New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-06-10
THE TRIBUNE.

-,oy.rrvF or TIE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUG
NA'4ts- AZ AMERICAN SLAVE. Written hy hIn
1A Boston. fupi-heo az iH' anu 7''''i' ''''
- q Cornhll l-4j.
r.sds,ck Douglass has been for some time
...a;,ent member Of the Abolition party. lie Is
"a 10 BE- an excellent spcakcr-can speak from
,borough personal cxpcricuce-and has upon ih'
.,aienc. beside, the influence OF strong character
.,suneonmon talents In the book before as be has
-, INTO the story Of his life the thoughts. the feel
nc. and the adventures that have been 80 affecting
,bro,sh the living voice are they less so iron
,be printed page. He has had the courage 10 name
he persons. times and places thus exposing himself
,oobyjous danger and setting the seal on his deep
convictions as to the religious need Of speaking the
whole truth Considered merely q narrative. We
have never read one more simple true, coherent
and warm with genuine feeling. II J. an excellent
niece Of writing and that score 10 bc priced a.
= specimen Of the powers of the Black Race, which
Prejudice persists in disputng. We prize highly
Al evidence OF this kind, and il Is becoming
more abundant The Cross Of the Legion OF
Honor has Just been conferred in France on Duma-
and Soue, both celebrated in the paths Of light
rera,ure Dumas, whose father was General
10 lllF I Itiih amy " t'''''Nt'f '"f
gnadroon lie went from New Orleans, where
though to the eye a white man, yet as known TO
have African blood in his veins, be could never
have enjoyed the privileges due TO human being
Leaving the Land OF Freedom. he found himself
free to dcyelopc the powers that God had given.
Two wise and candid thinkcrs.--the scoichman.
Kinmcnt promaturcly lost TO this country of which
he was sd faithful and generous student and the
hs,e Dr. Channing-both thought that the African
Race had in them peculiar element, which, if it
could be assimiated with those imported among us
from Europe. would give to genius Development
and 70 the energies of character a balance and har
mony beyond what has been seen heretofore in the
history Of the world. Such an element is indicated
in their lowest estate by talent for melody, ready
skill at imitation and adaptation. an almost moe
sruciibe elasticity OF nature. 1t is TO be remarked
in the writings both OF Soulic and Dumas, full OF
faults but glowing with plastic life and fertile III
invention The same torid energy and saccharine
fitness may be felt in the writings OF this Douglass.
though his life being of action or resistance was
less favorable to such powers than one OF o more
JOYOUS flow might have been.
The book is preiaced by two communications
one from Garrison and one from Wendell Phillips
That from the former is in his usual over emphatic
ryle His motives and his course have been noble
and generous We look upon him with high re
speci but he has nduleed in violent .nycctive and
denanciaiou til he has spoiled the temper OF M
mind Like a man who has been IN the habit OF
screaming himself hoarsc to make the deaf hear, b,
can no longer pitch his voice on key agreeable 10
common ears Mr. Phillips's remarks are equally
decided without this exaggeration in the tone.
Douglass himself seems very just and temperate
We feel that his view. even OF those who have IN
jured him most, may be relied upon He know
bow 10 allow for motives and influences. Upon tn,
subject OF Religion he speaks with great force, and
not more than own sympaihles can respond TO
The inconsistencies OF Slaveholding professors OF
religion cry to Heaven We are not disposed tc
deesi or refuse communion with them Then
blindness is but one form Of that prevalent tallac>
which substitutes a creed for faith ritual for
lie. We have seen too mach of this system OF
slonemeni not 10 know that those who adopt IL Often
began with good intentions. and are, at amy rate III
their mistake. worthy OF the deepest pity. But that
IS no reason why the truth should not be uttered
trumpet tonsued, about the thing. Bring mo- more
vain citations; sermons must daily be preached
anew on that text Kings five hundred years ago
built Churches with the spoils OF War; ClcrsNmcn
today command Sla, to obey a Gospel which they
viii mol allow them TO read, and call themselves
Christians amid the curses OF their fellow men
The world ought to get on little faster than that 1t
there be really any principle of improvement in IT.
Iha L q l.slrf
have dropped seed larger than mustard seed bat
even nom that We had right 10 expect fuller
growth than can bc believed to exist, when We
read such a book as this OF Douglass. Unspeakabl>
affecting is the fact that he never saw his mother al
al by day light
" do not rccollcci of ever seeing my mother 10y
the light of day. She was with me in the night
She would he down with me. and get me 10 sleep
but long before walked She was gone.
The following extract presents suitable answer
to The hacknied arsumcu, drawn 10y the defender OF
Slavery from the songs of the Slave. and is also @
good specimen of the powers Of observation anc
manly heart OF the writer We wish that every ON,
may read his book and see what a mind might hav,
been sil'ied IN bondasc.-whai man may be subject
ell 10 the insults Of spcnd,hriit dandcs orihc blow.
OF merccnary oruies, IN whom there is no whilcncs.
except Of the skin. no humanity except in the out
ward form and OF whom the Avcnecr will no, fail
yet TO demand" Where is thy bro,hcrl" X
The Home Plantation Of Colonel Ll,yd vor,
the appearance of a country village All the r,,
chanca operations for all thc farms were p.rfornc,
kcro The shocmakn- and mcudnr shc black
sai,huc. cartwriehun-. coopCrns. weaving an,
gram grinding were all performed hy the slaves o.,
tie HON, Plantation The whole place wor,
business Ike aspect very unlike the noshborn
hra0s The number of houses, too, conspirod
give II advantage over the neighboring farms.
was called hv the slaves the Great House Fam
Few privileges were esteemed higher 10y the slave
q the ouifarms than that OF being selected TO q
brands a, the Grea, House Fam. II was ass
GATED IN their minds with greatness. \ kepr
sentative could not bc proudcr OF his election 10
seal IN the American Congress, than slave on on
% the OF, farms would be Of his election 10 q
efraHds at the Great House Farm They rcgarde
ss evidence Of great confidence rcposcc IN thel
y uer ovcrseers; and il was on this account. q
We a. constant desire 20 Toe out OF the field iroi
-ncer the drivers lash that they esteemed Il hi.
psslege, one worth careful living for. He W;
~ sed The smartesi and most tnsiy fellow, who ha
:ps hoaor conferred upon him the most ireQnoni