New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-13
| BLACK MAN ON THE WAR,
AN ADDRESS by FREDERICK DOUGLASS
AT THE COOPER INSTITUTE.


with an intelligent and respectable looking audience
The exercises commenced with patriotic song by
the Hutchinsons, which was received with great up
plause.
/ The Rev. III. III. GlRNETT opened the meeting 10y
stating that the black man, fugitive from Virginia,
who was announced to speak, would not appear, az
u communication had been yesterday received IRON
the South intimang that, for prudential reasons II
would not be proper for that person 10 appear az ms
presence might affect the interests ard safety OF
others in the South, both white persons and colored.
lie also stated tlat another fugitive slave, who was
At tie battle Of Bull Run, proposed when the meeting
was announced 10 be present, but for similar reason
he was absent; he had unwillingy fought the
side Of Rebellion, but now he was, fortunately,
where he could raise his voice on tho side of Union
and universal liberty. Tie question which now
seemed 10 be prominent in the nation was simply
whether tho services of black shall DO re-
ceiVed In tins war, and speedy victory be
accom- lished. II The day should ever come
when be hag OF country shall be the sym
hol Of universal liberty, the black should
he able 20 look mp TO that glorious flag, and say
that IL was his flag and bis country flag; and If tie
services OF the black men were wanted II would be
found that they would rush into tie ranks, aud in
very short time sweep oil the rebel party from the
face of the country. In conclusion he would intro
duce the orator Of the evening Frederick Douglass,
ESQ.,, who was greeted with hearty applause.
Sir Dpr6IAss came forward and addressed the
audience Al follows:
IauIrs AND GENTLrtTN: The progress Of the
preseut tremendous war has DEVELOPED great quail
iies Of mind and heart among the loyal people, aud
none more cOnsIicuousy Than patience. We have
seen our sons brothers and fathers led 10 the battle
field By untried and unstiliul generals, and have
held our breath; have feen them repeatedly
maichod in thousands upon concealed batteries ol
lie enemy, TO be swept down by storms OF iron hail
and fire. and have scarcely murmured; We have
seon tie wealth of the land poured out at the fright
ul rate az q million day without cOmp plant; we
lave seen our CAPITAL surrounded, hemmed in, block
pded. IA the pTcreIce OF eitered but chahng loyal
amy of quarter Of million on the Potomac dur
ing seven long months, and siill We have cried pa-
f,.pte and fOrhearauce. We have ahle ard earn
,- men displaced from high End important positions
20 make room for men who have yet to win oar con-
fleuce aud tin have believed in the Government
This l. all night, all proper Our Government. how
ever detective i, still our Government. IL il all we
have 10 tlicli Us from tue fury aud Vengeance Of
tl,ason, rebellion, and anarchy.
IL i were afked TO describe the most painful and
mOrt.yue feature presenied in the prosecution and
management OF the present war on the part of the
United States Government, against the sayeholding
r.,eis now msrshalsd against II, should not point
10 Balls Bluff Big Bethel, Bull Run, or any Of the
many lunCeTs and dlsa tiers on flood or field; but
should Point 10 the yacilation doubt, uncertainty,
and hesta ION, which have thus far distinguished
our Government in regard 10 tie true method OF
dealing with the vital cause Of the rebellion. We
are without any declared and settled pohoy-and
our policy seems 10 BE-, TO have no policy.
The Winds and currents are ever changing, and
after beating about for almost q whole year on The
perilous coast Of widering ocean, unable 10 find
our bearngs 90 last Uncover that we are IL the
game latitude a. when We RET sail, az far from the
desired port "a ever, and with much lees heart.
health Gld provisions Cor Tur'uing the voyage than
OF The morning we weighed anchor
j. il he true that he that douheth u condemned
already there 10 certainly but tie chance FOR this
Republic.
II tie orering Of the preeeu, session OF Congress
there marked, decided and emphatic expires.
zion against Slavery, as the great mO.ive-power OF
the uIe-eIt slgyehOlllng war. Many petliions, nu-
merously and inRueniially sigDed, were duly cent
IN and presented to that body IIaYing irst or the
entire abolition Of Slavery in al the Siavchoding
STATES: secondly, that just award be made by Con-
g!ess 10 losal Shareholders; and thirdly, that Tie
sl4yes Of rebels be wholly conhfgated. Tie yig)r,
es ,rle,iness and power with which these oblc0s
wore advocated, as war measures, by Messrs. BE
yous. bingham. Eliot. Gurley, Loyeloy. and others,
inruircd The loyal friends If Freedom all over The
North with renewed confidence and hope, bolh for The
country and for the shave. Tie conviction was gen
erai that at lat the country Was 10 have pol'y y
and that that policy would Drng freedom ana saieiy
fn the Reo.ihc 1hu- far however, this hope, Tins
confidence this conviction, hs- not been justified.
The country is yet without known policy. iho
enemies e. The Abolition cause, taking alarm lIom
these early efforts, have e-uesuy ct lhemseI'es 10
tie work of producing reaction IA favor OF SiAy-
erv aud have succeeded beyond what they them
Iseiyes must have expected Of the iir-i.
Among other old, thr,adbare, and vermont objec-
tons Which they have raised agaiist the EnluPa-
ton policy, u TIE question az 10 MAJ tAai 10 uOno
with the four million slaves Of the South ii they ars
cnianciplted or III other words whit shall'be tue
future OF tie four million slAvesi
am sensible, deeply sensible, Of the importance
Of tAis subject and Of the many difficulties which
ore supposed 10 surround n.
n there il anv one great, pres.ing, aud all-cou-
maidng problem for this nation 70 toife, and to
solve without delay, that problem Is slavery. IT,
claims are urgent, pal pable, and powerful. They
admit Of no pareyinQ or compromise. Tie itsue
involves The whole question Of lie and death to tie
Soae who speaL on this subiec, are already sure
IA 10 how this quc -tiol viii finally he decided.
am not; bat one tLing know: II We are a wise,
lteIty-ovi;g Z, just and courageous nalloi- KNOW
inc what ID gyht and daring 90 DO tive ehtl solve
this rrollem and solve u speedily, ia accordnuce
with national safety, national unity, national pros
ueutv LatiouI glory, aLd shall WIN iOT Ourselves
he admiia0u Of an ol-lOolDng world and Tie glae-
ful applause of aiiei-Comiug generations. H. 90 NE
other hand We are a cunning, cOwardly, and felhsh
nation, given Oyer-as other nations have been be-
lore s-.O hdlaue.s of heart and blindnef5 " mind,
il needs 10 pr0r.Ct % foretell our doom.
Before proceeding 10 dacuss the future Of TIE col
ored people Of the slave States you VIII allow mc
10 make a few remarks, personal and general, re-
erecting the tremendous citis Though which are
passing IN Tire irr' place, have not the vanity 30
tuppJse-and say il without alectaiiJu-tlat can
add any hing TO tie powerful Arguments Of The able
men VINO have preceded mo ~ tis cOurse Of lectures
/ .ake he stand tonight more a. IN humble witness
than ~ IN advocate / have stuaied slavery and
studied Freedom Oh both fidesoi Mason aud DiNon's
line. Nearly twenty-five years OF ny life were
~ ent in Slavery. and more than tweniy-thrce have
- =. ID...l IL. M IlII lnI.L-