J[ames] R[awson] Johnson to Frederick Douglass, June 10, 1859

A PLAN FOR CONCENTRATED ACTION AGAINST AMERICAN SLAVERY.

ANDOVER, N.Y., June 10, 1859.

FRIEND DOUGLASS:—Here is the outline of a plan of action, which I submit to you and your readers for examination:

Let the friends of Liberty appoint Committees of Correspondence in many localities, all being in communication with a Central Committee in New York City. Our prominent object should be to prepare voters to declare in the Presidential election of 1860, that there cannot be any law for slavery; and that, consequently, all enactments designed to uphold slavery, are "null and void." To inculcate these principles, itinerating lecturers should be appointed by the committees, and among them there should be some experienced MINISTERS of the Gospel, who, on the First Day of the week, or on the Seventh Day, will faithfully preach the Gospel in its defence of Freedom, and on other days talk to families, and lecture to assemblies as opportunities may be found. All these public speakers should write for anti-slavery papers. They should be sustained by contributions and subscriptions solicited in behalf of the committees by whom they are commissioned. As soon as September next, this effort (or something like it) should be commenced.

Yours,

J. R. JOHNSON.

P.S.—Will anti-slavery papers please copy?