Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Syracuse, [New York], to Mary Anne Estlin, 1863 Feb[ruary] 14

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Syracuse, [New York], to Mary Anne Estlin, 1863 Feb[ruary] 14
Description:
Samuel Joseph May writes to Mary Anne Estlin in regards to his domestic, parochial, and public affairs. He writes of the National Freedman's Relief Association's plans. When the American Civil War ends, he hopes this organization will supersede the American Anti-Slavery Society's responsibilties. They have already done much for the cause, such as sending boxes of clothing to Port Royal as well as "two excellent female teachers." He writes his dismay that his friends in England "fail to discern the real cause of our horrid war, to see its inevitable tendency, and to rejoice with us that slavery is to be undermined and overthrown, whether our politicians & statesmen intend it or not." He finds it surprising that so many English abolitionists support the rebels over the loyal states. He says the Democratic party have "led to act & vote as if the rights of slaveholders were more sacred than the rights of man." He is disappointed by English abolitionists' lack of faith in the Union and their support for the "Southern oligarchy, because the President of our Republic and many of our leading statesmen, who are not now and never were abolitionists, have declared the preservation of the Union, not the abolition of slavery--to be their main object. Few of our politicians have looked at slavery from a moral point of sight." He discusses current politics and is pleased that antislavery meetings in Great Britain are "coming to the right view of the subject and that the morality of England may hereafter frown indiginantly upon the sympathy and aid which have hiterto come so abundantly from your country to the rebels." He writes his predictions on the outcome of the war. He asks that she share his letter with Mr. Chapman, Mr. Hill, and other friends. He lastly writes about his times spent in England. Parker Pillsbury is expected to visit him in the following week. His postscript says he included a small photograph and asks her to send his regards to other mutual friends. He includes a second note two days later with more news of affairs and friends. He is grieved to hear of the ill health of [S. Alfred] Steinthal and of the bereaved Richard D[avis] Webb.
Author:
May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871
Addressee:
Estlin, Mary Anne, 1820-1902
Date:
February 14, 1863
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--England--19th century--Correspondence
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Antislavery movements--Great Britain--History--19th century
Abolitionists--Public opinion--United States--19th century
African American abolitionists--History--19th century
African Americans--Education--United States--History--19th century
African Americans--Segregation--Southern States--History--19th century
African Americans--Segregation--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Societies, etc--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Meetings--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Meetings--Great Britain--History--19th century
Fugitive slaves--United States--History--19th century
Political campaigns--United States--History--19th century
Slavery--Political aspects--United States--History--19th century
Slavery--United States--Legal status of slaves in free states--19th century
Social justice--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Women abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Women social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Women social reformers--England--History--19th century
Women abolitionists--England--History--19th century
Suffrage--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Congresses--United States--History--19th century
Race relations--United States--History--19th century
Equality before the law--United States--History--19th century
Freedmen--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Societies, etc--Great Britain--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
United States--Foreign relations--Great Britain--19th century
Abolitionists
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Great Britain
Abolitionists--United States
Public opinion
African Americans--Civil rights--History--19th century
African American abolitionists
African Americans--Education--History
African Americans--Segregation
Antislavery movements--United States
Societies
Meetings
Fugitive slaves--United States
Political campaigns--United States--History
Slavery--United States--Legal status of enslaved persons in free states
Enslaved persons--Emancipation--United States
Social justice--United States
Social reformers--United States
Women abolitionists--United States
Women social reformers--United States
Women social reformers
Women abolitionists
Suffrage--United States
States' rights (American politics)
Congresses and conventions
Race relations
Racism--United States--History--19th century
Equality before the law--United States
Freed persons--United States
United States--Race relations
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Foreign public opinion
United States--Foreign relations--Great Britain
American Anti-Slavery Society
Freedman's Relief Association
Estlin, Mary Anne, 1820-1902
May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871
Webb, Richard Davis, 1805-1872
Steinthal, S. Alfred
Pillsbury, Parker, 1809-1898
Estlin, J. B. (John Bishop), 1785-1855
Places:
United Kingdom
Southern United States (area)
England
Extent:
5 leaf (20 p.) ; 23 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z111486t
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Syracuse, [New York]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Identifier:
5140737
Call #:
MS A.7.3 p.118
Barcode:
39999086049424