Griffith M. Cooper to Frederick Douglass, February 8, 1852
GRIFFITH M. COOPER1Griffith M. Cooper (c. 1791–?), a Quaker and farmer, was a longtime reader of Douglass’s newspaper. He resided in Williamson, New York, with his wife Eliza and two children, William and Mary. Cooper served as an Underground Railroad agent and was active in antislavery conventions held in upstate New York. He also chaired the Committee on Indian Concerns for the Society of Friends. NS, 3 March 1848, 1 June, 14 September 1849; FDP, 18 March 1852; 1850 US. Census, New York, Wayne County, Williamson, 155. TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Williamson, [N.Y.] 8 [February] 1852.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS:
ESTEEMED FRIEND:—
I herewith enclose two dollars. Better late than never.2An adage of Greek origin. Stevenson, Book of Proverbs, 1348. I suppose, individuals adhering to the opinion that the Constitution of the United States is a pro-slavery document, decline taking Frederick Douglass’ Paper, on account of thy change of opinion in relation to that instrument. Although I
here to the former sentiment, I haven’t it in my heart to proscribe a brother for an alteration of opinion, and that, differing from my own. As belief is based upon evidence, I conclude thou hast experienced a sufficiency of that to believe different in relation to this subject from myself and many others, when the like evidence is presented to me must think and act in accordance with it. I desire thy encouragement to “attend to the light.”3Central to the Quaker faith is that God provides an inward principle in each person that is the light of Christ within. For Quakers, to attend to the light within frees them from self-will and allows them to be obedient to the teachings of God. Ignoring the light within allows the mind to engage in deceitful rationalizations and results in a state of disobedience to God’s teachings. Hugh Barbour and J. William Frost, The Quakers (New York, 1988), 174–75.
Before I close, let me say a word as to the present great center of attraction—Kossuth.4Louis Kossuth. He no doubt is a great, patriotic, high-minded man, and is worthy of great respect and esteem, but great as he is, yet he is a man and should not be worshiped. The people I think are making fools of themselves, and laying the foundation for much trouble to the country. Kossuth came here for a selfish purpose, the liberation of Hungary—but has not a word for enslaved millions of this land; and in order to accomplish the object of his desire, he is pouring into the souls of the masses the most fulsome adulation. The recipients, like the young and unsuspecting fledgling, take it down as the best nourishment. Verily we are a christian people, zealous for liberty abroad, but slavery at home. Notwithstanding what is here said in relation to this great man, my sympathy, almost, induced me to excuse his delinquency to the three millions of slaves who are clanking their chains in his ears. As a professed advocate for human rights, and universal liberty, it is a dereliction of principle. My sympathy leads in one direction—my conviction of justice and right, in another. Wife, children, friends, country, the land of his birth, the home of his youth, are at stake. All these cluster round his heart—all the sympathies of his nature are interested for them. Few, indeed, who would not yield to circumstances such as these. But abolitionists must adhere to principle: it is the cor[e] of their salvation. I have had some experience in this direction. I am now an exile, an out-cast, despised and rejected for advocating the brotherhood of man, the fraternity of God.5The Pennsylvania Freeman praised Cooper for his labors as head of the Committee on Indian Affairs for the Society of Friends, but he was removed from that post because of his involvement with abolitionism and thereafter disaffiliated from the Quakers. FDP, 18 March 1852. Frederick, I am sick, and have been confined at home nearly all winter. I can sympathize with thee.
Thine as ever,
G. M. COOPER.
PLSr: FDP, 26 February 1852.