Julia G[riffiths] Crofts to Frederick Douglass, September 26, 1862

LETTER FROM THE OLD WORLD.

NUMBER LXXXV.

LEEDS, September 26, 1862.

MY DEAR FRIEND:—The address issued ten days since by the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society is now crossing the Atlantic, and will soon be in your hands, some expressions of anti-slavery sentiment had long been looked for from the Broad Street Committee by friends of the slave on this side the Ocean and I should think on the other side—Had this address been sent out months ago and widely circulated through the length and breadth of our land, my conviction is that much additional good would have been done, and many misapprehensions and misunderstandings have been removed from the minds of the people concerning the real course of the present American war—For the good deeds of the U. S. Government are therein pointed out, and will doubtless be first made known to some from that address. It is an old and trite saying "that half a loaf is better than no bread." President Lincoln and his party have done something to forward the onward march of freedom, although by no means as much as we could wish, and many who abuse his Government are ignorant of the fact that he has abolished Slavery in the District of Columbia. The minds of many of our men of business have been (I regret to say) biased in favor of the South by various circumstances—much sophistry to confess and stultify the people, and to cause them to see a hero in every Southerner, forgetting that he also is a slaveholder and a woman whipper if need be!! The London Times, (as you well know) has used its great ability and power in denfence of wrong and oppression and craftily and cleverly do it editors manage the matter that all my London friends who read the Times, and pin their [f]aith to that journal take their stand as adherents of the South and cannot be moved. They ignore all the causes of provocation given to the North as well as the fact (well expressed in the address before alluded to) that "the armed content with the United States Government was designedly provoked with the express sole object of providing a confederacy to perpetuate slavery." I wish the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Committee would call a public meeting and there blet the voice of the friends of freedom be heard—and thence let words of sympathy and encouragement go forth to the struggling champions of right in the U.S. It did my heart good a few weeks ago to hear one of the most popular (and deservedly so) men in the great Wesleyan body (Rev. William Arthur[)] express his views on slavery fully and fearlessly to a large public meeting of the Wesleyan Missionary Society held in Leeds lately. The glided easily into the subject by referring to the proceedings of that Society in Western Africa in general and in Siera Leone in particular—thence to the prosperous condition of the rescued slaves in that country and their good conduct &c—so he went on step by step until he was in the midst of the whole subject, carrying his vast and attentive audience with him. The frequent cheers showed that the heart of our people is yet in the right place on the question of slavery, and may God forbid that ever it should be otherwise! Mr. Arthur deplored the course pursued by a position of our press &c—and went into the cotton subject—He has travelled in many countries and made good use of his eyes everywhere. He told us of one valley in India fresh in his recollection, fertile in the highest degree, and teeming with inhabitants where he has seen cotton growing.—The drawback to its exportation seems the want of a canal [60?] miles in length!! If I mistake not this much needed cotton has to be sent 1200 miles round the country before it reaches the sea, and can be embarked for England! He gave our practical matter of fact English men a good hit for not stirring themselves on such an important matter. Since I listened with such pleasure to Mr. Arthur, he has published a letter of facts on the American question—which will I trust do much to rectify the notions of the state of things, between the North and South circulated through the misrepresentations of a portion of the British Press—I hope your readers will bear in mind that only a portion of our press is misrepresenting. "The Leeds Mercury" the Wesleyan Times and many other journals keep true to their colors and bear the stamp of freedom at all times. Your friend W. E. Forster Esq., M. P. spoke out fully last week at Bradford on the American question, and made known his intention of supporting our Government fully in their policy of non-intervention.

I met the Halifax Ladies A. S. Society last week, and read to our friends some extracts from your letters on the signs of the times. They one and all express great sympathy with you and sent many kind messages—ere this reaches Rochester doubtless you will have had tidings from the excellent Secretary of that Society with marks of their continued interest in your labors in the cause of freedom. "The Lancashire distress is at this time, occupying the thoughts and employing the tie of most of us in these Northern regions, as well as of many in the South. The sufferers are vast in numbers, and bear their sufferings so patiently that every heart is softened and every one impelled to do his utmost to save these poor operatives from starvation. Large sums of money are being raised in the cities and towns, to meet the demands, and clothing and new is gathered together and sent to the scenes of distress from all parts of the kingdom. Our good friends, the Ca. in Halifax (every foremost in good works) sent off four boxes full the day I dined with them last week. I am collecting this week and hope to send the Ashton in the course of a few days. A few of the generous and wealthy manufacturers support their operatives, although they cannot employ them. Mr. Whittaker of Herst is one of this class. He pays his people £200 a week and his mills stand still, besides he contributes largely to the general Relief Fund. Congregational collections, are made in all the numerous denominations, in some churches these are weekly.

Dreadful as your war is I trust it will not terminate until slavery is entirely dethroned and compromises at an end forever—and grievous as our Lancashire distress is I trust we shall find means by the blessing of God to arrest it until cotton comes in from some quarter where it is not watered by the tears of the poor slaver, and that we as a nation shall hold to our resolution not to interfere in the struggle now going on in the States nor to recognize a CONFEDERACY OF PIRATES yes! our dear good friend GERRIT SMITH was right when long ago he alleged that "SLAVERY IS PIRACY"—would that he had carried the whole North up with him to that standpoint then!—Tens of thousands both of men and of money might possibly have been saved to our country. But I must chat a longer Christmas is fast approaching and the new year will quickly follow—alas! what wishes can I transmit to my afflicted friends in the States suitable for the season of the year and their season of trial—I know not—may God bless and support them amidst their bereavements and trials—and may the first of January 1863 be a memorable day in American history; a day to be long looked back upon in after ages as that in which hundreds of thousands of human beings threw of the galling chains of slavery, and were for the first time recognized by the Government of their country as men and women with kindest remembrances to all friends and our united kind love and best wishes for yourself and your household, I remain as ever your faithful friend,

J. G. CROFTS.