Ketcham, John. Letter to Isaac Post.

Title

Ketcham, John. Letter to Isaac Post.

Creator

Ketcham, John

Contributor

Post, Isaac, 1798-1872

Date

1838-09-00

Description

Handwritten letter from John Ketcham to Isaac Post, September , 1838.

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

509

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

Jericho 9^m 1838 -

Esteemed friend,

Expecting an opportunity to forward a

few lines by E. P. Willis, has tempted me to try to

scribble a little for thy perusal tho’ I suppose you will

be made acquainted thro’ other sources, of most of the things

that have occured [sic] amongst us which it will be interesting to

to [sic] you to know. You will doubtless be informed that we have

had rather a spirit-stiring [sic] time on the subject of abolition &c

&c &c _ you will likely be told all about G. F. White Lucretia

Motts and their labours of love & discord amongst us _ What

effect all this troubling of the waters may produce remains

to be seen. Certain it is, considerable collision [sic] of sentiment

has been elicited; but I do not anticipate any very bad

consequences from this if we can keep in a right spirit and

disposition of mind; but there is the dificulty [sic]; and it is very

important for each one of us to endeavour strictly to guard

one in this particular; and if happily we succeed in this I have

no doubt but but [sic] the right cause will gain ground – Truth

never sufferes [sic] by investigation and the attacks of Error

often promote such investigation _ _ _ But while I

leave the local news principally for others to tell there is

one subject that perhaps I may be better prepared to in=

=part information upon than they – I lately made a little

trip to Philadelphia and when there attended the “Free produce

Convention” held on the 5^th and 6^th of this month – and here

the query occurs, where were the Isaac Posts and the Thomas

M^cClintocks and the Gerrit Smiths, Charles Marriots and a host

(Page 2)

of other “good men and true” who might have reasonably been

have been expected upon the spot (and it appeared they were

at least some of them expected) to lend their aid in so good a

cause – as it was, I beleive [sic] thy friend J. was the only and alone

solitary representative from the “Empire State” – for my own

part may truly say it was gratifiying [sic] to my best feelings &

be there whether any other good will result ^to myself^ I cannot so

well tell – The object of this association is to encourage the

use of the products of requited labour and to devise means

to procure a supply in the market, of such produce and

I think there is good reason to hope that this plan if properly

carried out will effect much: It will call the attention of

many to the subject who have never yet reflected much upon

it – it will I think quicken others to action who are already

convinced of its propriety; but (like myself) have let in the

discouraging thought that so little could be done – The Con=

=vention was h^e^ld in a building a few rods from the far famed

Pensylvany [sic] Hall yet all was quiet around – no mobs to be seen

in the streets and no Mayors to make speeches to them – indoors

too order prevailed tho’ we had some (I might say) rather spirited

discussion but all apparently with perfectly good feelings, In an

assembly composed of various religious denominations, white

and black, male and female, it would be strange indeed

if all should see exactly eye to eye: and yet as regards the main

subject there appeared very little difference of sentiment – the

chief difference seemed in the question wether [sic] all participation

or use of such articles was criminal – some seeming to hold

to the affirmative while others thought there was “no laws for

necessity” – This thou will see might easily lead to some very fine

(Page 3)

hair-spliting [sic] and it did so – The business of the convention was finally

left in the hands of committees and after a Session 2 days adjourned to

meet in 10^th M^o next year – There was one trait in the management

of the business with which I was particularly pleased. I never before

witnessed in any deliberative assembly the principal of equal

rights so fully carried out – in this respect there seemed to be no dis=

=tinction felt – neither rich nor poor Jew nor Gentile, male nor female

none of these things appeared to cramp the freedom of discussion at all

the company seemed composed mostly of Friends – rather more

women I thought than men and a few coloured folks of

both sexes who seemed to take as much interest in the proceedings

as if they were white _ the presiding officer was a man _ a male

and female secretary _ the standing officers and committees

were chosen promiscuously, as for instance Gerrit Smith (tho

absent) was chosen President of the Society and Lucretia Mott Treaserer [sic]

and so on _ and now thou may think whether all you who ought

to have been there, and staid away, have not sustained a loss, and

also whether a good cause which needs the support of all good men,

(ay and good women too) has not ^also^ sustained another loss – think of

this against 10^th month next year _ _ _ During my short stay in

P^a I had also the pleasure of hearing a lecture on the subject of slavery

by Sarah M. Grimke and also the honour of attending a meeting of

the Friends Antislavery society – this I believe is composed exclusively

of friends –(of both sorts) it was held in the Cherry street meeting house &

consists of more than 100 members – there was an address reported and

adopted by the mg – which I should like thee should see: it was to be

published in the Pensylvany [sic] Freeman – on the subject of abstaining

from slave labour produce _ _ _ By the way what dost thou think

of this plan of friends operating by themselves in the Antislavery

cause

(Page 4)

true it seems to obviate an objection often urged by some, to wit, that

friends are ^a^ peculiar people having peculiar Testimonies given them to

bear to the world – that by mingling with the worlds people we should,

by imbibing thier [sic] spirit and maxims, loose those testimonies and

become as the people of the world _ _ How my thoughts on the subject run

a little on this wise – If we have really received more light than has

been vouchsafed to others should we not be more likely to impart it

by intercourse with them? would it not be more like seting [sic] the light upon

the candlestick than it would to entrench ourselves within the (thorny) hedge

of Sectarian exclusionism? which is the most likely, that darkness should drive

away light; or that light (if it is the true light) should dispell [sic] the darkness? This

seems rather a puzelsome [sic] question; I should be glad to hear what thou has

[Continues on bottom of page with line beginning “to say about”]

[Text in center of page, written upward]

Isaac Post

Rochester

NY

[Text to the right of above, written upside down]

I myss [sic] [hr?] day

[Text on bottom of page, written normal]

to say about it – Thou will see that this whole position rests on the admission

that we are more enlightened – perhaps others might deny the assertion and

^then^ we have a case at issues to establish as well as we can – But then again

the scripture injunction is brought up – that Israel should dwell alone

and not be numbered among the Nations – but then comes another puzeler [sic]

why should this be exclusively applied to joining with others to do good or to

benefit the human race: while it seems to be no sin to do it for the sake of

gain? We may go hand inhand [sic] up to the House of the God of this world and

bow together at the shrine of Mammon and no one complains – For all

then may dwell where he pleases _ _ I have been pondering a little on these

things and I thought I should be glad to know thy views of them whither

they accord with my own or otherwise --- I expect to see thee and thy A.

on the [Soland?] this fall. as we are to have another marriage here but

dont [sic] wait for that. – let us hear from you by letter as soon as convenient –

we are all in usual health – My R joins in love to you all

John Ketcham

Tags

Abolitionism; Enslaved people; Quakers; Women's Rights

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Ketcham, John, “Ketcham, John. Letter to Isaac Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2807.

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