Former slave (1818–1895) who lent his eloquent, powerful voice to the abolitionist movement. ALS, signed “Fredk. Douglass,” one lightly lined page, 5 x 8, March 31, 1877. Upon being named Marshal of the District of Columbia, Douglass writes a letter to North Carolina Superior Court Judge and notorious carpetbagger Albion Tourgee. In full: “I am thankful for your kind congratulations, I would write you a longer letter if the pressure upon me during these final hours of my office were removed. You will take the will for the deed. My appointment is another step in the upward course of my race and I rejoice to be identified with it.” At the time of writing, Douglass had recently been named Marshal of the District of Columbia by President Rutherford B. Hayes, a position approved by the Republican Senate and the first to be given to an African-American. Tuorgee (1838–1905), a pioneer civil rights activist, founded the National Citizens’ Rights Association and litigated for plaintiff Homer Plessy in the landmark segregation case Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The letter is affixed by its integral second leaf to an 8 x 10 black sheet. In fine condition, with some light wrinkling along left edge from adhesive, a bit of light soiling to lower right, and a couple small thumbprints to top left of text. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
