A. P. Smith to Frederick Douglass, April 19, 1856

For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

IS NEW JERSEY IN THE UNION?

MR. EDITOR:—Thinking that some of your readers would like to hear from this part of the country, I take the liberty to ask room for these few lines in your noble sheet, the able defender of the rights of humanity. People of other States, who wish to be witty, often assert that New Jersey is out of the Union. If they belonged to the African race, and lived here a short time, they would find out, that New Jersey is one of the "Old Thirteen." New Jersey out of the Union! Why, five signers of that Declaration which declares all men equal, were Jerseymen. New Jersey ratified as readily as South Carolina.

"The immortal league of love: that binds Our fair, broad Empire, State with State,"

establishes Justice, promotes the general welfare, and secures the blessings of Liberty. Let any one who doubts that New Jersey is one of the "proud States" that form an hypocritical nation, come and see how Justice is meted out to the colored people, and how their welfare is promoted. They are robbed of their dearest rights, and subjected to the most crushing disabilities. But, I rejoice to be able to say, that, in spite of all this, we are making progress.— Many own more or less land, and seem determined to coin the dimes. This is right. Money is power. Solomon, Israel's third King, styled the wise man, says, the rich hath many friends. If we were rich, we would not continue long in our present anomalous condition. A laudable desire to educate their children is also manifested by many. We must educate to drive our enemies from their last refuge of lies, and prove that we are inferior to none that dwell upon the face of the earth. As I do not desire to be prolix, I will close. Yours, truly,

A. P. SMITH.

SADDLE RIVER, N. J., April 19th, 1856.