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Collection: African American Newspapers
Publication: FREDERICK DOUGLASS PAPER
Date: December 17, 1852
F. DouglassTitle: -------
Location: Rochester, New York

Fifth Volume.
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In announcing, as we now do, the completion of our fifth volume, we beg the patience of our kind readers and friends, while we say to them a few words, which, though somewhat personal, will not, we trust, be deemed altogether out of place.
Five years ago, with unfeigned distrust of our ability to discharge, even with tolerable credit, the duties of an editor, and with much anxiety about the success of the experiment, but with an earnest desire to subserve a worthy cause, we undertook the publication of this Anti-Slavery Journal. In a country like this, boasting of its liberty and its religion, yet holding in slavery three millions of our race, and resorting to every scheme which prejudice and malice can suggest, and cunning can devise, to prolong the hated bondage, where schemes for depressing the free colored people are countless, where press, and pulpit and rostrum, together with all trades and professions, have united (as it were) to burn into every sable brow the paralizing brand of inferiority - it did seem, and it does now seem to us, that a paper, conducted by one of the hated race, was, and is called for. Such a paper was demanded, in part to give the black man a chance to speak for himself, to say why sentence of moral, social, political and intellectual death, should not be pronounced upon him. To answer this obvious want, we called upon our kind friends in Great Britain and Ireland for assistance to start with; our call was generously and promptly responded to, and by their aid the paper was commenced.
How far the purpose which it was established to promote has been answered, others must say. We can only answer for our fidelity; and in this respect we are free from all embarrassment. The cause, the cause! with party or without party, and disregardful of smiles or frowns, has been the main spring of our endeavors. For it we have cut off the right hand and plucked out the right eye. Perhaps we have not, in the process, at all times presented to beholders that placid serenity, which distinguishes temperaments of a different order from ours; yet, even in this, we hope we have not greatly offended. But whatever may be the view taken of us on this score, we desire to be considered, on all hands, a friend to all who are friendly to the perishing slave, and as opposed to all who are opposed to the slave.
The fact that our humble journal has now reached the end of a five years' service, without having faltered or fallen; that it has overcome our own doubts, and the doubts of others, in respect to the practicability of its publication; that warm friends have been raised up for it in every time of need; and that every dart aimed at its life by its foes, has failed of effecting its end; that it has passed unharmed through those infantile diseases which have hitherto proved so fatal to every other paper which has been started in this country, under the auspices of colored men; and that it has not failed to be recognized by the good men and women of every shade of anti-slavery opinion, as one of the useful instrumentalities of the country for abolishing slavery and elevating the free colored people, is to us a source of profound gratitude.
Although our darling sheet is not yet strong enough to boast of its strength; and has not reached that maturity when it can be expected to stand alone, supported only by its subscription list, it is, however, in a hopeful condition, giving signs of increasing strength and certain prosperity.
Would all our subscribers, who are now in arrears, promptly pay up what is due, and subscribe for the sixth volume, we should be saved all anxiety about the future of the paper, and be able to give our thoughts and energies to making it what it ought to be, without being perplexed and harrassed, as to where and how we shall find means to sustain it. Will our friends take this hint without any more direct appeal?
It is of some consequence, we think, that the only journal regularly published in the United State by a fugitive slave, and a colored man should be sustained.
It is certain, quite certain, that, if it be allowed to languish and die, the fact would be grateful to those who hate and despise the colored race, and who denounce them as incapable of elevation. But we do not rest the claims of our paper merely on considerations like these; we have a corps of correspondents, equal in ability to those of any other paper in the country, and among the very best of these are men of color. A regular contributor to our columns is Dr. J. M'Cune Smith, of New York, over the signature of " Communipaw," whose racy articles, treating, as they do, of matters which can be best understood by persons brought into immediate contact with the oppressed, are invaluable, as furnishing an insight into the every day life of that people. Another is Mr. J.W. Wilson, of Brooklyn, N.Y. whose literary cognomen is " Ethiop." The letters of these gentlemen, evincing, as they do, a hearty devotion to the interests of the oppressed, by exposing the short comings of the colored people, as well as by commending what is praiseworthy on their part, have won the esteem of our readers, and called forth warm testimonials of their value to the paper. - The name of Professor Wm. G. Allen, the only acting colored Professor in any college in the United States, is among the number of those who favor our columns by making them the medium of their thoughts to the public.
Professor Allen writes with a power and a purity of style, which prove him justly entitled to the distinguished position he occupies. That he does not forget his people in his lofty elevation is worthy of especial praise. Our paper is also indebted to S.R. Ward, of Canada; J.W. Loguen, of Syracuse; H.O. Wagoner, of Chicago; J.N. Still of Brooklyn; W.H. Topp, G.T. Downing, M.R. Delany, A.H. Francis, and last, but not least, William Wells Brown, all colored men, and zealous advocates of the principles of liberty and humanity. Desiring (as we do) a continuance of their favors, we would return them our thanks for their past services, and commend our paper to support in part, on the ground of the value derived from their communications. Our white correspondents will not feel themselves slighted because we omit to particularize them in this connection; we are thankful to them as well as to our companions in proscription. Our Corresponding Editor, an able and ready writer, well versed in politics and the political history of the country, an earnest and zealous reformer, whose articles have done much to inhance the value of the paper, will continue to contribute to our columns, as heretofore. In a word, the paper is designed to be just such an one as the wants of the times demand - one which shall practically set forth and illustrate the great truth of human brotherhood in its deepest and broadest significance.
As to the future character of the paper, we need say but little. It will advocate, as it has done, the immediate and unconditional emancipation of every slave in this country, and throughout the world. To this end it will bring before its readers all the facts and arguments, which expose the legitimate abominations of slavery, and that will serve to show the slave system to be a crime and a curse, incapable of excuse or paliation. It will aim to impress upon all Christian men the duty of remembering "them that are in bonds as being bound with them," pointing out and exposing the pro-slavery action and position of religious organizations. It will depend in the name of justice, liberty, and Christian fidelity, the total withdrawal of all church fellowship from slaveholders and their abettors. It will maintain the doctrines of the utter unconstitutionality of slavery, and show that the inactments in support of it are no more to be respected as LAWS, than are the adopted rules of pirates and other robbers, who band themselves together to plunder and murder mankind.
It will make no compromise with slavery or with pro-slavery parties, but will insist upon faithfulness to the slave at the ballot-box, and endeavor to concentrate the anti-slavery sentiment of the country, in that way and manner, at any given time, as shall in the judgment of its editor, promise the greatest efficiency in the work of abolishing slavery. Devoted to the principles of the Liberty Party, it will hold them up for adoption by all who would act politically against slavery and kindred evils.
It will gladly be the medium through which GERRIT SMITH, the distinguished representative of the most radical type of political abolitionism, shall speak to the people. It will not be ashamed to regard him a wise, as well as a faithful leader of the moral and political forces against slavery, or to make him our standard bearer. It will esteem the laws of God above the enactments of men; and when the latter conflicts with the former, we shall go for adhering to the "higher law." It will hold the church and the clergy responsible for slavery; and will appeal to them in the name of humanity, and according to the law of the living God, to break every yoke, and to let the oppressed go free. These religious bodies which have separated themselves, and which may separate themselves from the slave system, shall lie encouraged and commended for their righteous position. All schemes of colonization which look to the expatriation of the free colored people from their native land, the better to secure the slave in his chains, shall be sternly opposed. We shall contend for the immediate enfranchisement of colored citizens - for equal educational advantages - equal facilities for learning trades - equal rights in the use of public conveyances - equal justice before the law - equality in all the relations of life, making character and manhood, not color and features, the criterion of fitness for the enjoyment of rights and privileges. In a word, our columns shall be devoted to a defence of all the just rights of the human family, male and female, black and white, and without respect to country, nation, or tongue. Aside from the intrinsic merits of the paper itself, it ought to be sustained because it has afforded, and does now afford, colored young men, who would find it impossible to learn the art of printing, an opportunity to accomplish that desirable object.
For ourselves we say nothing. To us the paper has been no means of gain. Every dollar generously put at our disposal by our English friends to enable us to commence the paper, has been expended, and if, as has been intimated in some quarters we were actuated by motives of gain, we should instantly relinquish our connection with the concern, and betake ourselves to some other and more lucrative employment.
We will not conclude this statement without acknowledging the receipt of substantial assistance, during the past year, from Gerrit Smith, Esq., whose benevolence is without bounds. His money, his labors, in the cause of emancipation, in behalf of the elevation of the free colored people, in the spread of temperance, in relief of the poor, in aid of the landless, and in every good word and work, have made his name to stand out in bold denial of the degrading allegation that man can only act from selfish or personal motives. Heaven bless him and sustain him in the course which he has marked out for himself, and in the duties to which his fellow-citizens have called him as an American Legislator.
To "the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society," we owe a large debt of gratitude. - They have not only succored and aided many fugitives during the year who have applied to us for assistance; but they have greatly aided us with the needed funds to keep our witness for anti-slavery truth in the field. - This Society is now vigorously preparing for its annual exhibition or Festival, which, we doubt not, will surpass that held by the Society one year ago.
We could name many individuals who (in addition to their subscriptions) have sent us three, four and five dollars, to stay up our hands. To all who have thus aided us, whether with larger or smaller sums whether in Great Britain or in America, we would express our warmest and fullest thanks.
In referring to those who have assisted us in keeping up the paper during this year, and for the past three years, we are indebted to none more than to that ever-active and zealous friend to the slave, MISS JULIA GRIFFITHS. Her time and talents have been almost exclusively devoted to the interests of the paper, and to the great cause which it was established to promote; and we tender to her the sincere expression of our thanks, hoping ever to merit her efficient co-operation, and that of those whom she has succeeded in bringing to the work of emancipation.