For Frederick Douglass' Paper (Letter to the Editor)

For Frederick Douglass' Paper (Letter to the Editor)

Letter advocating for free labor

AURORA, N.Y., March 14, 1855.




FRIEND DOUGLASS: - On looking over your paper of March 9, I see a piece entitled a New Association ; and as you thereby invite the thoughts of your readers as to how slavery shall be got rid of, I venture to give you mine on the subject, (hoping you will have many thoughts form others also, for in the multitude of counselors there is safety.) We all know it is a great work, and a mighty opposition may reasonably be expected; but happily for, us the world affords us one example of such a work being effected; (I mean the English emancipation;) and in this work, no one person can expect to work alone, but everyone may help, and a most effectual help I conceive it would be, if everyone would thoroughly wash their hands of participation in the guilt and sin of slavery, as this seems a very plain question; that as the slave-owner steals the labor to produce the fruits of the earth, such goods, whether cotton, tobacco or sugar, or anything else, are stolen goods; and the indisputable proverb, that the receive is as bad as the thief, seems to hold good, if he knew it to be stolen I would suggest, then the propriety of something like a pledge to be signed by every person, man, woman or child, capable of knowing the purpose, not to sue in any way, slave produce . If only a goodly portion of the inhabitants of the Northern States would sign such a pledge, and strictly keep it, then we might reasonably appeal to the masses of England to cooperate in the work; and I have no doubt that a vast number of the inhabitant of England would, if appealed to on the subject, enter into it heartily; for I believe that full ninety-nine out of a hundred of the English are opposed to slavery, and would do any reasonable thing to help exterminate it. If, then, the people of the free States here, and then the people of England, could be brought to refuse slave goods, and let slave produce accumulate in their wharves and warehouses, till they were all full, and hard to find a market anywhere, then, when we had made our efforts felt in the right quarter, begin to think of getting up petitions to Congress to do away with slavery, and relieve the Southerners of this difficulty in not being able to sell their produce ; and, after all, I believe it would be the greatest blessing to the South, in the long run, if it could be expected it is easy to suggest this plan on paper, but it would require a long pull, as strong pull, and a pull all together, to carry it out in practice.

I hardly see how anyone can object to this plan, let him belong to what denomination, sect or party he may, if he professes the religion of the Bible; and if anyone feel like stumbling at the laws of this land, in regard to slavery, he would do well to remember the words of Peter and other apostles in the 5th ch. Of Acts, 29th verse: "We ought to obey God, rather than men;" and I would ask, what would become of slavery if all professing Christians would obey this one precept in the 58th ch. Of Isaiah, 6th verse: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen, to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free , and that ye break every yoke?" and the next verse is in direct opposition to the carrying out of the Fugitive Slave Law. Ah! that a people boasting of their freedom would obey God rather than man. I know that some try to excuse, palliate, or even justify slavery from the Bible; but I think on one, with any knowledge of the precepts of Christianity, need fear to take up the weapons of his warfare against such blind leaders of the blind.

Wishing success to every effort for truth and righteousness, I bid you a hearty and affectionate farewell,

WILLIAM EMPSON.

William Empson

4.20.1855