Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
40 LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
prised by his coolly saying in his broken way, ' I
b'leve I'll go wid de ole man.' Here we separated;
they to go to Harper's Ferry, and I to
Rochester."
On their way to Chambersburg Mr. Douglass
and Shields Green stopped at Mrs. E. A. Gloucester's
in Brooklyn, August 18, who sent through
Mr. Douglass to Captain Brown a letter and a
small amount of money. The following is a
copy of a letter signed by colored citizens of
Philadelphia, which was found among the papers
at the Kennedy farm, Brown's headquarters before
moving on to Harper's Ferry, and was sent
to Mr. Douglass at Rochester in September:
" F D., Esq., Dear Sir,—The undersigned feel it
to be of the utmost importance that our class be
properly represented in a convention to come off
right away (near) Chambersburg, in this state.
We think you are the man of all others to represent
us; and we severally pledge ourselves that
in case you will come right on we will see your
family well provided for during your absence, or
until your safe return to them. Answer to us
and to John Henrie, Esq., Chambersburg, Penn.,
at once. We are ready to make you a remittance,
if you go. We have now quite a number
of good but not very intelligent representatives
collected. Some of our numbers are ready to go
on with you." It was never known why this letter