Speaker or author: Crummell, Alexander, 1819-1898
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- British Library -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets
Lengthy speech given as the annual oration on Independence Day in Liberia, Monrovia. The speaker emphasized the advances in Monrovia's economy, industry, resources and education of its people made since its humble beginnings.
Description of file(s): PDF 46 page, 12,594 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Burns, Anthony, 1834-1862
Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard
Anecdotal speech regarding one man's experience with slavery and subsequent escape.
Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,925 word document (text and images)
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)
Speaker or author: Burns, Anthony, 1834-1862
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
Anecdotal speech regarding one man's experience as a fugitive slave. The speech was given during a drive to raise money to purchase the speaker's freedom. (Includes MP3 audio file.)
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 857 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Brief speech in which the speaker expressed that what African Americans wanted most in this country were equal rights and equal citizenship recognition.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 111 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Overview of speech regarding the speaker's view of the current status of the anti-slavery movement. The speaker said he saw this not as a racial issue, but as a human issue. He believed the system of slavery had a negative effect on every American, regardless of color. He believed that ending slavery freed all Americans.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 823 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech stressing the need for continued improvements in the social acceptance of the African American, including all civil rights. The speaker emphasized the justice of including black jurors, especially for trials involving black defendants.
Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,275 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Stokes, D. P.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Harvard University, Cambridge -- Rare Books and Manuscripts
The speaker stressed that free black citizens should be able to hold more positions as farmers, mechanics, banking clerks and store owners. He believed that with the help of those present at the convention, African Americans in California could achieve success in realizing their own potential in these areas.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 546 word document (text and images)
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)
Speaker or author: White, Jacob C., d. 1872
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
Brief speech given by a student from an African American high school to the governor of Pennsylvania as he made a tour of black schools in his state.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 379 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Smith, James McCune, 1813-1865
Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper
The speaker emphasized the benefits of an education and mechanical training for former slaves and the nominally free. He gave examples of individuals who had overcome prejudice and were working in industry based on training, initiative, and skilled talent.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 536 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Smith, James McCune, 1813-1865
Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle
Speech encouraging the National Council of the Colored People to continue work on the promises they established in their previous meeting. These promises included the elevation of the race through education, political advances, and civil rights in every state.
Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,520 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Sanderson, J. B., d. 1875
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Harvard University, Cambridge -- Rare Books and Manuscripts
Brief speech stressing the importance of the convention in coming together to be recognized by the national government as an important part of the state of California. The convention called attention to the issues of racial prejudice and civil rights that were growing in the state.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 253 word document (text and image)
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)
Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.
Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard
Speech regarding the ways in which slavery has "...corrupted the whole mass of American society." The speaker points out political issues as well as women's issues that have been and continue to be affected by the political and economic power of the institution of slavery. (Speech 16796 is a duplicate of this speech.)
Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,761 word document (text and images)
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)
Speaker or author: Grimes, Leonard A., 1815-1874
Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard
Speech relating the efforts of the speaker to buy the fugitive slave Anthony Burns from his master.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 381 word document (text and images)
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)
Speaker or author: Lane, Lunsford, b. 1803.
Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle
Overview of a speech given to request financial assistance for a black church congregation in Boston, Massachusetts. The Society collected the requested funds, but would have turned down the request if the speaker had asked for money to fight slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 662 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Delany, Martin Robison, 1812-1885
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
Lengthy speech detailing the various ways states were dealing with racial issues. The speaker also touched on issues of colonization and amelioration.
Description of file(s): PDF 19 pages, 4,424 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
The speaker opened a debate on the merits of emigration to Canada by the free people of color. She emphasized the benefits of the climate, economy, opportunities in agriculture and property ownership, and the positive character of the Canadian people.
Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,482 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893
Newspaper or publication: British Banner
Brief speech regarding fugitive slaves who had escaped to Canada and were now prospering there. The speaker called for action to promote the freedom to settle in Canada by all those who desired to do so regardless of race.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 200 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Bradley, Mr.
Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard
Brief speech in which the speaker expressed his opposition to the formation of a new political party proposed to benefit the fight for abolition of slavery. (Includes MP3 audio file.)
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 101 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Ward, Samuel Ringgold, b. 1817
Newspaper or publication: NonConformist
Overview of speech regarding the speakers experiences as a fugitive slave in Canada. The speech helped raise money for the care of other fugitive slaves living in Canada.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 264 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Newby, W. H.
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Harvard University, Cambridge -- Rare Books and Manuscripts
The speaker expressed his fears that since this was the first convention of colored citizens to be held in California, and since this convention was taking place in Sacramento, that they would not be accepted or taken seriously due to the pervasive prejudice in that state.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 248 word document (text and image)