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: 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: Crummell, Alexander, 1819-1898
Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Reporter
Speech given during the annual meeting of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society attended mostly by members of the Society of Friends. The speaker describes the progress and successes of the abolition movement throughout the world.
Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 4,506 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Green, Alfred M..
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Foner and Walker, Eds. -- Proceedings of the Black State Conventions 1840-1865, (1979) Vol. 1, pp. 139-166
Eloquent, rational, and meaningful speech delivered before the Convention of the Colored People of Pennsylvania expressing a legal argument for civil rights. The speaker asked that African Americans be given their civil rights, be allowed to vote, hold jobs equal to those of the white population, and be given the opportunity to prove themselves worthy citizens of the U.S.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 480 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Green, Alfred M.
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
Overview of a rousing speech denouncing laws against freedom that were being enacted across the country. The speaker pays particular attention to encouraging the repeal of the Personal Liberty Law.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 382 word document (text and images)
Title: Anglo-African - October 7, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer expresses the fears that permeate African American communities that the white slaveholders will demand a return to the system of slavery, and be granted this by the government. The majority of African Americans, however, are determined to resist and not allow this to happen without a fight.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns) (blank sections throughout)
Title: Anglo-African - September 3, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer tells his readers of the current violence following in the aftermath of the Civil War. Although slavery has been abolished, it has created an atmosphere of hatred in the Southern states as the newly freed slaves stand as a symbol of the defeat of the Confederacy. This is resulting in wholesale murder and mob violence.
Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages
Speaker or author: Anonymous
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
An anonymous address regarding objections to the goals of the Colonization Society, with an emphasis on the negative impact of moving people from their native country.
Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 2,025 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: Augustus William Hanson
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Rambling speech regarding the inherent rights of human beings in a free society regardless of race.
Description of file(s): PDF 13 page, 3,785 word document (text and images)
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)
Speaker or author: Stewart, Austin, fl. 1840
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given at the opening of the Albany Convention with emphasis placed on the political and civil rights of free people of color.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 466 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Stanley, Benjamin, fl. 1850
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 armed resistance to those who would attempt to rob them of their freedom.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 458 word document (text and images)
Title: Black Republican - April 15, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Black Republican (1865)
The editor welcomes his readers to the first issue of the newspaper. He briefly explains the goals, benefits and mission of the paper.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Speaker or author: Ray, Charles B. (Charles Bennett), 1807-1886
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. Emphasis is placed on the recent experience of James Hamlet, who escaped after being kidnapped to be sold into slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 225 word document (text and image)
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)
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: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Brief accounting of a short speech given at the dedication of Higginson Hall in Salem, Massachusetts. Mr. Remond discussed the issues of liberty, oppression, and civil rights. He told of being forced to ride in an open railroad car on his journey in winter due to racial prejudice.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 766 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: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard
This speech is a continuation of a previous speech (not included). Speech addresses the wording of the Constitution in that it does not include provisions for slavery. Also addressed are issues regarding women's rights and inequality based on race and sex.
Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,309 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech given before a meeting of the Hibernian Anti-Slavery Society regarding the continued injustices and horrors of American slavery, and how this is perceived by people in other countries.
Description of file(s): PDF 19 page, 5,634 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
The speaker noted the unsettled atmosphere of the U.S. as the country heads for war. The speaker was responding in part to a resolution that William Lloyd Garrison offered that emphasized adopting the motto, "No Union with Slaveholders."
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,078 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech given in a public meeting which included debate among several abolitionists regarding the current state of abolition and emancipation. Emphasis is placed on the role of government and a comparison is made with the progress of abolition in other countries.
Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 2,920 word document (text and images)