Speaker or author: Francis, Abner H.
Newspaper or publication: North Star
Eulogy for John Quincy Adams stressing the high points and low points of his career. The speaker compared the state of the country to the Roman Empire in its last days.
Description of file(s): PDF 19 page, 4,143 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Francis, Abner H.
Newspaper or publication: North Star
Speech delivered to celebrate the anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker recounted the history of slavery, the successes of those who had overcome slavery in the past, and the potential of those abolitionists who he believes will abolish slavery forever after.
Description of file(s): PDF 17 page, 4,145 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Francis, Abner H.
Newspaper or publication: Impartial Citizen
Speech given during the presentation of a silver pitcher to Gerrit Smith from the Colored Ladies of Buffalo, New York, to honor his work to abolish slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 920 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Langston, C. H. (Charles Henry), b. 1821?
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
Overview of speech given on the day John Brown was executed. The speaker praised John Brown as an exceptional man. He said that John Brown had been "murdered" by the American people.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 343 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Langston, C. H. (Charles Henry), b. 1821?
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- State Historical Society of Wisconsin -- Pamphlet Collection
Eloquent speech delivered before a court about to pronounce sentence on the speaker for his actions in working against the Fugitive Slave Law. After his impassioned call for reason, justice, and humanity in the exercising of the Fugitive Slave Law, the speaker was fined $100 and sentenced to 20 days in jail.
Description of file(s): PDF 13 page, 4,108 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Langston, C. H. (Charles Henry), b. 1821?
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Harvard University -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets
Brief eulogy given for Lorenzo Dow Taylor who had been an integral part of the convention held in Ohio since it began.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,437 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Langston, C. H. (Charles Henry), b. 1821?
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Harvard University -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets
Brief speech expressing the speaker's agreement that the U. S. government is based on a pro-slavery ideal.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 396 word document (text and image)
Title: Colored American - August 28, 1841
Speaker or author: H.
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer points out that each era is distinguished by the overall important events and human advancement that occur during its timeframe.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Title: Colored American - July 31, 1841
Speaker or author: H.
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer encourages his readers to not waste money on extravagant funerals.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Colored American - September 18, 1841
Speaker or author: H.
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer offers a witty commentary on a recent issue of the Demosthenian Shield newspaper.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- New York Historical Society -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets
Speech in reply to John Mercer Langston who the speaker accuses of not being clear regarding his support of colonization. The speaker argues for immigration as a solution to the questions that arise regarding the nominally free people living in the U.S.
Description of file(s): PDF 18 page, 5,605 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Harvard University -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets
Speech given in response to a resolution offered at the convention. The speaker denounced the Fugitive Slave Law and expressed his belief that the "... Constitution of the United States is pro-slavery...."
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 773 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech expressing the speakers reasons for wanting to continue celebrating August 1st even though opposition had been expressed to this. The speaker said that even though the emancipation of the British West Indies (August 1, 1834) was under the direction of a foreign government, the day was worth celebrating by all those who value freedom. He emphasized the historical efforts and legacies of countries of men who fought, sacrificed and died for freedom.
Description of file(s): PDF 15 page, 4,371 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford
Newspaper or publication: Pine and Palm
The speaker said he believed the first element of success for African Americans was establishing a "nationality." His approach to the abolition of slavery was philosophical. Slavery was not rational in his view and slaveholders, he believed, must come to realize this.
Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,294 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Harvard University, Cambridge -- Rare Books & Manuscripts
Speech discussing the politics of slavery stressing the influence of government and political figures in continuing the institution.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 1,045 word document (text and images)
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)
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)
Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speaking in favor of the Stephen A. Douglas candidacy, the speaker emphasized the pro-slavery position of Abraham Lincoln. He noted that even though the Republican party (to which Lincoln belong) was considered the "anti-slavery party," Lincolns actions showed a different perspective. He noted that Lincoln supported the Fugitive Slave Law and expressed that Lincoln was pro-slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 23 page, 6,716 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Williams, H. M., fl. 1852
Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper
Brief speech denouncing the goals of the Colonization Society and its push to colonize Liberia with nominally free black citizens.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 144 word document (text and image)
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)
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)
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: Butler, Mrs. William H.
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
Short speech in which the speaker encourages the members of the Clinton Lyceum to live in harmony and peace as the Civil War continues on around them. (Includes MP3 audio file.)
Description of file(s): MP3 spoken word audio recording
Speaker or author: Clark, Peter H.
Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle
Overview of speech expressing the speaker's view that while the Republican party was an "Anti-Slavery Party," its stance on abolishing slavery was more motivated by dollars than by philanthropy and good will. This, the speaker believed, was sparked by the battle over whether to bring Kansas into the Union as a free or slaveholding state.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 649 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Clark, Peter H.
Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle
The speaker discussed the upcoming presidential election and those involved in the political campaign. John Freemont (Republican) would run against Abraham Lincoln, and while the Republican party expressed anti-slavery sentiments, they were afraid to act aggressively to upset the status quo.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 191 word document (text and image)