Skip to main content

Frederick Douglass Gerrit Smith, March 18, 1849

1

FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO GERRIT SMITH

Rochester, [N.Y.] 18 March 1849.

Gerrit Smith.

MY DEAR SIR,

I very much regret the publication of your letter in the “North Star” of last week.1In a letter dated 9 February 1849, Gerrit Smith criticized Douglass’s contention that the U.S. Constitution was a proslavery document. That letter appears in this volume. NS, 16 March 1849. Had I dreamed that it was merely a private friendly letter, intended

2

for myself only it should have been held sacred. I shall of course publish the letter just come to hand unless otherwise directed by yourself.

You will of course excuse—my mistake and believe me sincerely and gratefully yours in the cause of Rightious Liberty

FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

ALS: Gerrit Smith Papers, NSyU.

Creator

Douglass, Frederick (1818–1895)

Date

1849-03-18

Publisher

Yale University Press 2009

Type

Letters

Publication Status

Published