E. H. to Frederick Douglass, May 11, 1860

O. H. P. KINNEY, ESQ.

MR. EDITOR:—When a wronged, outraged, and deeply injured race find that they have in the legislative halls of their native State a friend nobly pleading their cause, regardless of the sneers and scoffs of his opponents, it is meet that, by some word or sign, however humble, they should show their appreciation of his labors in their behalf. And we who wear the unconstitutional color are the most deeply injured of any people, so our advocates are the noblest philanthropists of this age, and I feel it to be my duty as a representative of my race, in the name of the colored citizens of my native State, to offer sincere thanks to O. H. P. Kinney, Esq., Republican representative from Bradford County, for his able plea in behalf of our race, against the infamous petitions of citizens of Greene County asking for a law to prohibit the immigration of free colored persons into the State, or in lieu of that, a slave code. We rejoiced that the infamous attempt to plant slavery on the soil of the Keystone State has been frustrated. The thanks of every true friend of humanity are duty to Mr. Kinney for his able efforts in our behalf, and we hope that many more such friends will be raised up to us. While we rejoice at the progress we are making in the Empire State towards political equality, we must not forget to do something for the cause of freedom in Pennsylvania. May the time speedily come when our soil shall be unpolluted with the track of the slave-hunter, and our hills and valleys resound with the jubilant shouts of freemen.

E. H.

WAVERLY, NEW YORK.