FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO STEPHEN MYERS¹Stephen A. Myers (1800–?), an African American journalist and reformer from Albany, New York, edited the Northern Star and Freemen’s Advocate. Myers was born enslaved in New York, but received his freedom at age eighteen. He founded his first abolitionist newspaper in 1842, then merged it with Samuel Ringgold Ward’s True American in 1849 to create the Impartial Citizen. Myers relinquished his editing post to Ward, but acted as a general agent and business partner in the venture. In addition to abolition, Myers was a strong advocate of temperance, and on at least two occasions published short-lived newspapers dedicated to that cause. In Albany, Myers operated a temperance boardinghouse and acted as president of the Delevan State Temperance Union of New York. He also operated a station on the Underground Railroad, sheltered many fugitives in his home, and worked to raise funds for the Albany Vigilance Committee. Myers participated in the New York and national black convention movements and supported the Liberty party in the early 18508. His ties to the Florence Settlement grew out of his advocacy of agrarian life as a means toward black elevation. Myers acted as president and general agent of the Florence Farming Association, which encouraged blacks to occupy and farm land owned by Gerrit Smith. New York Colored American, 17 October 1840; NS, 30 June 1848, 31 January, 2, 16 February, 4 May, 29 June 1849; FDP, 10 September, 1 October 1852; Toronto Provincial Freeman, 6 December 1856; Foner and Walker, Black State Conventions, 1:76; Ripley, Black Abolitionist Papers, 3:378–79n.

Rochester, [N.Y.] 15 March 1849.

STEPHEN MYERS—

MY DEAR SIR:—

There is much doubt in this region, as well as elsewhere among our people, as to the desirableness of emigrating to the Florence Settlement²The Florence Farming Association, an organization of African Americans, made plans to create a community near Utica, New York, on lands donated by philanthropist Gerrit Smith. The group divided village land into quarter-acre lots, at a purchase price of three dollars per lot. Settlers would only pay one dollar to obtain land, provided they agreed to pay the balance in ten years. Those who purchased a village lot and built a house were eligible to purchase thirty to fifty acres of farm land on a similar payment schedule with a 4 percent interest rate. Widely promoted by the association’s general agent and president Stephen A. Myers, the venture gained the support of prominent African Americans. Douglass initially endorsed the settlement, but changed his mind after Smith provided additional details about the soil in the Florence region. Smith noted that “these lands are of very moderate fertility, are not favorably situated, and are held by my agent, who resides in that town, at prices probably quite equal to their value.” By November 1849, despite Smith’ s warning, quite a few settlers purchased land and moved to Florence. NS, 22 December 1848, 31 January, 16, 23 February, 2, 16, 30 March, 2 November 1849; Pease and Pease, Black Utopia, 171–72. and from all that I have heard recently from various sources, as to the wildness of the country, the infertility of the lands, the distance and the difficulties of the way to market, and the entire absence of water power, there is much to discourage emigration to that place, as a suitable one for establishing a flourishing and influential town.

My object now, however, is not to give any opinion with reg[a]rd to the advantages or disadvantages to be derived from settling that town, but to respectfully request that my name be erased from the list of agents for the Florence Association.³At a convention held in Albany, New York, on 15 January 1849, resolutions passed concerning the Florence Settlement listed Douglass as among those asked to solicit donations for the venture. The convention also appointed him to a committee of inspectors charged with valuing the property of the settlement after the completion of “public works.” NS, 19 January, 2 February 1849.

My knowledge of the locality, derived only from the map, is altogether too limited to justify me in allowing my name to stand forth prominently as connected with the Association.

Respectfully yours,

FRED’K DOUGLASS.

PLSr: NS, 16 March 1849.