Frederick Douglass to W[illia]m J. Watkins, March 25, 1857

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR.

AUGUSTA, Maine, March 25th.

W. J. WATKINS, ESQ.: MY DEAR SIR:—Since leaving Rochester last week, I have traveled more than I have lectured. No meeting had been appointed for me in Albany, as I expected when I left Rochester. Our friend, A. N. COLE, whose invitation called me there, did not receive my reply soon enough to make the necessary arrangements for the meeting. My visit to Albany was not, however, altogether flung away. I had a very pleasant and encouraging interview with sundry members of the Legislature on the prospects of the Suffrage Question. My introduction to these gentlemen was by no less a personage than our indefatigable political friend, STEPHEN MYERS. I take this occasion to express my obligations to him for this personal favor and to award him my best thanks for his increasing devotion to the Suffrage cause. Mr. MYERS has worked faithfully and efficiently during the present session of our Assembly. Though he is a lobby member, I believe he has never been guilty of proffering a bribe to any member of the House. even if the moral possibility of his doing so existed, it is believed that our friend's virtue has been eminently protected by his political friends generally. They have studiously avoided contributing any thing to the support of Mr. MYERS—much less have they given him money to use as a bribe.

My call at Albany gave me an opportunity of hearing a short debate on the Bill prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage. Senator CUYLER, of Wayne, and PATTERSON, advocated Prohibition with much ability. Their eloquence was the eloquence of men of warm hearts, and thoroughly in earnest. The arguments for Prohibition were strongly put by them.

Since reaching New England, I have spoken in Providence and Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Worcester. Of these, the meetings in Worcester and Pawtucket were best attended, and I think made the most impression in favor of the doctrines and principles of Radical Abolitionism. There was quite a fluttering among the "Old School" part of my audi-

ence when, in replying to and exposing the unjust and unconstitutional decision of Judge TANEY, I exposed the no less unconstitutional concessions of that anti-slavery sect. One of the high priests of that sect, (Mr. FAIRBANKS, a man who was, two years ago, so anxious to make a course of anti-slavery lectures in which he had a pecuniary interest, popular, that he refused to invite a colored man to give one of the course,) was very much horrified by my vindication of the anti-slavery character of the Constitution and "spoke right out" as he got to the door of the meeting. Another of the brotherhood embrace the occasion for giving notice of a meeting on Sunday, for HENRY C. WRIGHT and PARKER PILLSBURY, and to denounce the sentiments uttered by me in my lecture. It was more grateful to my ears than thunders of applause. It showed that my arguments had that in them which gave uneasiness to those who opposed them.

There is, just now, much feeling in Providence on the question of abolishing separate schools for colored children, and the demand for their abolition will, I think, be complied with. The spirit which called them into existence and sustains them, is not of the wisdom which is from above, and which is without hypocrisy and partiality. The injustice of these separate schools and their degrading tendency, have been abundantly exposed in the Providence papers, by our friends GEORGE T. DOWNING, and HORATIO W. FOSTER. Mr. DOWNING has shown himself as able, as he is devoted. I hope he will publish his large correspondence on this subject. It will largely redound to his credit, and to the advantage of the cause of our people. He amazed us by assuring us, that with the single exception of CHARLES C. BURLEIGH, the Garrisonian abolition lecturers, who have visited the city during the winter, have evinced an almost total indifference to the school question, though personally requested to refer to the subject himself. The policy of this class is not to elevate the free colored people. I do not complain of this; but I do complain, that while they profess this in their creed, they abandon it in their practice.

At Pawtucket I had a most gratifying meeting. The hall was densely packed, and many were unable to gain admission. The appear-

ance at the meeting of many old and dear friends—friends who greeted and cheered me on in my earliest efforts to plead and promote the cause of the slave—was not the least gratifying feature of the occasion.

In Worcester, Mass., I had the great advantage of a friend, in the person of Rev. H. L. WAYLAND, son of President WAYLAND, who spared me pains in getting up the meeting—The Massachusetts Spy, one of the oldest liberal journals in the old Bay State, gave a very kind notice of the intended meeting, and urged the public to attend. The meeting was a large and most respectable one. His Honor, Mayor RICHARDSON, presided. I believe this is the first time I have spoken in public, under the presidency of the Mayor of any city in the U.S. I have often done so in England, but not in America. I receive it gratefully, as a sign of better days coming. I am under many obligations to my excellent friend, Mr. WAYLAND, for the spirited manner in which he got up the Worcester meeting, as well as for bringing me in direct contact with a number of gentlemen of the highest intelligence and respectability. It was my privilege to be introduced to a number of able men, chief among whom was Hon. ELI THAYER, whose mind and money have created alarm among the slaveholders, from eastern Virginia, to the western border of Missouri. Among the company in question, was also the gallant and soldierly JOHN BROWN whom all the world knows was the terror to evil doers, amid all the reign of terror in Kansas. He has been well called by Mr. THOMAS W. HIGGINSON, (who was also present on this occasion,) the ETHAN ALLEN of our modern revolution.

Mr. BROWN has not given up the freedom of Kansas, and Mr. THAYER is full of hope. The magnificent scheme of the latter, to supplant slavery in Virginia, by purchasing its worn out lands, and putting them in the hands of freemen, is worthy of much attention.

I found, in passing through Massachusetts, any amount of indignation for Gov. GARDNER, on account of his impertinent advice to the clergy, to abstain from preaching political sermons on the coming Fast Day in the State. THEODORE PARKER has already given notice, that, in deference to the Governor's advice, he shall preach against the vice of lying. The point of this announcement will be seen when

it is known that Mr. GARDNER is generally believed to be largely addicted to this degrading and scandalous vice.

I am to speak here to-morrow evening.—Governor WILLIAMS is to preside. On Friday I speak in Bath; Saturday in Gardiner; Sunday in Winthrop; Monday in Portland; Tuesday in Biddeford; Thursday in Springfield, Mass; Friday in Albany, N. Y.; and Saturday, April 4th, I hope to reach Rochester. Truly, yours, F. D.

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