Letter from Frederick Douglass, Rochester, to an unidentified recipient, 1869 April 24: autograph manuscript signed.

Saying that he approves of the use his correspondent made of his note; writing "By your statement I am left in a favorable condition before the country and before the Government. Your remarks have already begun their circuit: They were in our paper this morning"; saying that he will not "affect to despise either the opportunities or honors of official positions," despite the fact that this might give him a reputation for "greediness for office"; mentioning the ill effects that "Parlour-Railroad-platform life and labors" have had on his health and saying that he is currently spending his time gardening; thanking his correspondent for the offer of "a place on that first page" and responding "for the present you had better let me attend to the onions -- and do some very needful reading"; wondering about potential topics of discussion at the next meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society: "There really seems not much to be said. Fifteenth Amendment is on its passage and is in a fair way to become a part of the organic Law of the Land. Will it be fair to assail [Ulysses S.] Grant for all the murders which have taken place in the south since 4th March? Had we better take up the cause of [Cuba?] -- and let our war cry be '[Cuba], Emancipation, Independence' -- and possibly annexation? What will Wendell [possibly, Wendell Phillips] say?"; sending his kind regards to Mr. Johnson.