Joseph C. Holly to Frederick Douglass, April 5, 1852
Dear Douglass:—I have been engaged the past two weeks in assisting the Rev. Henry A. Thompson in collecting money to purchase the freedom of the wife and child of Levi Henderson. One of his congretation in Northampton, Massachusetts, Mr. Henderson purchased his own freedom, paying the sum of six hundred and fifty dollars therefor[e], most of which he carried by his own industry, and now the claimant of his wife and child demands the same amount for them. Mr. Thompson has collected four hundred and fifty of the share amount, and by his request I have undertaken to collect a part of the remainder. In the prosecution of this enterprise, I have visited most of the stations on the Rutland and Burlington road, between this place and Bellows Falls, and have had some opportunity to observe men and things. I will first give a sketch of Distinguished Vermonters, and their views.
Ex-Governor Wm. Slade, Middlebury.—With this distinguished gentleman, who is with his family, enjoying a temporary repose from his arduous exertions in protecting education in the west, it was my pleasure and privilege to have an interesting conversation. He spoke of the many disadvantages that the colored man labors under, and wondered how with so little incentive to industry and ambition he makes such progress in morals and intelligence. It seemed to him that the crushing influences that surround him would be sufficient to destroy his manhood, unless it should drive him to rely on Providence, and thus develop his moral and religious nature. In the latter opinion I concurred, and expressed the opinion, that the ambition of colored man was to prove himself worthy, and capabale of office, without the expectancy of office. "But (said he) I believe their removal impossible, and instead of attempting to effect an impossibility, we should direct our efforts to their improvement and elevation, as in the order of Providence they are destined to continue a part of our population."
I thought that this truly christian statesman took in the whole subject at one view, and presented a pleasing contrast to Mr. Birney, who despairs of God's promise and providences, that "truth shall be mighty to the pulling down of strong holds."
Gov. Charles K. Williams, Rutland. It was also my privilege to converse with this distinguished gentleman, on the condition and prospects of the colored people in America. He seemed to favor somewhat Mr. Birneys notions, though he entered freely and frankly into a consideration of the subject; and at his request, I gave my candid opinion. I expressed the belief that the Africo American had taken deep root and become a permanent fixture to the soil. That the United States, was but a portion of the American Continent. That central South America, Mexico, and the West Indies, must be taken into the account, with their vast colored population, which they cannot and do not desire to colonize. That the races on this Continent will finally merge or fuse into each other, each contributing to the general improvement of the race. The European, its energy, its practicability. The Indian, its
indomitable, stoical firmness. The African, its sociality, its spirituality. Gov. Williams is a gentleman and a christian and as such has no vulgar prejudices to cause him to demur at what under providence may be the settlement of this question of "two distinct races;" nor has he ceased to have faith in Him that disposes, aright, however men may propose.
General Ryland Fletcher, Cavendish:—This gentleman was the candidate of the free Democratic party for Lieut. Governor in the late state election. He is the most modest man for one so talented that it has been my good fortune to meet. He is a Liberty man, and, like all true liberty men conversant with the colonization scheme, regards it as a pro-slavery, anti-christian institution. His friends may have the pleasing consolation to know that if not successful, none is more deserving of success. It is refreshing to the colored man, after meeting so many little great men who look down, it may be, with condescension from their imaginary heights upon him, to meet with gentlemen like these, who, however they may differ in opinion, look through the tinsel of "scarf skin" and see the moral and intellectual man within—who do not think that the quantity of red, and white, however blended, that the [across] the countenance, constitutes the man, but the glow and brilliancy of ideas and the whiteness and purity of the morals. Would that [...], hot house philosophers who grope backwards half a century, blind-folded, to be guided by the [distinguished lamp of Jefferson,] would profit by their example. [Those] truly great men whose greatness, [...], make one feel as though in familiar converse with an old school mate or play-fellow, so clear are they from ostentation or [illegible].
The scenery from Brandon to Cavendish is grand and sublime. Although the iron horse goes with lightning rapidity over plain and through mountain gorge, yet one could catch of the beautiful plains, bold promontories and rugged ravines with bright streams wending their serpentine course through them, with ever and anon a beautiful village, teeming with life and bustle.
Going from Rutland to Mount Holly, we passed through two rock cuttings that towered up awfully grand above the cars. Up, up, we went to the very mountain crest, and down, down, into the valley of the Connecticut.—This is one of the chain that divides the eastern from the western declivity of Vermont—the waters of the Connecticut from those of Champlain. The grade up this mountain is perhaps steepest in New England, ascended by steam power.
But now to write more would be absolute folly,
So [illegible] by the forrests and rocks of Mount Holly.
J. C. H.
Burlington, Vt., April 5th, 1852.