Journal Sketches.

Friend Douglass:—There is light for us. The common people are breaking away from party leaders. I have recently spoken at McLean, Groton Hill, Groton Village, West Groton, Ludlowville, Newfield, Ithaca, West Hill, are Farmerville. In Newfield, I found no one taking your paper; obtained five subscribers, and we shall have more there soon. In Ithaca village we must have twenty-five before the close of February. I am to preach and lecture there in the first part of that month. The cause of liberty is there gaining. The power of association of ideas was felt by me at Newfield, to an extent not easily described. More than twenty years since I began to speak the truth in that place according to my apprehension of it at that time. During my short visit, I spoke in the Presbyterian and Methodist houses in the village, and in town school houses in the distant neighborhoods. As I went over this ground, the events which occured fifteen or twenty years since, came to mind with the freshness of yesterday.

Brother [Hersten], pastor of the M. E. Church, and Brother Fitch, pastor of the Presbyterian, are quite decent anti-slavery ministers in their individual convictions, and in the freedom of discussions which they fully encourage, and also in much of their "testimony," but they maintain ecclesiastical relations which I cannot approve. But difference of opinion upon this subject, should not hinder us from co-operating most cordially, in those efforts where we do see alike—

Watchmen seeing eye to eye.

In a certain place, town ministers of different denominations, have for years past been engaged in no small amount of controversy.

Since the Fugitive enactment has passed, they have found themselves agreeing to keep down agitation. One of them remarked that this was a token of the good time coming, when the watchmen shall see eye to eye. From such seeing, "Good Lord, deliver us!"

Dec. 17th. My head quarters are at Brother Cornelius V. Covert's hospitable home. Mr. Covert is a farmer, and takes his horse and cutter, and goes with me from house to house, and argues in earnest that his neighbors should take your paper. Such sort of help is refreshing to the soul; such hearty co-operation makes being from home, at this season of the year, somewhat endurable. Mr. C. talks of enlisting some kindered spirit with him, and then go forth "two and two," holding meetings in school houses, read extracts from some of your editorials, and those of J. T—, interspersing comments of their own. A part of the order of exercises will be in those meetings, to open the way for free conference—the closing speech to be, to ask—"Who will subscribe for Frederick Douglass' Paper?" Reader—"Go thou and do likewise." In each town some can be found, who can constantly perform such labor. This kind of missionary work is much needed now in this country. It will do those good who engage in it. It will save them from all danger of being prostrated by those periodical attacks which some suffer every four years, when against the dictates of conscience; they are pursuaded to vote, "just this once," for some slaveholder or apologist for slavery, for President of the United States. In the Autumn of 1852, these attacks will most fearfully prevail. Prevention: pay for Douglass' Paper; study it; obtain subscribers for it.

Dec. 18th. We have cold weather here in Seneca Co., and if it is colder in Canada, I am sorry for Brother S. R. Ward, and his persecuted associates. It is pleasing to see that he gives a favorable a view of residence in Canada. But we are greatly troubled that such noble Kossuths as Ward and Loguen, should be hunted from our country. In the beginning of the 8th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, we find something which may help to reconcile us to this persecution as overruled by the wise Providence of God. This is the record:—"and Saul was consenting unto his death." (The death of Stephen.) And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad, &c. Verse 4th—Therefore they that were scattered abroad, went everywhere preaching the word. So may our dour brethren in Canada "preach the word" with great faith, fullness and success. May God bless them as he did Deacon Philip when he went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

"Now, that is it," says some New York Observer pupil—"now brother G—, is coming right; only let him preach Christ, and let this abolition doctrine alone." Hold! Friend Conservative; how can we preach Christ, if we refuse to apply his gospel so as to rebuke those organized iniquities, and pretended legal enactments, which spurn the Government of Christ, and set up "FOR SALE," the purchase of his blood?

J. R. G.

Covert, Seneca co., Dec. 16th, 1851.