This digitization project was supported by Regional Bibliographic Databases and Interlibrary Resources Sharing Program funds, awarded by the New York State Library.
This digitized edition is part of Syracuse University Library's Gerrit Smith Broadside and Pamphlet Collection. It has been OCRed using OmniPage Pro, version 11 by Scansoft® and proofed using WordPerfect version 9. The following layout changes have been made:
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Peter D. Verheyen, Project Manager
Debra G. Olson, Digital Project Assistant
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Library
© 2003 This work is the property of the Syracuse University Library. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.
PETERBORO, August 25th, 1851.
DEAR SIR,
Do you read the newspaper printed in the City of Rochester, entitled "Frederick Douglass' Paper?" If you do not, you are losing more than you can afford to lose. Its editor and proprietor, although it is but a dozen years since he ran away from the horrors and hell of slavery, is one of the best writers, as well as one of the best speakers, in the country. The rich and profound arguments of his pen on great moral and political questions are very refreshing and instructive. And Douglass is not only an able man, but he is, also, an honest man. He has a heart, as well as a head. His love of truth equals his ability to defend it. The measure of his intellect does not surpass the measure of his justice, and magnanimity, and generosity.
Douglass is poor, and is burdened with the support of his young family. The two dollars a year, which you will send him in exchange for his large and handsome weekly sheet, will be little for you, but much to him. I beg you to send it to him promptly; and to request your neighbors to do likewise.
Douglass is a black man. There are millions of black men in our nation: - and what a wronged, and robbed, and wretched portion of the human family they are! Remember, that what we do for Douglass, their representative and advocate, we do for them. In helping such black men, as Douglass and Ward and Bibb, to live, and to exert themselves for the redemption of their oppressed and outraged race, we hasten the day, when our now chained, and bleeding, and broken-hearted countrymen shall rejoice in the sweets of liberty, and bless their deliverers. I need their blessing, and you need their blessing. It will be good for us here, and good for us hereafter. Let us both then be enrolled among their deliverers.
Respectfully yours,
GERRIT SMITH.
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URL: http://libwww.syr.edu/digital/collections/g/GerritSmith/470.htm Last modified: January 21, 2003 11:18 AM |
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