Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-09
A i-Sl av erv.
Speech Of Frederick DOUGLASS

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whose name is already quite familiar to our readers,
Among those who were foremost in comforting this
honor upon Self EmanCipated Slave were Members
of Parliament distinguished Clergymen of various de-
nominations and large number Of the most eminent
citizens of Belfast and yicinity-WM. S. CRAwFoRD,
M. p. occupied the chairs a blessing was asked by
Rev. Mr.. Nelson, and thanks were returned by Rev
Mr.. Hodgens. After speech by the Chairman, Rev.
Mr.. Nelson read Address to Mr.. Douglass, and
presented him with beautifully gilt Bible, in rich
binding, bearing an appropriate scrption. 1t was
intended as testimony of admiration for his Lectures
delivered in Belfast and also tribute of respect
for his personal character Mr.. Douglass responded
as follows-N Y. Tribune.
1t would be useless for me to attempt to conceal nv
embarrassment, in rising to respond to the eoquent
and highly complimentary address, together with the
golden gift with which have just been presented /
am unequal to the work; my feelings are too deep too
strong, for easy uterance. have oen in the course
OF my short, though not uneventful life been called
on to respond in accents of warm and heartfelt graft
tude for noble deeds and generous favors conferred
upon me, by the magnanimous friends of my long-en-
shaved and deeply Outraged fellow-countrynen, but
never have been more at loss for language to full
fiji that duty than the present thrilling and nteres4
ting occasion. The incidents of this morning will
form period in my humble history-a period to which
with all my hopes and ASPIRATIONS | never looked for4
ward; butone to which, while memory holds its place,
shall ever look hack with the most grateful emotion,
accept, thankfully, this Bible; and while II shall
have the best place in my house, trust ALSO to give
its precpts the best place in my heart The happy in
cldents of this morning have called into remembrance
some OF my early struggles after knowledge and the
difficulties that then lay in the way of it's attainment
remember the first time ever heard the Bible read:
and tell you the truth, when tell you that from that
time trace my first desire to learn to read. | was
over years DID, my master had gone out one Sunday
| m thn had 70 nod I bod
der the centre table, and had fallen asleep when my
mistress commenced to read the Bible so loud that she
walked he-she walked me to sleep no more | learn
ed that the chapter which she then read was the LIST
chapter Of Job. | remember my sympathy for the
good old man; and my great anxiety to know more
about him led me to ask my mstress-who was, at
this time, kind lady-to teach me to read. She COM
menced and would have, but for the opposition of her
husband taught me to read. She ceased to instruct
me; but my desire to read continued, and instead of
decreasing, ncreased and by the aid of little boys,
obtained at different times finally succeeded il lear
ming to read. After learning to read, my desire for
books equal to my early desire to learn how to
read. have frequently, with my fingers, from the
mud and filth of the gutter laked leaves of the sacred
volume. These | have washed and dried and read
the words of heavenly wisdom which they contained
with glad heart considering myself fortunate to en-
joy such privilege trust | shall not be deemed
presumpuous egotistical when say, that from my
marked by the finger of God. Twenty years ago,
while lying not unlike pet dog at the feet of my
mistress, in her house in Philpotstreet, Fels Point,
Baltimore, was reused from the sweet sleep of child
hood, to hear the narrative of Job few years after
ward found me searching for the Scriptures in the
muddy street CUTTERS and rescuing its pages from the
filth into which neglect and wasteulness had plunged
them. A few years later | escaped from my chains,
gained partial freedom and became an advocate for
emancipation of my race. A suspicion arose that l
was not what profess to be- to silence which it is
cessary to write out my experience in slavery and give
the names of my enslavers. This endangers my lib
ery. Prosecuted, hunted, and outraged in America,
have come to England; and behold the change The
chattel becomes a man. | breathe, and am free
Instead of cullng the scriptures from the mud, they
come to me dressed in gold, the free and unsolicited
gift of devoted friends. will take it, and while live,
preserve it and long after have gone hence tony
ward, my will is carried out shall be preserved
by my Children and remain memeno in the house of
Douglass till time shall melt it into dust assure
you, gentlemen of the committee, you have selected
proper mode of expressing your regard for me. What
could be better than the Bible to me, contending
gans OPPRESSION fraud, and wrong 1t is full of wis.,
dom and goodness-faith, hope and charity sparkle on
every page-all of which deal death to slavery. An
attempt has been made to press the Bible into the
vice of slavery. The abolition party in America find
no more determined opponents of the cause which they
That, to this audience, might appear srange but such
is the fact thank God that change for the better
is taking place; purer and higher grade of are
finding their way into the ministry, and brighter days
are beginning to dawn upon my country. You could
not have given me token appropriate as this Bible
1t contains all that is right and opposed to all that is
wrong 1t knows one by the color of his skin. 1t
treats all alike, and says to ALL 'Whasoever We would
that men should do unto you, do We even so unto
them" If you claim liberty for YOURSELF then grant il
to your neghbor is the doctrine it inculcates feel
much struck with the change in my circumstances;
only few days ago, was in land where was hated
and abhorred-where the blood hound might have been
put upon my track, and have been hunted down and
carried back into slavery l left that land, and in
eleven and half days set my foot British soil and
was free. | now find myself surrounded by kind
friends, the very expression of whose countenances
beam with sympathy such | expected to
meet with, and which has quite overcome and unmann-
ed mel could expose slavery in the midst of those
who would uphold it could contend for the great
principles liberty in the face of the most determin
ed opposition, but | not equal TO address those
whose sympathy has been excited for my race, and
who have showed me much kindness Twill always
remember the people of Belfast and the kind friends
now around me; and wherever else feel myself to
be a stranger, will remember have home in Bel
fast will look forward with pleasure to the day
which will find me among you again and in the mean
time you shall hear from me, wherever my lot may be
cast Let thank you, with my whole heart for the
address and beautiful present you have made me,
well as for the deep interest you have taken in the
cause of the wronged and oppressed slaves of Amer
ca. You have discharged your duty nobly, and as
Christians should do. When | came a stranger a.
mong you, was taken by the hand and, may say,
my hand has been held throughout The committee
have abored in and out of season, to give eff
feet to my feeble efforts for the emancipation of my
race. Without the committee ! could have done
nothing; to them all the praise is doe, Once more ac-
cept my thanks for all the kindness have experienced
at your hands; and bid you all farewell until shall
meet you again.