FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO SAMUEL J. MAY

[Rochester, N.Y. 10 November 1852].¹The date on this letter appears to be written in Samuel J. May’s hand, not Douglass’s; therefore, the date is probably the day May received it, not when Douglass wrote it. Since the letter includes a reference to Gerrit Smith’s win in the congressional race, Douglass must have sent it after election day, 2 November 1852.

MY DEAR SIR,

Your letter²May’s letter to Douglass has not been located. came yesterday—and I emmediately ordered the numbers of my paper to your address for which you sent. I hope you will get them safely.

I hope your plan for agitating this State will succeed. I will pledge whatever of influence I possess—in aid of such agetation. A series of such meetings as you propose could not fail to act benifecially on our cause throughout the Country.³In addition to organizing an anniversary celebration for the Jerry Rescue in Syracuse, May worked to raise funds to pay for the defense of the thirteen men arrested for violating the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 during the incident. Most of these men were poor, and the drawn-out process of the trial, including several changes of venue, led to expenses beyond their means. FDP, 15 October 1852; Yacovone, Samuel Joseph May, 150–51.

The election of GERRIT SMITH—What an era! But this grand event will be comparatively lost unless the agitation is kept up. With men and money—we could carry the state for freedom in 1856.

I was sorry not to have seen more of you at the celebration,⁴Both Douglass and May were present at Syracuse, New York, for the celebration recognizing the first anniversary of the Jerry Rescue on 1 October 1852. FDP, 29 October 1852. but in a crowd so large even a tall man might pass unobserved.

Very truly yours,

FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

ALS: FD Papers, NHi. PLSr: Woodson, Mind of the Negro, 653.