Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-02-19
letter from Frederick DOUGLASS,
VIcToRY HOTEL, Belfast, }
January LIST, 1916. {
My DEAR FRIENr GARRISON


! am now about to take leave of the Emerald
Isle, for Glasgow, Scotland have been here
little more than four months. Up TO this time,
have given no direct expression of the views,
feelings and opinions which | have formed re-
spectng the character and condition of the pee
pie Of this land [ have RETAINED thus purpose
IIy. | wish to speak advisedly, and in order to
do this, l have waited till trust experience has
brought my opinions to an intelligent maturity.
| have been thus careful, not because | think
what | may say will have much effect in shaping
the opinions of the world but because whatever
Of influence may possess, whether little or much
] wish it to go in the right direction, and accor-
ding tc truth.
hardly need say that, in speaking of Ireland
shall be influenced by no prejudices in favor of
America. think my circumstances all forbid
that. have no end to serve, no creed to uphold,
no government to defend and as 10 nation | be-
long to none. have no protection at home, or
resting place abroad. The land ofmy birth well
comes me to her shores only as slave, and spurns
with contempt the idea Of tleating me different
|iy, So that | am an outcast iiom the society of
ii am a stranger with thee, and sojourner as
all my fathers were That men should be pa
trotic is to me perfectly natural; and as a philo-
sophcal fact | am able to give it an intellectual
recognition. But no further can 60 If ev-
er had any patriotism, OF any capacity for the
feeling, it was whipt out of me long since by the
lash of the American sonl-driyers.
4I,;,J;nr oF A,nor;c, I find
myself admring her bright skies-her grand old
woods-hcr fertile felds-her beautiful rivers
her mighty lakes and sar-crowned mountains
But my rapture is soon checked, my JOY is soon
turned to mourning. When | remember that
all is cursed with the internal spirit of slave
holding, robbery and wrong ,-when remember
that with the waters of her modest rivers, the
tears of my brethren are borne TO the ocean, dis
regarded and forgotten, and that her most fertile
Gle!ds drink daily of the warm blood of my ont.
ragged sisters, | am filled with unuteroble loath-
ing and led to reproach myself that any thing
; could fall from my lips in praise of such land
America will not allow her children to love her
; She seems bent on compelling those who would
be her warmest friends, to be her worst enemies.
t May COP give her repentance before it is too
] late, is the ardent prayer Of my heart | will
continue to pray, labor and wait, believing that
she cannot always be insensble TO the dictates
f of Justice, or deaf to the voice of humanity.
Ny opportunities for learning the character
and condition of TIE people Of this land have
been very great. have travelled almost from
the hill of 'Howth' to the Giants Causeway,
and from the Giants Ceuseway to Cape Clear.
During these travels, | have met with much in
the character and condition OF the people to ap-
n prove and much to condeun-much that has
J. thrilled me with pleasurc---and very much that
/ has thrilled me WITH pain | will not, in this
; letter, attempt to give you any description of
Il those scenes which have gitcu me pain. This
+ will do hereafter. have enough ard more
than your subscribers will be disposed to read at
7 one time, Of the bright side of the picture, ]
$ can truly say have spent some of the happiest
+ moments OF my life since landing in this coun-
g try. seem to have undergone trans6lmation
. u live ancwliie.
: The warm and generous corporation extend
e ed to Inc by the friends of my despised race
Il the prompt and liberal manner with which the
O press has rendered me its aid-the glorious en-
c thusiasm with which thousands have hocked to
o hear the cruel wrongs of my down-trodden and
! long-ensaved iellow-conntrymen portrayed--the
h deep sympathy for the slave, and the strong alb
= horence of the Shareholder, every where evin-
=. ced-the cordially with which members and
# ministers of various religious bodies, and of va
rious shades of religious opinion, have embraced
It me, and lent me their aid-the kind hospitality
e constantly pronered to me by persons of the
highest rank in society--the spirit of freedom
II that seems to animate all with whom | come in
c contact-and the entire absence of every thing
that looked like prejudice against me- on account
If of the color Of my skin-contrasted so strongly
/ with my long and bitter experience in the United
II States, that look with wonder and amazement
!. on the transition.
l. In the Southern part of the United States,
e was slave, thought Of and spoken of as prop
+ erty In the language of the Law "held, taken,
d reputed and adjudged to be a chattel in the
/ hands of my owners and possessors and their eX-
n eCutors administrators, and assigns, to all nents
;, constructions, and purposes whatsoever. =
Y Breg. Digest 1924 In the Northern States,
p fugitive slave, liable to be hunted at any mo-
e ment like felon, and to be hurled into the hor-
- rble jaws of savery-doomed by an inveterate
a prejudice against color, to insult and outrage en-
L every hand, Massachusetts out of the questiop)
IS IS denied the privileges and courtescs common
"a to others in the use of the most humble convey
e ances-shut out from the cabins of steamboats,
e refused admission to respectable hotels-carIca-
n tured, scorned, scoffed, Knocked and maltreated
e with impunity by any, no matter how black his
is heart, so he has white skin
= But now behold the changel Eleven das
y and half gone, and have crossed thee thou