The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-11-22
letter from Fred Douglas,

rom r'eu. Douglas, dated canada West
Oct. 3lst 1859, in which no notices the
oft repeated statement that Cook, tone Of
the Harper's Ferry prisoners,) had dcnoun.
ccd him (Douglas,) as coward, for not
coming TO the aid Of the insurgents, as he
had promised. We extract a few passages
from his letter:
Having no acquaintance with Mr.. Cook,
and never having exchanged word with
him about the Harpcr's Ferry instruction,
am disposed to doubt that he could have
used the language concerning me, which
the wires attributed to him. The light.
ming when speaking for itself, is anon.
tho most direct, reliable and truthful Of
things; but when speaking for the terror
stricken Shareholders of Harper's Ferry, il
has been made the swiftcst Of liars But
assuming that it has told only tho simple
truth in this instance, have this answer
TO make TO my accuser: Mr.. Cook may
be perfectly right in denouncing me rs Il
coward. / have always been moro disin
guished for running than for fghliug-and
tried 10y the Harpcr's Ferry instruction
test, am most miscrabIy deficient Of cour.
age--cven more so than Cook, when he
deserted his brave old Captain and fled to
tho mountains. Wholly, previously and
most unaccountably wrong is Mr.. Cook,
when he asserts that promised to be pres,
ent in person at tho Harper's Ferry insur.
reclion. The taking Of IIsrper's Ferry
was measure never encouraged by my
word or by my vote, at any time or place.
Cesirc to be quite emphatic hcre-for Of
all guilty men, he is the guiltiest who lures
his fellow men to an undertaking Of this
sort, under promise Of assistance, which ho
afterwards fail to render. therefore de.
clare that there is not man living, and no
man dead, who, if living, could truthfully
say that ever promised him or anybody
else, either c)nditionaIy or otherwise, that
would be present in person at the Har
rnr's Forry ;"e"'',o';, -.
Tile time for a full statement of what /
kaop, and all / kaor, Of N,S desperate
hut suJjimeiy diSmtcreSted tfoyt II emon-
cipaie tie S'orcS Of NarYi0nd and Vir-
qjRia from Mcir cruel task masters haS
not get come, and Way ncOer come. In
the denial which | have now male, my
motive is moro respectful consideration
Of the opinion of the slaves friends, than
from any foar of being made an accomplico
in tic general consl tracy against Slavery.
| am ever ready to write, speak, publish,
organize combine, and even to conspre
against Slavery, when there is a rcasona.
h.e hope for success. Men who live by
robbing their fellow,m Of their labor and
liberty. have forfeited their RIGHT to know
anything Of the thoughts, feelings or pur-
poses Of those whom they rob and plum
der
Entertaining this sentiment, may be
asked why ! did not join John Brown =
the noble old hero whose enc right hand
In, shaken the foundation of the American
Union, anI who's ghost will haunt the
bed chambers or ail the born and unborn
Say,holGers Of Virginia Though ail their
generations, filing them With alarm and
conformation. Ny answer to this has al
ready been given, at lcl,t impIiody given.
The tools TO those that can use them. -
Let eypry man Wotk for the abolition .of
SIpyrry in his own way. would help all
and hinder nouc. Ny position to the lIar.
pcr's fcrry iEsunect!ou may be- easily in.
trrrcl from these remarks, and | shall be
glad if those papers which have spoken of
me in connection with it, would find room
for his b,ic' statement.
have no ap IIo1y Tor keeping oal Of
thn wayoflhosn gcatlcmanly United States
MarsaulS, who are sal to have paid Ruch
ester somewhat protrac'od visit lately,
with q y.ow to nm interview with me. \
Government recognizing the validity Of the
Dsci Scott decision, nj such timc as this,
i not Iik IS to have any very Charitable
feelings towards me. and It am to meet
It's representatives,, prefer to do SO, nj
Last upon equal terms. Ii ! have com
mjttad any ollruc, against society, have
done 50 on the soil o. the state of New
York, and should hc perfectly wiling
there 10 5c arra@ncd before an impartial
jury; but | have quite in,upcrabls ohiec.
tions to be caught toy the hands Of Mr..
BUcuASAN, ana "jdayfd' by Gov. WISE.
For this appears 10 be tho arrangement
BucIANAS does The fighting and hunting,
and WISE "b7qe' the game.
Some reflections may b. made upon my
leaving on tour to EngIonl, Just at this
time. have only 10 say, that my going
to that country has been rather delayed
than hastenci by the insurU2ction at tlar.
pcr's Ferry All knew that had intcn.
: dcd 10 leave here in The first week Of No
ycmber. FREDERICK DOUGLAS.