Frederick Douglass James G. Birney, June, 1852
My dear Sir,
Do gra[nt] the favor asked for in the letter enclosed, and oblige, very truly Yours,
Frederick Douglass
Rochester, June 1st. 1852—
My dear Sir,
We beg to apprize you that the Rochester Ladies Anti Slavery Society (of whose charcter & objects—please learn from the enclosed Circular) intend to publish the first number of an Anti Slavery Annual of about two hundred pages Entitled "Anti Slavery Autographs" in which they wish to record the testimony of as many distinguished persons as they can against the great sin of our age and nation American Slavery—
It is believed that such a publication as that contemplated, will be the means of engaging the attention of many new friends to the Anti Slavery cause—a cause, which alas! for the poor slave is far from popular, and has but few attractions at present for any but the most serious and humane—
There are in our community as in most others, a large class of persons who need the incitement afforded by the example of acknowledged good and great people, as well as the considerations of justice, love, and mercy, to induce them to unite with an unpopular cause—the want to present at once to the eye and to the mind of the multitude the glorious fact, that many whom they esteem as authors, and Philanthropists, as worthy of all honor are men, and women, who have hearts to feel for the despised American Slave—
With a similar fact in view, the Society will publish "Anti Slavery Autographs" in a substantial form, and in elegant style
The beauty of its exterior will commend it as a suitable Christmas or New Years gift while its contents will abound with earnest and heartful appeals to the humane sentiments and christian principles of the reader unalloyed with the trifling matter which too often fills the pages of Christmas books—
As the name imports the "Autograph" is to be a book of Autographs—nevertheless it is hoped by the Society that Each writer will at least occupy, from four to six pages of the book
Now dear Sir the object of this letter as you have perhaps already suspected is to solicit a contribution from your pen for the forth coming volume—In the Slaves name and for his sake we ask it—May we not have it? We are sure that nothing will stand in the way of our petition but the multitude of your engagements—and yet the request is so small a demand upon your time that we cannot but think we shall have our petition granted—
We need not advise you, that your name is of great value to any good cause to which it is given—It is linked with the "nobility" of good deeds, and the love, and honor, which encircle it are the common property of the oppressed of every land, and of every color,—We would claim a share in this common fund for our heart-broken brothers and Sisters in bonds—they can speak only thro those who "remember them as bound with them"—their poor dumb cause which has been so long neglected appeals even now to God! Let us hasten to their deliverance and do what we may to avert the just judgments which ever follow
in the wake of great national crimes—
All communications for the "Autograph" must be in hand by the last of August—Hoping that you will favor us with a favorable and speedy response I am dear Sir for the Slave and in behalf of the Society which I represent
Susan F. [Porter] Prest
We send you a list of the names of those individuals whom we have solicited to write—Rev H. H. [Beecher] Mrs H. B. Stowe H. W. Longfellow J. G. Whittier Gerrit Smith Frederick Douglass W. Goodell R. W. Emerson Prof J. H. Raymond Dr. McCune Smith William & Mary Howitt Charles Dickens Douglas [Jerold] [F. Bolle] Canly Jos Sturge Dr. Campbell Robert Chambers Tennyson &c &c