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FREDERICK
DOUGLASS
|
TALKING
ABOLITION. . . IN 1843: FREDERICK DOUGLASS SPEAKS IN BUFFALO'S
FRONT
PARK
What
is news? -News is whatever makes people talk.
"Certain
of the members [of the Anti-Slavery Society] were unworldly idealists
little used to the . . .Rough and tumble of political contest. Among
them was a merchant's clerk named Douglass Williams; [and] a former
schoolmaster in East Aurora, a Dartmouth man, named Georg e Washington
Jonson. . . "
--John
T. Horton, The History of Northwestern New York: Erie County (New York:
Lewis Historical Publishing Co, 1947), p.13
Unknown
to Professor Horton, this East Aurora schoolmaster, who called himself
GWJ, left behind a 60-volume journal of 36,000 pages still stored in
the Dartmouth College Library. While Horton reconstructs the objective
conditions of Buffalo life in the l840s; through Jonson we re-experience
subjective world of an abolitionist in a daily struggle to dismantle
the institution of slavery.
In
1843 GWJ lives and boards at the home of Douglass Williams in a small
frame house at the southeast corner of Church and Franklin Street but
later in the year moves to the American Hotel at Main and Pearl Street.
He maintains a law office on the second story of the American block,
across the landing from the office of Fillmore and Haven. His days are
filled with the diverse chores of an anti-slavery activist. Glimpsed
in direct excerpts from his journal:
May
27, 1843: Invitation from Mrs. Blossom to meet the celebrated Margaret
Fuller who wants to learn the state of the antislavery movement in Buffalo.
Before going I made a short call on Mrs. Fillmore and talked about the
gossip of me and the widow [of Fillmore's recently deceased law partner,
Joseph Clary]. . .Met Margaret Fuller, a large, plain, quiet woman Tried
to answer her queries fear I bored her as I certainly did Colonel Blossom,
who is pro-slavery. . . . I have been to four small parties this week;
no, three; to me bores.
May
29: Went to the jail with some colored men to see a prisoner whom they
suspect to be a fugitive slave. The pro-slavery sheriff uncivil. . .
July
17: All day in office making transcripts of company deeds for Col. Blossom
who takes them to Batavia office tomorrow at breakfast, James Murray
spoke of last evenings disturbance at the Liberty Pole and in the hotel
reading rooms. . .[made by] the locos[ie. The locofocos ]
July
25:. . .An invitation from Mrs. Wilgus to a party. Accepted. In black
coat, pants and vest, plain bosom, without pin or watch without a single
ornament; and got through the evening first-rate. Usual persons present.
Mr. and Mrs. Haven, etc. etc. Home at midnight and to bed. [Note: GWJ
is a close friend of Solomon Haven they walk arm and arm in the street,
often talking to each other in French but in his diary Haven is always
called Mr. Haven -EHP]
July
26: [On John Quincy Adams in Buffalo] Mr. Adams entered the Park a 4
p.m., followed by a mixed multitude of all conditions. Mr. Fillmore
welcomed him in a brief written address. . .Mr. A's voice is shrill
and his gestures angular, and his head and hands shake with age.. .
. An invitation from Mrs. Burt to a general party, which will be large,
as Mr. Adams is expected to be present. Shall I accept? Accepted.
July
27: Usual routine. . . James C. Jackson and Linneus P. Noble called
on me; took them over the city and showed them other civilities. These
men are leading Abolitionists and lecturers
Aug
1: This is to be a month of labor and anxiety; the Liberty Party National
Convention is to meet here and the responsibility of preparing for it
is principally on my poor shoulders. . .
Aug
6:Millerism is flourishing under its tent in Johnson's Park. . . a humbug.
Finally to rooms where I read myself asleep with Martin Chuzzlewit.
Aug
8 . . .to County Anti-Slavery meeting at Clarence Hollow. . . I had
to do pretty much all the speaking. Back to Buffalo at 1:30 by buggy.
Eight persons signed the constitution. . . Some of the resolutions were
opposed by proslavery speakers. A fugitive slave, named Pollock, gave
his history in slavery and interested the audience. . .Paid $2 .50 to
rent horse and buggy.
Aug
9:.Am trying to procure a church for the meeting of the National [convention]
and was pretty sure of the Park church, but received this afternoon
a flat refusal.
Aug
10. . .A Mr. Norton of Concord, this County, pushed himself into the
dining room of my hotel where I was at lunch, to talk on Abolition.
Even Sunday shines no Sabbath day for me.
At
the Old Post Office and heard Fred Douglasss and Remond lecture to a
large gathering; eloquent both; R. the abler declaimer; either superior
to any speaker we have in Buffalo.
Got
off a letter to the trustees of Dr. Lord's church, Pearl St. for the
ch. For Liberty Party Nat. Convention to meet in on 30th, 31st, signed
by me and 7 other com. Men. Church refused.
Aug.
12: Usual office routine. Then from 4 to 5:45 ran after mayor and an
alderman for leave for Douglasss and Remond to lecture in the Park;
and got leave of the former for tomorrow afternoon; Evening to old P.O
with S.G. Haven, and heard Remond speak to a full house in denunciation
of the Liberty Party, an impudent fellow Little Edwin A. Marsh was master
of ceremonies and in his glory.
Walked
down to Franklin Street, and met Judge Love and Judge Hall, who told
me that Mr. Rathbone was better. Walked with H. to his house, and thence
home and to bed.
Letter
from dearest Louisa [his sister]. . .She says she has heart disease.
Nancy's Jane has St. Vitus pleased with her school will expect visit
from me after the convention.
Aug.
13:. . . Forenoon to Hopkins Ch; afternoon Hosmer's ch; and at evening
heard Douglasss and Remond speak from a stand in the Park, the use of
which my influence with the mayor procured for them. A fair audience
in point of numbers. I confess Remond's style of speaking is more to
my taste than Douglasss's but it should seem that in this I am singular,
as I heard two slaveholders stopping at the American Hotel express their
admiration of Douglasss, but not of Remond, saying of the former, The
fellow is eloquent." They quietly listened to both. To rooms and
in good time to bed.
Aug
15: Usual routine letter from J. W. Alden , Boston, to ask me to provide
quarters for him and Rev. Joshua Leavitt during the great convention.
They will probably be accompanied by their wives.
Aug
19: All morning in the interesting Colored Convention, held here during
the last two days. This convention has given the people here a higher
idea of the ability and worth of the colored people than they entertained
before. Indeed it has changed contempt for them into admiration.
Aug
21: With Edward Burchard went to all the taverns on Seneca street and
had the keepers stipulate the terms they would entertain persons attending
the Liberty Party Convention next week.
Aug
24: Still making efforts to procure place and entertainment for the
30th[of Aug] convention.
A
letter from James Jackson from Lockport who lectured last evening will
hold a meeting outdoors at 5 and 7 in a ch. Addresses me, my beloved friend
and brother.
Aug
25:. . . four people up from the Falls today on the 8 o'clock train. Some
of the Illinois delegates arrived this evening, three days in advance
Aug
26: Usual routine. . .Into the jail and saw former client Haskell who
is there for keeping a house of prostitution a man of weak understanding.
Hired and horse and buggy and set off with Mr. James Jackson to our appointed
meetings in Williamsville. . .There gave up the wagon to Mr. J. and returned
to Buffalo in a peddlers wagon. Another three dollars gone. What a tax
is this anti-slavery labor on time, nerves, pocket and patience!
In
early August l843, GWJ drafts a circular to the churches seeking a meeting
place for the National Convention of the Liberty Party. He explains that
the party aims for the most glorious and moral and religious reform of
the age the overthrow of the accursed sin of slavery in our beloved land
and the conferring of civil and a religious liberty upon 2 and a half
millions of crushed and heathenized American citizen. But the appeal fell
on deaf ears; by August 15 all the churches had declined to provide space
and assistance to the convention.
Aug
27: Afternoon to the Unitarian Ch. And heard a Mr. May of Boston, preach...
.Our meetings excite less interest than we had counted on. I am feeling
nervous and anxious [about a low turnout].
Aug
28: But little in office being busy all day about coming convention. I
tried in vain to secure a church for preliminary meetings the Conv. is
to meet in the Park, front of the Court House, under the Berlin tent in
default of a church.
Aug
29: The tent is here and up in the Park. No church to be had [talk] with
Salmon Chase, a lawyer and delegate from Ohio. . . Letter from the mayor,
Joseph Masten says we will not be permitted to use the Park in front of
the Court HouseÖ This is pure cussedness. The Convention will be held
in the Park, notwithstanding. There are two powerful political parties
and the churches arrayed against us; but they fear us for we have both
speech and ballots, and have God on our side who with us is a majority
Most of the delegates have arrived and been assigned quarters
Aug
30: The Great Liberty Party National Convention assembled in the Court
Room at 9 a. m. elected officers and at 10 a.m. reassembled under the
tent in the Park. A series of resolutions were offered by Mr. Chase of
Ohio. I took no part in the discussion being busy in providing for the
comfort and convenience of members, tho I found time to hear several speakers.
. .This morning before the great convention organized, there was a convention
of the Liberty Party of this county to be voted for at the Nov. election.
Cool. Asa Warren, chairman and G.W. Johnson, sect'y. Balloted for nominee
for Sheriff. . .
Aug
31: Convention are assembled under the tent in the Park at 9 a.m. A large
audience filled the tent. Discussions from yesterday continued. By permission
and on my motion Miss Abby Kelly addressed the convention. She spoke in
opposition to the policy of the Liberty Party, and was patiently listened
to... . The convention adjourned at 1:30 a.m.
Sept
l: Health almost clean gone, owing to lack of usual sleep for several
nights. All day worthless. Evening at my hotel and a conversed in a sitting
room. Underlining not intended. With Issac Rathbone and miss Holman.
Sept
2: . . .all day calm the late Convention is the political sensation here
paid Newell $3. For printing broadsides or posters for the late Conv.
For city and a county.
Sept
3: A rain has sweetened the air forenoon in rooms; afternoon at Unitarian
ch. Evening called on Mrs. Haven; there Mr. And Mrs. H; Dr Scott; Miss
S and the dressmaker Miss Smith; all pleasant. We conversed the great
convention. And its action, which, of course, I magnified; news of the
day., an agreeable time. When to my hotel, where Seth Grosvenor with whom
conversed on slavery
Jonson
was forcing Buffalo to talk about slavery. And this they did not want
to do. The two parties united to prevent discourse on slavery in our nations
capital. If he could not force them, he enticed Buffalonians into slavery
talk.on every possible occasion. When Margaret Fuller comes to town Jonson
is asked to show her around because he is the towns leading abolitionist.
His
diary of 1843 shows 365 days of talking antislavery and making speeches
about it. Here he is writing letters, Leaflets He built a party. The party
that denied Henry Clay the presidency and elected Polk. Some Buffalonians
never forgave Jonson for this.
*Note: this was an unfinished essay by Dr. Powell. We have posted it wiuthout edit.
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