brought against you, prove more damaging than that of
amalgamation? Would you not be branded all over the land as
dastardly hypocrites, professing principles which you have no
wish or intention of carrying out? As a mere matter of policy or
expediency, you will be wise to let me in. Everybody knows that I
have been duly elected as a delegate by the city of Rochester.
The fact has been broadly announced and commented upon all over
the country. If I am not admitted, the public will ask, 'Where is
Douglass? Why is he not seen in the convention?' and you would
find that inquiry more difficult to answer than any charge
brought against you for favoring political or social equality;
but, ignoring the question of policy altogether, and looking at
it as one of right and wrong, I am bound to go into that
convention; not to do so, would contradict the principle and
practice of my life." With this answer, the committee retired
from the car in which I was seated, and did not again approach me
on the subject; but I saw plainly enough then, as well as on the
morning when the Loyalist procession was to march through the
streets of Philadelphia, that while I was not to be formally
excluded, I was to be ignored by the Convention.

I was the ugly and deformed child of the family, and to be kept
out of sight as much as possible while there was company in the
house. Especially was it the purpose to offer me no inducement to
be present in the ranks of the procession of its members and
friends, which was to start from Independence Hall on the first
morning of its meeting. In good season, however, I was present at
this grand starting point. My reception there confirmed my
impression as to the policy intended to be pursued toward me. Few
of the many I knew were prepared to give me a cordial
recognition, and among these few I may mention Gen. Benj. F.
Butler, who, whatever others may say of him, has always shown a
courage equal to his convictions. Almost everybody else whom I
met seemed to be ashamed or afraid of me. On the previous night I
had been warned that I should not be allowed to walk through the
city in the procession; fears had been expressed that my presence
in it would so shock the prejudices of the people of
Philadelphia, as to cause the procession t