Rochester, March 6.

Hon: Gerrit Smith.

My dear Sir:
I am Slowly recovering from my illness and hope Soon to be at work again. I am, with you, quite Sorry, that W. H. Seward's abolitionism is not of a more decided a type; and that he annexes So many hard conditions to the freedom of the Slave, in the D.C. yet So anxious am I to See Emancipation there, I would See it at almost any price, and Since we cannot have you, and Such as you to propose plans in Congress for Emancipation I am glad of even So much as Wm H. Seward's plan. As to "indemnifying" Slaveholders, that is by no means So repulsive to me Since your great Speech on the Nebraska Bill—which Speech by the way, I was reading but yesterday—I hope it will not be long before I Shall See and hear [you] again for I always feel the better for having Seen [and heard you]—I am Dear Sir,
Yours as every truly and affectionately
Frederick Douglass