The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-10

land once the property of General Washing
ton, and not far from his home, he will not find
hills of more than 2le to 80, instead of 450, as
stated by him, he will find bridges or cuIverts
over every stream, and all this in the neigh
borhood where Washington lived, and where
he died.
And whether the schoolrnaster has been
abroad or at home for the last fifty years, the
state of things here is such, that instead of
hiring Oldschoops Northern neighbor to reside
here for ten years by giving him the fee simple
OF all lands, he would find it very difficult
matter to obtain residence here for one year
without paying a liberal compensation for the
privilege of enjoying so delightful paradise
so long time, let it compare with CaHraria
as it may.
To have the tide of emigration, whether of
foreign or of native origin, turned to the Old
Dominion, would indeed be a favor, if of a
class possessing energy, enterprise, and pecu-
mary means, to aid in the renovation of the
country, and assist the wheels of civilization
to crush out some of the old roads and GUS
toms, and establish new and better ones in
their stead, for it is frankly admitted that fur
Their reformation in these respects is desirable.
And now, inasmuch as the mode of travel is
so easy and pleasant, hereby extend to Old
schools neighbor friendly invitation to make
the vicinity of Washington's home another
visit-promising him, so far at least as the
writer IS concerned, a kind reception and cor
dial welcome, from whence he may return, am
ply stored with good materials to draw pic
ture in much more bright and brilliant colors
than that heretofore portrayed. JUSTICE.
LETTER FROM FREDERIcK DOUGLASS
Frederick Douglass denies that he agreed to be
present at Harper's Ferry, and says that, while
he justifes the enterprise on moral grounds, he
was entirely opposed 70 it from a conviction of
the impossibility of its success. His letter is
written from Canada West to the Rochester
Democrat. He says:
"But assuming that it has told only the sim
pie truth as to the sayings of Mr.. Cook in this
instance, have this answer to make to my
aecuser: MIR. Cook may be perfectly right in
denouncing me as a coward. / have not one
word to say in defence or vindication of my
character for courage. / have always been
more distinguished for running than fighting !;
and tried by the Harper's Ferry instruction
test, am most miserably deficient in cour-
age-even more so than Cook, when he de-
serted his brave old Captain, and fed to the
mountains. To this extent, Mr.. Cook is en-
tirely right, and will meet no contradiction
from me or from anybody else. But wholly,
grievously, and most unaccountably wrong, is
Mr.. Cook when he asserts that / promised to
be present in person at the Harper's Ferry in
surrection. OF whatever other imprudence and
indscretion l may have been guilty, have
never made promise so rash and wild as this
The taking of Harper's Ferry was measure
never encouraged by my word or by my vote,
at any time or place; my wisdom or my cow
ardice has not only kept me from Harper's
Ferry, but has equally kept me from making
any promise to go there. / desire to be quite
emphatic here; for of all guilty men, he is the
guitiest who lures his fellow men to an under
taking of this sort, under promise of assistance,
which he afterwards fails to render l there
fore declare that there is no man living, and no
man dead, who, if living, could truthfuIly say
that ever promised him or anybody else, either
conditonally or otherwise, that would be pres
ent in person at the Harper's Ferry insurrec-
ton. My field Of labor for the abolition of Sla.
very has not extended to an attack upon the
United States Arsenal. In the teeth of the
documents already published, and Of those
which may hereafter be published, affirm that
no man connected with that instruction, from
its noble and heroic leader down, can connect
my name with single broken promise, of any
sort whatever So much / deem it proper to
say negatively"
He further says that he left the country from
an apprehension that he would be seized by the
United States Marshal, and carried to Virginia.
He was not afraid to be tried in New York. He
will proceed to England, in fulilment of pre-
vious arrangement.