John Jones to Frederick Douglass, November 11, 1853
CHICAGO, ILL., Nov. 11th, 1853
FREDERICK DOUGLASS: MY MUCH ESTEEM-
ED FRIEND:—I write you this letter, not be-
cause I am a letter writter—by no means, sir,
as your readers will learn by reading a little
further—but because there is all activity
among the colored men and women of Ill-
inois which deserves passing notice. My
friend, Illinois is aroused; she is being ag-
itated from centre to circumfrence. Our
mutual friends, R. J. Robinson, and others,
of Madison County; R. H. Cain, A. H. Rich-
ardson, J. Daves, A. W. Jackson, and oth-
ers, of Morgan; S. Donagan, W. Robinson,
and others, of Sanguman; H. Brows, of Ed-
gar; Dobbings, Bouns, and Mason, of Peoria;
Bonnar, Parker, Wagoner, Johnson, and Rol-
lins, of Cook—all are at work, and, indeed,
many others all over the State are up and do-
ing. I have received, in the last 8 or 10
days, some fifteen or twenty letters, which
warrant all that I have said above. R. J.
Robinson is now travelling through the
southern part of this State, addressing large
and spirited meetings of colored men and
women, urging upon them the necessity of a
thorough organization throughout the State.
We have other speakers, who are at work
around their own neighborhood. In addi-
tion to our public speakers, there is an ex-
tensive correspondence going on, crying for
ACTION! ACTION!! Our people are
pleased with the idea of government; they
are pleased with the State and National
Councils. Our cities and willages have gen-
erally nominated candidates for the Council
of this State; so far as heard from, our State
Council will be full. The members of the Na-
tional Council from Illinois will meet the
Council in the city of New York on the 23d
of the present month, if life lass, and health
remains. We have organized our debating
society in Chicago, for this winter, with a
clear sky and a fair breeze. Our friends
among the whites cheer us on to victory;
they say the times has come when "HE
WHO WOULD BE FREE, HIMSELF
MUST STRIKE THE BLOW." The col-
ored people in this State have no sympa-
thy with the Emigration, or Colonization
movement, not on foot by our misguided
friends, Delaney, Webb & Co, and advocated
by J. M. Whitfield, and a few other, of less
note. It may be possible however, that
there are a few lingering skeletons lurking
about through the southern part of the
State, who should be pitied, rather than des-
pised. They will be swallowed up in the
whirlpool of the great anti-slavery flood which
is now sweeping over the mighty West,
black laws and fugitive slave bills to the con-
trary, notwithstanding. The underground
railroad is doing a fair business this season.
We received eleven passengers last night,
and two the night before, and we hear of
others on the road. We will take care of
them, and see that they are snugly shipped
for Queen Victoria's land. We held a large
and enthusiastic mass meeting at the M. F.
Church last evening, for the purpose of nom-
inating candidates for the State Council.—Our friend, Byrd Parker, H. O. Wagoner,
and others, addressed the assembly in a brief
and spirited manner upon the importance of
calling out the letter and spirit of the Con-
stitution of the National Council. After
which, there was a Committee appointed to
nominate candidates, who reported: Byrd
Parker, E. Gordon, Wm. Johnson, Henry
Bradford, M. L. Lewis, and R. H. Rollins to
represent us in the State Council, and to be
elected on the 15th of this month at which
time we expect to bring out our people.
Your humble friend,
for God and humanity.
JOHN JONES.