Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-10-22

| o~A AZ SnO ASAuoe "a uuiuoG DTOLll
ers, and yet more fearful of then
than OF hungry wolves! I wa
without friends, without work, with
out money, and without any defnit'
! knowledge of which way to go O.
where to look for succor." In tn,
midst Of his perplexities he met
sailor, whose seeming frankness ant
honesty won, as it deserved, hi
confidence. He introduced him Il
David Ruggles, chairman of th,
Vigilance Committee, colored gen
tleman Of much intelligence, energy
and worth, who, by lis position and
executive ability did much for hi.
people. He advised him to 70 te
New Bedford, Massachusetts, as.
sisted him in reaching that city
and introduced him to Trustworthy
friends there. Here he was en-
ployed, mostly as a day laborer or
the wharves, encountering the same
shameful and unmanly jealousy OF
colored competition that had nearly
cost him his life at Baltimore; and
which would not allow him to work
at his trade as caulker by the side
OF white men. Being a protesting
Christian, he was interested in reli-
gious meetings, where he was ac-
customed to pray and e1hort, a
practice which probably had some
thing to do with his wonderful SUBJ
sequent success as public speaker
The first demonstration of his
eloquence which attracted public
attention was at meeting mainly
OF colored people, in which were
considered specially the claims O.
the Colinization Society. Here
began to be emitted specimens of
that fiery eloquence from his capa-
cious soul, burning with the un-
fading and indignant memories of
the wrongs, outrages, and the deep
injustices which slavery had inflicted
on him, and which it was now in
fiicting upon his brethren in bonds.
OF course, the few white Abolition
lists Of New Bedford were not long
in finding out the young fugitive,
appreciating his gifts and promise
Of usefulness, and in devising ways
OF extending his range OF effort for
their unpopular cause. Attending
an anti-slavery convention at Nan
tucket, he was persuaded to address
the meeting. His speech here seems
to have been sinsulsrly eloquent
and effective. Among those present
was MIR. Garrison, who bore his
testimony, both then and afterward,
of "the extraordinary emotion it
exerted on his own mind and of the
powerful impression it exerted upon
crowded auditcry." He declared,
too. that Patrick Henry had never
made a more eloquent speech in
the cause of liberty than the one
they had just listened to from the
lips OF that hunted fugitive" Nsth-
aniel p. Rogers, editor OF the Herald
IF Freedom, thus characterized o |
speech made by him the same year. |
After speaking of his Commanding
figure and heroic port" his head
that would strike a phrenologist
amid sea of them in Exeter Hail."
he adds: "As speaker he has few
equals. 1t Is not defamation; but
oratory, power of debate. -. He
has wit, argument, sarcasm, pathos,
al that frst-rate men show in their
master efforts"
This language, especially that of
Mr.. Garrison, seems extravagant
md the laudation excessive; nor
,ould it be accepted as a general
md critical estimate of Mr.. Douglass
Is an orator, great as his powers
'onfessedly were and are. His
speech was unquestion-
.bly one of those rare bursts of elo-
luence, little less than inspiration,
which are sometimes vouchsafed to
man in his happiest moods; when
he speaker seems to rise above
limself and to take his audience .
nth him. Besides, there was GER ,
ainly much in the circumstances
nd surroundings of that meeting
0 impress the minds and stir the
of such al assembly. !
IN that isle of the sea, at some dis
snce from the mainland, it could .
asily imagine q picture of the ma
ion overshadowed by the dark
lond of slavery, and PROSTATE be- l
cath despOtism, pressing alike +
3, kIo ctauon ak Tho Co.,xh AL |