American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-10-18
VOLUME 2.
SPEECH OFFERED ERICK DOUGLASS

come always to the meetings in New Eng
land, as listner, and not as speaker
and one of the reasons why have not
been more frequently to the meetsngs OF
this society, has been because of the dis
position on the part of some OF my friends
to call me out upon the platform, even
when they knew that there was some diff
ference of opinion and of feeling between
those who righ fully belong to this plat
form and myself; and for fear of being
misconstrued, as desiring to interrupt or
disturb the proceedings of these meetings
haze usually kept away, and have thus
been deprived of that educating infiu-
ence, which am always free to confess
is of the highest order, descending from
this platform. | Ihave felt, since | have
lived out West, that in going there par
ted from great deal that was valuable ;
and feel, every time | come to these
meetings, that have lost a great deal by
making my home west of Boston west OF
Massachusetts, for, if anywhere in the
country there is to be found the highest
sense of justice, or the truest demands for
my race | look for it in the East, | look
for it here. The ablest discussions of
the whole question of our rights occur
here, and to be deprived of the privilege
of listening to those discussions lisa great
deprivation.
| do not know, from what has been said
that there is any difference of opinion as
to the duty of abolitiouists,at the present
moment. How can we get up any diff
sereuce at this point, or at any poino
where we are so united, so agreed? |
went especially, however, with that word
of Mr.. Phillips, which is the criticism of
Gen. Banks. and Gen Banks's policy
hold that that policy is our chief dan
ger at the present moment; that it prac-
tically enslaves the negro, and makes the
Proclamation of 1853 a meckery and de-
lusion. What is freedom? 1t is the
right to choose ones own employment.-
Certainly it means that, if it means any
thing; ana when any individual or com
bination of individuals, undertakes to
decide for any man when he shall work,
where he shall work, at what he shall work
and for what he shall work, he or they
practically reduce him to slavery. (Ap-
plause) He is a slave. That | under
stand Gen. Banks to do-to determine
for the so called freedman, when, and
where, and what, and for how much he
shall work, when he shall be punished,
aud by whom punished. 1t rs absolute
slavery 1t defeats the benefieent inten-
tions of the Government, if it has benef-
cent intentions, in regard to the freedom
of our people. +.'
I have had but one idea for the last
three years, to present to the American
people, and the phrasology in which |
clothe it is the old abolition phraseology.
am for the immediate, unconditional,
and universal enfranchisement of the
black man, in every State in the Union.
cloud applause.) Without this, his lib
erty is moekery; without this, you
might as well almost retain the old name
of slavery for his condition for, in fact,
if he is not the slave of the individual
master, he is the slave of sociery, and
holds his liberty as a privilege, not as
right. lie is at the mersy of the mob,
and has no means Of protecting himself,
1t may be objected, however, that this
pressing of the negro's right to suffrage
is premature. Letus have slavery abol-
ished, it may be said, let us have labor
organized, and then, in the natural course
of events, the right of suffrage will be
extended to the negro. I do not agree
with this. The constitution of the hui
man mind is such, that if it once disre.
CARDS the conviction forced upon it by
revelation of truth, it requires the exer-
else of higher power to produce the same
conviction afterwards The American
people are now in tears The Shenando-
ah has run blood--the best blood of the
North. All around Richmond, the blood
OF New England and of the North has
been shed-of your sons. your brothers
and your fathers. We all feel. IN the
existanee eff this Rebellion, that judg-
ments terrible, widespread, far,reaching,
overwhelming, are abroad in the land
aud we feel, in view of these judgments.
just now, disposition to learn righteous
ness. This is the honor. Our streets
are in mourning, tears are falling at every
freside, and under the ehastisement of
this rebellion we have almost como up to
the point of eonceding this great, this
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