Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-07-22
EXTRACTS FROM
Fred. Douglass Speech.
DeliUered in Winchester, Friday, July 9th
PhonoSraphically reported bv MR. VI. W.
MONTGOMERY, Of Libcr.

Mr.. DOUGLAS commenced by say
ing: 1t is always pleasant to see large
congregations of human beings assem-
bled for almost any purpose. There
is something poetic in the multitude;
but especially is it gratifying to see a
multitude assembled to hear the sub
iect of all subjects discuSsed-Slavery.
/ am not here with any very exalted
ideas of my capability to instruct you
on this great subject. i may not give
one new idea on the subject Of HUI
man Freedom. Were ! in some other
country, as Russia. Austria, Prussia,
etc, | might, perhaps, say something
which would havcthc merit of novelty;
but in this nation, in the presence of
American citizens, neither / nor any
other Anti-Slavery lecturer will be
able to give you any new ideas of the
principles of Liberty. Hrsn s.5if
There is one consolation connected
with this thought of new ideas and
new principles--that, with respect to
Truth, there is nothing new under the
sun. Error may be new, or may be
old: it had beginning, and must
have an ending; but not SO with Truth
1t is from everlasting TO everlasting,
like the great God from whose bosom
it emanated. One truth is mans right
to Liberty. 1t is an everlasting truth;
a universal truth. Man was born with
this truth. lit was his before he COM
pretended it. 1t is inscribed on all
the faculties of the human soul; and,
until tyrants can dcthrone God, and
until, by some strange endowment.
they may pronounce the fiat that
changes man into brute, no laws, or
cnactmentS, or statutes, or lords, or
kings, can abrogatc or destroy this
right. Neither is it necessary to
search into the mouldy records of the
past to find whether man is the right
ful owner of his body; neither need we
look into the sacred Scriptures; every
man knows it-every man knows that
liberty is his birth-right. Another
consolation is, that it will bc quite
time enough to utter new truth when
the old principles and old truths
will have become organized into law,
and the nations made to acknowledge
mans right to liberty, as pronounced
by America, to be 'sclf-cvidcnt'
/ have been surprised, and some
times indignant, to hear men say that
there is room for difference of opinion
on the subject of Slavery. see no
room; if there is room, with my OPP
ties it is impossible for me to see it.
What is there difficult about the right
fulness of Liberty and the wrongful
ness of Slavery? | hear men say that
this subject should be taken into con
sidcration by men of great ability
that they should argue it very gravely
but there is no necessity for argument
to show that every man is the right
full owner of his own body. 1t does
not need even statement. Every
man knows it; every man feels it, and
instinctively grasps it. Abolitionists
are called fanatics, enthusiasts, etc,
but what have they done to deserve
this? Why, the truth they have been
trying to teach is so simple, that the
"cattle upon thousand hills" know
it. All their tracts and books have
tried to establish this principle-that
every man is himself, and that his
head is lis head, that his hands are
his hands, and that if he runs away
on his own legs, and leaves every one
else on his own legs, he has a right to
do it. The very facts that mans hand
is connected to his arm, and his arm
to his body, and his body to his head,
and that over all presidcs single IN
tcllect, show that each individual is
himself and belongs to himself, and
that he is a moral monster, who, hav-
ing two hands and two feet, wants
those of another.
; "But, Douglas they say. 'thi,
will do for abstract; but there are ex,
ccptions. Inferior beings should bc
! subject 70 the supcrior;-thc good
should make law for the bad and ig
norant."
But this does not touch the subject
The central idea of Slavery is, that il
makes property in man. Daniel o.
Conncll once said that when he hear(
this, cit sounded like men tramplinl
: upon his mothers gave" Mans
viii is annihilated; his moral being
set aside. One man claims the bod,
of another so that he can have no con
science, no affections. This is Slavery
What the slave shall drink, what Ii
shall wear, what he shall say, an,
what he shall do, and when he shall
: marry, must be decided by his master
He may not decide what books h