W[illiam] W[hipper] to Frederick Douglass, August 21, 1858

"COLORED HISTORY" OF PENNSYLVANIA.

[For Frederick Douglass' Paper.]

MR. EDITOR:—On my arrival home this day I find a long letter, signed "Communipaw," in your paper of August 12th, which he says is a criticism on some of the positions assumed by me on the "colored history" of Pennsylvania. It may be so, but I am unable to so comprehend it. I wish you would look over your files and see if that you have not been hoaxed by some new correspondent, having assumed a signature made illustrious by your New York Correspondent.

There is so many positions assumed in that letter that I never would have attributed to the original "Communipaw," that I am led to doubt its authenticity. After enumerating the positions I had assumed, all of which I admit except the last, marked "C;" I have not the letters to refer to, but what I think I wrote was "a mere interrogatory," which occurred after stating that our religious, moral and intellectual advancement had not been the means of promoting our civil and political freedom—"must we return back to the degraded state of morals and ignorance, that we may regain our lost rights," &c. The only position at which he attempts to reply, is the one I have denied. I have not charged the "free blacks" of Pennsylvania with religious, moral and intellectual degradation, but with being "civilly and politically degraded." Even in civil and political rights, I only asserted that they were more abridged now than they were 25 years ago. Was I right, we will see.

Now, to combat my assertions, he assumes nine propositions, as a basis for the demolition of my argument. The 1st, 3d and 6th I have never denied—viz: the right to hold and convey real estate, "the right to minister in sacred things," the right of intermarriage, &c. Nor do I overlook the important fact with regard to the few rights that we do possess. In civil and political matters we are only capable of being the recipients of rights, the mere creatures of legislation, and cannot confer rights on others.

The 2d—"the right of census." I do not comprehend not having seen it enumerated in the vocabulary of rights. The 4th and 5th—"the right to be elected to office, and to vote"—needs no serious refutation. I will reply, by saying the Constitution of this State says NAY! 7th—"the right to sue in the United States courts." The courts say NAY! 8th—"the right of pass-

ports." The United States Government says NAY! 9th—"the right of oath in a court of justice." Admitted, except the U. S. courts.

Now, if "Communipaw" cannot sustain the positions he has assumed in despite of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the decrees of her courts, the ruling of the national government, and the court of the United States, then he will have proved that the "free blacks of Pennsylvania are not civilly and politically degraded," and that I have erred in asserting to the contrary.

The trifling merit of having floored your humble correspondent would be no reward at all.—His labors and his name should be engraven on the hearts, and embedded in the affections of the free blacks of Pennsylvania throughout all coming time; and more than that, a monument should be erected to his memory, and he ought to have that "million" himself.

In opposition to the very liberal view taken of our rights by "Communipaw," I will state that, in a civil and political sense, I agree with Judge Taney that the free blacks of Pennsylvania have nor "organic" rights that white men are bound to respect. They do not belong to the organized society for the civil government of the State. They can neither create civil rights for themselves or bestow them on others. The few rights and privileges they possess in Pennsylvania and many other States, is not because the State could not extinguish them—they only represent the amount of despotism withheld, as the statute book is the thermometer that measures the State's humanity. The reestablishment of slavery on the soil of Pennsylvania is dependent on the white man's will—no resistance of ours could defeat such an object.

As I am on the point of leaving home, I have not time to refer to all the points in his letter.—I will say, in conclusion, that if he is the real "Communipaw," I do most cordially invite him to visit Pennsylvania, and examine into the condition of the free blacks for himself, and I think he will go home a wiser man, and would laugh at any man or set of men who would say let them put down half a million, or a million, for any object save for the actual necessaries of life. I wish we could claim to be half way up to "Communipaw's" conception of our civil, political and pecuniary condition.

W. W.

COLUMBIA, Aug. 21.