Jabez to Frederick Douglass, October 14, 1858

CINCINNATI CORRESPONDENCE.

[For Frederick Douglass' Paper.]

CINCINNATI, Oct. 14th, 1858.

DEAR FRIEND DOUGLASS:—We have just got through a most exciting election, the result of which is, the Democrats are entirely beaten, with the exception of one candidate for Congress, Pendleton. Never since 1840 has there been such intense excitement in this city in view of an election. Never before has there been so much money squandered for electioneering purposes. Never before has there been such a succession of torch light processions—And certainly never has there been such immense gathering of people to hear the political speeches. All the brass cannons in the city and vicinity have been used—not one night; but night after night the booming of cannon was heard long after the hours that quiet citizens should be in bed. Cincinnati resembled a besieged city.

Amidst all this excitement you will not be surprised to hear of fights and calamities.—One man was killed while riding on the artillery carriage; a spark fell into the powder kep, and blew six men a considerable distance; some were burnt, others bruised, one of whom died a few days later. A still more sad occurrence happend while the Democratic torchlight procession was moving up Western Row. A German, Charles Lukas, standing on the pavement, shouted out, "Hurra for Kessler!" (the opposition candidate.) A Democrat rushed from the procession and stabbed him in the abdomen, and he died. This cold-blooded murder was perpetuated here in presence of scores of witnesses, yet strange to say, the murderer has not yet been detected. The wretch who committed this foul crime, joined the ranks, and the procession moved on. The Mayor, by order of the Council, has offered $500 for the arrest of the perpetrator of this murder, but as yet he has not been given up to justice. The affair deepened the excitement, and an immense concourse attended the funeral of the murdered man. If they country is not sick of a party which harbors murderers in its ranks, it ought to be.

We have cheering news both from East and West respecting the overthrow of Democracy. If Buchanan is not totally blind, he may see on the walls of the White House written, "Mene, Mene, Tekel Upharsin." He has been weighed in the balances and found wanting.

We are glad the colored people are to hold a Convention in our city this November. The people should be careful in their selection of delegates—not send mere talkers, men who love to hear their own voices, nor yet visionary impracticables, nor yet stupid or obstinate men; but men of common sense—men who will stand for their rights—men of principle, and above all men of piety; that is, those who

love God, revere his Word, and believe on the name of his beloved Son. If a scheme is started for the recovery of your long lost rights, which spurns at, or sets aside the Bible, it will be an undoubted failure. The rights of man are given by God, and his duties towards his Creator and Redeemer, and to his fellow man are written in that Book of Books.

The Underground R. R. here is in good working order, its conductors always awake to attend to passengers. No road in the Union pays better for the stock invested in it. Our Southern masters ought to be very grateful for this safety valve of their peculiar institution. Shut down the valve—then explosion must follow. We have slaveholders continually from the South up here to emancipate their slaves. Why is this? Can Parson Brownlow answer, who has been playing such fantastic tricks before high heaven in Philadelphia? His lectures have had great weight in deciding that election there. What a pity he don't come into all the Northern cities and berate them, as he has done the city of Brotherly Love.

A Southern gentleman of N. O. has lately been converted attending our business men's prayer meeting. He has become a true Christian; no one doubts it who knows him. Among other good things, he said the other day, "There was a time when I bought slaves, but I shall never do it again; it is a wicked thing!" Can all the bombast and wilful lying of a Brownlow make it a harmless thing? Can the apologies of Nehemiah Adams make slavery a good thing? Not all the great men and little men in the land can make wrong right. Slavery is founded in wrong, a mighty wrong—and all the sophisms of philosophy can't make it right. It must be destroyed.—It shall be destroyed as truly as God's throne is built in righteousness and judgement. May God hasten its overthrow, is the prayer of

Your friend, JABEZ.