no Government positive or negative discrimination based on class
150 years ago this week anti-Lincoln Republicans convened in Cleveland to set up an alternative party to contest the 1864 presidential election. Here Frederick Douglass set out his expectations for the fledgling party’s platform. Understandably (Mr. Douglass pushed for the enlistment of blacks), Fort Pillow and Southern treatment of black soldiers in general seems to have been one of his main concerns.
From The New-York Times May 27, 1864:
THE CLEVELAND CONVENTION.; Letter from Mr. Fred. Douglass.
From the New-York Tribune of yesterday.
SIR: I mean the complete abolition of every vestige, form and modification of Slavery in every part of the United States, perfect equality for the black man in every State before the law, in the jury-box, at the ballot-box and on the battle-field; ample and salutary retaliation for every instance of enslavement or slaughter of prisoners of any color. I mean that in the distribution of offices and honors under this Government no discrimination shall be made in favor of or against any class of citizens, whether black or white, of native or foreign birth. And supposing that the convention which is to meet at Cleveland means the same thing, I cheerfully give my name as one of the signers of the call.
Yours, respectfully,
FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
E. GILBERT, Esq.
ROCHESTE[R], May 23, 1864.
You can read a review of the Radical Democracy (and the 1864 campaign) at HarpWeek. On May 31st the delegates nominated the first Republican presidential candidate, John Fremont, for president and John Cochrane as his running mate. The June 11, 1864 issue of Harper’s Weekly (at Son of the South) published a one paragraph summary of the convention and its platform. I did not notice a salutary retribution plank. The delegates voted to call themselves the Radical Democracy party.
Fremont and Cochrane
