Journal of freedom. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1865-186?, 1865-10-14
ADVICE TO CoLoRED PEOPLE.

IofASu couIPosSo vi CAIrCy OF forty color
ed men of Baltimore, who purchased the
building ON Lexington street, near Davis,
formerly occupied as the Newton Uni
versity, for the sum of ! 6,O0e, and or
gained the douglas Institute the
object of which is the intellectual adj
vancement ofthe colored portion of the.
community. Last week, the Institute
building was formally opened for the
purpose indicated above by the delivery
of a lecture of Frederick Douglass, whose
reputation as an orator is we'll known
An audience of seven or eight hundred
males and females, among then a mum
Der of white persons, was seated in the
main saloon of the building, which was
appropriately decorated on the occasion
Immediately over the stand whereon the
lecturer and the officers of the Institute
were seated was a full-length portrait Of
the late lamented President Lincoln :,
while, on either side was placed the Ma
tional flag. After prayer by Bishop
Wayman, of the African M. E. Church,
Mr. Douglass was introducedand deliver
ed the following address:
I have, during my public career, had
the honor to address many assemblies
both at home and abroad and in further
ance of various objects but I do not re-
member ever to have appeared anywhere
under a deeper sense OF Importance of the
occasion than l feel tonight. I know it
- ~ oo11 Ill --
which we assemble in large numbers,
great and Important, and in some sense
the Characterization is just and proper 4;
for the movement of large bodies OF men
in this. or that direction, for any purpose
good or i'll, are always important and
worthy of note. But the present occa-
sion is one of no ordinary character. We
come here to dedicate an institution
which, in my opinion, is destined to play
an important part in promoting the free
dom and elevation of the colored people
of this city and State, and I may say of
the whole Union.
Let me at the outset put myself at ease
by expressing to the founders of this In
stitution my sincere and heartfelt thanks
for assigning to me the high place
occupy on this occasion, and above all
for associating my name with the Insti-
tute here established. It is an honor. I
look upon this proceeding on your part
not merely as a compliment to me per-
sonally, but as an open avoWal of the
great principles of progress, liberty, JUS
tice and equality, which | have for years
endeavored to advocate. When I left
Maryland twenty-seven years ago, [ did
90 1u14b 4hn e rro rocc1uo novor RI fornaf
my brothers and sisters in bondage, and
to do whatever might be in my power to
accomplish their emancipation and
have to say tonight that in whatever
else I may have failed, in this at least l
have not failed. No man can truthfully
say I ever deserted the post of duty.
The establishment of an Institute bear
ing my name by the colered people in
the city of my boyhood so soon after the
act of emancipation in this State looms
before me as a first grand indication of
progress. I say it is a first, and first in
dications, whether observed in the silent
and mysterious phenomena of physical
nature, or in the moral and intellectual
DEVELOPMENTS of humane society, are al
ways Interesting to thoughtful men,
Every age has. its prophets and its Me-
siah. We are aver waiting and watch
ing like good old Simeon for our babe OF
bethlehem. John Brown used to say he
had looked over orr people as over a
dark sea, in hope of seeing a head rise up
with a mind to plan and a hand to de-
liver. Any movement of the water
arrested his attention. In all directions
we desire to catch the first sign. The
first sign of clear weather on the ocean
after q season of darkness and storm i;
the first sign of returning health after
long and dreary months ofwasting fever;
the first sign of rain after a famine,
threatening drouth the first indication
of spring, silently releasing the knotty
and CONCEALED earth from the frosty fet-
tiers of winter !; the first sign of peace
after the ten thousand calamities, hor-
rors. desolation and alarms of war, ever
more bringjoy and gladness to the human
heart.
The mind of man has a special attract
ion towards first objects. 1t delights in
the dim and shadowy outlines OF the
coming fact. There is a calm and quiet
satisfaction in the contemplation OF pres
emit attainments-but the great future
and the vet Observation-Disclosures in the
seul the deepest springs of poetry and
enthusiasm.
The occasion that brings US here this
evening may be properly viewed IN the
spirit of these brief reflections. 1t is an
:1Ioo of tho risa of a neOple long Op-