Douglass and his Press

July 16, 1847

A letter to Garrison, from Isaac Stearns, July 13, regrets that Douglass has given up the idea of a press.  He implies that Douglass “has been advised to do so by a few leading abolitionists in whom he put confidence, contrary to his own feelings, and those of a great majority of abolitionist throughout the country”.    He then refutes the several arguments that have been given to discourage Douglass…then he writes, “I do hope that the abolitionists will encourage Douglass to proceed, and not give way to selfish expediency…The chief reason for the abandonment of the scheme of publishing said paper you give, is that there are already four papers conducted by colored men; but in looking into the list of them, I find not one of them is published in New England.”

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