Mark Twain Project :: Letters :: : an electronic text

To Charles B. Andrews
7 February 1880 • Hartford, Conn.
(MS: CtLHi and CU-MARK, UCCL 01759)

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slc/mt farmington avenue, hartford.

Feb. 7.

Your Excellency’s name is mentioned in the accompanying letter, & as I do not know the writer of it, I venture to come to you for information. If you are on his list, I judge it is because you have made inquiries & satisfied yourself of his trustworthiness. I have been so often duped by strangers who used people’s names without authority, that I [am] become cautious by compulsion. Will you kindly re-enclose the letter to me & tell me if you know Rev. Mr. Davis to be a responsible person?

Very Truly Yours

S. L. Clemens

His Excellency the Governor.

[enclosure:]

New York City
Feby 6th/80

Mr Samual. L. Clemens

Mark Twain—

Dear Sir

It is well know among the colored People throughout the county that you have always spoken a workd of kindness for them A few weeks ago i called upon you to secure if — Possible your cooperation with other men of standing in the work of missions which we as a religious denominations are engage in throughout New-England States we have 24 places called mission fields, they afford releigious instruction to our race, for in many places where there is but few or not more then a half dozen persons the access to white churches is easy and Desirable But if there be more then this number thy are Timid—and the most of them will imagine that they are not wanting now. Sir the uneducated [State] of our people and there peculiar religious notions warrant us to secure places of worship, of our own, for the present. Again our People could not get all perhaps that they might demand in white Churches more especially where there rented pews— – – – – –

Under this Plane truth regarding my race, we call upon Christian friends and all others of the American People throughout good old New-England to help us bear this burden. beside this home work we have 200,000 Souls beyond the line who oftimes cry to us for help but those that clame our home attention throughout the State need our first care if nothing more then to arrest the young— I am pleased to inform you Sir the Mr. Thomas. South Esqur has head my list Followed by the Governor ‸of the State‸ and a large number of your Influenchel Citizens. I called upon you but family Sickness called you out of Town. I now ask your name donation to our cause which have been so willingly aided by the Friends of Hartford. As you have always manifested true friendship for our race that has been wonce oppressed but now free, thank God, we know that so great Mani in the Literary world as yourself will help our cause my head quarters is at Rv. R. R. Morris Pastor of Pearl St Afriacan M. E. Church No. 17, S. Am. St who will give you all Satisfaction as he is the Bishops. Secty Direct to Rv. Thos A. Davis

157, W. 24th St

I purpose of Publishing a rool of honor attached to our appeal

[clippings simulated, line by line; cancellation is drawn by hand in ink:]

A. [M. E.] Zion Church.

TO A BENEVOLENT CHRISTIAN PUBLIC OF N. Y. CITY

————

As a branch of the Christian family, seeking the elevation
of our Race by every means at our command, in the face of
much opposition, and with less to do with than many other
Christian bodies, struggling, as we have for 75 years, as a church
to keep afloat since our Fathers left their Mother Church, [Old
John Street], to do for themselves and their children, we have
endeavored to paddle our own canoe, and have made but little
headway without outside help; although there have been noble-
hearted philanthropists who have worked and toiled with us to
help us uphill, many who have departed this life in hope of a better;
and many, who still live, who manifest deep interest in the future
of the race, independent of party, strife and sectional feeling.
They have blessed, with large and small donations, our Churches,
and Universities, and Seminaries; this they have done in their
life time and at their death.

We could publish a roll of honor to them, but time forbids.

Now, if there is anything that a nation’s people can bestow
on a deserving race, let it now be done, as we have put forth all
our strength in the good work, and let it be said that a Colored
Church is redeemed from the hands of those who are ready to
make use of it, if sold, for other purposes than the house of God.

THOS. A. DAVIS, Pastor & Agent,

I am prepared to lecture on Temperance and other subjects,
for a small consideration, for the above cause. [Suscbriptions], by
post or otherwise, at my residence.

Res 157, W. 24th St

N.B on account of Sickness i have been unable to move to my Destrict

Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

The MS of Clemens’s letter is in the Ransom Collection, CtLHi; the MS of the enclosure is in CU-MARK.

glyph Previous publication: MicroPUL, reel 1.

glyph Emendations and textual notes:

am • am am [corrected miswriting]

State • State [first ‘t’ not crossed]

M. E. • M[ white diamond ] E[] [periods obscured]

Suscbriptions • [sic]