Nubia to Frederick Douglass, October 26, 1855

FROM OUR SAN FRANCISCO CORRESPONDENT.

FREDRICK DOUGLAS: DEAR SIR:—

The great political battle has been fought; the Democracy, for the first time, are defeated.—Gov. Bigler is now plain John Bigler, or will be in a short time. The Democracy are "thunder struck" at the result. The Know Nothings are in ecstasies. J. Neely Johnson—quite a young man, whose only claim to the high position he has attained, consists in his never having offended any one, has occupied a seat in the State Legislature, but has never been accused, as far as I can learn, of possessing even ordinary abilities, but may be honest, and that quality , in a California Governor, will counter-balance a thousand faults—have been elected Governor, The leaders of the American party are Gov Foote, (of hanging notoriety,) Baille Peyton, Tom Marshall, and others all broken-down Southern politicians of ever party and faction, all Union- savers, and negro-haters—Gov. Foote, on his arrival in the State, stated publicly that he had renounced politics forever; but the old hangman has been eating the "public pap" to long "to give it up so." He is not fishing for the U.S. Senate again.

Collector Hammond has been removed, and Milton Latham appointed in his stead, (recently member of Congress.) The case—the real cause, I mean—of this removal has not transpired. The announcement caused great flattering in the Custom House. It is supposed that Judge Murray, the present incumbent, is re-elected. Of all the Supreme court Chief Justices who have made themselves infamous by their oppression and tyrannical decisions—Jeffries not excepted—there are none whose decisions are so unjust and oppressive, as this man's. His private character is not less a matter of public notoriety. In a Know Nothing speech, which he recently delivered, he was particularly severe on free negroes, or in the more chaste language of the Judge, free "niggers." I will not quote his remarks; they are unfit for the columns of the New York Herald.

The last elections were the most peaceable that has taken place in this State. If the Registry Law should be adopted by the next Legislature, we shall be spared the disgraceful scenes that have heretofore characterized them.

The colored people, a short time since, called a meeting for the purpose of responding to the Call for a National Convention, which I regret to say, was slimly attended. It is almost a matter of impossibility to get together a respectable attendance of our people in this city, when the object for which they are convened is not to hear a Methodist sermon. I have no disposition to speak lightly of religion, but am constrained to say that one religious fanaticism has done more to retard our elevation than all other causes combined. Our people throng to hear a man whose chief recommendation is the non-possession of that great evil "book larnin." It is time we had frowned away these religious burlesques. A religion, which will not promote by its teachings physical , intellectual and political development, is not the religion for us at this duty and time. I hope these remarks will not excite any unkind criticism, for they are not made in an unchristian spirit. The meeting resulted in the appointment of a committee to prepare an address, embodying the views of the meeting, in relation to the topics proposed in the the Call.

I read, with great pleasure, the letters from Miss Julia Griffiths. She is an agreeable writer, and her descriptive powers are excellent,—Her "Letters from the Old World" will be readwith much interest.

The second letter of the Hon, Gerrit Smith to the New York Tribune, is , to my mind, a masterly refutation of the charges brought against him by the New York thunderer; but it, in my opinion at the same time discloses his unfitness for a member of Congress, if the object of a member be to prevent the carrying out of iniquitous measures; rather than the assertion of great principles. Gerrit Smith is too conscieutious, too exalted a man for a seat in the U.S. Congress. He is ahead of the age.Men will not understand the appreciate himproperly until years after he shall have passed from the stage of action. I am painfully conconscious of my incompetence to speak of the acts of this great and good man. I am overwhelmed with emotions of gratitude and admiration whenever I read, speak or think of him.

Yours,

NUBIA.