Black Abolitionist Archive

Title: Hezekiah Ford Douglass

Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

Expressive and dramatic speech regarding the continuation of American slavery long after the British had emancipated the West Indies. The speaker emphasized the historical movements of humanity towards freedom and liberty that he believed would always triumph.

Description of file(s): PDF 12 page, 2,857 word document (text and images)

Title: H. Ford Douglass

Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

In this election year, the speaker encouraged continued vigilance in the fight for abolition of slavery. The speaker stressed where each party and each presidential candidate stood on the issue of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 12 page, 3,422 word document (text and images)

Title: H. Ford Douglass

Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle

The speaker offered his thoughts on prejudice, saying, "When we are free, men will find it to be a fact that there is no prejudice against color. It is the condition, not the color. My color serves as a badge, indicating that I belong to a race which in this land has been doomed to degredation. And just so long as we consent to occupy a subordinate condition, and submit without murmuring to our degradation, there is no prejudice against us. So long as the black man is willing to be a slave in this country, all is well enough, but whenever he attempts to take the position of a freeman, it is then the white man seems to hate him." The speaker stressed that prejudice is about slavery, not about skin color.

Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,626 word document (text and images)

Title: William L. Douglass

Speaker or author: Douglass, William L.

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Speech given on the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies in August, 1833, with emphasis placed on how the U.S. should follow Britain in abolishing slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 8 page, 2,295 word document (text and images)

Subtitle: Going -- Going -- Not Gone.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - December 22, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

(Text is partially illegible.) The writer urges John Mitchel, an Irish immigrant who fought for continuation of slavery in the U.S., to return to Ireland and stop interfering with politics in this country.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: The New Political Party.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - December 15, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

In an effort to push for revolutionary change, a new political party called the Know-Nothing Party has formed. The writer comments on the religious aspects of this party and those who oppose it. It seems to be an objectified tension between Catholicism and Protestantism in a political arena.

Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages

Subtitle: Cassius M. Clay, in Corinthian Hall.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - December 15, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer alerts his readers to an upcoming lecture by Cassius M. Clay.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Subtitle: The Nebraska Bill Passed the Senate.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - March 10, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer alerts his readers to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act by the Senate. He still holds out hope that it will not pass the House of Representatives.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Colored Men Citizens.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - August 25, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer asks the rhetorical question "Is color a constitutional disqualifier?" after relating the story of a fugitive slave being refused a passport while in a foreign country since he was black. The official of that country told him that since he was black he couldn't be considered a citizen of the U.S. He addresses the issue of citizenship in the U.S. and how this seems determined by race.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: "What Have the Abolitionists Done?"

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - December 1, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer begins to answer the question "What have the Abolitionists done?" by explaining what they have not done. He will respond further to this question in another editorial.

Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)

Subtitle: The Coward and Convict.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - June 30, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer briefly comments on the activities of some Irishmen who immigrate to the U.S. His negative remarks are mostly directed towards John Mitchell.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Notes by the Way.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - December 16, 1853

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer briefly described his experience on a recent speaking tour.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Keep Them at Home.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - June 23, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer briefly expresses his anger over the recent Congressional decision on the Nebraska Bill.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Subtitle: The Crisis--What Can We Do?

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - March 17, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer calls for African American unity and cooperation in this time of chaos and uncertainty. He notes that the Rochester Convention was the turning point for this in the current unsettled times.

Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)

Subtitle: The "League of Freedom."

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - april 14, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer calls for an "utter overthrow of 'Slave Power'" during this time of social crisis. He comments on the formation of a "League of Freedom" and the timeliness of such an effort. He calls for action; and ends his commentary with, "Then let all the foes of Oppression unite, and, in solid phalanx, march to the battlefield, and whip the enemy."

Description of file(s): three scanned newspaper pages (five columns)

Subtitle: Visit to Toronto, Canada.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - August 18, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer comments briefly on his visit to Toronto, Canada and the work being done there on behalf of its black citizens.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Frederick Douglass for Congress!

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper -

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer comments on a rumor that Frederick Douglass will run for Congress.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Fillmore's Southern Tour.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - April 12, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer comments on a speech delivered by former president Millard Fillmore delivered in New Orleans during his tour of the southern states.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Who are the Murderers?

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - June 2, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer comments on an incidence in Boston where a U.S. Marshall was murdered in an effort to prevent the return a fugitive slave to the person determined to be his owner.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: New Nebraska Bill.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - April 28, 1854

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer comments on further developments in the evolution of the Kansas-Nebraska Act currently being considered in Congress.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column