Gerrit Smith to Frederick Douglass, March 25, 1856

For Frederick Douglass' Paper.

AN INTERESTING DOCUMENT.

MR. DOUGLASS:—The Bloomfield family is one of the most distinguished and honored in the history of New Jersey.

Dr. Moses Bloomfield was Surgeon General of New Jersey in the Continental Army. Governor Bloomfield was one of his sons. Another was Samuel, Assistant Surgeon to his father. My friend, Joseph E. Bloomfield, Esq., of Mexico, Oswego Co., is a son of Samuel.—He permits me to send to the press a letter written by his grandfather to his grandfather's son, Capt. Joseph Bloomfield. Along with the letter I send you an account of the "First Abolition Meeting," taken from an old copy of the Newark, (N. J.) Eagle. You will see, that, in those days, a man could be both a patriot and an abolitionist. To be an abolitionist now is to be regarded as necessarily an enemy of your country.

My friend J. E. B. tells me that his grandfather "was a puritan in its strictest sense; shaved on Saturday, so as not to work on Sunday; would have no cooking done on Sunday; had a cold dinner that day, so as to allow his servants to go to Church; was a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church."

Your friend,

GERRIT SMITH.

PETERBORO, March 25th, 1856.

LETTER OF DR. MOSES BLOOMFIELD.

DEAR SON:—Yours from Albany, dated May the 30th, came to hand the 5th of June.— Your Diary was very agreeable, not only to us, but many others, and if you can favor us with some more extracts, I shall be very glad.—Yours from Johnstown is yet on the way. I have sent you two, and your brother Sam'l Bloom-

field, father of Jos. E. Bloomfield, one letter, which I hope you have received, but for fear my last has got shipwrecked, will inform you that our election for delegates to Congress, held three days. The following returned Dr. M. Bloomfield; Col. Wetherill, Major John Dunn, Jonathan D. Sargent and Mr. Combs. I set out this evening for South Amboy. Then shall take the stage in the morning for Burlington, where the Congress is to sit, and begin this day according to order of the last. Elections have been warm in general through the counties. In my next, which will be from Burlington, shall send you a list of the members, &c., &c.

I believe we shall take Government into our own hands, till our present dispute is ended.—This appears to me a step absolutely necessary for the promotion of peace and good order, as very little respect is paid to the officers of Government, and indeed they begin to be in no small degree obnoxious to the people. Upon the siege of Quebec being raised; our Tories prick up their ears, and let their tongues run. If they don't take care they will lay a foundation for no small trouble to themselves.

Times are now become serious to the last degree, and a few weeks, will discover our friends and enemies. I don't know how it is, but the nearer the great day of trial approaches, the more firm and determined I feel. I judge our cause is righteous, and trust a righteous God will espouse it. My dear child we must trust in God, who can teach our hands to war, and fingers to fight, and who can preserve us from the most imminent danger. I trust the God of Hosts will lead our armies to the fight and cover their heads in the day of battle. Will not our troops fight valiantly for the liberties of their country? I know they will. I wish our late misfortune in Canada, had the same effect on every American, it has on me. Never has anything happened yet, since the contest began, which has fired me like it, and I hope our freemen will before long settle that account with large interest. It is best to have a check once in a while, it makes us exert ourselves, and directs us to look to Him, who is able to help us, and whose assistance we must implore.

The ministerial tools in Pennsylvania, have exerted every nerve to prevent a change of Government in that province, but I believe will fail. The Quakers, are a plague to us everywhere, I mean the generality of them. I saw Col. Roberdean yesterday immediately from Philadelphia, who told me a majority of eight counties were for a change of Government.—The other three were collecting the sentiments of the inhabitants. Some French vessels from the West Indies have arrived in New York, Philadelphia, New London, &c., and more on their way. Seventeen sailed from one port a few days after the account arrived of the American ports being opened, and it is surprising what a full West India producer has taken in forty-eight hours in New York. These vessels came through the sound to New York. We have two armed sloops, and one schooner at Amboy, and about twenty whale boats manned with rifle men, who reconnoitre the Bay down to the Hook, as near as they dare go, every day.

We have now eleven sail chiefly King's ships, laying at Sandy Hook. Mr. Skinner is yet on board the Governor's ship. I wish every Torey villain on the continent was on the other side of the water. Capt. Hampton is in Col. Heard's house, and Dawson is gone to Hoboken Ferry. We have one Torey less among us. Capt. McElroy, formerly Leyol's mate, has taken a three decker loaded with sugar, &c., from Jamaica for England, supposed worth not less than £40,000 sterling. Mr. Elroy commanded a small sloop, formerly a New York pilot boat. We are told the ship is almost up to Philadelphia. The Roebuck left the Delaware some time ago, and the Liverpool was left to guard the river, but was obliged to leave her station last week.— Three armed vessels of considerable force, went down with a determined resolution to take her at all events, but she finding there was like to be warm work, put to sea, and was followed twelve leagues, but could not be overtaken, and in a few hours the large prize ship above mentioned, together with two French mecrhantmen, hove in sight. Here we cannot, I think, but observe the hand of Providence on our side. We expect warm work in N. Y. in a few days. We are told the whole force of Britain, &c., will be played off against New York and Canada. Let them come, we have a rod in soak. Everything is ready in York, but Amboy remains defencless, except an artillery company, Capt. Neil.

Col. Roberdeau told me Gen. Washington (who returned from Philadelphia yesterday) had demanded of the Congress 21,000 men for New York, which were granted, and that Pennsylvania and Maryland together were to form a flying camp of 10,000 men under two Brigadier Generals. Gen. Gates, he was informed, was to be one; and that the same method was to take place in the different colonies. God grant our councils discretion, and our arms success. If we can hold our own this campaign, I believe we shall carry one point and bring them to their senses. By the papers you will find Dunmore is gone with all his fleet from the place he has occupied so long.

Governor Franklin has called one assembly together upon business of very great importance, as he says. They are to meet the 25th of this month at Amboy. I suppose His Excellency is ready to grant pardons, but may he who asks one have his brains blown out the next minute. Unless times are vastly altered, indeed, I think the sons of American freedom will not think of treating, but on the most honorable terms, before the whole, after taking a general view of our quarrel with our brethren on the other side of the water; am inclined to think the wound made in our friendship is so great, that all the political Doctors of Great Britain, are not possessed of skill sufficient to heal it, and that we shall never have peace again, until we have fought ourselves into Independence. The Report of Commissioners has been a ministerial manœuvre to lull us to sleep and divide our councils; but a few days will undeceive every honest American, whose heart will glow with just resentment for such an imposition and insult. We have nothing to fear, so much as a division amongst ourselves.—Keep your company firm to the cause, both by precept and example. Endeavor to inspire all your acquaintance with a noble ambition in the cause of our bleeding, abused country.—God bless you and all America's friends.

Stephen Ranney is aboard the Commodore's sloop at Amboy—Col., alias Commodore Tupper, from New England. Ranney was at Boston last winter, and was among those who took possession of Dorchester Point. He is surgeon's mate, and secretary to Tupper. I beg you would improve every opportunity to write to us, for you may well think we are all anxious about you and friends in camp. Give my best regards to your mess, and gentlemen of my acquaintance in the Battalion.

Adieu, my dear son,

Your affectionate Father,

(Signed,)

MOSES BLOOMFIELD.

WOODBRIDGE, N. J., 10th June, 1776.