Coudersport Boro, Potter, Pennsylvania; “The Potter Journal and News Item,” Chronicling America, loc.gov; “Mann, John Smith,” Archives Pennsylvania House of Representatives, archives.house.state.pa.us. .

Associate Editor People's Journal.