Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-20

taught himself reading and writing. There Is no
where Q more pathetic chapter of personal oiogra-
ply than that in which the painful and furtve
studies Of the poor slave boy are described. In
1888, when twenty lone years Id, Douglass carried
out his long-cherished plan Of escape He fed to
New York, and after divers vicissitudes, made his
way TO Massachusetts,. There he married, and
when, in ls40, the long siied anti-savery feeling
Of New England burst out he sstonshed every
body with his sudden appearance - . living ex-
ample of the wrongs of human slavery. His ad-
dresses gave him notoricty, and he was iunedi-
ately wanted" in Maryland. He was safe mo-
where in the American Republic so long as his
ehattelhood was recognized by majority OF the
people of the United States. His owner demand
ed his body to be returned to slavery. But has
romantic career, his commanding talents, and has
recognized services in the cause OF emancipation
had given him some fame. subscription was
opened in England, and in 1916 Frederick Doug
lass was bought, paid for and delivered to him
self by sundry British "sentimen talists, as they
were esteemed. How he was hated and feared by
the slsve-holdng politicians, and how he found It
| necessary TO flee to England after Johh Browns
failure at Harper's Ferry. most OF our readers
know.
The anti slavery people early agitated the prop
osition that slavery should be abolished in the
District of Columbia 1t was held to be mon
strous thing that, in the capital of Republic nom
inay free, there should be an auction block from
which human beings should be bought and sold
Slave pens and barracoons stood in sight OF the
portico of the Capitol Of the United states Sigh
ing captives linked in couples, crept through the
streets of Washington giving the lie daily to the
proud boast that this was the land Of the free
The anti Slavery societies, founded in 1882, while
they affirmed that Congress had no right to inter-
fere with slavery 10 the States did declare that
that body should abolish human sondage IN the
District Of Columbia and wherever the National
Government had exclusive jurisdiction. It was
in vain. The slave power was supreme IN the
National Capital. When DR.. Bailey, in 1917, pro-
claimed in the National Era, bold attempt at
newspaper publishing in the district OF Columbia.
that slave holding and save-tradng should there,
in cease, his Office was besieged By mob, and
his own life put in jeopardy. In 1850, among the
concessions which were made in the famous COM
promise bill of that year, abolition Of the slave
trade in the District Of Columbia offset the infa-
| nous Fugitive Slave law. The National Repuo-
lican Convention of 1860 embodied IN ITS platform
the proposition that Congress had no right to give
legal existence to slavery in any territory OF the
| United States. Slavery was aboli.hed in the DIS
| trict of Columbia by act Of Congress April 10,
| 1862.
For long series Of years the slave-holding oil,
garchy Of Virginia and Maryland gave laws and
manners to that part of the national domain which
contains the capita of the United States. No part
of the South was so furiously secessionist as the
old population of Washington, Georgetown. and
Alexandria. No antquated society in the Z
| treme South so long and so resentfuy refused TO
accept the results OF the civil these people
No old foges anywhere so bitterly despsed street
cars, cooking stoves, and the common appliances
of newer civilization as these. And the fact that
their streets were darkened with crowds OF rag
ged, miserable, and ignorant "contrabands" while
the war ragged nausested them utterly against
| emancipation. They closed the shutters OF their
houses and in suenne,s cursed the day. When
the slave power WAS at its height, the Marshal OF
the district Of Columbia was terrible man. lie
punished the uneasy reluctant slave. When
the courts were too slow, he never failed to he
alert and relentless. After many years, into
such community, and succeeding to such an Of
fee, . man who was q hunted fugitive fro a. slave
cry when it was Q crime to denounce human
bondage, comes to administer the laws OF the
United States. To this simple statement it il not
necessary to add anything. But it is assign OF the
times that colored unsupported to office on
account OF his knowledged fitness, and not from
sentimental cons iderations-takes his official po
stion near the place of his birth In slavery, with
out word of resentful comment being uttered.
The times have changed.