第8章

Thecontestwasnowended；thechainwassevered；Godandrightstoodvindicated。IwasAFREEMAN，andthevoiceofpeaceandjoythrilledmyheart。

Freeandjoyous，however，asIwas，joywasnottheonlysensationIexperienced。Itwaslikethequickblaze，beautifulatthefirst，butwhichsubsiding，leavesthebuildingcharredanddesolate。IwassoontaughtthatIwasstillinanenemy"sland。Asenseoflonelinessandinsecurityoppressedmesadly。

Ihad<263MEETWITHAFUGITIVESLAVE>beenbutafewhoursinNewYork，beforeIwasmetinthestreetsbyafugitiveslave，wellknowntome，andtheinformationIgotfromhimrespectingNewYork，didnothingtolessenmyapprehensionofdanger。Thefugitiveinquestionwas“Allender"sJake，“inBaltimore；but，saidhe，Iam“WILLIAMDIXON，“inNewYork！IknewJakewell，andknewwhenTollyAllenderandMr。Price(forthelatteremployedMasterHughashisforeman，inhisshipyardonFell"sPoint)madeanattempttorecaptureJake，andfailed。Jaketoldmeallabouthiscircumstances，andhownarrowlyheescapedbeingtakenbacktoslavery；thatthecitywasnowfullofsoutherners，returningfromthesprings；thattheblackpeopleinNewYorkwerenottobetrusted；thattherewerehiredmenonthelookoutforfugitivesfromslavery，andwho，forafewdollars，wouldbetraymeintothehandsoftheslave-catchers；thatImusttrustnomanwithmysecret；thatImustnotthinkofgoingeitheronthewharvestowork，ortoaboarding-housetoboard；and，worsestill，thissameJaketoldmeitwasnotinhispowertohelpme。

Heseemed，evenwhilecautioningme，tobefearinglest，afterall，Imightbeapartytoasecondattempttorecapturehim。

Undertheinspirationofthisthought，Imustsupposeitwas，hegavesignsofawishtogetridofme，andsoonleftmehiswhitewashbrushinhand——ashesaid，forhiswork。Hewassoonlosttosightamongthethrong，andIwasaloneagain，aneasypreytothekidnappers，ifanyshouldhappentobeonmytrack。

NewYork，seventeenyearsago，waslessaplaceofsafetyforarunawayslavethannow，andallknowhowunsafeitnowis，underthenewfugitiveslavebill。Iwasmuchtroubled。Ihadverylittlemoneyenoughtobuymeafewloavesofbread，butnotenoughtopayboard，outsidealumberyard。Isawthewisdomofkeepingawayfromtheshipyards，forifMasterHughpursuedme，hewouldnaturallyexpecttofindmelookingforworkamongthecalkers。Foratime，everydoorseemedclosedagainstme。A

senseofmylonelinessandhelplessnesscreptoverme，<264>andcoveredmewithsomethingborderingondespair。Inthemidstofthousandsofmyfellowmen，andyetaperfectstranger！Inthemidstofhumanbrothers，andyetmorefearfulofthemthanofhungrywolves！Iwaswithouthome，withoutfriends，withoutwork，withoutmoney，andwithoutanydefiniteknowledgeofwhichwaytogo，orwheretolookforsuccor。

Someapologycaneasilybemadeforthefewslaveswhohave，aftermakinggoodtheirescape，turnedbacktoslavery，preferringtheactualruleoftheirmasters，tothelifeofloneliness，apprehension，hunger，andanxiety，whichmeetsthemontheirfirstarrivalinafreestate。Itisdifficultforafreemantoenterintothefeelingsofsuchfugitives。Hecannotseethingsinthesamelightwiththeslave，becausehedoesnot，andcannot，lookfromthesamepointfromwhichtheslavedoes。

“Whydoyoutremble，“hesaystotheslave“youareinafreestate；“butthedifficultyis，inrealizingthatheisinafreestate，theslavemightreply。Afreemancannotunderstandwhytheslave-master"sshadowisbigger，totheslave，thanthemightandmajestyofafreestate；butwhenhereflectsthattheslaveknowsmoreabouttheslaveryofhismasterthanhedoesofthemightandmajestyofthefreestate，hehastheexplanation。Theslavehasbeenallhislifelearningthepowerofhismaster——

beingtrainedtodreadhisapproach——andonlyafewhourslearningthepowerofthestate。Themasteristohimasternandflintyreality，butthestateislittlemorethanadream。

Hehasbeenaccustomedtoregardeverywhitemanasthefriendofhismaster，andeverycoloredmanasmoreorlessunderthecontrolofhismaster"sfriends——thewhitepeople。Ittakesstoutnervestostandup，insuchcircumstances。Aman，homeless，shelterless，breadless，friendless，andmoneyless，isnotinaconditiontoassumeaveryproudorjoyoustone；andinjustthisconditionwasI，whilewanderingaboutthestreetsofNewYorkcityandlodging，atleastonenight，amongthebarrelsononeofitswharves。Iwasnotonlyfreefromslavery，butI

wasfreefromhome，aswell。Thereader<265MARRIAGE>willeasilyseethatIhadsomethingmorethanthesimplefactofbeingfreetothinkof，inthisextremity。

IkeptmysecretaslongasIcould，andatlastwasforcedtogoinsearchofanhonestman——amansufficiently_human_nottobetraymeintothehandsofslave-catchers。Iwasnotabadreaderofthehumanface，norlonginselectingtherightman，whenoncecompelledtodisclosethefactsofmyconditiontosomeone。

IfoundmymaninthepersonofonewhosaidhisnamewasStewart。Hewasasailor，warm-heartedandgenerous，andhelistenedtomystorywithabrother"sinterest。ItoldhimIwasrunningformyfreedom——knewnotwheretogo——moneyalmostgone——

washungry——thoughtitunsafetogotheshipyardsforwork，andneededafriend。Stewartpromptlyputmeinthewayofgettingoutofmytrouble。Hetookmetohishouse，andwentinsearchofthelateDavidRuggles，whowasthenthesecretaryoftheNewYorkVigilanceCommittee，andaveryactivemaninallanti-

slaveryworks。OnceinthehandsofMr。Ruggles，Iwascomparativelysafe。IwashiddenwithMr。Rugglesseveraldays。

Inthemeantime，myintendedwife，Anna，cameonfromBaltimore——

towhomIhadwritten，informingherofmysafearrivalatNewYork——and，inthepresenceofMrs。MitchellandMr。Ruggles，weweremarried，byRev。JamesW。C。Pennington。

Mr。Ruggles[7]wasthefirstofficerontheunder-groundrailroadwithwhomImetafterreachingthenorth，and，indeed，thefirstofwhomIeverheardanything。LearningthatIwasacalkerbytrade，hepromptlydecidedthatNewBedfordwastheproper[7]Hewasawhole-souledman，fullyimbuedwithaloveofhisafflictedandhuntedpeople，andtookpleasureinbeingtome，aswashiswont，“Eyestotheblind，andlegstothelame。“Thisbraveanddevotedmansufferedmuchfromthepersecutionscommontoallwhohavebeenprominentbenefactors。Heatlastbecameblind，andneededafriendtoguidehim，evenashehadbeenaguidetoothers。Eveninhisblindness，heexhibitedhismanlycharacter。Insearchofhealth，hebecameaphysician。Whenhopeofgainingis{sic}ownwasgone，hehadhopeforothers。

Believinginhydropathy，heestablished，atNorthampton，Massachusetts，alarge_“WaterCure，“_andbecameoneofthemostsuccessfulofallengagedinthatmodeoftreatment。

<266>placetosendme。“Manyships，“saidhe，“aretherefittedoutforthewhalingbusiness，andyoumaytherefindworkatyourtrade，andmakeagoodliving。“Thus，inonefortnightaftermyflightfromMaryland，IwassafeinNewBedford，regularlyenteredupontheexerciseoftherights，responsibilities，anddutiesofafreeman。

ImaymentionalittlecircumstancewhichannoyedmeonreachingNewBedford。Ihadnotacentofmoney，andlackedtwodollarstowardpayingourfarefromNewport，andourbaggagenotverycostly——wastakenbythestagedriver，andhelduntilIcouldraisethemoneytoredeemit。Thisdifficultywassoonsurmounted。Mr。NathanJohnson，towhomwehadalinefromMr。

Ruggles，notonlyreceiveduskindlyandhospitably，but，onbeinginformedaboutourbaggage，promptlyloanedmetwodollarswithwhichtoredeemmylittleproperty。Ishalleverbedeeplygrateful，bothtoMr。andMrs。NathanJohnson，forthelivelyinteresttheywerepleasedtotakeinme，inthishourofmyextremestneed。Theynotonlygavemyselfandwifebreadandshelter，buttaughtushowtobegintosecurethosebenefitsforourselves。Longmaytheylive，andmayblessingsattendtheminthislifeandinthatwhichistocome！

Onceinitiatedintothenewlifeoffreedom，andassuredbyMr。

JohnsonthatNewBedfordwasasafeplace，thecomparativelyunimportantmatter，astowhatshouldbemyname，cameupforconsidertion{sic}。Itwasnecessarytohaveanameinmynewrelations。Thenamegivenmebymybelovedmotherwasnolesspretentiousthan“FrederickAugustusWashingtonBailey。“Ihad，however，beforeleavingMaryland，dispensedwiththe_AugustusWashington_，andretainedthename_FrederickBailey_。BetweenBaltimoreandNewBedford，however，Ihadseveraldifferentnames，thebettertoavoidbeingoverhauledbythehunters，whichIhadgoodreasontobelievewouldbeputonmytrack。Amonghonestmenanhonestmanmaywellbecontentwithonename，andtoacknowledgeitatalltimesandinall<267CHANGEOF

NAME>places；buttowardfugitives，Americansarenothonest。

WhenIarrivedatNewBedford，mynamewasJohnson；andfindingthattheJohnsonfamilyinNewBedfordwerealreadyquitenumerous——sufficientlysotoproducesomeconfusioninattemptstodistinguishonefromanother——therewasthemorereasonformakinganotherchangeinmyname。Infact，“Johnson“hadbeenassumedbynearlyeveryslavewhohadarrivedinNewBedfordfromMaryland，andthis，muchtotheannoyanceoftheoriginal“Johnsons“(ofwhomthereweremany)inthatplace。Minehost，unwillingtohaveanotherofhisownnameaddedtothecommunityinthisunauthorizedway，afterIspentanightandadayathishouse，gavememypresentname。Hehadbeenreadingthe“LadyoftheLake，“andwaspleasedtoregardmeasasuitablepersontowearthis，oneofScotland"smanyfamousnames。ConsideringthenoblehospitalityandmanlycharacterofNathanJohnson，Ihavefeltthathe，betterthanI，illustratedthevirtuesofthegreatScottishchief。SureIam，thathadanyslave-catcherenteredhisdomicile，withaviewtomolestanyoneofhishousehold，hewouldhaveshownhimselflikehimofthe“stalwarthand。“

Thereaderwillbeamusedatmyignorance，whenItellthenotionsIhadofthestateofnorthernwealth，enterprise，andcivilization。Ofwealthandrefinement，Isupposedthenorthhadnone。My_ColumbianOrator_，whichwasalmostmyonlybook，hadnotdonemuchtoenlightenmeconcerningnorthernsociety。TheimpressionsIhadreceivedwereallwideofthetruth。NewBedford，especially，tookmebysurprise，inthesolidwealthandgrandeurthereexhibited。Ihadformedmynotionsrespectingthesocialconditionofthefreestates，bywhatIhadseenandknownoffree，white，non-slaveholdingpeopleintheslavestates。

Regardingslaveryasthebasisofwealth，Ifanciedthatnopeoplecouldbecomeverywealthywithoutslavery。Afreewhiteman，holdingnoslaves，inthecountry，Ihadknowntobethemostignorantandpoverty-strickenofmen，andthelaugh<268>ingstockevenofslavesthemselves——calledgenerallybythem，inderision，_“poorwhitetrash_。“Likethenon-slaveholdersatthesouth，inholdingnoslaves，Isupposethenorthernpeoplelikethem，also，inpovertyanddegradation。Judge，then，ofmyamazementandjoy，whenIfound——asIdidfind——theverylaboringpopulationofNewBedfordlivinginbetterhouses，moreelegantlyfurnished——surroundedbymorecomfortandrefinement——thanamajorityoftheslaveholdersontheEasternShoreofMaryland。

Therewasmyfriend，Mr。Johnson，himselfacoloredman(whoatthesouthwouldhavebeenregardedasapropermarketablecommodity)，wholivedinabetterhouse——dinedataricherboard——wastheownerofmorebooks——thereaderofmorenewspapers——wasmoreconversantwiththepoliticalandsocialconditionofthisnationandtheworld——thannine-tenthsofalltheslaveholdersofTalbotcounty，Maryland。YetMr。Johnsonwasaworkingman，andhishandswerehardenedbyhonesttoil。Here，then，wassomethingforobservationandstudy。Whencethedifference？Theexplanationwassoonfurnished，inthesuperiorityofmindoversimplebruteforce。Manypagesmightbegiventothecontrast，andinexplanationofitscauses。Butanincidentortwowillsufficetoshowthereaderastohowthemysterygraduallyvanishedbeforeme。

Myfirstafternoon，onreachingNewBedford，wasspentinvisitingthewharvesandviewingtheshipping。Thesightofthebroadbrimandtheplain，Quakerdress，whichmetmeateveryturn，greatlyincreasedmysenseoffreedomandsecurity。“IamamongtheQuakers，“thoughtI，“andamsafe。“Lyingatthewharvesandridinginthestream，werefull-riggedshipsoffinestmodel，readytostartonwhalingvoyages。Upontherightandtheleft，Iwaswalledinbylargegranite-frontedwarehouses，crowdedwiththegoodthingsofthisworld。Onthewharves，Isawindustrywithoutbustle，laborwithoutnoise，andheavytoilwithoutthewhip。Therewasnoloudsinging，asinsouthernports，whereshipsareloadingorunloading——noloudcursingorswear<269THECONTRAST>ing——buteverythingwentonassmoothlyastheworksofawelladjustedmachine。Howdifferentwasallthisfromthenosilyfierceandclumsilyabsurdmanneroflabor-lifeinBaltimoreandSt。Michael"s！Oneofthefirstincidentswhichillustratedthesuperiormentalcharacterofnorthernlaboroverthatofthesouth，wasthemannerofunloadingaship"scargoofoil。Inasouthernport，twentyorthirtyhandswouldhavebeenemployedtodowhatfiveorsixdidhere，withtheaidofasingleoxattachedtotheendofafall。

Mainstrength，unassistedbyskill，isslavery"smethodoflabor。

Anoldox，wortheightydollars，wasdoing，inNewBedford，whatwouldhaverequiredfifteenthousanddollarsworthofhumanbonesandmusclestohaveperformedinasouthernport。Ifoundthateverythingwasdoneherewithascrupulousregardtoeconomy，bothinregardtomenandthings，timeandstrength。Themaidservant，insteadofspendingatleastatenthpartofhertimeinbringingandcarryingwater，asinBaltimore，hadthepumpatherelbow。Thewoodwasdry，andsnuglypiledawayforwinter。

Woodhouses，in-doorpumps，sinks，drains，self-shuttinggates，washingmachines，poundingbarrels，wereallnewthings，andtoldmethatIwasamongathoughtfulandsensiblepeople。Totheship-repairingdockIwent，andsawthesamewiseprudence。Thecarpentersstruckwheretheyaimed，andthecalkerswastednoblowsinidleflourishesofthemallet。IlearnedthatmenwentfromNewBedfordtoBaltimore，andboughtoldships，andbroughtthemheretorepair，andmadethembetterandmorevaluablethantheyeverwerebefore。Mentalkedhereofgoingwhalingonafour_years"_voyagewithmorecoolnessthansailorswhereIcamefromtalkedofgoingafour_months"_voyage。

InowfindthatIcouldhavelandedinnopartoftheUnitedStates，whereIshouldhavefoundamorestrikingandgratifyingcontrasttotheconditionofthefreepeopleofcolorinBaltimore，thanIfoundhereinNewBedford。Nocoloredmanisreallyfreeinaslaveholdingstate。Hewearsthebadgeofbondagewhile<270>nominallyfree，andisoftensubjectedtohardshipstowhichtheslaveisastranger；buthereinNewBedford，itwasmygoodfortunetoseeaprettynearapproachtofreedomonthepartofthecoloredpeople。IwastakenallabackwhenMr。Johnson——wholostnotimeinmakingmeacquaintedwiththefact——toldmethattherewasnothingintheconstitutionofMassachusettstopreventacoloredmanfromholdinganyofficeinthestate。There，inNewBedford，theblackman"schildren——

althoughanti-slaverywasthenfarfrompopular——wenttoschoolsidebysidewiththewhitechildren，andapparentlywithoutobjectionfromanyquarter。Tomakemeathome，Mr。JohnsonassuredmethatnoslaveholdercouldtakeaslavefromNewBedford；thattherewerementherewhowouldlaydowntheirlives，beforesuchanoutragecouldbeperpetrated。Thecoloredpeoplethemselveswereofthebestmetal，andwouldfightforlibertytothedeath。

SoonaftermyarrivalinNewBedford，Iwastoldthefollowingstory，whichwassaidtoillustratethespiritofthecoloredpeopleinthatgoodlytown:Acoloredmanandafugitiveslavehappenedtohavealittlequarrel，andtheformerwasheardtothreatenthelatterwithinforminghismasterofhiswhereabouts。

Assoonasthisthreatbecameknown，anoticewasreadfromthedeskofwhatwasthentheonlycoloredchurchintheplace，statingthatbusinessofimportancewastobethenandtheretransacted。Specialmeasureshadbeentakentosecuretheattendanceofthewould-beJudas，andhadprovedsuccessful。

Accordingly，atthehourappointed，thepeoplecame，andthebetrayeralso。Alltheusualformalitiesofpublicmeetingswerescrupulouslygonethrough，eventotheofferingprayerforDivinedirectioninthedutiesoftheoccasion。Thepresidenthimselfperformedthispartoftheceremony，andIwastoldthathewasunusuallyfervent。Yet，atthecloseofhisprayer，theoldman(oneofthenumerousfamilyofJohnsons)rosefromhisknees，deliberatelysurveyedhisaudience，andthensaid，inatoneofsolemnresolution，_“Well，friends，wehavegothimhere，andI

wouldnow_<271COLOREDPEOPLEINNEWBEDFORD>_recommendthatyouyoungmenshouldjusttakehimoutsidethedoorandkillhim。“_

Withthis，alargebodyofthecongregation，whowellunderstoodthebusinesstheyhadcometheretotransact，madearushatthevillain，anddoubtlesswouldhavekilledhim，hadhenotavailedhimselfofanopensash，andmadegoodhisescape。HehasnevershownhisheadinNewBedfordsincethattime。ThislittleincidentisperfectlycharacteristicofthespiritofthecoloredpeopleinNewBedford。Aslavecouldnotbetakenfromthattownseventeenyearsago，anymorethanhecouldbesotakenawaynow。

Thereasonis，thatthecoloredpeopleinthatcityareeducateduptothepointoffightingfortheirfreedom，aswellasspeakingforit。

OnceassuredofmysafetyinNewBedford，Iputonthehabilimentsofacommonlaborer，andwentonthewharfinsearchofwork。Ihadnonotionoflivingonthehonestandgeneroussympathyofmycoloredbrother，Johnson，orthatoftheabolitionists。MycrywaslikethatofHood"slaborer，“Oh！onlygivemework。“Happilyforme，Iwasnotlonginsearching。I

foundemployment，thethirddayaftermyarrivalinNewBedford，instowingasloopwithaloadofoilfortheNewYorkmarket。

Itwasnew，hard，anddirtywork，evenforacalker，butIwentatitwithagladheartandawillinghand。Iwasnowmyownmaster——atremendousfact——andtherapturousexcitementwithwhichIseizedthejob，maynoteasilybeunderstood，exceptbysomeonewithanexperiencelikemine。Thethoughts——“Icanwork！Icanworkforaliving；Iamnotafraidofwork；IhavenoMasterHughtorobmeofmyearnings“——placedmeinastateofindependence，beyondseekingfriendshiporsupportofanyman。

Thatday"sworkIconsideredtherealstartingpointofsomethinglikeanewexistence。Havingfinishedthisjobandgotmypayforthesame，Iwentnextinpursuitofajobatcalking。ItsohappenedthatMr。RodneyFrench，latemayorofthecityofNewBedford，hadashipfittingoutforsea，andtowhichtherewasalargejobofcalkingandcopperingtobedone。Iappliedtothat<272>nobleheartedmanforemployment，andhepromptlytoldmetogotowork；butgoingonthefloat-stageforthepurpose，IwasinformedthateverywhitemanwouldleavetheshipifIstruckablowuponher。“Well，well，“thoughtI，“thisisahardship，butyetnotaveryseriousoneforme。“Thedifferencebetweenthewagesofacalkerandthatofacommondaylaborer，wasanhundredpercentinfavoroftheformer；butthenIwasfree，andfreetowork，thoughnotatmytrade。Inowpreparedmyselftodoanythingwhichcametohandinthewayofturninganhonestpenny；sawedwood——dugcellars——shoveledcoal——sweptchimneyswithUncleLucasDebuty——rolledoilcasksonthewharves——helpedtoloadandunloadvessels——workedinRicketson"scandleworks——

inRichmond"sbrassfoundery，andelsewhere；andthussupportedmyselfandfamilyforthreeyears。

Thefirstwinterwasunusuallysevere，inconsequenceofthehighpricesoffood；butevenduringthatwinterweprobablysufferedlessthanmanywhohadbeenfreealltheirlives。Duringthehardestofthewinter，Ihiredoutforninedolars{sic}amonth；

andoutofthisrentedtworoomsforninedollarsperquarter，andsuppliedmywife——whowasunabletowork——withfoodandsomenecessaryarticlesoffurniture。Wewerecloselypinchedtobringourwantswithinourmeans；butthejailstoodovertheway，andIhadawholesomedreadoftheconsequencesofrunningindebt。Thiswinterpast，andIwasupwiththetimes——gotplentyofwork——gotwellpaidforit——andfeltthatIhadnotdoneafoolishthingtoleaveMasterHughandMasterThomas。I

wasnowlivinginanewworld，andwaswideawaketoitsadvantages。IearlybegantoattendthemeetingsofthecoloredpeopleofNewBedford，andtotakepartinthem。Iwassomewhatamazedtoseecoloredmendrawingupresolutionsandofferingthemforconsideration。SeveralcoloredyoungmenofNewBedford，atthatperiod，gavepromiseofgreatusefulness。Theywereeducated，andpossessedwhatseemedtome，atthetime，verysuperiortalents。Someofthemhavebeencutdownbydeath，and<273THECHURCH>othershaveremovedtodifferentpartsoftheworld，andsomeremaintherenow，andjustify，intheirpresentactivities，myearlyimpressionsofthem。

AmongmyfirstconcernsonreachingNewBedford，wastobecomeunitedwiththechurch，forIhadnevergivenup，inreality，myreligiousfaith。Ihadbecomelukewarmandinabacksliddenstate，butIwasstillconvincedthatitwasmydutytojointheMethodistchurch。Iwasnotthenawareofthepowerfulinfluenceofthatreligiousbodyinfavoroftheenslavementofmyrace，nordidIseehowthenorthernchurchescouldberesponsiblefortheconductofsouthernchurches；neitherdidIfullyunderstandhowitcouldbemydutytoremainseparatefromthechurch，becausebadmenwereconnectedwithit。Theslaveholdingchurch，withitsCoveys，Weedens，Aulds，andHopkins，Icouldseethroughatonce，butIcouldnotseehowElmStreetchurch，inNewBedford，couldberegardedassanctioningtheChristianityofthesecharactersinthechurchatSt。Michael"s。IthereforeresolvedtojointheMethodistchurchinNewBedford，andtoenjoythespiritualadvantageofpublicworship。TheministeroftheElmStreetMethodistchurch，wastheRev。Mr。Bonney；andalthoughIwasnotallowedaseatinthebodyofthehouse，andwasproscribedonaccountofmycolor，regardingthisproscriptionsimplyasanaccommodationoftheuncovertedcongregationwhohadnotyetbeenwontoChristandhisbrotherhood，Iwaswillingthustobeproscribed，lestsinnersshouldbedrivenawayformthesavingpowerofthegospel。Onceconverted，Ithoughttheywouldbesuretotreatmeasamanandabrother。“Surely，“thoughtI，“theseChristianpeoplehavenoneofthisfeelingagainstcolor。They，atleast，haverenouncedthisunholyfeeling。“Judge，then，dearreader，ofmyastonishmentandmortification，whenIfound，assoonIdidfind，allmycharitableassumptionsatfault。

AnopportunitywassoonaffordedmeforascertainingtheexactpositionofElmStreetchurchonthatsubject。Ihadachanceofseeingthereligiouspartofthecongregationbythemselves；and<274>althoughtheydisowned，ineffect，theirblackbrothersandsisters，beforetheworld，Ididthinkthatwherenonebutthesaintswereassembled，andnooffensecouldbegiventothewicked，andthegospelcouldnotbe“blamed，“theywouldcertainlyrecognizeusaschildrenofthesameFather，andheirsofthesamesalvation，onequaltermswiththemselves。

TheoccasiontowhichIrefer，wasthesacramentoftheLord"sSupper，thatmostsacredandmostsolemnofalltheordinancesoftheChristianchurch。Mr。Bonneyhadpreachedaverysolemnandsearchingdiscourse，whichreallyprovedhimtobeacquaintedwiththeinmostsecerts{sic}ofthehumanheart。Atthecloseofhisdiscourse，thecongregationwasdismissed，andthechurchremainedtopartakeofthesacrament。Iremainedtosee，asI

thought，thisholysacramentcelebratedinthespiritofitsgreatFounder。

TherewereonlyaboutahalfdozencoloredmembersattachedtotheElmStreetchurch，atthistime。Afterthecongregationwasdismissed，thesedescendedfromthegallery，andtookaseatagainstthewallmostdistantfromthealtar。BrotherBonneywasveryanimated，andsungverysweetly，“Salvation"tisajoyfulsound，“andsoonbegantoadministerthesacrament。Iwasanxioustoobservethebearingofthecoloredmembers，andtheresultwasmosthumiliating。Duringthewholeceremony，theylookedlikesheepwithoutashepherd。Thewhitememberswentforwardtothealtarbythebenchfull；andwhenitwasevidentthatallthewhiteshadbeenservedwiththebreadandwine，BrotherBonney——piousBrotherBonney——afteralongpause，asifinquiringwhetherallthewhitesmembershadbeenserved，andfullyassuringhimselfonthatimportantpoint，thenraisedhisvoicetoanunnaturalpitch，andlookingtothecornerwherehisblacksheepseemedpenned，beckonedwithhishand，exclaiming，“Comeforward，coloredfriends！comeforward！You，too，haveaninterestinthebloodofChrist。Godisnorespecterofpersons。

Comeforward，andtakethisholysacramenttoyour<275THE

SACRAMENT>comfort。“Thecoloredmemberspoor，slavishsoulswentforward，asinvited。Iwentout，andhaveneverbeeninthatchurchsince，althoughIhonestlywenttherewithaviewtojoiningthatbody。Ifounditimpossibletorespectthereligiousprofessionofanywhowereunderthedominionofthiswickedprejudice，andIcouldnot，therefore，feelthatinjoiningthem，IwasjoiningaChristianchurch，atall。ItriedotherchurchesinNewBedford，withthesameresult，andfinally，IattachedmyselftoasmallbodyofcoloredMethodists，knownastheZionMethodists。Favoredwiththeaffectionandconfidenceofthemembersofthishumblecommunion，Iwassoonmadeaclassleaderandalocalpreacheramongthem。ManyseasonsofpeaceandjoyIexperiencedamongthem，theremembranceofwhichisstillprecious，althoughIcouldnotseeittobemydutytoremainwiththatbody，whenIfoundthatitconsentedtothesamespiritwhichheldmybrethreninchains。

InfourorfivemonthsafterreachingNewBedford，therecameayoungmantome，withacopyofthe_Liberator_，thepapereditedbyWILLIAMLLOYDGARRISON，andpublishedbyISAACKNAPP，andaskedmetosubscribeforit。ItoldhimIhadbutjustescapedfromslavery，andwasofcourseverypoor，andremarkedfurther，thatIwasunabletopayforitthen；theagent，however，verywillinglytookmeasasubscriber，andappearedtobemuchpleasedwithsecuringmynametohislist。FromthistimeIwasbroughtincontactwiththemindofWilliamLloydGarrison。Hispapertookitsplacewithmenexttothebible。

The_Liberator_wasapaperaftermyownheart。Itdetestedslaveryexposedhypocrisyandwickednessinhighplaces——madenotrucewiththetraffickersinthebodiesandsoulsofmen；itpreachedhumanbrotherhood，denouncedoppression，and，withallthesolemnityofGod"sword，demandedthecompleteemancipationofmyrace。Inotonlyliked——I_loved_thispaper，anditseditor。Heseemedamatchforalltheoponents{sic}ofemancipation，whethertheyspokeinthenameofthelaw，orthegospel。<276>Hiswordswerefew，fullofholyfire，andstraighttothepoint。Learningtolovehim，throughhispaper，Iwaspreparedtobepleasedwithhispresence。Somethingofaheroworshiper，bynature，herewasone，onfirstsight，toexcitemyloveandreverence。

Seventeenyearsago，fewmenpossessedamoreheavenlycountenancethanWilliamLloydGarrison，andfewmenevincedamoregenuineoramoreexaltedpiety。Thebiblewashistextbook——heldsacred，asthewordoftheEternalFather——sinlessperfection——completesubmissiontoinsultsandinjuries——literalobediencetotheinjunction，ifsmittenononesidetoturntheotheralso。NotonlywasSundayaSabbath，butalldayswereSabbaths，andtobekeptholy。Allsectarismfalseandmischievous——theregenerated，throughouttheworld，membersofonebody，andtheHEADChristJesus。PrejudiceagainstcolorwasrebellionagainstGod。Ofallmenbeneaththesky，theslaves，becausemostneglectedanddespised，werenearestanddearesttohisgreatheart。Thoseministerswhodefendedslaveryfromthebible，wereoftheir“fatherthedevil“；andthosechurcheswhichfellowshipedslaveholdersasChristians，weresynagoguesofSatan，andournationwasanationofliars。Neverloudornoisy——calmandsereneasasummersky，andaspure。“Youaretheman，theMoses，raisedupbyGod，todeliverhismodernIsraelfrombondage，“wasthespontaneousfeelingofmyheart，asIsatawaybackinthehallandlistenedtohismightywords；

mightyintruth——mightyintheirsimpleearnestness。

Ihadnotlongbeenareaderofthe_Liberator_，andlistenertoitseditor，beforeIgotaclearapprehensionoftheprinciplesoftheanti-slaverymovement。Ihadalreadythespiritofthemovement，andonlyneededtounderstanditsprinciplesandmeasures。TheseIgotfromthe_Liberator_，andfromthosewhobelievedinthatpaper。Myacquaintancewiththemovementincreasedmyhopefortheultimatefreedomofmyrace，andI

unitedwithitfromasenseofdelight，aswellasduty。

<277THE_Liberator_>

Everyweekthe_Liberator_came，andeveryweekImademyselfmasterofitscontents。Alltheanti-slaverymeetingsheldinNewBedfordIpromptlyattended，myheartburningateverytrueutteranceagainsttheslavesystem，andeveryrebukeofitsfriendsandsupporters。ThuspassedthefirstthreeyearsofmyresidenceinNewBedford。Ihadnotthendreamedoftheposibility{sic}ofmybecomingapublicadvocateofthecausesodeeplyimbeddedinmyheart。Itwasenoughformetolisten——toreceiveandapplaudthegreatwordsofothers，andonlywhisperinprivate，amongthewhitelaborersonthewharves，andelsewhere，thetruthswhichburnedinmybreast。

CHAPTERXXIII

IntroducedtotheAbolitionistsFIRSTSPEECHATNANTUCKET——MUCHSENSATION——EXTRAORDINARYSPEECH

OFMR。GARRISON——AUTHORBECOMESAPUBLICLECTURER——FOURTEENYEARS

EXPERIENCE——YOUTHFULENTHUSIASM——ABRANDNEWFACT——MATTEROFMY

AUTHOR"SSPEECH——COULDNOTFOLLOWTHEPROGRAMME——FUGITIVE

SLAVESHIPDOUBTED——TOSETTLEALLDOUBTIWRITEMYEXPERIENCEOF

SLAVERY——DANGEROFRECAPTUREINCREASED。

Inthesummerof1841，agrandanti-slaveryconventionwasheldinNantucket，undertheauspicesofMr。Garrisonandhisfriends。

Untilnow，Ihadtakennoholidaysincemyescapefromslavery。

Havingworkedveryhardthatspringandsummer，inRichmond"sbrassfoundery——sometimesworkingallnightaswellasallday——

andneedingadayortwoofrest，Iattendedthisconvention，neversupposingthatIshouldtakepartintheproceedings。

Indeed，Iwasnotawarethatanyoneconnectedwiththeconventionevensomuchasknewmyname。Iwas，however，quitemistaken。Mr。WilliamC。Coffin，aprominentabolitionst{sic}inthosedaysoftrial，hadheardmespeakingtomycoloredfriends，inthelittleschoolhouseonSecondstreet，NewBedford，whereweworshiped。Hesoughtmeoutinthecrowd，andinvitedmetosayafewwordstotheconvention。Thussoughtout，andthusinvited，Iwasinducedtospeakoutthefeelingsinspiredbytheoccasion，andthefreshrecollectionofthescenesthroughwhichIhadpassedasaslave。MyspeechonthisoccasionisabouttheonlyoneIevermade，ofwhichIdonotrememberasingleconnectedsentence。Itwas<279EXTRAORDINARYSPEECHOFMR。

GARRISON>withtheutmostdifficultythatIcouldstanderect，orthatIcouldcommandandarticulatetwowordswithouthesitationandstammering。Itrembledineverylimb。Iamnotsurethatmyembarrassmentwasnotthemosteffectivepartofmyspeech，ifspeechitcouldbecalled。Atanyrate，thisisabouttheonlypartofmyperformancethatInowdistinctlyremember。ButexcitedandconvulsedasIwas，theaudience，thoughremarkablyquietbefore，becameasmuchexcitedasmyself。Mr。Garrisonfollowedme，takingmeashistext；andnow，whetherIhadmadeaneloquentspeechinbehalfoffreedomornot，hiswasonenevertobeforgottenbythosewhoheardit。ThosewhohadheardMr。

Garrisonoftenest，andhadknownhimlongest，wereastonished。

Itwasaneffortofunequaledpower，sweepingdown，likeaverytornado，everyopposingbarrier，whetherofsentimentoropinion。

Foramoment，hepossessedthatalmostfabulousinspiration，oftenreferredtobutseldomattained，inwhichapublicmeetingistransformed，asitwere，intoasingleindividuality——theoratorwieldingathousandheadsandheartsatonce，andbythesimplemajestyofhisallcontrollingthought，convertinghishearersintotheexpressimageofhisownsoul。ThatnighttherewereatleastonethousandGarrisoniansinNantucket！A{sic}thecloseofthisgreatmeeting，IwasdulywaitedonbyMr。JohnA。

Collins——thenthegeneralagentoftheMassachusettsanti-slaverysociety——andurgentlysolicitedbyhimtobecomeanagentofthatsociety，andtopubliclyadvocateitsanti-slaveryprinciples。I

wasreluctanttotaketheprofferedposition。Ihadnotbeenquitethreeyearsfromslavery——washonestlydistrustfulofmyability——wishedtobeexcused；publicityexposedmetodiscoveryandarrestbymymaster；andotherobjectionscameup，butMr。

Collinswasnottobeputoff，andIfinallyconsentedtogooutforthreemonths，forIsupposedthatIshouldhavegottotheendofmystoryandmyusefulness，inthatlengthoftime。

HereopeneduponmeanewlifealifeforwhichIhadhadnopreparation。Iwasa“graduatefromthepeculiarinstitution，“

<280>Mr。Collinsusedtosay，whenintroducingme，_“withmydiplomawrittenonmyback！“_Thethreeyearsofmyfreedomhadbeenspentinthehardschoolofadversity。Myhandshadbeenfurnishedbynaturewithsomethinglikeasolidleathercoating，andIhadbravelymarkedoutformyselfalifeofroughlabor，suitedtothehardnessofmyhands，asameansofsupportingmyselfandrearingmychildren。

NowwhatshallIsayofthisfourteenyears"experienceasapublicadvocateofthecauseofmyenslavedbrothersandsisters？

Thetimeisbutasaspeck，yetlargeenoughtojustifyapauseforretrospection——andapauseitmustonlybe。

Young，ardent，andhopeful，Ientereduponthisnewlifeinthefullgushofunsuspectingenthusiasm。Thecausewasgood；themenengagedinitweregood；themeanstoattainitstriumph，good；Heaven"sblessingmustattendall，andfreedommustsoonbegiventothepiningmillionsunderaruthlessbondage。Mywholeheartwentwiththeholycause，andmymostferventprayertotheAlmightyDisposeroftheheartsofmen，werecontinuallyofferedforitsearlytriumph。“Whoorwhat，“thoughtI，“canwithstandacausesogood，soholy，soindescribablyglorious。TheGodofIsraeliswithus。ThemightoftheEternalisonourside。Nowletbutthetruthbespoken，andanationwillstartforthatthesound！“Inthisenthusiasticspirit，Idroppedintotheranksoffreedom"sfriends，andwentforthtothebattle。ForatimeI

wasmadetoforgetthatmyskinwasdarkandmyhaircrisped。

ForatimeIregrettedthatIcouldnothavesharedthehardshipsanddangersenduredbytheearlierworkersfortheslave"srelease。Isoon，however，foundthatmyenthusiasmhadbeenextravagant；thathardshipsanddangerswerenotyetpassed；andthatthelifenowbeforeme，hadshadowsaswellassunbeams。

Amongthefirstdutiesassignedme，onenteringtheranks，wastotravel，incompanywithMr。GeorgeFoster，tosecuresubscriberstothe_Anti-slaveryStandard_andthe_Liberator_。With<281

MATTEROFTHESPEECH>himItraveledandlecturedthroughtheeasterncountiesofMassachusetts。Muchinterestwasawakened——

largemeetingsassembled。Manycame，nodoubt，fromcuriositytohearwhataNegrocouldsayinhisowncause。Iwasgenerallyintroducedasa_“chattel“——_a_“thing“_——apieceofsouthern_“property“_——thechairmanassuringtheaudiencethat_it_couldspeak。Fugitiveslaves，atthattime，werenotsoplentifulasnow；andasafugitiveslavelecturer，Ihadtheadvantageofbeinga_“brandnewfact“_——thefirstoneout。Uptothattime，acoloredmanwasdeemedafoolwhoconfessedhimselfarunawayslave，notonlybecauseofthedangertowhichheexposedhimselfofbeingretaken，butbecauseitwasaconfessionofavery_low_

origin！SomeofmycoloredfriendsinNewBedfordthoughtverybadlyofmywisdomforthusexposinganddegradingmyself。TheonlyprecautionItook，atthebeginning，topreventMasterThomasfromknowingwhereIwas，andwhatIwasabout，wasthewithholdingmyformername，mymaster"sname，andthenameofthestateandcountyfromwhichIcame。Duringthefirstthreeorfourmonths，myspeecheswerealmostexclusivelymadeupofnarrationsofmyownpersonalexperienceasaslave。“Letushavethefacts，“saidthepeople。SoalsosaidFriendGeorgeFoster，whoalwayswishedtopinmedowntomysimplenarrative。

“Giveusthefacts，“saidCollins，“wewilltakecareofthephilosophy。“Justherearosesomeembarrassment。Itwasimpossibleformetorepeatthesameoldstorymonthaftermonth，andtokeepupmyinterestinit。Itwasnewtothepeople，itistrue，butitwasanoldstorytome；andtogothroughwithitnightafternight，wasataskaltogethertoomechanicalformynature。“Tellyourstory，Frederick，“wouldwhispermythenreveredfriend，WilliamLloydGarrison，asIsteppedupontheplatform。Icouldnotalwaysobey，forIwasnowreadingandthinking。Newviewsofthesubjectwerepresentedtomymind。

Itdidnotentirelysatisfymeto_narrate_wrongs；Ifeltlike_denouncing_them。Icouldnotalwayscurbmymoralindignation<282>fortheperpetratorsofslaveholdingvillainy，longenoughforacircumstantialstatementofthefactswhichIfeltalmosteverybodymustknow。Besides，Iwasgrowing，andneededroom。

“Peoplewon"tbelieveyoueverwasaslave，Frederick，ifyoukeeponthisway，“saidFriendFoster。“Beyourself，“saidCollins，“andtellyourstory。“Itwassaidtome，“Betterhavea_little_oftheplantationmannerofspeechthannot；"tisnotbestthatyouseemtoolearned。“Theseexcellentfriendswereactuatedbythebestofmotives，andwerenotaltogetherwrongintheiradvice；andstillImustspeakjustthewordthatseemedto_me_thewordtobespoken_by_me。

Atlasttheapprehendedtroublecame。PeopledoubtedifIhadeverbeenaslave。TheysaidIdidnottalklikeaslave，looklikeaslave，noractlikeaslave，andthattheybelievedIhadneverbeensouthofMasonandDixon"sline。“Hedon"ttelluswherehecamefrom——whathismaster"snamewas——howhegotaway——

northestoryofhisexperience。Besides，heiseducated，andis，inthis，acontradictionofallthefactswehaveconcerningtheignoranceoftheslaves。“Thus，Iwasinaprettyfairwaytobedenouncedasanimpostor。ThecommitteeoftheMassachusettsanti-slaverysocietyknewallthefactsinmycase，andagreedwithmeintheprudenceofkeepingthemprivate。

They，therefore，neverdoubtedmybeingagenuinefugitive；butgoingdowntheaislesofthechurchesinwhichIspoke，andhearingthefreespokenYankeessaying，repeatedly，_“He"sneverbeenaslave，I"llwarrantye_，“Iresolvedtodispelalldoubt，atnodistantday，bysucharevelationoffactsascouldnotbemadebyanyotherthanagenuinefugitive。

Inalittlelessthanfouryears，therefore，afterbecomingapubliclecturer，Iwasinducedtowriteouttheleadingfactsconnectedwithmyexperienceinslavery，givingnamesofpersons，places，anddates——thusputtingitinthepowerofanywhodoubted，toascertainthetruthorfalsehoodofmystoryofbeingafugitiveslave。ThisstatementsoonbecameknowninMaryland，<283DANGEROFRECAPTURE>andIhadreasontobelievethataneffortwouldbemadetorecaptureme。

Itisnotprobablethatanyopenattempttosecuremeasaslavecouldhavesucceeded，furtherthantheobtainment，bymymaster，ofthemoneyvalueofmybonesandsinews。Fortunatelyforme，inthefouryearsofmylaborsintheabolitioncause，Ihadgainedmanyfriends，whowouldhavesufferedthemselvestobetaxedtoalmostanyextenttosavemefromslavery。ItwasfeltthatIhadcommittedthedoubleoffenseofrunningaway，andexposingthesecretsandcrimesofslaveryandslaveholders。

Therewasadoublemotiveforseekingmyreenslavement——avariceandvengeance；andwhile，asIhavesaid，therewaslittleprobabilityofsuccessfulrecapture，ifattemptedopenly，Iwasconstantlyindangerofbeingspiritedaway，atamomentwhenmyfriendscouldrendermenoassistance。Intravelingaboutfromplacetoplace——oftenaloneIwasmuchexposedtothissortofattack。Anyonecherishingthedesigntobetrayme，couldeasilydoso，bysimplytracingmywhereaboutsthroughtheanti-slaveryjournals，formymeetingsandmovementswerepromptlymadeknowninadvance。Mytruefriends，Mr。GarrisonandMr。Phillips，hadnofaithinthepowerofMassachusettstoprotectmeinmyrighttoliberty。Publicsentimentandthelaw，intheiropinion，wouldhandmeovertothetormentors。Mr。Phillips，especially，consideredmeindanger，andsaid，whenIshowedhimthemanuscriptofmystory，ifinmyplace，hewouldthrowitintothefire。Thus，thereaderwillobserve，thesettlingofonedifficultyonlyopenedthewayforanother；andthatthoughIhadreachedafreestate，andhadattainedpositionforpublicusefulness，Iws{sic}stilltormentedwiththeliabilityoflosingmyliberty。Howthisliabilitywasdispelled，willberelated，withotherincidents，inthenextchapter。

CHAPTERXXIV

Twenty-OneMonthsinGreatBritainGOODARISINGOUTOFUNPROPITIOUSEVENTS——DENIEDCABINPASSAGE——

PROSCRIPTIONTURNEDTOGOODACCOUNT——THEHUTCHINSONFAMILY——THE

MOBONBOARDTHE“CAMBRIA“——HAPPYINTRODUCTIONTOTHEBRITISH

PUBLIC——LETTERADDRESSEDTOWILLIAMLLOYDGARRISON——TIMEAND

LABORSWHILEABROAD——FREEDOMPURCHASED——MRS。HENRYRICHARDSON——

FREEPAPERS——ABOLITIONISTSDISPLEASEDWITHTHERANSOM——HOWMY

ENERGIESWEREDIRECTED——RECEPTIONSPEECHINLONDON——CHARACTEROF

THESPEECHDEFENDED——CIRCUMSTANCESEXPLAINED——CAUSESCONTRIBUTING

TOTHESUCCESSOFMYMISSION——FREECHURCHOFSCOTLAND——

TESTIMONIAL。

TheallotmentsofProvidence，whencoupledwithtroubleandanxiety，oftenconcealfromfinitevisionthewisdomandgoodnessinwhichtheyaresent；and，frequently，whatseemedaharshandinvidiousdispensation，isconvertedbyafterexperienceintoahappyandbeneficialarrangement。Thus，thepainfulliabilitytobereturnedagaintoslavery，whichhauntedmebyday，andtroubledmydreamsbynight，provedtobeanecessarystepinthepathofknowledgeandusefulness。Thewritingofmypamphlet，inthespringof1845，endangeredmyliberty，andledmetoseekarefugefromrepublicanslaveryinmonarchicalEngland。Arude，uncultivatedfugitiveslavewasdriven，bysternnecessity，tothatcountrytowhichyoungAmericangentlemengotoincreasetheirstockofknowledge，toseekpleasure，tohavetheirrough，democraticmannerssoftenedbycontactwithEnglisharistocraticrefinement。OnapplyingforapassagetoEngland，onboardthe“Cambria“，oftheCunardline，myfriend，JamesN。Buffum，of<285PROSCRIPTIONTURNEDTOGOODACCOUNT>Lynn，Massachusetts，wasinformedthatIcouldnotbereceivedonboardasacabinpassenger。AmericanprejudiceagainstcolortriumphedoverBritishliberalityandcivilization，anderectedacolortestandconditionforcrossingtheseainthecabinofaBritishvessel。

Theinsultwaskeenlyfeltbymywhitefriends，buttome，itwascommon，expected，andtherefore，athingofnogreatconsequence，whetherIwentinthecabinorinthesteerage。Moreover，IfeltthatifIcouldnotgointothefirstcabin，first-cabinpassengerscouldcomeintothesecondcabin，andtheresultjustifiedmyanticipationstothefullestextent。Indeed，IsoonfoundmyselfanobjectofmoregeneralinterestthanIwishedtobe；andsofarfrombeingdegradedbybeingplacedinthesecondcabin，thatpartoftheshipbecamethesceneofasmuchpleasureandrefinement，duringthevoyage，asthecabinitself。TheHutchinsonFamily，celebratedvocalists——fellow-passengers——oftencametomyrudeforecastledeck，andsungtheirsweetestsongs，enliveningtheplacewitheloquentmusic，aswellasspiritedconversation，duringthevoyage。IntwodaysafterleavingBoston，onepartoftheshipwasaboutasfreetomeasanother。

Myfellow-passengersnotonlyvisitedme，butinvitedmetovisitthem，onthesaloondeck。Myvisitsthere，however，werebutseldom。Ipreferredtolivewithinmyprivileges，andkeepuponmyownpremises。Ifoundthisquiteasmuchinaccordancewithgoodpolicy，aswithmyownfeelings。Theeffectwas，thatwiththemajorityofthepassengers，allcolordistinctionswereflungtothewinds，andIfoundmyselftreatedwitheverymarkofrespect，fromthebeginningtotheendofthevoyage，exceptinasingleinstance；andinthat，Icamenearbeingmobbed，forcomplyingwithaninvitationgivenmebythepassengers，andthecaptainofthe“Cambria，“todeliveralectureonslavery。OurNewOrleansandGeorgiapassengerswerepleasedtoregardmylectureasaninsultofferedtothem，andsworeIshouldnotspeak。Theywentsofarastothreatentothrowmeoverboard，andbutforthefirmnessofCaptainJudkins，prob<286>ablywouldhave(undertheinspirationof_slavery_and_brandy_)attemptedtoputtheirthreatsintoexecution。Ihavenospacetodescribethisscene，althoughitstragicandcomicpeculiaritiesarewellworthdescribing。Anendwasputtothe_melee_，bythecaptain"scallingtheship"scompanytoputthesaltwatermobocratsinirons。Atthisdeterminedorder，thegentlemenofthelashscampered，andfortherestofthevoyageconductedthemselvesverydecorously。

Thisincidentofthevoyage，intwodaysafterlandingatLiverpool，broughtmeatoncebeforetheBritishpublic，andthatbynoactofmyown。Thegentlemensopromptlysnubbedintheirmeditatedviolence，flewtothepresstojustifytheirconduct，andtodenouncemeasaworthlessandinsolentNegro。Thiscoursewasevenlesswisethantheconductitwasintendedtosustain；for，besidesawakeningsomethinglikeanationalinterestinme，andsecuringmeanaudience，itbroughtoutcounterstatements，andthrewtheblameuponthemselves，whichtheyhadsoughttofastenuponmeandthegallantcaptainoftheship。

Somenotionmaybeformedofthedifferenceinmyfeelingsandcircumstances，whileabroad，fromthefollowingextractfromoneofaseriesoflettersaddressedbymetoMr。Garrison，andpublishedinthe_Liberator_。ItwaswrittenonthefirstdayofJanuary，1846:

MYDEARFRIENDGARRISON:Uptothistime，Ihavegivennodirectexpressionoftheviews，feelings，andopinionswhichIhaveformed，respectingthecharacterandconditionofthepeopleofthisland。Ihaverefrainedthus，purposely。Iwishtospeakadvisedly，andinordertodothis，Ihavewaitedtill，Itrust，experiencehasbroughtmyopinionstoanintelligentmaturity。I

havebeenthuscareful，notbecauseIthinkwhatIsaywillhavemucheffectinshapingtheopinionsoftheworld，butbecausewhateverofinfluenceImaypossess，whetherlittleormuch，I

wishittogointherightdirection，andaccordingtotruth。I

hardlyneedsaythat，inspeakingofIreland，IshallbeinfluencedbynoprejudicesinfavorofAmerica。Ithinkmycircumstancesallforbidthat。Ihavenoendtoserve，nocreedtouphold，nogovernmenttodefend；andastonation，Ibelongtonone。Ihavenoprotectionathome，orresting-placeabroad。

Thelandofmybirthwelcomesmetohershoresonlyasaslave，andspurnswithcontempttheideaoftreatingmedifferently；sothatIamanoutcastfromthesocietyofmychildhood，andanoutlawinthe<287LETTERTOGARRISON>landofmybirth。“Iamastrangerwiththee，andasojourner，asallmyfatherswere。“

Thatmenshouldbepatriotic，istomeperfectlynatural；andasaphilosophicalfact，Iamabletogiveitan_intellectual_

recognition。ButnofurthercanIgo。IfeverIhadanypatriotism，oranycapacityforthefeeling，itwaswhippedoutofmelongsince，bythelashoftheAmericansoul-drivers。

InthinkingofAmerica，Isometimesfindmyselfadmiringherbrightbluesky，hergrandoldwoods，herfertilefields，herbeautifulrivers，hermightylakes，andstar-crownedmountains。

Butmyraptureissoonchecked，myjoyissoonturnedtomourning。WhenIrememberthatalliscursedwiththeinfernalspiritofslaveholding，robbery，andwrong；whenIrememberthatwiththewatersofhernoblestrivers，thetearsofmybrethrenarebornetotheocean，disregardedandforgotten，andthathermostfertilefieldsdrinkdailyofthewarmbloodofmyoutragedsisters；Iamfilledwithunutterableloathing，andledtoreproachmyselfthatanythingcouldfallfrommylipsinpraiseofsuchaland。Americawillnotallowherchildrentoloveher。

Sheseemsbentoncompellingthosewhowouldbeherwarmestfriends，tobeherworstenemies。MayGodgiveherrepentance，beforeitistoolate，istheardentprayerofmyheart。Iwillcontinuetopray，labor，andwait，believingthatshecannotalwaysbeinsensibletothedictatesofjustice，ordeaftothevoiceofhumanity。

Myopportunitiesforlearningthecharacterandconditionofthepeopleofthislandhavebeenverygreat。Ihavetraveledalm@@

@@omtheHillofHowthtotheGiant"sCauseway，andfromtheGiant"sCausway，toCapeClear。Duringthesetravels，Ihavemetwithmuchinthechara@@andconditionofthepeopletoapprove，andmuchtocondemn；muchthat@@thrilledmewithpleasure，andverymuchthathasfilledmewithpain。I@@@@t，inthisletter，attempttogiveanydescriptionofthosesceneswhichhavegivenmepain。ThisIwilldohereafter。Ihaveenough，andmorethanyoursubscriberswillbedisposedtoreadatonetime，ofthebrightsideofthepicture。Icantrulysay，Ihavespentsomeofthehappiestmomentsofmylifesincelandinginthiscountry。Iseemtohaveundergoneatransformation。Iliveanewlife。Thewarmandgenerouscooperationextendedtomebythefriendsofmydespisedrace；thepromptandliberalmannerwithwhichthepresshasrenderedmeitsaid；thegloriousenthusiasmwithwhichthousandshaveflockedtohearthecruelwrongsofmydown-troddenandlong-enslavedfellow-countrymenportrayed；thedeepsympathyfortheslave，andthestrongabhorrenceoftheslaveholder，everywhereevinced；thecordialitywithwhichmembersandministersofvariousreligiousbodies，andofvariousshadesofreligiousopinion，haveembracedme，andlentmetheiraid；thekindofhospitalityconstantlyprofferedtomebypersonsofthehighestrankinsociety；thespiritoffreedomthatseemstoanimateallwithwhomIcomeincontact，andtheentireabsenceofeverythingthatlookedlikeprejudiceagainstme，onaccountofthecolorofmyskin——contrastedsostronglywithmylongandbitterexperienceintheUnitedStates，thatIlookwithwonderandamazementonthetransition。InthesouthernpartoftheUnitedStates，Iwasaslave，thoughtof<288>andspokenofasproperty；inthelanguageoftheLAW，“_held，taken，reputed，andadjudgedtobeachattelinthehandsofmyownersandpossessors，andtheirexecutors，administrators，andassigns，toallintents，constructions，andpurposeswhatsoever_。“(Brev。Digest，224)。Inthenorthernstates，afugitiveslave，liabletobehuntedatanymoment，likeafelon，andtobehurledintotheterriblejawsofslavery——doomedbyaninveterateprejudiceagainstcolortoinsultandoutrageoneveryhand(Massachusettsoutofthequestion)——deniedtheprivilegesandcourtesiescommontoothersintheuseofthemosthumblemeansofconveyance——shutoutfromthecabinsonsteamboats——

refusedadmissiontorespectablehotels——caricatured，scorned，scoffed，mocked，andmaltreatedwithimpunitybyanyone(nomatterhowblackhisheart)，sohehasawhiteskin。Butnowbeholdthechange！Elevendaysandahalfgone，andIhavecrossedthreethousandmilesoftheperilousdeep。Insteadofademocraticgovernment，Iamunderamonarchicalgovernment。

Insteadofthebright，blueskyofAmerica，Iamcoveredwiththesoft，greyfogoftheEmeraldIsle。Ibreathe，andlo！thechattelbecomesaman。Igazearoundinvainforonewhowillquestionmyequalhumanity，claimmeashisslave，oroffermeaninsult。Iemployacab——Iamseatedbesidewhitepeople——Ireachthehotel——Ienterthesamedoor——Iamshownintothesameparlor——Idineatthesametableandnooneisoffended。Nodelicatenosegrowsdeformedinmypresence。Ifindnodifficultyhereinobtainingadmissionintoanyplaceofworship，instruction，oramusement，onequaltermswithpeopleaswhiteasanyIeversawintheUnitedStates。Imeetnothingtoremindmeofmycomplexion。Ifindmyselfregardedandtreatedateveryturnwiththekindnessanddeferencepaidtowhitepeople。WhenIgotochurch，Iammetbynoupturnednoseandscornfulliptotellme，“_Wedon"tallowniggersinhere_！“

Iremember，abouttwoyearsago，therewasinBoston，nearthesouth-westcornerofBostonCommon，amenagerie。IhadlongdesiredtoseesuchacollectionasIunderstoodwasbeingexhibitedthere。Neverhavinghadanopportunitywhileaslave，Iresolvedtoseizethis，myfirst，sincemyescape。Iwent，andasIapproachedtheentrancetogainadmission，Iwasmetandtoldbythedoor-keeper，inaharshandcontemptuoustone，“_Wedon"tallowniggersinhere_。“IalsorememberattendingarevivalmeetingintheRev。HenryJackson"smeeting-house，atNewBedford，andgoingupthebroadaisletofindaseat，Iwasmetbyagooddeacon，whotoldme，inapioustone，“_Wedon"tallowniggersinhere_！“SoonaftermyarrivalinNewBedford，fromthesouth，IhadastrongdesiretoattendtheLyceum，butwastold，“_Theydon"tallowniggersinhere_！“WhilepassingfromNewYorktoBoston，onthesteamerMassachusetts，onthenightofthe9thofDecember，1843，whenchilledalmostthroughwiththecold，Iwentintothecabintogetalittlewarm。Iwassoontouchedupontheshoulder，andtold，“_Wedon"tallowniggersinhere_！“OnarrivinginBoston，fromananti-slaverytour，hungryandtired，Iwentintoaneating-house，nearmyfriend，Mr。

Campbell"stogetsomerefreshments。Iwasmetbyaladinawhiteapron，“_Wedon"tallowniggersinhere_！“<289TIMEAND

LABORSABROAD>AweekortwobeforeleavingtheUnitedStates，I

hadameetingappointedatWeymouth，thehomeofthatgloriousbandoftrueabolitionists，theWestonfamily，andothers。Onattemptingtotakeaseatintheomnibustothatplace，Iwastoldbythedriver(andInevershallforgethisfiendishhate)。

“_Idon"tallowniggersinhere_！“ThankheavenfortherespiteInowenjoy！IhadbeeninDublinbutafewdays，whenagentlemanofgreatrespectabilitykindlyofferedtoconductmethroughallthepublicbuildingsofthatbeautifulcity；andalittleafterward，IfoundmyselfdiningwiththelordmayorofDublin。WhatapitytherewasnotsomeAmericandemocraticChristianatthedoorofhissplendidmansion，tobarkoutatmyapproach，“_Theydon"tallowniggersinhere_！“Thetruthis，thepeoplehereknownothingoftherepublicanNegrohateprevalentinourgloriousland。Theymeasureandesteemmenaccordingtotheirmoralandintellectualworth，andnotaccordingtothecoloroftheirskin。Whatevermaybesaidofthearistocracieshere，thereisnonebasedonthecolorofaman"sskin。Thisspeciesofaristocracybelongspreeminentlyto“thelandofthefree，andthehomeofthebrave。“Ihaveneverfounditabroad，inanybutAmericans。Itstickstothemwherevertheygo。Theyfinditalmostashardtogetridof，astogetridoftheirskins。

TheseconddayaftermyarrivalatLiverpool，incompanywithmyfriend，Buffum，andseveralotherfriends，IwenttoEatonHall，theresidenceoftheMarquisofWestminster，oneofthemostsplendidbuildingsinEngland。Onapproachingthedoor，IfoundseveralofourAmericanpassengers，whocameoutwithusinthe“Cambria，“waitingforadmission，asbutonepartywasallowedinthehouseatatime。Weallhadtowaittillthecompanywithincameout。Andofallthefaces，expressiveofchagrin，thoseoftheAmericanswerepreeminent。Theylookedassourasvinegar，andasbitterasgall，whentheyfoundIwastobeadmittedonequaltermswiththemselves。Whenthedoorwasopened，Iwalkedin，onanequalfootingwithmywhitefellow-citizens，andfromallIcouldsee，Ihadasmuchattentionpaidmebytheservantsthatshowedusthroughthehouse，asanywithapalerskin。AsI

walkedthroughthebuilding，thestatuarydidnotfalldown，thepicturesdidnotleapfromtheirplaces，thedoorsdidnotrefusetoopen，andtheservantsdidnotsay，“_Wedon"tallowniggersinhere_！“

Ahappynew-yeartoyou，andallthefriendsoffreedom。

Mytimeandlabors，whileabroadweredividedbetweenEngland，Ireland，Scotland，andWales。Uponthisexperiencealone，I

mightwriteabooktwicethesizeofthis，_MyBondageandMyFreedom_。IvisitedandlecturedinnearlyallthelargetownsandcitiesintheUnitedKingdom，andenjoyedmanyfavorableopportunitiesforobservationandinformation。ButbooksonEnglandareabundant，andthepublicmay，therefore，dismissanyfearthatIammeditatinganotherinflictioninthatline；

<290>though，intruth，Ishouldlikemuchtowriteabookonthosecountries，iffornothingelse，tomakegratefulmentionofthemanydearfriends，whosebenevolentactionstowardmeareineffaceablystampeduponmymemory，andwarmlytreasuredinmyheart。TothesefriendsIowemyfreedomintheUnitedStates。

Ontheirownmotion，withoutanysolicitationfromme(Mrs。HenryRichardson，acleverlady，remarkableforherdevotiontoeverygoodwork，takingthelead)，theyraisedafundsufficienttopurchasemyfreedom，andactuallypaiditover，andplacedthepapers[8]ofmymanumissioninmyhands，before[8]Thefollowingisacopyofthesecuriouspapers，bothofmytransferfromThomastoHughAuld，andfromHughtomyself:

“KnowallmenbythesePresents，ThatI，ThomasAuld，ofTalbotcounty，andstateofMaryland，forandinconsiderationofthesumofonehundreddollars，currentmoney，tomepaidbyHughAuld，ofthecityofBaltimore，inthesaidstate，atandbeforethesealinganddeliveryofthesepresents，thereceiptwhereof，I，thesaidThomasAuld，doherebyacknowledge，havegranted，bargained，andsold，andbythesepresentsdogrant，bargain，andselluntothesaidHughAuld，hisexecutors，administrators，andassigns，ONENEGROMAN，bythenameofFREDERICKBAILY，orDOUGLASS，ashecallls{sic}himself——heisnowabouttwenty-eightyearsofage——tohaveandtoholdthesaidnegromanforlife。

AndI，thesaidThomasAuld，formyselfmyheirs，executors，andadministrators，allandsingular，thesaidFREDERICKBAILY

_alias_DOUGLASS，untothesaidHughAuld，hisexecutors，administrators，andassignsagainstme，thesaidThomasAuld，myexecutors，andadministrators，andagainstaliandeveryotherpersonorpersonswhatsoever，shallandwillwarrantandforeverdefendbythesepresents。Inwitnesswhereof，Isetmyhandandseal，thisthirteenthdayofNovember，eighteenhundredandforty-six。THOMAS

AULD

“Signed，sealed，anddeliveredinpresenceofWrightsonJones。

“JOHNC。LEAS。

TheauthenticityofthisbillofsaleisattestedbyN。

Harrington，ajusticeofthepeaceofthestateofMaryland，andforthecountyofTalbot，datedsamedayasabove。

“Toallwhomitmayconcern:Beitknown，thatI，HughAuld，ofthecityofBaltimore，inBaltimorecounty，inthestateofMaryland，fordiversgoodcausesandconsiderations，methereuntomoving，havereleasedfromslavery，liberated，manumitted，andsetfree，andbythesepresentsdoherebyreleasefromslavery，liberate，manumit，andsetfree，MYNEGROMAN，namedFREDERICK

BAILY，otherwisecalledDOUGLASS，beingoftheageoftwenty-

eightyears，orthereabouts，andabletoworkandgainasufficientlivelihoodandmaintenance；andhimthesaidnegromannamedFREDERICKBAILY，otherwisecalledFREDERICKDOUGLASS，Idodeclaretobehenceforthfree，manumitted，anddischargedfromallmannerofservitudetome，myexecutors，andadministratorsforever。

“Inwitnesswhereof，I，thesaidHughAuld，havehereuntosetmyhandandsealthefifthofDecember，intheyearonethousandeighthundredandforty-six。

HughAuld“SealedanddeliveredinpresenceofT。HansonBelt。

“JAMESN。S。T。WRIGHT“

<291FREEDOMPURCHASED>theywouldtoleratetheideaofmyreturningtothis，mynativecountry。TothiscommercialtransactionIowemyexemptionfromthedemocraticoperationoftheFugitiveSlaveBillof1850。Butforthis，Imightatanytimebecomeavictimofthismostcruelandscandalousenactment，andbedoomedtoendmylife，asIbeganit，aslave。Thesumpaidformyfreedomwasonehundredandfiftypoundssterling。

Someofmyuncompromisinganti-slaveryfriendsinthiscountryfailedtoseethewisdomofthisarrangement，andwerenotpleasedthatIconsentedtoit，evenbymysilence。Theythoughtitaviolationofanti-slaveryprinciples——concedingarightofpropertyinman——andawastefulexpenditureofmoney。Ontheotherhand，viewingitsimplyinthelightofaransom，orasmoneyextortedbyarobber，andmylibertyofmorevaluethanonehundredandfiftypoundssterling，Icouldnotseeeitheraviolationofthelawsofmorality，orthoseofeconomy，inthetransaction。

Itistrue，Iwasnotinthepossessionofmyclaimants，andcouldhaveeasilyremainedinEngland，forthesamefriendswhohadsogenerouslypurchasedmyfreedom，wouldhaveassistedmeinestablishingmyselfinthatcountry。Tothis，however，Icouldnotconsent。IfeltthatIhadadutytoperform——andthatwas，tolaborandsufferwiththeoppressedinmynativeland。

Considering，therefore，allthecircumstances——thefugitiveslavebillincluded——IthinktheverybestthingwasdoneinlettingMasterHughhavethehundredandfiftypoundssterling，andleavingmefreetoreturntomyappropriatefieldoflabor。HadIbeenaprivateperson，havingnootherrelationsordutiesthanthoseofapersonalandfamilynature，Ishouldneverhaveconsentedtothepaymentofsolargeasumfortheprivilegeoflivingsecurelyunderourgloriousrepublicanformofgovernment。

IcouldhaveremainedinEngland，orhavegonetosomeothercountry；andperhapsIcouldevenhavelivedunobservedinthis。

ButtothisIcouldnotconsent。Ihadalreadybecomesome<292>whatnotorious，andwithalquiteasunpopularasnotorious；andIwas，therefore，muchexposedtoarrestandrecapture。

ThemainobjecttowhichmylaborsinGreatBritainweredirected，wastheconcentrationofthemoralandreligioussentimentofitspeopleagainstAmericanslavery。EnglandisoftenchargedwithhavingestablishedslaveryintheUnitedStates，andiftherewerenootherjustificationthanthis，forappealingtoherpeopletolendtheirmoralaidfortheabolitionofslavery，Ishouldbejustified。MyspeechesinGreatBritainwerewhollyextemporaneous，andImaynotalwayshavebeensoguardedinmyexpressions，asIotherwiseshouldhavebeen。I

wastenyearsyoungerthenthannow，andonlysevenyearsfromslavery。Icannotgivethereaderabetterideaofthenatureofmydiscourses，thanbyrepublishingoneofthem，deliveredinFinsburychapel，London，toanaudienceofabouttwothousandpersons，andwhichwaspublishedinthe_LondonUniverse_，atthetime。[9]

ThoseintheUnitedStateswhomayregardthisspeechasbeingharshinitsspiritandunjustinitsstatements，becausedeliveredbeforeanaudiencesupposedtobeanti-republicanintheirprinciplesandfeelings，mayviewthematterdifferently，whentheylearnthatthecasesupposeddidnotexist。ItsohappenedthatthegreatmassofthepeopleinEnglandwhoattendedandpatronizedmyanti-slaverymeetings，were，intruth，aboutasgoodrepublicansasthemassofAmericans，andwiththisdecidedadvantageoverthelatter——theyareloversofrepublicanismforallmen，forblackmenaswellasforwhitemen。TheyarethepeoplewhosympathizewithLouisKossuthandMazzini，andwiththeoppressedandenslaved，ofeverycolorandnation，theworldover。TheyconstitutethedemocraticelementinBritishpolitics，andareasmuchopposedtotheunionofchurchandstateaswe，inAmerica，aretosuchanunion。Atthemeetingwherethisspeechwasdelivered，JosephSturge——aworld-

widephilan[9]SeeAppendixtothisvolume，page317。

<293ENGLISHREPUBLICANS>thropist，andamemberofthesocietyofFriends——presided，andaddressedthemeeting。GeorgeWilliamAlexander，anotherFriend，whohasspentmorethananAmeriacn{sic}fortuneinpromotingtheanti-slaverycauseindifferentsectionsoftheworld，wasontheplatform；andalsoDr。Campbell(nowofthe_BritishBanner_)whocombinesallthehumanetendernessofMelanchthon，withthedirectnessandboldnessofLuther。Heisintheveryfrontranksofnon-

conformists，andlookswithnounfriendlyeyeuponAmerica。

GeorgeThompson，too，wasthere；andAmericawillyetownthathedidatrueman"sworkinrelightingtherapidlydying-outfireoftruerepublicanismintheAmericanheart，andbeashamedofthetreatmenthemetatherhands。Cominggenerationsinthiscountrywillapplaudthespiritofthismuchabusedrepublicanfriendoffreedom。Therewereothersofnoteseatedontheplatform，whowouldgladlyingraftuponEnglishinstitutionsallthatispurelyrepublicanintheinstitutionsofAmerica。

Nothing，therefore，mustbesetdownagainstthisspeechonthescorethatitwasdeliveredinthepresenceofthosewhocannotappreciatethemanyexcellentthingsbelongingtooursystemofgovernment，andwithaviewtostirupprejudiceagainstrepublicaninstitutions。

Again，letitalsoberemembered——foritisthesimpletruth——

thatneitherinthisspeech，norinanyotherwhichIdeliveredinEngland，didIeverallowmyselftoaddressEnglishmenasagainstAmericans。Itookmystandonthehighgroundofhumanbrotherhood，andspoketoEnglishmenasmen，inbehalfofmen。

Slaveryisacrime，notagainstEnglishmen，butagainstGod，andallthemembersofthehumanfamily；anditbelongstothewholehumanfamilytoseekitssuppression。InalettertoMr。

Greeley，oftheNewYorkTribune，writtenwhileabroad，Isaid:

Iam，neverthelessawarethatthewisdomofexposingthesinsofonenationintheearofanother，hasbeenseriouslyquestionedbygoodandclear-sightedpeople，bothonthisandonyoursideoftheAtlantic。Andthe<294>thoughtisnotwithoutweightonmyownmind。Iamsatisfiedthattherearemanyevilswhichcanbebestremovedbyconfiningoureffortstotheimmediatelocalitywheresuchevilsexist。This，however，isbynomeansthecasewiththesystemofslavery。Itissuchagiantsin——

suchamonstrousaggregationofiniquity——sohardeningtothehumanheart——sodestructivetothemoralsense，andsowellcalculatedtobegetacharacter，ineveryonearoundit，favorabletoitsowncontinuance，——thatIfeelnotonlyatliberty，butabundantlyjustified，inappealingtothewholeworldtoaidinitsremoval。

But，evenifIhad——ashasbeenoftencharged——laboredtobringAmericaninstitutionsgenerallyintodisrepute，andhadnotconfinedmylaborsstrictlywithinthelimitsofhumanityandmorality，Ishouldnothavebeenwithoutillustriousexamplestosupportme。Drivenintosemi-exilebycivilandbarbarouslaws，andbyasystemwhichcannotbethoughtofwithoutashudder，I

wasfullyjustifiedinturning，ifpossible，thetideofthemoraluniverseagainsttheheaven-daringoutrage。

FourcircumstancesgreatlyassistedmeingettingthequestionofAmericanslaverybeforetheBritishpublic。First，themobonboardthe“Cambria，“alreadyreferredto，whichwasasortofnationalannouncementofmyarrivalinEngland。Secondly，thehighlyreprehensiblecoursepursuedbytheFreeChurchofScotland，insoliciting，receiving，andretainingmoneyinitssustentationfundforsupportingthegospelinScotland，whichwasevidentlytheill-gottengainofslaveholdersandslave-

traders。Third，thegreatEvangelicalAlliance——orrathertheattempttoformsuchanalliance，whichshouldincludeslaveholdersofacertaindescription——addedimmenselytotheinterestfeltintheslaveryquestion。Aboutthesametime，therewastheWorld"sTemperanceConvention，whereIhadthemisfortunetocomeincollisionwithsundryAmericandoctorsofdivinity——Dr。Coxamongthenumber——withwhomIhadasmallcontroversy。

Ithashappenedtome——asithashappenedtomostothermenengagedinagoodcause——oftentobemoreindebtedtomyenemiesthantomyownskillortotheassistanceofmyfriends，forwhateversuccesshasattendedmylabors。Greatsurprisewas<295

FREECHURCHOFSCOTLAND>expressedbyAmericannewspapers，northandsouth，duringmystayinGreatBritain，thatapersonsoilliterateandinsignificantasmyselfcouldawakenaninterestsomarkedinEngland。Thesepaperswerenottheonlypartiessurprised。Iwasmyselfnotfarbehindtheminsurprise。Buttheverycontemptandscorn，thesystematicandextravagantdisparagementofwhichIwastheobject，served，perhaps，tomagnifymyfewmerits，andtorendermeofsomeaccount，whetherdeservingornot。Amanissometimesmadegreat，bythegreatnessoftheabuseaportionofmankindmaythinkpropertoheapuponhim。WhetherIwasofasmuchconsequenceastheEnglishpapersmademeouttobe，ornot，itwaseasilyseen，inEngland，thatIcouldnotbetheignorantandworthlesscreature，someoftheAmericanpaperswouldhavethembelieveIwas。Men，intheirsenses，donottakebowie-knivestokillmosquitoes，norpistolstoshootflies；andtheAmericanpassengerswhothoughtpropertogetupamobtosilenceme，onboardthe“Cambria，“

tookthemosteffectivemethodoftellingtheBritishpublicthatIhadsomethingtosay。

Buttothesecondcircumstance，namely，thepositionoftheFreeChurchofScotland，withthegreatDoctorsChalmers，Cunningham，andCandlishatitshead。Thatchurch，withitsleaders，putitoutofthepoweroftheScotchpeopletoasktheoldquestion，whichweinthenorthhaveoftenmostwickedlyasked——“_Whathavewetodowithslavery_？“Thatchurchhadtakenthepriceofbloodintoitstreasury，withwhichtobuild_free_churches，andtopay_free_churchministersforpreachingthegospel；and，worsestill，whenhonestJohnMurray，ofBowlienBay——nowgonetohisrewardinheaven——withWilliamSmeal，AndrewPaton，FrederickCard，andothersterlinganti-slaverymeninGlasgow，denouncedthetransactionasdisgracefulandshockingtothereligioussentimentofScotland，thischurch，throughitsleadingdivines，insteadofrepentingandseekingtomendthemistakeintowhichithadfallen，madeitaflagrantsin，byundertakingtodefend，inthenameofGodandthebible，theprinciplenotonly<296>oftakingthemoneyofslave-dealerstobuildchurches，butofholdingfellowshipwiththeholdersandtraffickersinhumanflesh。This，thereaderwillsee，broughtupthewholequestionofslavery，andopenedthewaytoitsfulldiscussion，withoutanyagencyofmine。IhaveneverseenapeoplemoredeeplymovedthanwerethepeopleofScotland，onthisveryquestion。Publicmeetingsucceededpublicmeeting。Speechafterspeech，pamphletafterpamphlet，editorialaftereditorial，sermonaftersermon，soonlashedtheconscientiousScotchpeopleintoaperfect_furore_。“SENDBACKTHEMONEY！“wasindignantlycriedout，fromGreenocktoEdinburgh，andfromEdinburghtoAberdeen。GeorgeThompson，ofLondon，HenryC。Wright，oftheUnitedStates，JamesN。Buffum，ofLynn，Massachusetts，andmyselfwereontheanti-

slaveryside；andDoctorsChalmers，Cunningham，andCandlishontheother。Inaconflictwherethelattercouldhavehadeventheshowofright，thetruth，inourhandsasagainstthem，musthavebeendriventothewall；andwhileIbelievewewereabletocarrytheconscienceofthecountryagainsttheactionoftheFreeChurch，thebattle，itmustbeconfessed，wasahard-foughtone。Ablerdefendersofthedoctrineoffellowshipingslaveholdersaschristians，havenotbeenmetwith。Indefendingthisdoctrine，itwasnecessarytodenythatslaveryisasin。

Ifdrivenfromthisposition，theywerecompelledtodenythatslaveholderswereresponsibleforthesin；andifdrivenfromboththesepositions，theymustdenythatitisasininsuchasense，andthatslaveholdersaresinnersinsuchasense，astomakeitwrong，inthecircumstancesinwhichtheywereplaced，torecognizethemasChristians。Dr。Cunninghamwasthemostpowerfuldebaterontheslaverysideofthequestion；Mr。

Thompsonwastheablestontheanti-slaveryside。Asceneoccurredbetweenthesetwomen，aparalleltowhichIthinkI

neverwitnessedbefore，andIknowIneverhavesince。ThescenewascausedbyasingleexclamationonthepartofMr。Thompson。

ThegeneralassemblyoftheFreeChurchwasinprogressat<297

THEDEBATE>CannonMills，Edinburgh。Thebuildingwouldholdabouttwenty-fivehundredpersons；andonthisoccasionitwasdenselypacked，noticehavingbeengiventhatDoctorsCunninghamandCandlishwouldspeak，thatday，indefenseoftherelationsoftheFreeChurchofScotlandtoslaveryinAmerica。Messrs。

Thompson，Buffum，myself，andafewanti-slaveryfriends，attended，butsatatsuchadistance，andinsuchaposition，that，perhapswewerenotobservedfromtheplatform。Theexcitementwasintense，havingbeengreatlyincreasedbyaseriesofmeetingsheldbyMessrs。Thompson，Wright，Buffum，andmyself，inthemostsplendidhallinthatmostbeautifulcity，justprevioustothemeetingsofthegeneralassembly。“SENDBACKTHE

MONEY！“staredatusfromeverystreetcorner；“SENDBACKTHE

MONEY！“inlargecapitals，adornedthebroadflagsofthepavement；“SENDBACKTHEMONEY！“wasthechorusofthepopularstreetsongs；“SENDBACKTHEMONEY！“wastheheadingofleadingeditorialsinthedailynewspapers。Thisday，atCannonMills，thegreatdoctorsofthechurchweretogiveananswertothisloudandsterndemand。Menofallpartiesandallsectsweremosteagertohear。Somethinggreatwasexpected。Theoccasionwasgreat，themengreat，andgreatspeecheswereexpectedfromthem。

InadditiontotheoutsidepressureuponDoctorsCunninghamandCandlish，therewaswaveringintheirownranks。Theconscienceofthechurchitselfwasnotatease。Adissatisfactionwiththepositionofthechurchtouchingslavery，wassensiblymanifestamongthemembers，andsomethingmustbedonetocounteractthisuntowardinfluence。ThegreatDr。Chalmerswasinfeeblehealth，atthetime。HismostpotenteloquencecouldnotnowbesummonedtoCannonMills，asformerly。HewhosevoicewasabletorendasunderanddashdownthegranitewallsoftheestablishedchurchofScotland，andtoleadahostinsolemnprocessionfromit，asfromadoomedcity，wasnowoldandenfeebled。Besides，hehadsaidhiswordonthisveryquestion；andhiswordhadnotsilencedtheclamorwithout，norstilled<298>theanxiousheavingswithin。Theoccasionwasmomentous，andfelttobeso。