®He Z§Xbtkhtttx. in View of Penury, Hate and Death, So Called Men of Eminence

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Load more

———1 ' ———— ———— • w 306 T HELI B B R -A, T O E, . DECEMBER 25. C j of the tree, are also conservative. They membered the movement was in its incipiency. The upon Mr. Roberts Vaux, an aged and highly respected Samuel J. May.—There be root were others who were the children of colored persons, and such others as fore Mr. Tappan But jjav<i been seeking to preserve in the life of our na- cloud of citizen, whose social position and reputation as a phil- of the told me to start another paper. abolitionism was not even so big as a man's members Convention, whose names were not pleased to send their children with them. The excite- I could principles without which a State rests a as a proper not carry on two papers. So I bethought me tion) those hand. Now it covers the heavens 1 anthropist indicated him person to preside signed to the Declaration ; and I look back better be imagined than described. The peo- sandy foundation. You will commemorate the with a ment can of this young man, Charles C. Burleigh, and harness- on a When I entered the hall—which was on the morn- over the meeting. He received the Committee polite- feeling of shame to the fact that anniversary of your organization surround- there were four or ple rose almost in a body,and the poor woman was over- ed my horse and went Friday, in thirtieth ing of the second day—the had begun ; ly, and listened to them courteously. He sympathized five women—Lucretia after him. It was on by the cheering signs that this fact is being re- proceedings Mott, Esther Moore, Lydia whelmed with expressions of abhorrence and deter- the midst of haying ed them in their general object; he was opposed time. A very busy week he had though, as I soon learned, there was no specific busi- with to White, Sidney Ann Lewis—who did us good service* mined opposition. Of course, I went to her, and prof- had of it, and cognized. would be glad to see it although he then believed in shaving, Men are coming to perceive, also, the righteous- ness before the meeting. A Committee had been ap- slavery, and abolished ; but— who spoke, and spoke always to the purpose; and give. Without entering he had I fered her such aid as I could not shaved himself since the haying season ness of abolitionism. The black man is getting to pointed the day before, consisting of Wm. Lloyd Gar- and then followed the usual objections; and in short, remember that in one or two instances they relieved into the narrative at all, I will merely say, that in a commenced. I went to the house of fath- be recognized as a man. rison, Samuel J. May, Edwin P. Atlee and others, to while grateful for the honor rendered him, Mr. Vaux us from difficulties into which his excellent we had got ourselves in day or two I found myself solemnly pledged to test er, and inquired for Charles. For all this, let us and take courage, Con- begged leave respectfully to decline. discussion. He is in the hay-field, thank God draw tip a Declaration of Sentiments; and the the Perfectly well I remember them. the question of that woman's right under the law to as busy as he and continue to work and to pray until we have a While wait- Discouraged in their attempts to find a great Whj were their can be." Nevertheless, I must see him ; vention was now expecting their report. man names not signed to the Declaration 1 open a school for colored persons—a right which they and sent for State founded on the principles of Christian Democ- ing, addressed to for Chairman, the delegation concluded to select It shows that we I him, and up he came, and I am sure he Dr. Abraham L. Cox rend a poem for were in the dark on the subject. called in question. I had pledged myself to as much racy. purpose one of Andrew looked like the son of Jesse when he came to Garrison, written by John G. Wliittier, at that time a this their own number ; and the choice But their names should always go down to posterity Yours most cordially for the rights of man, T. Judson, afterwards one of the Judges of the Court Samuel of old to be anointed, as David did himself. young author, comparatively unknown to fame. You fell upon Beriah Green. A better man could not have as active members of the Convention; and A. BATTLES. I desire of the United States, who was her principal persecu- Nevertheless, I saw that it was Charles Burleigh, remember the piece: been selected. Though of plain exterior and unim- that th^y should be remembered as having and taken an tor, to try that question from the lowest Court in Can- I told him what I wanted. He engaged to be with posing presence, Mr. Green was a man of learning and active and important part with us. " Championof those who groan beneath terbury, to the highest Court in the United States. me the next Monday morning, and he was; lie did band, superior ability; in every way above the average of Mary Oppression's iron Grew.—Why were their names not signed 1 He said tauntingly to me, V Ho ! ho ! Do you know good service in the cause. He wrote himself into ®he z§xbtKHtttx. In view of penury, hate and death, so called men of eminence. a Mr. May. what you undertake ? " " Perhaps reputation that has been, I believe, increasing I see thee fearless stand. Mr. Tappan, who sat at his right, Because we had no conception of the I don't," was my ever * was a jaunty, reply. No Union with SlaveholdersI ####** rights of women. Because it would then have been "Itwill cost you money—a vast deal of mon- since, as a writer and as a speaker. man-of-tlie-world looking person; well dressed and " " love thee with a brother's love ; thought an impropriety, ey." It may," said I. I had not consulted an in- You see, Mr. President, you tapped rather a full I handsome; with a fine voice and taking appearance. a thought at which we all I feel my pulses thrill laugh now. dividual, excepting only my friend, that most excel- cask. That is a reminiscence I had no thought of BOSTON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1863 thy spirit soar above Whittier, who sat at his left, was quite as 25, To mark fine looking, lent man, George The cloud of human ill." though in a Benson, the father of Mrs. Garrison. bringing up. But now, to come back to the Conven- different way. He wore a dark frock coat Mr. Garrison.—To show the spirit which pre- " Said I, So sure am I that the aim of this movement tion, where you wanted me to begin. I said to my THIRD DECADE OF THE Lewis Tappan arose and delivered a with standing collar, which, with his thin hair, dark vailed in that Convention, of unusual liberality cer- After the poem, and will be justly appreciated by philanthropists through- brother Johnson, while brother McKim was speaking, sometimes flashing eyes, and black tainly for those times, let me read two resolutions AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY. glowing eulogy upon Mr. Garrison. He related two whiskers—not out our country, that large, but in therein adopted : I shall have all the money I that I thought his introduction was a little too long; very striking anecdotes, which, though 1 remember noticeable those unhirsute days gave want." Henry I confess, however, to a little trembling after mine has been longer, so he must forgive me. And [PhonographicallyReported by M. Parkuurst.] them distinctly, I shall not, in this presence, repeat. him, to my then unpractised eye, quite as much of a Resolved, That the cause of Abolition eminently de- a time, when not an individual offered me a dollar to now I will give you a reminiscence about him. He by saying that it had not been his pur- serves the countenance and support of American He concluded military as a Quaker aspect. His broad, square fore- sustain me in that trial. came all the way from Andover to the Convention— SPEECH OF J. MILLER McKIM. pose to eulogize Mr. Garrison ; that what he said was head, and well cut features, aided 'by his incipient women, inasmuch as one million of their colored sis- ters are pining in abject servitude—as their example A few days brought me a letter from Arthur Tap- I comply cheerfully with your request, Mr. Chair- said in no spirit of panegyric, but as a matter of fidel- reputation as a poet, made him quite a noticeable fea- and influence operate Mr. McKim—No,I came from Carlisle ; I was only measurably as laws to society pan.The story had got into the newspapers, and was man, though the task it assigns me is not in ail respects ity to truth and to the cause. Mr. Garrison had been ture in the Convention. —and as the exertions*of the females of Great Brit- six weeks at Andover. ain have been noised abroad. Arthur Tappan I had known in my an easy one. To look back upon the origin of this So- struck at as a representative of the cause. It was our These were the officers of the meeting; the rest signally instrumental in liberating eight Mr, May—At any rate, he was a simon pure, blue hundred thousand slaves in the Colonies.
Recommended publications
  • Catholics, Slaveholders, and the Dilemma of American Evangelicalism, 1835–1860 / W

    Catholics, Slaveholders, and the Dilemma of American Evangelicalism, 1835–1860 / W

    Catholics, Slaveholders, and the Dilemma of American Evangelicalism, 1835 –1860 W. J ASON WALLACE University of Notre Dame Press Notre Dame, Indiana © 2010 University of Notre Dame Press Copyright © 2010 by University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 www.undpress.nd.edu All Rights Reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wallace, William Jason. Catholics, slaveholders, and the dilemma of American evangelicalism, 1835–1860 / W. Jason Wallace. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-268-04421-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-268-04421-X (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. United States—Church history—19th century. 2. Evangelicalism— United States—History—19th century. 3. Catholic Church— United States—History—19th century. 4. Slavery—United States— History—19th century. 5. Christianity and politics—United States— History—19th century. I. Title. BR525.W34 2010 282'.7509034—dc22 2010024340 ∞ The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. © 2010 University of Notre Dame Press Introduction Between 1835 and 1860, evangelical pulpits and religious journals in the North aggressively attacked slaveholders and Catholics as threats to American values. Criticisms of these two groups could often be found in the same northern evangelical journal, if not on the same page. Words such as “despotism” and “tyranny” described both the theological condi- tion of the Catholic Church and the political condition of the South. Slavery and Catholicism were labeled incompatible with republican insti- tutions and bereft of the virtues necessary to sustain a democratic people.
  • Arthur Tappan

    Arthur Tappan

    ARTHUR TAPPAN Lewis Tappan and Arthur Tappan were descendants of Benjamin Franklin (which is perhaps why their father, and another brother, happened to be named Benjamin Tappan). Arthur received a common-school education and then served a 7- year apprenticeship in the hardware business in Boston, before establishing himself in Portland, Maine, and subsequently in Montreal, Canada, where he would remain until the beginning of the war of 1812. In 1814 he would engage with his brother Lewis in importing British dry-goods into New-York City, and after that partnership was dissolved he successfully continued the business alone. He was known for his public spirit and philanthropy. He was a founder of the American tract society, the largest donor for the erection of its 1st building, and was identified with many charitable and religious bodies. He was a founder of Oberlin College, also erecting Tappan Hall there, and endowed Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, and a professorship at Auburn Theological Seminary. With his brother Lewis he founded the New-York Journal of Commerce in 1828, and established The Emancipator in 1833, paying the salary of the editor and all the expenses of its publication. He was an ardent abolitionist, and as the interest in the anti-slavery cause deepened he formed, at his own rooms, the nucleus of the New-York antislavery society, which was publicly organized under his presidency at Clinton Hall on October 2, 1833. He was also president of the American Anti-Slavery Society, to which for several years he contributed $1,000 per month, but withdrew in 1840 on account of the aggressive spirit that many members manifested toward the churches and the Union.
  • Lincoln and the Abolitionists Allen C

    Lincoln and the Abolitionists Allen C

    History Faculty Publications History Fall 2000 Lincoln and the Abolitionists Allen C. Guelzo Gettysburg College Follow this and additional works at: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/histfac Part of the United States History Commons Share feedback about the accessibility of this item. The definitive version was published as Guelzo, Allen C. "Lincoln and the Abolitionists," The iW lson Quarterly, 8(2000), 58-70. This is the authors's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution. Cupola permanent link: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/histfac/1 This open access article is brought to you by The uC pola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of The uC pola. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Lincoln and the Abolitionists Abstract It has always been one of the ironies of the era of the Civil War and the end of slavery in the United States that the man who played the role of Great Emancipator of the slaves was so hugely mistrusted and so energetically vilified by the party of abolition. Abraham Lincoln, whatever his larger reputation as the liberator of more than three million black slaves in the Emancipation Proclamation, has never entirely shaken off the er putation of being something of a half-heart about it. [excerpt] Disciplines History | United States History This article is available at The uC pola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/histfac/1 5. "FIENDS...FACING ZIONWARDS": ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S RELUCTANT EMBRACE OF THE ABOLITIONISTS It has always been one of the ironies of the era of the Civil War and the end of slavery in the United States that the man who played the role of Great Emancipator of the slaves was so hugely mistrusted and so energetically vilified by the party of abolition.
  • Oberlin and the Fight to End Slavery, 1833-1863

    Oberlin and the Fight to End Slavery, 1833-1863

    "Be not conformed to this world": Oberlin and the Fight to End Slavery, 1833-1863 by Joseph Brent Morris This thesis/dissertation document has been electronically approved by the following individuals: Baptist,Edward Eugene (Chairperson) Bensel,Richard F (Minor Member) Parmenter,Jon W (Minor Member) “BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD”: OBERLIN AND THE FIGHT TO END SLAVERY, 1833-1863 A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Joseph Brent Morris August 2010 © 2010 Joseph Brent Morris “BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD”: OBERLIN AND THE FIGHT TO END SLAVERY, 1833-1863 Joseph Brent Morris, Ph. D. Cornell University 2010 This dissertation examines the role of Oberlin (the northern Ohio town and its organically connected college of the same name) in the antislavery struggle. It traces the antislavery origins and development of this Western “hot-bed of abolitionism,” and establishes Oberlin—the community, faculty, students, and alumni—as comprising the core of the antislavery movement in the West and one of the most influential and successful groups of abolitionists in antebellum America. Within two years of its founding, Oberlin’s founders had created a teachers’ college and adopted nearly the entire student body of Lane Seminary, who had been dismissed for their advocacy of immediate abolition. Oberlin became the first institute of higher learning to admit men and women of all races. America's most famous revivalist (Charles Grandison Finney) was among its new faculty as were a host of outspoken proponents of immediate emancipation and social reform.
  • Abolitionists Were Bullied from a Case Study Christian Philanthropists in Britain the Moment They First Stuck Their and America Got Deeply Involved Heads Up

    Abolitionists Were Bullied from a Case Study Christian Philanthropists in Britain the Moment They First Stuck Their and America Got Deeply Involved Heads Up

    here have been principled Leaders of the charity brilliantly objections to slavery for orchestrated massive shifts in Tas long as there has been public sentiment. slavery—which is to say, from the first days of human history. Organizing culture change But hatred of enslavement didn’t Culture change is not for cowards, become a mass conviction until and abolitionists were bullied from A case study Christian philanthropists in Britain the moment they first stuck their and America got deeply involved heads up. Changing Society through Civil Action in popular campaigns to expose As part of their broader effort to slavery as an ugly, immoral, and refine Americans through worship, sinful activity, utterly incompatible education, discussion, and service, with life in a free land. This was Arthur and Lewis Tappan had in demanding and dangerous work 1832 leased a tatterdemalion old that required guile, endurance, theater in lower Manhattan and commitment, courage, managerial converted it into a church. The genius, and money. The movement building “squatted in the midst 64 got all of these things from leaders of the slums” next to Five Points, Abolition like Arthur and Lewis Tappan. a neighborhood notorious for Fired by their deep evangelical its gangs and grog shops. During Christian convictions, the Tappan recent years the theater had been brothers were leading providers of home to a circus, and with his strategy and funding to the cause sharp nose for drama and public of abolishing slavery. (They also interest, Lewis noted that “the powered many other important sensation produced by converting social reforms. For some biography the place with slight alterations on the men, see the last third of into a church will be very great, the case study on the Second Great and curiousity will be excited.” Awakening.) Arthur was the lead The Tappans placed their funder and visionary, and Lewis the Chatham Street Chapel at the vital organizer, behind creation of disposal of Charles Grandison the American Anti-Slavery Society.
  • The Abolitionists' Postal Campaign of 1835

    The Abolitionists' Postal Campaign of 1835

    THE JOURNAL OF NEGRO HISTORY VOL. L-OCTOBER, 1965-No. 4 THE ABOLITIONISTS' POSTAL CAMPAIGN OF 1835 Abolitionism in 1835 had reached a crisis. The American Anti-Slavery Society had been founded in 1833, but its aims were still unknown to most Americans. Hampered by inade- quate funds, the New York headquarters had not yet under- taken a large-scale missionary campaign nor had it issued an impressive number of pamphlets and journals. The society's Emancipator was a dull paper, whose bland editorials re- flected the timidity of the New York abolitionists. Moreover, antislavery leadership had nearly divided over William Lloyd Garrison's outspoken radicalism. Arthur Tappan, President of the Society, and his merchant associates on the executive committee suspected that Garrison, the Boston firebrand, was earning more enemies for the cause than friends. For a time in early 1835 Arthur Tappan's dissatisfaction with the Gar- risonians nearly caused him to leave the movement.1 It was essential for the antislavery society to reorganize its publications, to raise more funds, and to resolve internal bickerings in common effort. Above all, by the spring of 1835 the time had come to make the country aware of abolitionism. In response to the need for publicity, the New York leaders decided to flood the country with antislavery literature. The 1Liberator (Boston), December 27, 1834, January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 1835; Arthur Tappan to Amos A. Phelps, January 17, 1836; Elizur Wright to Amos A. Phelps, January 22, 1835, Amos A. Phelps MSS, Boston Public Library; Lewis Tappan to William Lloyd Garrison, February 5, 1835, William Lloyd Gar- rison MSS, Boston Public Library; Elizur Wright to Theodore Weld, March 16, 1835, Gilbert Hobbes Barnes and Dwight L.
  • Rescue America in an Era of Political Frustration

    Rescue America in an Era of Political Frustration

    Reprinted from the Winter 2017 issue of Philanthropy magazine (PhilMag.org) How private givers can Rescue America in an era of political frustration By Karl Zinsmeister 14 PHILANTHROPY half of the nineteenth century. Many Americans felt there was something going profoundly wrong. Millions pined for thoroughgoing reform. One impressive young attorney warned a Midwestern audience in 1838 that “There is something of ill-omen amongst us. I mean the increasing disregard for law which pervades the country; the growing disposition to were tested and proven by previous substitute the wild and furious passions philanthropists. We need only follow in lieu of sober judgment.” That young their blazes to find our own successful lawyer was named Abraham Lincoln. routes to culture change and social Welcome to Jacksonian America. refinement. I’m going to take you in this Its new party system included the essay to eras that were crucial in setting idea that winners of elections earned up our country for its great success, eras the right to stuff the government that have a huge amount to teach us with their cronies, and often their today about our problems, and how we pockets with silver. From the national might solve them. capital to Tammany Hall, this was an era of fraud, embezzlement, and Been there, done that self-enrichment at the public trough. I’ll begin by painting a little picture Elections turned into circuses. for you. Votes were openly traded for booze, Demagogues and pundits have jobs, or favors. One South Carolinian abandoned serious discussion of principles observed that “civilization” retreats more ots of Americans have grown and stooped to slanders, falsehood, in one month before an election than it discouraged over the last decade trickery, and the “scalping and roasting can advance in six months afterward.
  • The Historical Background for the Antebellum Slavery Debates, 1776-1865 1 Stroud's Compendium of the Laws of Slavery 5 Population Statistics from the U

    The Historical Background for the Antebellum Slavery Debates, 1776-1865 1 Stroud's Compendium of the Laws of Slavery 5 Population Statistics from the U

    • CONTENTS • LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS X111 PROLOGUE xv PREFACE XXI INTRODUCTION XXVI1 NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS lxi SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING lxiii CHAPTER 1 The Historical Background for the Antebellum Slavery Debates, 1776-1865 1 Stroud's Compendium of the Laws of Slavery 5 Population Statistics from the U. S. Census for 1790-1860 6 Summary from The Atlantic Slave Trade Project 7 The European Origins of American Slavery 7 by Arthur Kinney SAMUEL SEWALL (1632-1730) AND JOHN SAFFIN (1632-1710) 10 The Selling ofJoseph: A Memorial 12 by Samuel Sewall A Brie] Candid Answer to a Late Printed Sheet, Entitled, The Selling of Joseph 14 by John Saffin JOHN WOOLMAN (1720-1772) 15 Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes 16 CHAPTER 2 Acts of Congress Relating to Slavery 20 The Declaration of Independence 21 The Ordinance of 1787 23 The Fugitive Slave Law of 1793 23 The Missouri Compromise of 1820 25 The Wilmot Proviso, 1847 25 The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 26 The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution 30 vi • CONTENTS SLAVERY AND THE 1787 CONSTITUTION 31 FREDERICK DOUGLASS (c. 1818-1895) 33 What to the Slave Is the Fourth ifJuly? 38 JUSTICE JOSEPH STORY (1779-1845) 43 A Charge Delivered to the Grand Jury if the Circuit Court if the United States 45 CHAPTER 3 Biblical Proslavery Arguments 51 THORNTON STRINGFELLOW (1788-1869) 61 A Brief Examination if the Scripture Testimony on the Institution if Slavery 63 Slavery, Its Origin, Nature, and History Considered in the Light if Bible Teachings, Moral Justice, and Political Wisdom 67 ALEXANDER
  • Combating Slavery and Colonization: Student Abolitionism and the Politics of Antislavery in Higher Education, 1833-1841

    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses Dissertations and Theses July 2015 Combating Slavery and Colonization: Student Abolitionism and the Politics of Antislavery in Higher Education, 1833-1841 Michael E. Jirik University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2 Part of the Intellectual History Commons, Political History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Jirik, Michael E., "Combating Slavery and Colonization: Student Abolitionism and the Politics of Antislavery in Higher Education, 1833-1841" (2015). Masters Theses. 205. https://doi.org/10.7275/6953930 https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2/205 This Campus-Only Access for Five (5) Years is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations and Theses at ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COMBATING SLAVERY AND COLONIZATION: STUDENT ABOLITIONISM AND THE POLITICS OF ANTISLAVERY IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 1833-1841 A Thesis Presented by MICHAEL E. JIRIK Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS MAY 2015 Department of History COMBATING SLAVERY AND COLONIZATION: STUDENT ABOLITIONISM AND THE POLITICS OF ANTISLAVERY IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 1833-1841 A Thesis Presented By MICHAEL E. JIRIK Approved as to style and content by: _______________________________ Sarah Cornell, Chair _______________________________ Manisha Sinha, Member _______________________________ Barbara Krauthamer, Member ________________________________ Joye Bowman, Chair History Department ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my undergraduate mentors, Professors Greg Kaster and Doug Huff.
  • The Spring Street Church in the Age of Abolition

    City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works Dissertations and Theses City College of New York 2018 The Spring Street Church in the Age of Abolition David S. Pultz CUNY City College of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/734 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] The Spring Street Church in the Age of Abolition David Pultz B.F.A. Emerson College, 1976 Thesis Advisor – John Blanton, PhD Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts of the City College of the City University of New York Thesis Research B9900 December 10, 2018 1 2 Contents Introduction P. 4 Methodology P. 12 A City in Transition P. 14 Early History of the Spring Street Church P. 16 Rev. Samuel H. Cox and “Disinterested Benevolence” P. 19 Rev. Henry G. Ludlow and the Antislavery Church P. 21 Profile of a Congregation P. 26 The Free Church Movement and Social Reform P. 29 American Anti-Slavery Society P. 34 Anti-Abolitionist Riots of 1834 P. 39 Women in the Antislavery Public Sphere P. 47 Rev. William Patton, 1837 - 1847 P. 50 Conclusion P. 55 Bibliography P. 60 3 On a sweltering, hot early July day in 1834 a massive and destructive riot broke out in lower Manhattan. It lasted for three days before the forceful presence of the New York State Militia brought it to an end.
  • Stark Mad Abolitionists’: Anti-Slavery Conversion in the United States, 1824-1854

    Stark Mad Abolitionists’: Anti-Slavery Conversion in the United States, 1824-1854

    1 The Making of the North’s ‘Stark Mad Abolitionists’: Anti-Slavery Conversion in the United States, 1824-1854 Jonathan Earle1 Department of History The University of Kansas In the late 1920s an economics professor at Ohio Wesleyan University stumbled upon a forgotten trunk in an attic belonging to Dr. L.D.H. Weld. The trunk contained the papers and letters of the abolitionists Theodore Dwight Weld and Angelina Grimké Weld, and opened up a rich, untapped source of material about the anti-slavery movement. The professor, Gilbert Hobbs Barnes, noticed dramatic differences between the Welds’ abolitionism and that of the far more famous William Lloyd Garrison, the central figure in most accounts of American anti-slavery. Perhaps most significantly, Weld’s abolitionism was inextricably linked with the concept of conversion: from his own conversion (to Christ) at the hands of the evangelical revivalist Charles Grandison Finney to his subsequent conversion of countless others to the religious crusade against slavery. Garrison and his New England supporters may have been religious men and women (ranging from John Greenleaf Whittier's Quakerism to Theodore Parker’s New Agey transcendentalism), but few of them could match Weld’s direct link to the Great Revival and the Second Great Awakening – to sudden, emotionally-wrenching conversion. Barnes’ book The Anti-Slavery Impulse, published in 1933, seriously challenged the prevailing interpretations of his day. Instead of putting a small group of New 2 England agitators front and center in the anti-slavery struggle, Barnes inserted a groundswell of evangelical westerners, “turned on” to their crusade by a tousled, wild- eyed evangelical preacher.
  • Immediate Emancipation," and the Birth of the American Anti-Slavery Society

    Immediate Emancipation," and the Birth of the American Anti-Slavery Society

    Ira V. Brown PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY PENNSYLVANIA, "IMMEDIATE EMANCIPATION," AND THE BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY During the 1820s the focus of antislavery attention was the Ameri- DJcan Colonization Society, with its program of gradual, compen- sated emancipation combined with resettlement of the blacks in Africa. The whole slavery question took on a new dimension about 1830, when William Lloyd Garrison assumed the leadership of the antislavery movement. Then in his middle twenties (he was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1805), he attracted national attention in 1829 when he wrote for Benjamin Lundy's newspaper The Genius of Universal Emancipation a blistering personal attack on a New England slave trader. He was arrested and imprisoned for libel in Baltimore, where the slaver was operating and where Lundy's paper was then being published. Arthur Tappan, a wealthy New York merchant and philan- thropist, who became the chief financial pillar of abolitionism, paid his fine and got him released from jail. While confined behind bars, Garrison busied himself writing and prepared a series of lectures for delivery on his release.' After vain attempts to obtain the use of an auditorium in Baltimore for these addresses, the young crusader headed for Philadelphia, where he was able to secure a lecture hall in the Franklin Institute building. There he lectured on three successive evenings, August 31 and Septem- ber 1 and 2,1830 to audiences consisting chiefly of Quakers and blacks.2 There also he met several individuals who were to be his allies in the strenuous campaign against slavery he was about to inaugurate, most notably James and Lucretia Mott, who became the central figures in Pennsylvania abolitionism during the next generation.