A. A. Luca to Frederick Douglass, February 10, 1858

Letter from A. A. Luca.

Cleveland, O.

February, 10th, 1858.

MR. DOUGLASS,—DEAR SIR,—Having made up my mind to devote to your service the efforts of some of the "loose" moments that these "tight times" place at my disposal, I have thought the present the most auspicious as there is more excitement here now, than at any other time this season, the subject of which, I will leave for the latter part of my letter.

To follow in the line of correspondents generally, I should expatiate on the beauty of my surroundings, but knowing that your eyes have beheld all the beauty that has give to this place such a world-wide celebrity, I will refrain from attempting to "gild refined gold."

I presume you have noticed through exchanges accounts of the Franklin Birthday Festival which came off here on the 18th of last month. It was a fine affair; over 300 guests, comprising members of the press from all parts of the country, partook of a splendid supper at the Angier House, (which is by the way one of the best kept houses in the country) this being finished, they revelled in a "feast of reason and flow of soul," one of the most noticeable caterers being George Bradburn, Esq., who, though surrounded by a conglomeration of political actors, was not scared from speaking a word for the "meek and lowly." This feature of the evening being finished "the fleeting hours were chased away by flying feet" until the rosy light of morn broke o'er the eastern horizon, your humble servant being instrumental in bringing about the latter movement.

The colored people of this section are considerably excited by the passing of the bill to repeal the law prohibiting the use of the jails of the State for Slave pens in detaining fugitives from the peculiar institution, also, by the introduction of a bill to make it a crime to employ a colored person to do anything which, though not affecting particularly those that are now in the state, is meant to discourage the emigration this way of any more of the proscribed race. I have not seen as yet the specifications of this bill, but will try to procure and send them to you.

Another suspicious bill is, to make it a misdemeanor for an election officer to receive a vote from a man who is known to have colored blood coursing through his veins, finding a reason for this in the fact of many persons occupying the highest offices within the gift of the people, who were placed there by majorities gained through colored voters.

The crushed victim is giving too unmistakable evidence of returning vitality, and therefore, the heel of oppression and prejudice must come down with redoubled force. But with all this, we do not despair, for, through the improvement that is manifest in our social relations, schools, churches, &c., we see a brighter future. Yes; Ever the spirit of equal rights is entirely crushed out, they will have piled on loads too great for the rotten foundation, and woe be to those who stand not from under the falling ruins from which, phoenix like, will spring out that heaven born right of FREEDOM TO ALL MANKIND.

Hoping that I have not extended this to an unacceptable length, I will conclude with regards for your continued success.

Yours, with great respect,

A. A. Luca.