William J. Wilson to Frederick Douglass, December 1852
WILLIAM J. WILSON1William Joseph Wilson (1818–?), a free black man from New Jersey, operated a bootmaking shop in New York City as early as the 1830s. In the 1840s he became a secondary school teacher and later a principal of a black school in Brooklyn. He was an activist on behalf of black education, encouraging access and attendance, and even opened his own library. Wilson also campaigned to secure the franchise for New York African Americans. He served as a member of the Committee of Thirteen, organized by New York black leaders to stop enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act. In the early 1850s Wilson’s letters appeared frequently in Frederick Douglass’ Paper, and Douglass referred to him as the newspaper’s “Brooklyn correspondent.” Wilson’s letters to the newspaper, published under the pseudonym “Ethiop,” were often part of an ongoing debate about the condition of blacks in New York and the United States. Wilson’s most frequent sparring partner in the war of letters was “Communipaw,” actually James McCune Smith, a prominent black physician in New York City. Carleton Mabee, Black Education in New York State: From Colonial to Modern Times (Syracuse, N.Y., 1979), 54, 63—67, 123, 129, 155, 158; Foner and Walker, Black State Conventions, 1:79—88; Quarles, Black Abolitionists, 87, 212, 229; Ripley, Black Abolitionist Papers, 42144—4511. TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Brooklyn Heights, [N.Y.] Dec[ember] 1852.
DEAR DOUGLASS:—
Startled from my reverie, and my old arm chair, in which I had been so long, and so cosily, the other evening, by your announcement of 250 behind
hand2In arrears or late in the discharge of one’s liabilities. Originally “behind the hand,” behindhand is likely on the analogy of “beforehand.” subscribers to your valuable paper,3Douglass actually announced, “A large number of our subscriptions fall due at the present number (260) of our paper. Will subscribers remember this, and respond accordingly?” FDP, 17 December 1852. I rubbed out my eyes and ran to my desk to see if I was among that number, and if I may not mention the result of that examination, I cannot refrain from saying,
Here’s a hand to thee, Dear Fred.,
Here’s a heart and hand for thee,
And since for justice is our fight,
If through years we’re spared,
We shall the victory see.
In looking over the field, now that the din and smoke of the skirmish has somewhat subsided, (for the battle is yet to be fought,[)] I see only the more clearly what I formerly saw and endeavored to point out, viz: The very bad condition of our (I mean the black) forces—their lack of systematic training, and ability to marshal upon a given and important point effectually, and lack of desire and foresight to find said point. Not that we have not much within the pale of our operations invaluable to us; not that we have not here and there stuck a stake; not that we have not here thrown up a redoubt, and there built a retrenchment, or gamed out posts here and position there indispensable for the coming struggle; but it is in the comparison of these with those of the foes that we suffer. I am not one of those who are unwilling to examine the whole ground whereon we stand minutely, and point out our weaknesses and defects, that they may be remedied; nor of those who close their eyes to operations in our very camp, well known to destroy its strength and its efficiency, and if persisted in, will utterly rout[e] us horse and foot, persuaded it is of no consequence—rather better for us upon the whole. I say I belong not to this class. I would conceal nothing that would be of service to us; I would have our leaders go over the whole field; I would call upon them to examine and discuss calmly and clearly, not merely matters local, of religion and politics, of morals and economy, but every interest and relation in any manner ours, at home or abroad, throughout the world. I would have them mindful of the North—of the South—of British America—of Central and South America—of Europe—of Africa—of the Indies—especially just now of Hayti.
The black public demand light and should have it. Your paper, my dear Douglass, should, and must be the great medium thro’ which they may take a comprehensive view of all their relations of the whole matter; hence, enabled to play well their part. I would have those leaders gird themselves up, and with weapon in hand, come forth; and though this paper is rather intended for your own eye, to express my hope for your success, still, should
it find its way to the light, I, Ethiop, may then again be considered in the field, with implements in hand. Men went to battle in revolutionary times, it i[s] said, with whatever instruments they could best get. To fight oppression was their object. My grandfather went with a blunderbuss.4A short musket with a flaring muzzle, used to scatter shot at close range. I have a hoe, a rake, an axe, and a big jack-knife—so look out.
Your sixth bow to the public, I believe, my dear Douglass. By your permission, then, sir, my second. And now, look out, good gentle folks,
Ethiop’s again among ye o’ takin notes,
And faith he’ll print ’em.
The Flats5Burlington Flats is a village in Otsego County, New York, twenty-five miles south of Utica. Thomas and Baldwin, Lippincott’s Gazetteer, 1:318. looks fine and verdant. What has become of friend Barry.6Francis Barry. Why does not some one of your able colored correspondents give us light about the black Emperor of Hayti,7Faustin Soulouque (1785–1867) was born a slave in Haiti and joined its military forces as a young man. Though illiterate and a public adherent to voodoo, Soulouque gained political influence under the presidency of Jean-Pierre Boyer and succeeded to that office four years after Boyer’s death in 1843. Soulouque proclaimed himself Emperor Faustin I in 1849 and ruled Haiti for another decade. Twice he led Haitian forces in invasions of the neighboring Dominican Republic, but scored few military gains. He died in exile in France. Selden Rodman, Haiti: The Black Republic, 6th ed. (Old Greenwich, Conn., 1984), 34–35; Ripley, Black Abolitionist Papers, 2:337n. and his miserable government we hear so much of?
How many more people of color have we this year on the sliding scale, than we had this time last year? Where is the association who invented it, and secretly set it in motion? Who compose it? Who can tell? Astounding disclosures ahead!!!
Yours truly,
ETHIOP.
PLSr: FDP, 31 December 1852.