Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-12-12
JAMES G. BIRNEY.

JAMES G. BIRNEY.
A notice Of the death of this e~stimable man,
was necessarily excluded from our last paper; and
though our readers have ere this seen other notices
Of his death, and a reference to someiof the promi.
ncut events Of his life, we cannot iorbear to make
a brief record Of them here.
His death occurred at E~aglewood, Perth Amboy,
New Jersey, on the 9th ul;. His age about "a
years. lie was born in Danyille, Ky, in 1893.
His father was n native Of Ireland and his mother
an American lady. In early lie he was elected
"a member Of the Kentucky Legislature, and sub.
sequently also Of the Legislature Of Alabama
Alter q residence Of some years in Huntsville,
Alabama, be returned to Dantille and there com
menced his anti slavery labUrs, which for some
time previous he had been contemplating. lie
commenced by the emancipation OF all his then
slaves, six in number and subsequently in 1884, he
made arrangements for starting an Anti-Slavery
paper. After various fruitless efforts, lie was
obliged to abandon the attempt in that place, and
remove with his family to Cincinnati, when he
commenced the publication OF the PhianMrCpiSt
On the death of his father, Mr.. Birney liberated
anu u COlLl iONiSiOh wi oi "a oio'Se
On the paternal estate.
We knew Mr.. Birney slightly as a stakeholder in
Alabama, where he had q reputation for humanity
and enjoyed the esteem and respect of the besl
people of the State. AS a humble co-adjutor il
his labors in Cincinnati, we knew him intimately.
Aud now we wildly remembc with what martyr
like fidelity be adhered to his convictions. Hi'
manly frmness was only equaled by his kindness
and gentiemanIy demeanor towards all men, foe,
rs well as friends. His sensitive nature suffered
as few can know or imagine from the mockery
scorn and Islander tLat were heaped upon him OF
every hand,-so different from the respect and nd
miration to which he had been accustomed all BIZ
life long before.
His Anti. Slavery labors after bis removal from
Kentucky. we're UNIDENTIFIED and eminently success
full; and to them the early cause Of Auti.Slavery
is eminently indebted, especially in Ohio. A bSje
notice of these labors We find in the last Liberia
tor and transfer to our columns, as it is accurat,
n facts and most kindly in spirit.
From 1884 TO 1910, Mr.. Birnay occupied a yer,
distinguished position in the ranks OF American
abolitlunists-frst nobly setting all his slaves free
thus reducing himself ut once to comparative pow
, erty, and then giving himself 10 the work OF en-
lightning the whole country on the subject OF sla
very; exhibiting mastery ability in the use Of hi
, pen, which he welded with great industry anC
! powerful effect. Whatever he wrote attracted uni
yersal attention, and tens of thousands of his let
tiers and appeals were scattered broadcast through
[ the land, awakening attention, exciting discussion
I confirming the timid, and upho!ding the falterinl
Indeed, the importance OK his adhesion to the pro
seribed AnIi-slayery movement at a time wheI
its friends were few indeed, and all The POWERS o.
I l.l,rl,osa coan1p1 LOT ltOse fr its destruction can
not he fully estimated. The fact that he was O
e Southern birth-a ripe scholar aud a proninen
member Of the bar-a repentant stakeholder, an,
one who had filled various public stations of trus
o aud bonor-and also that, for his fidelity to hi
n conscience, and his humanity to his slaves, he wa
compelled to leave Kentucky, because his life wa
;. constantly impcrilled, and TO seek II home 10 tn,
North-all these things served to give him specia
. conspicuity, and to make him Freedoms 'brigh
particular STAR 1t was a case of sincere an
thorough conVersion-the great instrument 4
which we believe, was Theodore d.. Weld, t
whom SO many minds have been indebted TO
their illumination, and so many hearts touche
with quenchless sympathy for the oppressed.
After leaving Kentucky, Mr.. Birney commence
the publication of a paper in Cincinnati, Gale
l'The PAiianhr0piSt,' which obtained an cxtensiV
circu!stion, and produced a great deal OF excit,
ment, especially in that region. Such was tn
fierce spirit that prevailed in that city, that hi
II press was repeatedly uest"yeu Wy Ii mop, hs Prih
N ing.ofice entered, and all its contents thrown int
!, the street or cast into the river; and he was i
great personal danger, at times being com pellcd I
- sleep out Of the city for self, preservation. b.
e his courage and faith were equal TO the trial houl
If and he maintained his ground with martyr-like M
bility OF soul.
Mr.. Birney subsequently relinqnished the pull
%lication Of tho FH'ta"ihrop'st' (which was contir
ued by the present Editor of the National Err
m Gamaliei Bailey, Esq and accepted Of the otfc
of secretary and General Agent Of the America
A. Anti slavery Society, which he continued to Fl
:; until The time Of the memorable secession froI
that Society in 1910, when he joined with Oh
maIcontents, aud committed an error whic
e proved fatal to his usefulness, and which, "
h. we doubt not. he deeply regretted toward the clos
"A of his life for it is only a short time since b
made a donations to the treasury of that Societ,
and in other ways he has indicated a friendly il
terest in it's welfare.
In 1910, Mr.. Birney was a delegate to the World
i. IAnti-Slavery Convention at London and as |
was at that time the Presidential candidate of Il
" Liberty Party, he received marked attention whe
Y ever he travelled ia England. lie was highly ecu
is tcous and dignifed in hs manLers, less able as
IA speaker than a writer, true to his convictions, AT
:, devoid Of ~sectarian malevolence. 1t was in Londt
T" that be first published his tract, The AmeriGi
he Church the Bulwark of Slavery which produce
Is such a profound sensation on both sides of the A
d lantic by its disclosures, and which, alas! remail
., as useful for circulation now as it was in 1910.
For the last dozen years, Mr.. Birney has lived
retired life. an inyalidnearly all hat time, calm
IS, awaiting that change which comes to all oil
sn that inevitable hour which none can escape. /
NJ has entered into rest.
d. - H
IA MEETINGS IN AsnTABULA CouNTY.-Mr. IIo
to land, in a private note speaks Of the meetings
Mt tended by Mrs. Coleman and himself, the last we