Frederick Douglass Sydney H. Gay, October 11, 1849
FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO SYDNEY H. GAY
Rochester, [N.Y.] 11 Oct[ober] 1849.
DEAR FRIEND.
I am ready to second to the very best of my ability your proposition for holding a grand Antislavery Convention at Syracuse this fall.1Plans were under way in the fall of 1849 for a massive antislavery meeting to be held at Syracuse, New York, on 15 January 1850. Billed as the New York State Anti-Slavery Convention, speakers including Douglass, Gerrit Smith, Samuel Ringgold Ward, and Parker Pillsbury debated the usefulness of the U.S. Constitution to the antislavery cause. NS, 9 November, 21 December 1849, 25 January 1850. The idea is
an excellent one, and I have no doubt if carried out will do important service to our common cause. I agree with you that the thing should be well done or not done at all. Syracuse, as you need not be informed is, the centre of all that remains of the Liberty Party2—and hold the convention when we will, the men of that party will meet us. We should have our Loins girt3 about—and be ready to defend our position. Let me know the course you intend to pursue as speedily as possible, and all your plans about the proposed convention, that I may shape my course accordingly.
Of course, Boston must be represented at the Convention or it would be a mistake I think, to hold it. It should be a grand rally of freedom's friends from all quarters.
In haste yours faithfully.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS
ALS: Gay-Otis Family Papers, NNC.
GEORGE R. WILLIAMS1 TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Chillicothe, O[hio]. 4 Nov[ember] 1849.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS,—
DEAR SIR,
I am sorry there is so much apathy manifested on the part of our leading men to your noble and philanthropic scheme of a national union among the oppressed of the Free States of the U.S.A. The cause of this wide spread supineness I know not. But if it is in consequence of its origin, it is most unchristian and wicked, and the assertion of our enemies will turn out to be the fact; "that we are jealous of, and will traduce the character of those among us who possess superior talents and higher attainments." Heaven