GILES B. STEBBINS¹Giles Badger Stebbins (1817–1900), an abolitionist and author, first toured on the lecture circuit in 1845 in the company of Abby Kelley and Stephen S. Foster. Stebbins’s writings focused on such diverse subjects as transcendentalism, abolition, temperance, industrial and agricultural development, and later Spiritualism and “psychic science.” His views on abolition found him firmly in Garrison’s camp, but he retained a cordial relationship with politically minded abolitionists, including Douglass and Gerrit Smith. In 1853 Stebbins published a book outlining the opinions of prominent blacks in opposition to colonization. Giles B. Stebbins, Upward Steps of Seventy Years (New York, 1890), 86–90, 102–05; Hewitt, Women’s Activism and Social Change, 118. TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Rochester, [N.Y.] 26 April 1852.

EDITOR DOUGLASS:

SIR:—

I have read your lengthy comments in a letter written by me to the Anti-Slavery Standard,²In his letter in the 15 April 1852 issue of the National Anti-Slavery Standard, Stebbins complained that the movement to form a statewide antislavery organization received little notice beyond Rochester. As evidence, he pointed to a small advertisement in Frederick Douglass’ Paper that mentioned the antislavery fair held on 18 and 19 March 1852, but omitted the organizational meeting for a state antislavery society held at the same time. Stebbins also disapproved of the new society’s constitution, which asserted that the New York State Anti-Slavery Society would not be an auxiliary to the American Anti-Slavery Society. Stebbins reported Stephen S. Foster’s prediction that the new group would fail if it opposed the national organization. Stebbins’s charge of the lack of advanced notice regarding the formation of the new society had some basis in fact. The published announcement by the Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society, which ran for several weeks in Douglass’s newspaper, did not mention it. Douglass himself alluded to the movement to create a new organization only in an editorial published in Frederick Douglass’ Paper on 11 March 1852. NASS, 15 April 1852. giving some account of the formation of the “New York State Anti-Slavery Society.”³In Douglass’s 22 April 1852 response to Stebbins’s letter to the National Anti-Slavery Standard, he criticized Stebbins’ s characterization of the new state antislavery society. As to Stephen S. Foster’s implied threats that the new society would be destroyed if it opposed the American Anti-Slavery Society, Douglass wrote, “Why! who are you, that sets yourself up to determine how men shall act against slavery, and threaten them with a war of extermination if they are not guided by your counsels?” FDP, 22 April 1852. I do not wish to open any controversy, but will simply say that, had you published my letter with those comments, it seems to me your readers would have formed an idea somewhat different both of its facts and spirit.

A word, however, on one point. You think my mode of mentioning the call for the Festival and Convention threw a slight on the members of the “Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society.”⁴In his letter to the National Anti-Slavery Standard Stebbins called the Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society a “Sewing Circle.” In condemning the lack of notification for the formation of a statewide antislavery society, Stebbins noted that the only advertisement had been a call “published in Douglass’ Paper for an Anti-Slavery Festival and Convention, signed by several ladies, members of a Sewing Circle in this city.” Although Stebbins claimed that he did not intend to offend the women’s society, Douglass took exception to this characterization. NASS, 15 April 1852; FDP, 22 April 1852. Now, nothing was further from my mind; the mention of that call was only incidental—a description of the Fair not being the object of the letter.

I did not then, neither do I now, think my expression exceptionable; but still am quite willing to correct it, and will write to the Standard stating the