Jacob Lybrand to Frederick Douglass, February 26, 1852
Letter from Jacob Lybrand.
Frederick Douglass: Dear Sir:—In anticipation of His Excellency, Louis Kossuth, Governor of Hungary, various opinions were entertained, not only as to the result, but also as to the course he would pursue in relation to the damning curse of this nation—slavery. And since the arrival of that great and good man in our country, differences of opinion still continue in relation to him, as well by pro-slavery as by anti-slavery people; the most, however, as far as my observation extends, favorable to the hero, the statesman, and the philanthropist.
"Since the world began," has there ever been anything so overshadowing, so overwhelming, so withering as AMERICAN slavery? I think not! Why! words are not yet in existence sufficiently strong to express the sway it wields over this nation; I had almost said the entire people. But thank God, there are some redeeming spirits in the land ! Where it not a fact, would any person believe that such a thing could exist, as that this nation should be ruled by a few thousand slaveholders? We who profess to be the freest nation upon earth, to hold in absolute slavery, one sixth of the number of her inhabitants, and at the same time, profanely and blasphemously professing to believe in the liberty and equality of man! [illegible], our course of conduct, as a nation is moral perjury! Were a nation as honest as a prominent member of the Democratic (???) party, who once expressed himself to me, in relation to the Declaration of Independence, when he remarked, that the "self-evident" "truths" therein advanced, "that all men are created
equal," were intended to apply to white people, the inconsistency would not be so glaring.
But perhaps I am wandering from what I intended, when alluding to the beloved Kossuth. No one has done, and is doing more, if indeed so much as he, for the spread of universal freedom. And his visit to our dear, but exceedingly wicked and guilty country, I trust, will do more to regenerate her, than anything that has heretofore occurred. God grant that he may be the means, while he is so eloquently and truthfully advocating the cause of his own Hungary, of causing us to repent in sackcloth and ashes for our sins, in oppressing our people! He is emphatically the man for the times.—His mental and intellectual powers are of the very highest order. A very far-seeing man, and sees matters in their right light. Casting away obsolete ideas, or ideas that should be obsolete. I have long been of the opinion that the blind idolatry of the American people to the worthies of those "times that tried men's souls" and to their doings, has rather been a curse than a blessing. Those great and good men of revolutionary times, accomplished their mission, and laid the foundation for us, as a people. But they were human; like us, weak, erring, fallible men. And they did commit such egregious errors, made some glaring mistakes. And it would be much better in us, and we would be doing more honor to their memories, and I think they would so express themselves to us, had they the opportunity, if we would give them credit for what they did that is good, and correct the evils which they have been the means of producing.
I cannot agree with those anti-slavery friends who believe that the United States Constitution is a purely anti-slavery document; and I think the insisting on that interpretation for the instrument, has not only
[g]reatly tended to weaken the abolition cause, but has lessened the purity of the enterprise. And the history of the Declaration of Independence shows that it was not intended, whatever meaning they wished to be attached to it, that it should be carried out to the letter; for many of its signers were not only at the time of signing it, slaveholders, but died while holding slaves. One incident in the getting up of that instrument, proves conclusively, that they did not intend being consistent in their professions. In the many charges preferred against the king of Great Britain, and grievances enumerated, one was, his allowing the institution of slavery in the then colonies, which charge was stricken out, before that immortal instrument was adopted. And the meanness of the people of late years, since Great Britain has abolished slavery throughout her vast domains, in upbraiding the "mother country," with being the means of introducing slavery here, or allowing it to exist, is great; pretending that that is a reason why it should still continue. Among the members of the Convention that formed the United States Constitution, was the "Father of his Country," several years after the nation had obtained the acknowledgment of her independence, who presided over that body, who was then, and until his death, many years after, a slaveholder, and died a slaveholder.
It appears that the State of South Carolina have passed the Secession Convention Bill, and are now ready to "set up for themselves," or perhaps they are waiting until some other States may join their bloody standard. Why cannot our nation allow them to do for themselves? Poor things, they want to have their own way! They have always been wayward, petted, and spoiled children; and having previously made attempts to break from their paternal restrains, it might be well, it doubtless would be, if not for
themselves, for the cause of LIBERTY, to let them have their own way.
As we are living in critical times, it being by some of the (???) wise ones of our land considered treason for our own citizens to do that for which the great and good Magyar is applauded througout the country. I trust that I shall not be deemed a traitor to my beloved country, for anything above written. If, however, it should be adjudged treason, let them make the most of it! Strange, that those who love their country best, and who, in consequence of that love, are using their influence to purify her from her imperfections, should be termed traitors; while those who are treasonable to everything they profess, should be called patriots! A more infernal law was never passed, than the Fugitive Slave Act; and those worthies who resisted it at Christiana, were engaged in a more glorious cause, than were our fathers, in the Revolutionary War.
I regret to learn from your paper of the first instant, that you were prostrated by severe sickness, and trust that ere this you have been restored to health. You are too useful a man, and your services are too much needed for you to be long spared from your duties. Your countrymen have need of an American Kossuth; and I know of none more suitable to fill that responsible station than yourself. Oh! that all the Anti-Slavery influence in our country, north and south,—and there is much in the South—I often think that the South will become abolitionized before the North - could be united, instead of being divided as they now are upon so many isms. The Demon Slavery would then be hurled to the lowest depths of Hell whence it will eventually be cast!
For "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity."
Jacob Lybrand.