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W[illiam] O. Duvall to Frederick Douglass, April 8, 1853

FRIEND DOUGLASS:—I am rejoiced to see
in your back numbers your views of the "Col
onization Society," in its extraordinary ef
forts to get into the treasury of the nation.
I am the more rejoiced, as, but a few weeks
since, a member of that Society, a flippant
Old School Presbyterian priest, publicly al
luded to yourself, as among the new converts
to the accursed scheme. As a sample of
Colonization veracity, allow me to inform you
that, in eulogy of the benevolent character
of the Society, and in reference to great
names among its friends and contributors, he
mentioned that of the great and good Wil
berforce—and that, too, after having assured
his audience that he claimed to be an "en
lightened Colonizationist." "I'll assure you
'a uttered as prave 'ords at the pridge, as you
shall see in a summer's day."

The simple truth with regard to this
damnable scheme, and its infamous and fool
ish abettors, is this: Antipathy has driven
slavery to the wall, and the latter, regarding
the African outlet, as the only means of es
cape, is stirring heaven and earth in that
direction. Slavedom is just now occupied
with two thoughts. The first is, to get the
colored people to Africa; the second is, to
have the nation pray for them and transport
them out of the national treasury. In order
to get a public opinion to warrant this, the
most brutal laws must be enacted in all the
Free States, as well as Slave States, against
the continuance therein of free negroes. To
this end, "Colonization" is expending her
best energies. In the history of anti-slavery,
there never was a time when the thunders
and lightnings of our Garrisons, Quincys,
Phillips, Greens, Goodells, Sewalls, and
Smiths were more needed, than at the pre
ent.

The infernal scheme, with all its black
hearted politicians, and white-livered, sauan
yed priests, should be blown to the
devil.—Allow this lying, hypocritical nation to suc
ceed in expatriating those kind, docile, suffer
ing forbearing, and forgiving colored people
from the land of their birth, where, many of
them, and their fathers before them, shed
their hearts' blood in defence of the freedom
which we boast of and enjoy-and nothing
short of orthodox hell should be our doom.
Nor can I conceive how any mind, with any
true conception of the dignity of manhood,
could consent to anything less.

Yours for truth,

W. O. DUVALLDuvall, William O.

.

Creator

Duvall, William Orvall

Date

April 8, 1853

Description

W[illiam] O. Duvall to Frederick Douglass. PLSr: Frederick DouglassP, 8 April 1853. Condemns recent attempts by the American Colonization Society to receive financial support from the United States Treasury.

Publisher

This document was calendared in the published volume and has not been published in full before.

Collection

Frederick Douglass' Paper

Type

Letters

Publication Status

Unpublished