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: John J. Gaines

Speaker or author: Gaines, John J.

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

Speech describing the effects of prejudice in the U.S. on living arrangements and education.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 872 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

Speech regarding the inhumanity of slavery, emphasizing the government backing the institution of slavery receives that keeps it strongly in place.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 973 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

Brief speech discounting the Democratic party's pro-slavery stance and the laws that had resulted from its influence.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 491 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

The speaker stressed that where there is one person legally enslaved in the U.S., there is no liberty for anyone. Slavery makes slaves of us all. When a government encourages slavery, it evokes a need to control the slaves. This requires laws which limit freedom for everyone. The speaker offered examples to substantiate his ideas.

Description of file(s): PDF 12 page, 3,349 word document (text and images)

Title: Lewis Hayden

Speaker or author: Hayden, Lewis, 1815-1889

Newspaper or publication: Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

Lengthy speech regarding the status of freed African Americans within the order of Freemasonry. The speaker stressed concern over growing racial prejudice within the order. He was also concerned that President Andrew Johnson was not doing anything to combat the increasing racial prejudice within the U.S. The speaker paid special attention to the wording of the Freemason doctrine regarding membership. He also gave a brief history of the order, including its goals, moral obligations and social commitment. This speech contains valuable information regarding the influence of Freemasonry in the founding of the U. S.

Description of file(s): PDF 56 page, 17,480 word document (text and images)

Title: John Andrew Jackson

Speaker or author: Jackson, John Andrew

Newspaper or publication: Christian News

Anecdotal speech regarding one man's experience with slavery. The speaker was presenting his story and the story of one other slave in hopes of raising enough money to purchase his father's and sister's freedom.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,024 word document (text and images)

Title: John Peck

Speaker or author: Peck, John, of Pittsburgh

Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)

Brief speech in which the speaker stressed unity of purpose and a coordinated effort among white as well as black citizens to reach the goals of equality, moral elevation, and racial harmony.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 564 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sweat Rock

Speaker or author: Rock, John S. (John Sweat), 1825-1866

Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)

Brief overview of a speech regarding the refusal of the government to arm and accept as soldiers African Americans during the Civil War. This situation would alter as the war neared its end.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 440 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Elevator

Impassioned speech in which the speaker emphasized that along with freedom, African Americans were entitled to all the privileges of citizenship including suffrage, legal, social and political rights. Denying a citizen these rights on the basis of color was illogical, irrational, and uncivilized.

Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,101 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Elevator (Incomplete)

Eloquent speech regarding the positive changes the speaker could already see as a result of the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of the slaves. The speaker stressed, however, that more changes were needed before racial equality could be realized.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,141 word document (text and images)

Title: John N. Lewis

Speaker or author: Lewis, John N.

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Speech regarding the irony of missionary work in Africa by men who are slaves in the U.S. and not allowed to read the Bible. Emphasis is placed on the question of civil rights in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,278 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: Lewis Hayden

Speaker or author: Hayden, Lewis, 1815-1889

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Debate between Mr. Hayden and Mr. Githell, a slaveholder, over the morality of slavery. The speaker said it was immoral to hold human beings as property. Mr. Githell's point was that while he was against slavery, each of his slaves represented a monetary investment that he wanted to be compensated for. Mr. Githell believed God would end slavery, but that this couldn't happen yet because the slave offered economic prosperity to the slaveholder.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 433 word document (text and images)

Title: John S. Rock

Speaker or author: Rock, John S. (John Sweat), 1825-1866

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

The speaker addressed the issue of categorizing human beings in terms of race. He noted how "...in undertaking to prove too much they prove nothing." He touched on the history of slavery and denounced the Fugitive Slave Law, predicting its downfall.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,419 word document (text and images)

Title: Charles Reason

Speaker or author: Reason, Charles Lewis, 1818-1893

Newspaper or publication: Impartial Citizen

Brief speech by Charles Reason, professor at New York Central College describing the college and the area surrounding its location.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 179 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Jefferson City, [MO] Democrat

Overview of speech delivered before the House of Representatives. The speaker spoke for the suffrage and civil rights of the newly freed slaves. He emphasized that they were newly acquired citizens of the U.S. and deserved all the rights that went along with that status.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,117 word document (text and images)

Title: John V. DeGrasse

Speaker or author: DeGrasse, John V., 1817-ca.1866

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Overview of brief acceptance speech delivered after the speaker was presented with a portrait of John T. Hilton.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 262 word document (text and image)

Title: John T. Hilton

Speaker or author: Hilton, John T.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech delivered on the anniversary of British emancipation of the West Indies, and a comparison of this with the continuation of slavery in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 260 word document (text and images)

Title: John T. Hilton

Speaker or author: Hilton, John T.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given at Marlboro Chapel to commemorate the arrival in Boston from England of William Lloyd Garrison and N. P. Rogers. An invitation for the event was issued reading: "all abolitionists of Boston and vicinity, irrespective of complexion, respectfully requested to unite in this public reception of our esteemed friends and co-adjutors in the cause of universal emancipation."

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 635 word document (text and images)