Douglass, Frederick. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Douglass, Frederick. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Douglass, Frederick

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

1849-09-11

Description

Handwritten letter from Frederick Douglass to Amy Kirby Post. Douglass writes to Post in response to her letter regarding the financial state of his newspaper, the North Star.

Subject

Post, Amy Kirby, b. 1802

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

755

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)
Macedon: 11^th Sept
1849

Amy Post,
                My Dear Friend. The conversation had with you
                this morning at E. Bloomfield has left a very
                uncomfortable impression on my mind- and
                especially do I feel grieved at your declaration
                of intention not to vote in favor of any
                further donations to the Star until I
                put the economical concerns of the paper
                under the charge of a committee- and
                also saying in a very singular manner
                that I knew you had powers in the
                executive committee. These were strange
                words to me- and you were the last person
                from whom I should have expected them.
                The holding such a threat over me
                may be the best mode of treating
                me- but I am free to say that
                I think it other wise.
                I have ^no^ possible objection to having the
                books and papers of the North freely examined
                by any member of the Board of Mangers
                of the Western New York Antislavery
                Society and never have had- If those
                Books have not been examined it
                is no fault of mine. I have said this again

(Page 2)

and again. Now if any person thinks
that I am disposing of the publics [sic]
money improperly or fraudulently
the Books are open to [obliterated] them.

I want you now to understand my entire feelings
in regard to having a committee to take the
pecuniary charge of the paper- In the first
place- I consider that the paper is my own-
to be used for the good of the slave. I am
personally responsible for its character - and
for its debts- and must or ought to share the
pecuniary advantages of the paper- if there
should any arise from it. Such a responsibility
brings with the right to manage the paper ^as^ I
may deem best.
                         And while I should be
glad to have a committee- who would
kindly see that the Books of the [Concirn?] [sic]
are honestly and properly kept- and
to point out where there can be a saving-
and where ^there^ should be improvements. I can
never consent to give up the entire control
over the paper to persons who are not responsible
for the debts of the [Concirn?]. Such a course
would be degrading to me as a man- and
making me a mere Cypher - in my own
affairs.

(Page 3)

I shall write to our mutual friends
M^m Hallowell- and Mr Willis, and
solicit them to perform the duty which
I have already indicated. I am sure
they will serve, and if they will
none others will be necessary.

                    I write in haste as I am
on my way to attend the funeral of
our departed friend Hannah Dexton.

            With Sincere Love to Dear Isaac
and the same to your dear self.
I am faithfully yours as ever
        Frederick Douglass

(Page 3)

[Text aligned vertically across center of Page 3]

Amy Post
Care of Post & Willis
Rochester
N.Y.

Annotations

Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist and former slave, is writing from Macedon, New York to fellow activist, Amy Post. Douglass published a newspaper called the North Star. William Hallowell was Post's son-in-law and Edmund P. Willis was Post's brother-in-law.

Tags

Abolitionism; Personal

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Douglass, Frederick, “Douglass, Frederick. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 21, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3046.

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