James S. Dawes to Frederick Douglass, August 2, 1852
Letter from James S. Dawes.
Mr. Editor:—Having been an earnest supporter of the Liberty Party from its first organization, and believing it to be the only political party in the country worthy of the confidence and support of just and true men, I feel a deep interest, as you may well suppose, in all that pertains to its prosperity and success. Judging from past experience, and from certain indications more apparent of late, I think I can see danger ahead. The Liberty Party has taken a bold and lofty, but unpopular stand; and the danger consists of receding from this elevated position—this strong hold of truth and righteousness, for the sake of acquiring numerical strength, by compromising the great principles which now distinguish it as a party, and accepting those of a lower grade, because by so doing, it would draw in the great mass of anti-slavery men. Now, the only safe course and true policy for any man, or body of men to take, is to plant their feet firmly on the rock of truth and right; and if any of their fellow-men can be induced to join them, well, if not, stand alone.
The Liberty Party sets up no claim to perfection, but it fearlessly challenges investigation. If it be nearer the right than other political parties, then certainly no intelligent person has any excuse for not supporting it. I belive it claims, and justly too, to be the only abolition party in the United States.—It says to slavery, not, "thus far shalt thou go and no farther," but, "loose your grasp on the last victim of your cruel tyranny, and retire to those infernal regions from whence you proceeded." The Free Soil doctrine, that we have nothing to do with slavery in the States, meets with no sympathy among Liberty Party men, if I understand them aright. Then, why should we look among Free Soilers for our standard-bearers?
I see that your corresponding editor, Mr. Thomas, whose zeal in the cause of freedom is worthy of all praise, has proposed the name of Mr. Durkee, for the consideration
of the Liberty Party Convention to be held in Buffalo. I would respectfully inquire whether he is the right man? Is he a whole-souled, ultra abolitionist? For aught that I know, he may be a Liberty Party man, but is he a good one? Why have we not heard his voice in our national councils, where he has had an opportunity, raised, time and again, in thunder tones, against the enormous iniquity which it was his duty to rebuke? And more than all this, is he a Christian? This question, some may say, I have no right to ask. But I contend that it is a gross departure from the professed principles of every servant of God, to vote for any man for any responsible office unless he has satisfactory evidence that he is a regenerate person. If religion is anything, it is everything; and I want to see this principle, requiring satisfactory evidence of Christianity in candidates for office, incorporated in the Liberty Party platform. I would not require anyone to belong to any sectarian, man-made church—indeed he has no business or right so to do. If he is a Christian, he belongs to God's church, and this is enough.
I wish that Gerrit Smith might see it his duty to stand as candidate of the Liberty Party for President. Perhaps some smooth-tongued, unprincipled, half-way abolitionist, might command more votes, but votes are not all we want. I conceive one object of the Liberty to be, to take the lead in reforms, to stand as a model for other political parties, and to invite all true men into its ranks.
If Mr. Smith utterly declines the nomination, could we place a better man at the helm than William Goodell? We have many able, talented, and good men, who would honor the station. Let us shun the rock on which we split in 1848, and not trust the ship, with any such men as Hale, or Clay, or Chase, or even Giddings.
In renewing my subscription for your paper, excuse me if I find a little fault with it. Could not the space occupied by Dickens' "Bleak House" be better occupied?
Yours,
James S. Dawes.
Medina, Mich., August 2d, 1852.