Mr. Editor:—I would give you the mystic interpretation of the above petition, were I able. This petition is rather difficult of comprehension. I do not believe it rightly set forth its object. Is Jersey so much better than the other slaveholding States, that we should desire separation? Would it allay her prejudice against us? Would it emancipate her slaves? Would it open her seminaries, colleges and universities to the colored people? Would the pulpit, the bar, and the legislative halls be opened to those who were worthy, without distinction of caste? I think not.—We do not love New Jersey because she is our home; neither do we venerate her because she is our country. She has never treated us as men. When she "shakes off the old man and his deeds," then we will begin to trust in her. She has always been an ardent supporter of the "peculiar institution"—a watch-dog for the Southern plantations; and unless she shows her faith by her works, we will not believe in her.

I do not understand the petition. What was the petitioner's object? Will he give us more light?

J. S. RockRock, John Stewart

John Sweat Rock (1825-66) was born to free black parents in Salem, New Jersey. From 1844 to 1848, he taught public school while studying dentistry in his spare time. In 1850, Rock opened a dental practice in Philadelphia and enrolled in the American Medical College. Following his graduation in 1852, he moved to Boston, where he practiced both medicine and dentistry. When his health declined in 1858, Rock journeyed to France. Upon his return, he began studying for a less arduous career as a lawyer. He was admitted to practice before the Massachusetts bench in 1861 and before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1864. Rock was widely known as a lecturer on both scholarly and antislavery topics, and shared the platform with Douglass on several occasions. During the Civil War, he served as a recruiting agent for Massachusetts black regiments. NASS, 15 December 1866; William Wells Brown, The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements (Boston, 1863), 266-70; Eugene P. Link, “The Civil Rights Activities of Three Great Negro Physicians (1840-1940),” JNH, 52:169-84 (July 1967); Wilhelmina M. Crosson, “Do You Know That?” , 5:3, 9 (October 1941); DANB, 529-31. .

Salem, N.J., Feb. 14, 1849.