E. J. A[dams] to Frederick Douglass, November 13, 1857

Mr. EDITOR:—Mrs. Redding, who is said to keep a first class boarding house for first class colored people, in south st. Philadelphia and who is stewardess in one of the steamboats on the Delaware, recently very abruptly objected to Mrs. A. W. Adams occupying the common saloon, when about to make a visit to Chester in the same boat. After finding her objection amounted to nothing she notified the captain of the boat, who of course, obeyed orders. The visit was not made as the lady did not choose to be proscribed.

Should such conduct be countenanced and escape unrebuked in black any more than in white people? How can we be respected as we hope to be, while colored people will persist in degrading their own race? They do it for the accommodation of their oppressors, when the whites themselves become ashamed of their own conduct toward the black people, they would often used colored people as instruments in doing their unrighteous deeds, and yet, ten times in a dozen, such as Stewards, Stewardesses, colored Saloon keepers, and barbers, might do more to secure to us, our common rights; but, instead, they do as much as any other class of people to deprive us of them, proportionally. There are exceptions of course, to this general rule.

E. J. A.

[We publish the above in justice to Mrs. ADAMS, and her much injured husband. Of the merits or demerits of the case, we know nothing. We trust that Mrs. REDDON with whom we are personally acquainted, and whom we have had every reason to believe, is an honorable woman, will make some explanation of this affair, which will divest it of its present aspect—Ed.]