Speaker or author: Scott, Edward, fl. 1857
Newspaper or publication: Printed Copy -- Rhode Island Historical Society -- Newspaper Clipping File
Speech delivered during a celebration on the anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker disputed the idea that the freed slaves could not care for themselves.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 158 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Scott, Edward, fl. 1857
Newspaper or publication: Christian News
Speech relating how southern slave owners use religion to encourage slaves to obey their masters. Religion was used as a means to justify cruelty for the slaveholder. The speaker related his own personal story of his life as a slave and his subsequent escape.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 674 word document (text and images)
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Speaker or author: Clark, Edward V.
Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard
Overview of speech offered in protest of the Fugitive Slave Bill that was contributing to the kidnapping of nominally free black citizens of New York. The speaker suggested not opposing the law violently (as had been suggested by other speakers that day) but by being secret about activities to assist fugitives.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 263 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Lynch, Black Spokesman: Selected Published Writings of Edward Wilmot Blyden, pp. 11-20
Speech supporting the African colonization efforts of freed slaves. The speaker emphasized the benefits of African Americans immigrating to Africa.
Description of file(s): PDF 12 page, 4,287 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: African Repository
Speech describing the geographical and cultural aspects of Ethiopia, Liberia and other explored areas of Africa. The speaker encouraged an evangelical approach to colonization of Africa.
Description of file(s): PDF 18 page, 7,230 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: African Repository
Speech delivered on the 18th anniversary of Liberian Independence. The speaker stressed the accomplishments of the nation of Liberia and suggested amendments to its constitution.
Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 4,406 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: African Repository
Inaugural speech given at the founding of the first college in West Africa. The speaker stressed the importance of education in the formation of Liberia.
Description of file(s): PDF 22 page, 8,619 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Lynch, Black Spokesman: Selected Published Writings of Edward Wilmot Blyden, pp. 219-222
Inaugural address given at the opening of Liberia College in the newly formed colony of Liberia in West Africa. The speaker gave a brief history of the Africa people who had been captured into slavery and were now given the opportunity to return to their "fatherland" and establish a successful country based on freedom and liberty.
Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,686 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: African Repository
The speaker described life in Africa with the U.S. colonization efforts taking place there. He encouraged freed slaves to immigrate and participate in the colonization of Liberia and Ethiopia.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,331 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Lynch, Black Spokesman: Selected Writings of Edward Wilmot Blyden, pp. 67-75
-- Copyright Permission Pending -- Eulogy given for the Reverend John Day tracing his life through childhood to death, emphasizing his challenges and triumphs. The speaker focused on the Reverend's impact on the world around him and his influence in the work for the abolition of slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 3,731 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Our Origin, Dangers and Duties -- Lynch, Black Spokesman: Selected Published Writings of Edward Wilmot Blyden, pp. 77-79
The speaker called for an amendment to the Constitution of the newly formed Liberian government to extend the term of president from two years to "six to eight" without an option for immediate re-election to that office. He also called for an amendment to allow the president the power to dismiss government employees when necessary. The speaker included other suggestions to improve the Constitution of Liberia.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 1,099 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Lynch, Black Spokesman: Selected Writings of Edward Wilmot Blyden, pp. 63-65
Speech regarding the issues facing Liberia at the time. The speaker believed that the desire to be rich had created too much foreign dependency and not enough development of internal values for the Liberian population in terms of morality, education, and economics. (Includes MP3 audio file.)
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 911 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Blyden, Edward Wilmot, 1832-1912.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Our Origin, Dangers and Duties -- Lynch, Black Spokesman: Selected Published Writings of Edward Wilmot Blyden, pp. 25-33
The speaker encouraged those of African descent to return to their "fatherland" and help cultivate and develop Africa. He believed that Africa offered opportunity and freedom that freed slaves could never find in America.
Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 3,827 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Harris, James H., 1832-1891
Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)
Brief speech in which the speaker encouraged the newly freed slaves to stay in the southern states and not migrate to the north. The speaker felt that African American had more friends among the white population in the south than in the north.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 412 word document (text and images)
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)
Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Impassioned and emotional speech given the day of John Brown's death. The speaker praised John Brown and compared the trails and convictions of his life with those of Jesus and John the Baptist. The speaker saw John Brown's death as more a crucifixion than an execution. This event marked a turning point in the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the issue of slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,873 word document (text and images)
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)
Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832
Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard
The speaker put forward his assessment of how the situation in the U. S. is currently viewed in England. He noted that opinion differs by class and political affiliation with some siding with the Union and some with the Confederacy. He gave examples and detailed his reasoning when reaching these conclusions.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 628 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
While introducing Henry Highland Garnet, the speaker said he supported the African Civilization Society's efforts in Africa. He praised Mr. Garnet's work towards freedom and dedication to the cause of abolition.
Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,273 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Sermon delivered during a celebration of the anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker emphasized the error in moral judgment made by a country that condoned laws like the Fugitive Slave Law. He compared the plight of the slaves in the U.S. with that of slaves in ancient Egypt. He noted that the poor whites were not treated any better than the slaves were regardless of their skin color. The war for freedom was, to the speaker, a holy war for human liberty.
Description of file(s): PDF 15 page, 4,523 word document (text and images)
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Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Brief speech in which the speaker defended the African civilization project. He believed that immigrating to Africa, growing cotton there, then selling cotton to England was one of the best way to end slavery in the U.S.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 191 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech delivered before an English audience recognizing the efforts of the National Anti-Slavery League and its members in the fight for universal abolition of slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 949 word document (text and images)
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)
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)
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)