HENRY O. WAGONER TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Chicago, [Ill.] 11 July 1851.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS:—

True it is late, but still it is better late than never,¹The earliest form of this Greek proverb, dating from 25 B.C.E., is “It is better to be late than never to arrive.” Other forms include “Better than never is late” and “Better late than never, but better never late.” Stevenson, Book of Proverbs, 1348. and I take this occasion to congratulate you upon your late position on the Anti-Slavery character of the Constitution of the United States. I have never, as you know, hinted anything to you heretofore upon this subject, although on reading, about four years ago, William Goodell’s²William Goodell (1792–1878), a New York abolitionist and newspaper editor, helped to form both the American Anti-Slavery Society and the Liberty party. As a writer and editor, Goodell contributed to a number of reform and antislavery publications, including the Genius of Temperance, the Emancipator, the Friend of Man, the American Jubilee, the Radical Abolitionist, and Principia. Goodell’s abolitionist ideals sometimes conflicted with those of the Garrisonians. On religion, Goodell agreed wholeheartedly that established churches supported proslavery theology, and he went so far as to establish his own nonsectarian church in Honeoye, New York, on the principles of temperance and anti-slavery. Goodell broke with the Garrisonians on the issue of politics, however. He helped found the Liberty party, looking to use political means in the fight against slavery. Perry, Radical Abolitionism, 464–48, 180–83; Sorin, New York Abolitionists, 57–62; DAB, 7:384–85. argument upon this subject,³Wagoner probably refers to “A Call for a National Nominating Convention,” drafted by William Goodell in spring 1847 and signed by several members of the antislavery community of Wayne County, New York. In that pamphlet Goodell argued, “The sole and indispensable business of civil government is to secure and preserve the natural and equal rights of all men unimpaired,” and “No civil government can either authorize or permit one individual or class of men to infringe the natural and equal rights of another individual or class of men, nor may the government itself, under any pretext, infringe any natural right.” Therefore, according to Goodell, “Slavery in the United States is illegal, unconstitutional and anti-republican.” The pamphlet then called for a convention, to be held in Macedon, New York, on 8–10 June 1847, in order to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the Liberty party in the 1848 election. William Goodell, A Call for a National Nominating Convention (1847; Louisville, Ky., 1962). I was then forced to the same conclusion as that which you have recently announced to the public. Nor is it at all strange that such announcement from you, would subject you not only to the severest criticism, but also to the severest censure by some of those who may even honestly differ from you. But I admire the man who has the boldness, honesty, and frankness, to acknowledge his change of views and opinions upon any subject. It has been said, that “wise men sometimes change; fools, never.”⁴The Spanish proverb provides, “The wise man changes his mind, the fool never.” Stevenson, Book of Proverbs, 857. But notwithstanding all this, it is our duty to cherish a proper respect for the opinions of others, however widely they may differ from us. It is not my present purpose to attempt to add any new arguments to those already advanced by others upon this subject; but, a passing remark, although not new, may not be inappropriate. Could any man of a sound and comprehensive mind read the Constitution of the United States, and not knowing at the time of such reading that Slavery had ever existed in this country, would he be likely to find it out by reading that document? I believe it has been pretty generally conceded that he would not.

I am pleased to see you and Samuel R. Ward standing upon the same platform. It is what I, together with many of our friends, in this section of the country, have long desired to see. I would rejoice still further, to hear of our worthy friend, Charles L. Remond,⁵Douglass and Charles Lenox Remond were now at odds over the U.S. Constitution and slavery. Although Douglass and Remond traveled together on the lecture circuit in the 1840s, their relationship became strained. In 1852 Remond went so far as to announce publicly his intention to cancel his subscription to Frederick Douglass’ Paper. Remond remained steadfast in his opinions, even facing Douglass over the proslavery nature of the Constitution in a debate held at the Shiloh Church in New York City on 20 and 21 May 1857. Quarles, Black Abolitionists, 168; Ward, “Charles Lenox Remond,” 193–95, 226–29. added to the number. With the united powers and efforts of you three, rightly directed, there is no telling the amount of good that might be accomplished.

Henry Bibb addressed the people here, on last Sabbath evening,⁶Henry Bibb addressed the crowd on the final day of the Christian Anti-Slavery Convention held in Chicago from 3 to 5 July 1851. Washington (D.C.) National Era, 31 July 1851. to a very good effect. He is now absent at Milwaukie. He promised the people before he left, that he would return and address them again. But why is it that you cannot be induced to pay us a flying visit, and give the people in the north-west section of the country, a personal talk. All are anxious to hear your enchanting powers. I think, you could not come in a better time, for the people want something to arouse them from their present lethargy.

But before I close, permit me again to admonish our colored brethren