A. P. Smith to Frederick Douglass, October 17, 1856

For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

LETTER FROM A. P. SMITH.

Mr. EDITOR:—I again essay to write a few lines for publication in your able journal, if your space is not needed for more pressing or important matter. The present political movements throughout the entire North in favorof Fremont and Dayton, promise to be productive of much good. The "vexed question" is continually kept before the people; and agitation rocks the country from centre to circumference. Surely, good must be done, for the country needs shaking. Our political atmosphere can only be purified by agitation.— Should the Republicans fail to elect their candidates, the consequences of the present agitation will remain; and its good effects will every where be apparent. If they are successful, a way will be opened and paved for Abolitionists to press onward to new and greater victories.—The rough ways will then be made smooth for us. The madmen, who have so long been at the helm, steering the Nation to perdition, who still,

"like an angry ape,

Play such fantastic tricks before high Heaven

As make the angels weep,"

ought to be put in straight-jackets. Let the Republicans do it. Let the money, swords and cannon of the nation be wrested from the blood-stained hands of the demented tyrants, who have filled the land with mourning, and placed into the hands of reasonable men. To disarm and impoverish the Slave Power, will be a great gain—a gain, that will give us a better chance to strike a blow at the heart of Slavery, than we have ever had before.

A new thing under the sun has come to pass. The descendants of the Netherlanders, who inhabitthe Northern part of New Jersey, are agitatedby the Slavery question. Ardent worshippersof Geld, have nearly forgotten their idol, and can only think and talk of Slavery and the outrages in Kansas. A friend of the patriarchal Buchanan, says, he can't see what has got into the people. A majority of them, I believe, are opposed to the extension of Slavery; but they need light. Hundreds have been seduced into the unclean fold of the Hindoosby the basest misrepresentations. Lying is a "peculiar institution" which will train thousands of Anti-Slavery votes for Pope Fillmore. I fear that New Jersey will not give

her whole electoral vote for Fremont the Pathfinder, and Dayton, her own noble son. There is a promising field for Anti-Slavery in this State; but earnest and efficient laborers are few.

And now, Mr. Editor, before I conclude, I wish to say a few words to the colored men of New Jersey. Among the thousands, scattered through the State, from Greenwood Lake among the Northern hills, to Cape May on the Southern shore, you ought to have many subscribers. I would say to them that it is high time for us to follow the example of the colored men, of other States, and labor for the amelioration of our condition. The disfranchised in other States are laboring hard to gain their rights.— Why are we idle? Our yoke is not easier, our burdens are not lighter than theirs. It is a burning disgrace to us that we have not long ago made a determined and united effort to throw off our burdens. A deeper disgrace will fasten upon us, if, now, when the Anti-Slavery host of the North are in motion, we do not arise, and, with united voices, demand our rights. No time could be more favorable for us to begin our labors. Now, with united voices we could do much. Ought we not, then, to come together, and adopt some systematic plan of action? A union should be formed for the removal of the many disabilities under which we labor. I hope the oppressed of New Jersey, who read these remarks, will ponder on them; and if any one thinks such union desirable, and is willing to labor for its formation, I would gladly open a correspondence with him.

"Know ye not Who would be free, themselves must strike the blow."

A. P. SMITH.

SADDLE RIVER, N. J.