Black Abolitionist Archive

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Advocate

Brief speech praising the work of William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, and John Brown. The speaker said that just because there is no news of discontent from the slaves in the South does not mean that they are happy with their situation.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 134 word document (text and image)

Title: Martin Robison Delany

Speaker or author: Delany, Martin Robison, 1812-1885

Newspaper or publication: Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet (with portions taken from the Chatham Weekly Planet)

The speaker gave an account of his recent explorations in Liberia including geological and geographical information. He also stressed the kindness, curiosity and willingness to learn of the people he encountered in Africa.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 630 word document (text and images)

Title: Amos G. Beman

Speaker or author: Beman, Amos Gerry, 1812-1874

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Speech regarding the principles, goals and value of the New York Committee of Vigilance in its assistance to people of color.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 2,773 word document (text and images)

Title: Amos G. Beman

Speaker or author: Beman, Amos Gerry, 1812-1874

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Excerpt of a speech delivered before the Congregational Church in Hartford, Connecticut and published in the Emancipator newspaper. The newspaper notes that: "Mr. B. endeavors successfully, in his address, to show, that the colored race may be elevated in this country, in respect to property, intelligence, and moral worth; which he declares are the elements of true happiness and prosperity. Having concluded his argument, he makes an eloquent and earnest appeal to his hearers, to inspire them with resolution to overcome the obstacles in the way of their elevation." (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 657 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Monthly

Speech delivered before an English audience explaining in general terms the causes and possible outcome of the Civil War. The speaker placed emphasis on the injustice of laws like the Fugitive Slave Law that were being passed in the U.S. just before the war began.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,285 word document (text and images)

Title: Martin Robison Delany

Speaker or author: Delany, Martin Robison, 1812-1885

Newspaper or publication: Leeds Mercury

Overview of a speech delivered when responding to a question regarding his motivation for exploring Africa. The speaker said he was searching for a suitable place for the immigration of free African Americans.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 496 word document (text and image)

Title: Martin Robison Delany

Speaker or author: Delany, Martin Robison, 1812-1885

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Detailed account of some of the customs and culture of the people of Africa who the speaker had studied during his explorations of that country.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,445 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief speech in which the speaker defended the African civilization project. He believed that immigrating to Africa, growing cotton there, then selling cotton to England was one of the best way to end slavery in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 191 word document (text and image)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Impassioned and emotional speech given the day of John Brown's death. The speaker praised John Brown and compared the trails and convictions of his life with those of Jesus and John the Baptist. The speaker saw John Brown's death as more a crucifixion than an execution. This event marked a turning point in the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the issue of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,873 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

The speaker praised George Thompson for his accomplishments on behalf of African Americans. He compared the treatment of the slave in the northern states with the treatment of the slave in the southern states and concluded that African Americans were treated better in the south.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 711 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech delivered before an English audience recognizing the efforts of the National Anti-Slavery League and its members in the fight for universal abolition of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 949 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Sermon delivered during a celebration of the anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker emphasized the error in moral judgment made by a country that condoned laws like the Fugitive Slave Law. He compared the plight of the slaves in the U.S. with that of slaves in ancient Egypt. He noted that the poor whites were not treated any better than the slaves were regardless of their skin color. The war for freedom was, to the speaker, a holy war for human liberty.

Description of file(s): PDF 15 page, 4,523 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech delivered before an English audience requesting that the British government refuse aid and assistance to the Confederacy.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 289 word document (text and image)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

The speaker appealed to the people of Great Britain for their support in the fight for emancipation in the U.S. He explained a bit of what was happening in the U.S. regarding the war, and focused on the issue of slavery and the strides being made by the anti-slavery movements there.

Description of file(s): PDF 14 page, 4,006 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given before an English audience asking for their support in the process of emancipation that was now in effect in the U.S. The speaker expressed his idea that immediate emancipation was better than the gradual emancipation that some promoted.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,641 word document (text and images)

Title: William Spellman

Speaker or author: Spellman, William, fl. 1830-1885

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief speech regarding civil rights for freed black citizens. The speaker also emphasized his resolution for providing continued employment for black lecturers in Connecticut.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 358 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Brief overview of a speech delivered before an English audience and addressing the criticism by the British of the Civil War. The speaker emphasized that slavery was worse than war and therefore freedom was worth fighting for.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 212 word document (text and image)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

The speaker put forward his assessment of how the situation in the U. S. is currently viewed in England. He noted that opinion differs by class and political affiliation with some siding with the Union and some with the Confederacy. He gave examples and detailed his reasoning when reaching these conclusions.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 628 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

The speaker noted that prejudice was related more to an association of race with slavery than to slavery itself. While slavery had included all races in its long history, it was the particular racial aspect of slavery in the U. S. that distinguished it and set it on the road to its doom. The speaker also addressed the causes for the abolition of slavery in England and the influence of the press in this action.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 927 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Non Conformist

An appeal to the American people on behalf of the newly freed slaves for assistance in adapting to their new condition. Almost immediately after the Emancipation Proclamation the prejudice already prevalent in the country became more pronounced and intense. The speaker called for reason and compassion.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 804 word document (text and images)