“In another place in his article, he describes me as the ‘negro.’ This is preposterous and ridiculous. Were I a negro, I should regard it as no dishonor, since men are not responsible for their physical peculiarities, and since they are neither better nor worse on account of them. It happens in this case, however, that so far from being a negro, three-fourths of the blood which flows in my veins is as good Anglo-Saxon as that which flows in the veins of this writer in the ’Times,’—better, I will not say, of course.
“Something also is said in this article from Fulton about the ’course we’ (the young lady and myself) ‘were pursuing.’ Now, as the several hundred armed men strong who came down upon me on Sunday night, and some newspaper Editors, and this gentleman in particular, and the public very nearly in general, have taken the matter of judging what this ’course we were pursuing’ was, out of our own hands, I propose to leave it still further with them. They can guess at it, and fight it out to their heart’s content.
“Something also is said by this gentleman about ’wholesome advice being given me’—but I did not hear it, that’s all. Besides, I never take advice from those who can not tell the difference between a man and his skin.
“One gentleman—a true man—came to me, and expressed his deep sympathy for me, and his sorrow that I had been so wrongfully treated and shamefully outraged, and entreated me to regard with pity, and not with anger, the murderous wretches outside. This is the speech that I remember, and remember it to thank the friend for his manifestation of kind and generous emotions.
“This Fulton ‘Committee man’ also says that ’the colored man asked if he was to be left to be torn to pieces.’ Beyond a doubt, I asked that question. It was certainly, under the circumstances, the most natural question in the world; for I had really begun to think that the fellows outside had the genuine teeth and tail.
“I close this Article. To the Committee who so kindly lent me their protection on that memorable night, I offer my thanks and lasting gratitude.
“To the poor wretches who sought to take my life, I extend my pity and forgiveness.
“As to myself—having in my veins, though but in a slight degree, the blood of a despised, crushed, and persecuted people, I ask no favors of the people of this country, and get none save from those whose Christianity is not hypocrisy, and who are willing to ’do unto others as they would that others should do unto them’—and who regard all human beings who are equal in character as equal to one another.