New Bedford, Jan. 31st, 1849.

Frederick Douglass:ーWe have just held a large and interesting meeting here in relation to the Farming Interest in the State of New York, upon which subject we were favored with an address by our friend Stephen Myers, of Albany.

Last Monday evening, 29th inst., a meeting was held in Mechanics' Hall. Mr. Ezra R. Johnson was called to preside over the meetings, and J. B. Sanderson appointed Secretary.

After prayer by Rev. Mr. Tillman, William H. Griffin, Secretary of the New York Florence Farming Association, read portions of its Constitution, opening to the audience the objects contemplated in forming the Association in New York State, and auxiliary Societies in other States.

Mr. Stephen Myers was then introduced, and addressed the meeting for more than an hour, uopn the subject of farming and the interests of the colored people generally.ーHe spoke of our condition in large towns and cities, often surrounded by unjust laws and prejudiced public sentiment. Everywhere great oobstacles oppose our improvement and elevation. Law, public sentiment and popular religion unite to crush the colored man.ーWe see it and feel it in our souls. We are determined to have a change; ourselves only can bring about that change; ourselves must strike the blow. We must inform and strengthen ourselves with knowledgeーgo into the occupations of life around us with intelligence and confidence.

He spoke of the prospect opened to us by the benevolence of that great-hearted man, Gerrit SmithSmith, Gerrit

Gerrit Smith (1797– 1874), a New York businessman and land speculator, became best known for his philanthropic work for such reform causes as temperance and abolition. Between 1828 and 1835, he donated large sums of money to the American Colonization Society, but abandoned that movement in 1835 when his sympathies shifted to the immediate abolitionists. In the 1840s, he gave approximately 140,000 acres of land in upstate New York to three thousand black settlers, thus qualifying them to vote. Smith was a founder and frequent candidate of the Liberty party, running for governor of New York on that ticket in 1840 and winning a seat in Congress in 1852. When the Free Soil merger with moderate antislavery Democrats and Whigs lured away many Liberty party supporters, Smith helped bankroll that organization until 1860. Smith befriended Douglass when the latter moved to Rochester, and Smith frequently helped finance Frederick Douglass’ Paper. Like Douglass, Smith supported John Brown, but psychological stress caused by the failure at Harpers Ferry brought on the first of a series of bipolar episodes that greatly reduced his subsequent reform activities. Ralph Volney Harlow, Gerrit Smith: Philanthropist and Reformer (1939; New York, 1972); Gerald Sorin, The New York Abolitionists: A Case Study of Political Radicalism (Westport, Conn., 1971), 269– 87; Lewis Perry, Radical Abolitionism: Anarchy and the Government of God in Antislavery Thought (Ithaca, N.Y., 1973), 170– 80; John R. McKivigan and Madeleine Leveille, “The ‘Black Dream’ of Gerrit Smith, New York Abolitionist,” Syracuse University Library Associates Courier, 20:61– 76 (Fall 1985); NCAB , 2:322– 23; DAB, 17:270– 71. , in the gift lands, and those offered at such low prices, urging upon us to avail ourselves of this opportunity to purchase landsーoccupy themーengage in farming and mechanical occupations. Such a course will tend to build us up in character, wealth and consideration, and hasten the advent of universal emancipation. Mr. Myers spoke of the proposed settlement at Florence as a measure full of encouragement to those who design to engage in it. He has a map of the proposed village and the lands around it. Many questions in regard to this subject were proposed by persons in the audience, which were satisfactorily answered.

At the close of Mr. Myers' address, our friend W. W. Brown being present and called upon, made some remarks, approving the plan proposed by the New York Farming Association. He said the colored people have always been a long-suffering, patient and religious people. That is well. We should "seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness." But we must not longer suffer ignorance, degradation and abuse, when we can prevent it. Look up heavenward, but look around upon the earth. Get wisdom; be industrious, economical. Labor also to accumulate the goods of this life. It cannot be denied that this is one of the strongest props that sustsains our claims to equality. A number of our citizens have bought in the Smith lands, and expect to go and occupy them in the spring.

It was an interesting meeting. Near the close, the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That we heartily approve of the Florence Farming Association and its plans; and at the same time we have listened with gratification and approval to the address of Mr. Myers, in exposition of those plans.

The meeting then adjourned.

E. R. Johnson, Ch'n

J. B. Sanderson, Sec'y.