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Black Abolitionist Archive

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

Newspaper or publication: Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland Ohio -- Sella Martin Book

The speaker traced in detail the benefits and the drawbacks of raising cotton. He stressed the value of the crop itself and its positive influence on the American economy. He linked this with the work of slaves who had given their health and lives to produce it. The remainder of the speech stressed the predicament that the emancipation of the slaves placed on those involved with cotton production. He also emphasized that the Negro was not inferior to the white race and he offered several examples to prove this. He believed the future of the production of cotton and other crops was with science not with "brute" man power. The idea of inferiority of one race was not a sound argument for slavery. He argued for the right of all human beings to be free.

Description of file(s): PDF 13 page, 3,682 word document (text and images)

Date published: 1865-10

Subjects: Abolitionists--United States; Abolitionists--United States; African American abolitionists; Antislavery movements--United States; Civil rights; Slavery; United States--History--19th century

Keywords: Africa; bondsman; Civil rights; contentment; cotton; crop; disease; economy; emancipation; England; government; Great Britain; inferiority; plantation

Organization: National Association for the Promotion of Social Sciences

Publication type: Speeches; Text

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