The Douglass Controversy

January 27, 1854

From the Frederick Douglass’s Paper,  under the title The Liberator, A.S. Standard and Pennsylvania Freeman,  Douglass says that his purpose “..is not to re-open, but, if possible, to close up our account with these Anti-Slavery journals….bearing upon the personal controversy into which we believe every candid observer will admit, we have been reluctantly drawn, if not absolutely forced…..”  Douglass indicates no wish to
“be embroiled in personal conflict with anti-slavery men of any sort; there is better work for all of us to do, than to keep up a warfare against each other.”…”If Mr. Garrison and his friends have lost confidence in us, the world has been most fully acquainted with the fact…..Here, therefore, may the matter safely repose…..”….”To the various mischievous and scandalous charges brought against us, we have humbly pleaded, throughout NOT GUILTY, and have exposed the complicated sophistry, and the false and hollow evidence upon which our condemnation was sought, without, in the least degree, wishing to retaliate, or to discredit our accusers, further than was absolutely necessary to our own proper vindication.”

The page includes items from the Rochester American, the Syracuse Journal, the Syracuse League, the N. Y. Journal, the Boston Catholic Pilot, all of which seem to exploit the controversy.

Comment by the Editor

The Editor calls attention to the article on the first page (above),  names the “vile papers” which have extended to Douglass “sympathy and aid”, claiming that ” if he cannot blush in presenting such backers to his readers, we can blush for him.”  “we defy him or them to quote a single line from the Liberator condemning him for anything but his aspersions of those who have been his best friends, and to whom he is eternally indebted for his emerging from obscurity.”

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