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Title: Alexander Crummell

Speaker or author: Crummell, Alexander, 1819-1898

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- New York Public Library -- Schomburg Collection

Lengthy speech given during a celebration held in honor of a battle the colonists fought with native Africans in December, 1822. The focus of the speech was on the responsibilities of the founding fathers in establishing the moral, ethical, and social regulations of a new colony like Monrovia in Africa. He emphasized that what the founding fathers establish now would affect the citizens of these colonies for generations to come. It is important, then, to lay a positive foundation now. (this speech is combined with speech 27949 and published as speech number 27139)

Description of file(s): PDF 22 page, 9,150 word document (text and images)

Title: Alexander Crummell

Speaker or author: Crummell, Alexander, 1819-1898

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- New York Public Library -- Schomburg Collection

Lengthy sermon in which the speaker compares the plight of those held in bondage in the U.S. with the experiences of slaves in ancient Egypt. The speaker believed that it was God's Will that the people of Africa should be converted to Christianity.

Description of file(s): PDF 21 page, 6,407 word document (text and images)

Title: Austin Steward

Speaker or author: Steward, Austin

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Onondaga County Public Library [Coles, Howard W., The Cradle of Freedom, (1941), pp. 23-26]

At the termination of slavery in the U.S., the speaker reflected on what had been an accepted economic mainstay in the system of slavery and what potential for change was now available for all U.S. citizens. He urged his audience to take advantage of the opportunity to prosper by adopting a Christian lifestyle, avoiding "hard spirits," and focusing on civil rights.

Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,307 word document (text and images)

Title: Charles Tasco

Speaker or author: Tasco, Charles

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief speech given to encourage African Americans to fight for their country.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 130 word document (text and image)

Title: Ezra R. Johnson

Speaker or author: Johnson, Ezra R.

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal

Patriotic speech regarding the pride the speaker felt towards the black troops who were fighting and dying for their country in the Civil War. He was most impressed with how well they were received and celebrated for their heroism by the general population.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 2,386 word document (text and images)

Title: Ezra R. Johnson

Speaker or author: Johnson, Ezra R.

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal

Speech given to praise and honor Mrs. George M. Washum for her donation of money, time and effort to the First Congregational Church.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 453 word document (text and images)

Title: George W. Turley

Speaker or author: Turley, George W.

Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)

An account of the author's travels via stage coach through small towns in Colorado.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 866 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

The speaker read the Emancipation Proclamation aloud to a cheering audience and urged African Americans to join the Union army in the Civil War's continued fighting.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 830 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: Henry Highland Garnet

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief speech encouraging African American men of New York to enlist in the army and fight for their country now that the opportunity had been given to them. He believed that of the black men working as "menials" in the current army who had already received wounds from fighting, all would have chosen to be soldiers if they'd had the opportunity.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 234 word document (text and image)

Title: J. B. Sanderson

Speaker or author: Sanderson, J. B., d. 1875

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal

Enthusiastic speech offered in celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation. The speaker praised Abraham Lincoln and compared him to St. Peter.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,425 word document (text and images)

Title: J. E. Green

Speaker or author: Green, J. E., of Michigan

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Overview of a brief speech in which the speaker noted the emancipation of slaves in other countries based on their patriotism and willingness to fight for their countries. He compared this to the withholding of freedom from African Americans who had fought bravely for the U. S.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 456 word document (text and images)

Title: J. H. Hubbard

Speaker or author: Hubbard, J. H.

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal

Anti-slavery sermon stressing the history of slavery in the U. S. and the triumph of reason over the inhumanity of this system.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,148 word document (text and images)

Title: James Theodore Holly

Speaker or author: Holly, James Theodore

Newspaper or publication: African Repository

Sermon in tribute of Bishop Francis Burns, emphasizing his successful career and missionary work in Africa.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 3,407 word document (text and images)

Title: James W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: National Principia

The speaker reviewed the history of mob action towards slaves and people of color in the U. S. since the 1600's. He then addressed the current mob attack of July, 1863, tracing the actions that culminated in violence. He stressed the influence of nationalism, colonization, education, politics, religion and race in the resulting riot. (This speech is combined here from two issues of the National Principal. Reference unpublished speech 27356.)

Description of file(s): PDF 20 page, 5,200 word document (text and images)

Title: John Anderson

Speaker or author: Anderson, John, b. 1831?

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- National Library of Scotland

Anecdotal story regarding one man's life and escape from slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 2,044 word document (text and images)

Title: John Anderson

Speaker or author: Anderson, John, b. 1831?

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- National Library of Scotland

Anecdotal story regarding one man's escape from slavery. (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 659 word document (text and images)

Title: John B. Smith

Speaker or author: Smith, J. B. (John B.), Rev., fl. 1852-1863

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

The speaker emphasized the desire for equal rights for the newly freed slaves. While he admitted to being surprised by the Emancipation Proclamation, he believed it was God's Will and that justice had finally prevailed. He denounced those who agreed with the Crittenden Compromise, and emphasized that the war was not caused by the abolitionists.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 319 word document (text and image)

Title: John Sella Martin

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

Newspaper or publication: Patriot

Speech delivered before an English audience regarding the effects of the Civil War on the English economy. The speaker emphasized that slavery was "perpetual war, and was more cruel and immoral than any." He apologized to the British people for the disruption in cotton importation from the U.S. due to the fighting.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 651 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 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: Presscopy -- John Rylands Library -- Manchester, England

Speech given on the anniversary of the execution of John Brown. The speaker related his experience with John Brown, and praised him as a martyr for the abolition of slavery. He also praised other abolitionists and stressed that the incident at Harper's Ferry was the spark that fueled the current fight to completely end slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 2,698 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

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

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Rhodes House -- MSS British Empire -- G88, Freedman's Aid Society -- Oxford, England

Overview of a speech addressing the pro-slavery argument that the slave is content in his/her situation. This argument includes the idea that the slave has no right to his contentment if it interfers with another person's freedom. The speaker also eloquently addressed the argument of the inferiority of the black race.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 968 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 Sweat Rock

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief speech addressing the fears expressed within the country regarding the emancipation of the slaves. The speaker emphasized that the fear of amalgamation is groundless since it presupposes an "uncommon attraction on the part of the blacks" to the white race and this was not the case. He encouraged his audience to have faith and trust the path to freedom that lay before them.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 336 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sweat Rock

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given to celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation. The speaker rejoiced and offered thanks to all those who had sacrificed so much for this day.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 790 word document (text and images)

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