Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Washington, District of Columbia, to Mary Anne Estlin, 1870 Feb[ruary] 17

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Washington, District of Columbia, to Mary Anne Estlin, 1870 Feb[ruary] 17
Description:
Samuel Joseph May writes to Mary Anne Estlin in regards to his travels the past few months. He is currently in Washington D.C. due to an invitation by a new Unitarian Church called "The Free National Church" to supply their pulpit during January, after which he will travel to Florida to visit governor Harrison Reed and his wife to make his "observations in that State, & perhaps Georgia & South Carolina, into the condition & prospects of the colored population." He had hoped that his cousin, Samuel May Jr. would accompany him but his 93 year old father fell ill and he was needed at home. He thanks her for her comments on his book, which have been kindly received except from his Unitarian brethren who believe he is "too severe upon the short-comins of our denomination." He believes if his Unitarian ministers had preached "fearlessly" against slavery, it would have been "peacefully abolished long ago." He discusses the 15th amendment and writes, "I confess too that I ahve always thought that some qualification of intelligence should be required as a condition of the right to vote-that the would be voter should show that he had read and had a fair understanding of the Constitution. But I do object to this qualification being required of colored, unless it can be imposed likewise upon white men, which is said now to be impracticable." He discusses the importance of universal education. He thanks her for sending John S. Nulls' book on the subjection of women. He asks her to send an article on women's rights in England and Professor Newman's Tract. He discusses the split among two political parties due to the creation of the 15th amendment because of its neglect to include women's rights. He writes, "But Mrs. Stanton and her followers have offended by their opposition to the 15th amendment until the Rights of women shall have been accorded to them; and by their unaccountable alliance with George Francis Train-and their obvious inclination to the Democratic Party." He writes of his extended family's wellbeing.
Author:
May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871
Addressee:
Estlin, Mary Anne, 1820-1902
Date:
February 17, 1870
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--England--19th century--Correspondence
Abolitionists--Public opinion--United States--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Antislavery movements--Great Britain--History--19th century
African Americans--Suffrage--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Societies, etc--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Religious aspects--Christianity--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Meetings--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Newspapers--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Anniversaries, etc--United States--History--19th century
Equality before the law--United States--History--19th century
Freedmen--United States--History--19th century
Suffrage--United States--History--19th century
Peace movements--United States--History--19th century
Race relations--United States--History--19th century
Women abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Unitarians
Women educators--United States--History--19th century
Women social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Women--Suffrage--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Publishing--United States--History--19th century
Southern States--Race relations--History--1865-1877
Abolitionists
Abolitionists--United States
Public opinion
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Great Britain
African Americans--Civil rights--History--19th century
African Americans--Suffrage
Constitutional amendments--United States
Antislavery movements--United States
Societies
Christianity
Meetings
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Equality before the law--United States
Freed persons--United States
Suffrage--United States
Peace movements--United States--History
Race relations
Racism--United States--History--19th century
Women abolitionists--United States
Women educators--United States
Women social reformers--United States
Women's rights--United States--History--19th century
Women--Political activity--United States
Women--Suffrage--United States--History
Publishers and publishing
Southern States--Race relations--History--19th century
United States--Race relations
Estlin, Mary Anne, 1820-1902
May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady, 1815-1902
Places:
United Kingdom
Southern United States (area)
England
Extent:
2 leaves (8 p.) ; 21 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z10zd992
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Washington, District of Columbia
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Identifier:
5140200
Call #:
MS A.7.2 p.107
Barcode:
39999085505186