C. H. CHASE¹The North Star lists a “Dr. Chase” as one of the speakers expected at the Western New York Anti-Slavery Convention. He may have been Charles Chase (0. 1820--?), a schoolteacher born in New York and boarding in the Brighton, New York, home of farmer Mather Dryer. 1850 US. Census, New York, Monroe County, Brighton (n.p.); NS, 15 December 1848. TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Rochester, [N.Y.] 23 Jan[uary] 1849.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS—
DEAR SIR:—
I have called twice at the Star office,²25 Buffalo Street, Rochester, New York. for the purpose of conferring with you about our discussion on American slavery, but did not find you. I am very anxious, in view of the good which I think may be done, to have the discussion immediately, and will cheerfully meet you at any time and place in this city, which you may propose, provided it shall be soon, as business will call me from the city in a few days. The resolution to be discussed, as you doubtless recollect, is the one which I presented at the Anti—Slavery Convention recently held in this city, at which time you challenged me to debate it, and I accepted the challenge.³There is no record of Douglass issuing such a challenge to Chase in the summary reports of the convention.

[“]Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States, if strictly construed according to its reading, is Anti-Slavery in all of its provisions.”⁴Chase quotes a resolution adopted at the January 1848 annual meeting of the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society. NS, 29 December 1848, 5 January 1849.