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)
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Title: Aliened American - April 9, 1853
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Aliened American (1853 - 1877)
The writer provides commentary on the inaugural speech of President Franklin Pierce. In his address, Pierce offered his thoughts on issues ranging from economic growth, westward expansion, and the continuation of slavery in the Southern states. He carefully refers to slavery as "involuntary servitude," and tells his audience that this is constitutional in the states that allow it.
Description of file(s): four scanned newspaper pages (seven columns)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech outlining the horrors of slavery contending that it was "... a system of murder" for profit. Emphasis is placed on recent writings by Thomas Fowell Buxton.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 863 word document (text and images)
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Speaker or author: Gardner, Charles
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 was placed on the recent legislative efforts of Daniel Webster. (Speech 10898(b) is a duplicate of this speech.)
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 347 word document (text and images)
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Title: Colored American - August 29, 1840
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer discusses the upcoming political election. He encourages abolitionists to vote for those who are truly committed to the abolition of slavery.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - March 9, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Brief note regarding the status of the military on the east coast. The writer sarcastically suggests that the army move down to Florida and take the land there from the native people until Congress can "legislate" it away from them.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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: Bibb, Henry, b. 1815
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech denouncing Daniel Webster's position on slavery and his recent speech regarding fugitive slaves. (Includes MP3 audio file.)
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 669 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882
Newspaper or publication: Patriot
Speech regarding the damage slaveholding in the U.S. had done not only to humanity, but to the U.S. and everything it stood for. The speaker emphasized that worst among the negative impact slavery has succeeded in having on the U.S. in this respect are the efforts of the American Colonization Society.
Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 2,038 word document (text and images)
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Speaker or author: Smith, James McCune, 1813-1865
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 was placed on the recent experience in this regard of James Hamlet, who escaped after being kidnapped to be sold into slavery. (Speech 10898(a) is a duplicate of this speech.)
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 365 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.
Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle
Speech regarding the inhumanity of slavery, emphasizing the government backing the institution of slavery receives that keeps it strongly in place.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 973 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: 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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Title: Northern Star and Freemen's Advocate - March 10, 1842
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Northern Star and Freemen's Advocate (1842 - 18??)
The editor shares with his readers incidents of injustice pertaining to oppresssive laws regarding African Americans in Alabama and Maryland.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Pacific Appeal - December 19, 1863
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal (1862 - 188?)
The writer comments on the recent session of Congress, noting the dramatic difference since the days before the Emancipation Proclamation. This Congress seems determined to remove all traces of slavery from the country. Radical bills have been introduced, some suggesting amending the Constitution.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal (1862 - 188?)
The writer offers commentary on the current U.S. politicial situation. He emphasizes what defines the term "Doughface" that is used to describe northern politicians with southern ideas.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Speaker or author: Ward, Samuel Ringgold, b. 1817
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech in response to Daniel Webster's support of the fugitive slave bill and his position on slavery. The speaker addressed a meeting of anti-Webster representatives in Boston who were outraged by a recent speech Webster made before the Senate.
Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,377 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Ward, Samuel Ringgold, b. 1817
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Speech given in response to a speech by Daniel Webster in which he called for the surrender of fugitive slaves and encouraged the colonization of Africa by "nominally free" African Americans living in the north.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 401 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Sarah Parker, 1826-1887?
Newspaper or publication: Warrington Standard
Speech regarding the injustices of slavery in the U.S. especially concerning the treatment of women and children. The speaker gave examples of the differences in how free African Americans were treated in the north versus the south, and related examples of the injustice of legislation aimed at keeping the system of slavery in place.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,154 word document (text and images)
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Title: Voice of the Fugitive - February 12, 1852
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer questions the change in policy of James G. Birny who previously stood in opposition to Colonization, but now seems to have changed his thoughts on the subject.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Voice of the Fugitive - January 1, 1851
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer relates an incident in which a lecture given in Boston by a member of British Parliament is disrupted by a mob.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Voice of the Fugitive - January 1, 1852
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer identifies with the life experience of Lajos Kossuth, a Turkish exile and political leader. He tells his readers that currently Kossuth is the "most popular man in the known world."
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Voice of the Fugitive - July 1, 1852
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer provides a brief account of recent passengers arriving in Canada on the Underground Railroad.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Voice of the Fugitive - July 15, 1852
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
Drawing from newspaper articles published in several states, the writer provides the current political position on slavery throughout the country.
Description of file(s): three scanned newspaper pages (five columns)
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Title: Voice of the Fugitive - June 1, 1851
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)
The writer provides an allegorical sketch of current political events in the U.S.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page