Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-11-01
.QDkilo .Statesr1ttaE:rIot.. Il.
The Abolition Crusade Against
the President. ~ -, =
Fred. Douglass BEFORE the Fraternity
! "A severe Denunciation Of Presi-
dent JOhnson--Re ply to Horny Ward
ReecIler, &C., &C., &c. ...l. r.'a.H Tr


dent Johnson to Horny Ward
Beeclier, &C., &c, &c. ra 10
a.f. From the Boston Post. Oct. 25.l. b
The second lecture of the Fraternity
course was delivered last evening in Music
Hall by Frederick Douglass. Previous, to
the lecture, there was an organ concert In
which Mrs. Frohock officjated. Mr.. Rogers
| announced the next lecture by Rev. Mr..
/ WassOn instead of Henry Ward Beecher,
and introduced the speaker of the evening.
Mr.. Douglass said the present year will
long be Remembered for two instructive
events, one of which brought unspeakable
jOyto every loyal heart--the downfall Of a
stubborn rebellion, undertaken and carried
on to secure the perpetual ascendancy of u
privileged class In tue South and the end
les perpetuity of slavery. 1t was supposed
that with the downfall Of the rebellion
these would also fall, and hence the joy.
The next event filled the heart with un-
speakable anguish-for 1t was the assassin
alton of Abraham Lincoln, one of the best
men that ever governed any nation. Judg-
ing from the political sky this same year
may take upon itself another calamity
darker than, the rebellion or the assassina-
tion. The American people have under
gone many shocks during the past four
years, but the heaviest shock of all was the
assassination. The effect of this event was
as II some grand convulsion of nature had
occurred; had the graves opened at our feet
and the sheeted dead walked forth, the con-
sternation could not be more deep or all
pervading. The calamity involved such a
transition from the joy and eXultation of
victory to the dust and ashes of mourning
that the people could not believe the story
true. The nation. weary of war and sick
| Of blood, was meditating mercy, when slav-
cry dealt its heaviest and most treacherous
blow and struck down the President. The
| American people know all about Abraham
| Lincoln, yet there is q charm about his life
and character that will ever remain. When
the war is put speck in history, he, like
John Brown, will find tongues to hold up
his virtues to the admiration of mankind
| Where humanity has friend or tyranny q
| foe, his name will be ever remembered. One
| great charm of Abraham Lincoln is found
| in the fact that he was indebted to himself
for himself; ,one who ascended high, but
built the ladder on which he climbed. His
industry and honest devotion to duty were
known to all. Mr.. Douglass said he found
in Mr.. Lincoln an excellent medium through
which to view the dangers which surround
us. He had great confidence in the virtue
of the North, but more In the villainy of the
South. They annexed Texas and increased
the anti-slavery vote from 1000 100000, ,
they repealed the Missouri Compromise and
raised up aparty that could not be kept out
| of power; they have assassinated Abraham
lincoln, and he hoped the American people
would appreciate the lesson OF the dee,l.
| Dying as he did for cause that takes hold
of human nature, dying by violence for a
| just and a loyal Government as against an
unjust one, dying by the hand of slavery,
| his name becomes a text from which, TO
| preach the great doctrines of equality that
are necessary to the perpetuation Of our
| Government. The man who casts any vote
| in favor of prescription OF race insults the
memory of Abraham Lincoln and causes
| his wounds to bleed afresh. He was the
| first OF long line of Presidents who dared
to invite a negro to the White House. He
| had the ability to talk with anegro without
once reminding him that he is a negro-an
| accomplishment that does not seem to be
left at the White House. Once when cali
ed on the. President, said Mr.. Douglass,
Gov. Buckingham also called and desired
to see Mr.. Lincoln. "Tell him he must
| wait" said the President, III want to have a
long talk with my friend Douglass"
think, continued the lecturer, that was the
| first time that the Governor of great State
-rnot a very contemplate State-was COM
Igpelled to stand out in the cold while the
| President was eonversipg with a negro
| The manner in which the loyal people re-
ceived the death of Mr.. Lincoln, showed us
| the strength of republican institutions
which before we hardly understood. Our
| country under the old idea of the Union
was always weak concern. Before the
election twas always in danger. Ask it to
| utter q word In denuhciation of the despots
of Europe when they were trampling the
life out of Hungary, and it could not be
for rene wing the strength of the Union.
They told US that we should 60 down in the
| first great storm, and naturally foreign
| nations looked to see this rebellion break
l. up our Government. Unaccustemed as
they are to trust the people, they believed
l in theitriumph of the South. We need not
be indignant because there were those at
home who entertained the same opinions
| and acted upon them. We have been tried
| by treason, rebellion, assassination, as no
| natioh ever was, and yet we stand greater
/ and more promising than ever before. This
general confidence Is not confined to our
country. 1t has gone across the water and
found dtsrway through theiroh gates OF
despotic Governments. Even poor Mexico
| lifts up her stricken head with hope. But
this assassination has something more than
assurances; & it, has itsrlessons of solemn
l. warming and woe, betide this nation II Ii
despise the lesson Of wisdom taught by This
great crime of slavery. There Is no effect
without a cause, and there wasa cause equal
DIN orimipality tothe act itself. 1t should
teach us that we are governed by laws as
certain in their action as the revolutions OF
the globe ITSELF We shall have taken a
long step in establishing liberty when-1 I'VE
have an undoubting faith 10 the results OF
| greatprinciples. We have been staggering
between law and luck. There is no power
to intervene, between us and the conse-
aquences of our sin. There are those who
say that but for certain men at the South
| and the North, we should have escaped this
war. 1t is far more true that the contest
made these men'and not they the contest.
The schools are older than the scholars. We
are indebted to slavery for Calhoun and
Booth. The cause must be looked for at the
beginning, when we started wrong. I'VE
attempted to secure the liberties of the
| white race at heeXpense of the black, The
same thing Is now being tried again, and
we must beware or we shall come back
again to thehorrors of civil war. The les
sOnOf this hour Is, that we shall see to 1t
that no such legacy.shall be left to our chill
dren, Mankind have been slow to learn
this lesson. 1t Is but the natural result Of
injustice Incorporated in law. The lamb
and the lion may some day lay down to-
gether, but liberty and slavery never.
While there is7any injustice or parthlity
incorporated Fin our laws you will have
trouble, There canbe no peace while there
a. - A. L.