Black Abolitionist Archive

Title: William Howard Day

Speaker or author: Day, William Howard, d. 1900

Newspaper or publication: Douglass' Monthly

Brief speech in which the speaker appealed to his Irish audience for help in the fight for emancipation. He gave an example of the conditions under which the slaves live and blamed the cotton industry for the continuation of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 352 word document (text and images)

Title: William Howard Day

Speaker or author: Day, William Howard, d. 1900

Newspaper or publication: Douglass' Monthly

The speaker expressed his thoughts on the differences between the slave states and the free states. Although argument had been made that slavery was necessary for the good of the economy, he noted that from his experience and the current price of land, he believed that instead slavery "impoverished the land." He also expressed his thoughts on the influence of cotton on continuing slavery; and his belief in the benefits of colonization as an alternative to living in a country that was becoming wealthy from slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,504 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882

Newspaper or publication: Douglass' Monthly

The speaker argued that prejudice and acts of violence against the free people of color in the northern states was instigated by southern extremists in an effort to disrupt the union and encourage unrest. He accused northern newspapers and unjust journalism (fed by southern sympathies) for the current violence against black Americans in the north.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 844 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882

Newspaper or publication: Douglass' Monthly

The speaker said that black soldiers were not given the same incentives to fight as white soldiers and this just continued the prejudicial injustice they had already suffered. He asked only that equal rights prevail in the military.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 256 word document (text and image)

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: William G. Allen

Speaker or author: Allen, William G., fl. 1849-1853

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Lengthy speech describing the various attributes and skills of a great orator, and the benefits of the freedom of public speaking in the U.S. The speaker believes oratory to be the greatest art of expression in a free country.

Description of file(s): PDF 36 page, 8,718 word document (text and images)

Title: William G. Allen

Speaker or author: Allen, William G., fl. 1849-1853

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Speech offering examples of the cruelty and injustice the speaker had experienced and heard of resulting from racial prejudice. The speaker said he agreed with the resolution that slavery was a "sin and crime against God."

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,372 word document (text and images)

Title: William Wells Brown

Speaker or author: Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Speech denouncing the Fugitive Slave Bill, and praising the work of the American Anti-Slavery Society in its efforts to end slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 794 word document (text and images)

Title: Anthony Burns

Speaker or author: Burns, Anthony, 1834-1862

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Overview of speech detailing one man's experience with the injustice of the Fugitive Slave Law. The speaker expressed his belief that the Church was involved in continuing the system of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,834 word document (text and images)

Title: William Craft

Speaker or author: Craft, William

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Speech denouncing the Fugitive Slave Law and emphasizing its injustices. The speaker recounted his experiences with this law.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 662 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: Henry W. Johnson

Speaker or author: Johnson, Henry W., abolitionist

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Speech denouncing the motivation behind the American Colonization Society and the Fugitive Slave Bill. The speaker stressing the irony that the U.S. will welcome fleeing Hungarian refugees to its shores but does not provide a welcome to the refugees of slavery who already reside here.

Description of file(s): PDF 24 page, 2,934 word document (text and images)

Title: Jermain Wesley Loguen

Speaker or author: Loguen, Jermain Wesley

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Speech offered to the public in response to a letter warning the speaker that the slaveholder from whom he'd escaped was coming to get him. The speaker told his audience that he would stand his ground and not leave as a way of proving his human liberty, his manhood, and as a symbol of freedom for all those who are enslaved.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 764 word document (text and images)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Overview of speech regarding the contributions of black Americans during the previous wars with England. The speaker said that they were told that England had made them slaves and to win the fight against England would be to win their right to freedom.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 413 word document (text and images)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Sermon given to denounce the current trend towards "Free Love" without the benefit of marriage.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 572 word document (text and images)

Title: R. R. Raymond

Speaker or author: Raymond, R. R., Rev.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Speech given before the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society regarding the cruelties of slavery and the suffering of those enslaved. The speaker noted the importance of the role of women in the effort to end slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 424 word document (text and images)

Title: Charles Lenox Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Brief overview of a speech expressing an appreciation for the endurance of African Americans who were dealing with the cruelties of slavery and prejudice. The speaker encouraged them to defend their rights even if it meant being "traitors" to the government.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 156 word document (text and image)

Title: Charles Lenox Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Speech comparing the fugitive slave rescue experiences in Syracuse with similar rescues in Boston. The speaker stressed that injustices and prejudices are not only prevalent in both cities, but in the entire country.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 754 word document (text and images)

Title: Sarah Parker Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Sarah Parker, 1826-1887?

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Speech delivered before an English audience in which the speaker stressed the irony of slavery in the U.S., a country founded on freedom. She explained the details regarding the Dred Scott decision and the goals of the Fugitive Slave Law.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,128 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)