The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-10-19
THE DISTINGUISHED CoLoREp Or
ATOR.

illustrated Correspondence Nc,c WORTH West
The colorcd people Of America are now
very thoroughly organized for the protection
Of their rights, aud at their national coHyen-
ton in Louisville, KY, Frederick Douglass,
the famous colorcd orator and journalist,
was elected permanent chairman. The col
ored men could not find among their number
q more able and trustworthy leader, or
man OF more influence IN political councils.
Mr.. Douglass Is not aware Of the exact
date Of bis birth, but thinks that II was In
the year 1917. His father was a white man
and his mother a negro slave, and Tucaka-
hoe, on the eastern shore Of the Maryland,
place noted for the sterllity Of its soil and
the wretchedness Of its inhabitants, was his
birthplace. lie was reared as a negro slave
on the plantation Of Col. Edward Lloyd, and
at ten years of age was transferred TO rela-
tive Of his owner at Baltimore. lie endured
great suferings as slave, which were the
more keenly felt on account of his extraor-
binary intelligence. The story is familiar
how he first learned to make the letters Of
the alphabet by studying the carpenters
marks on the planks and timbers, In the ship
yard at Baltimore. lie used TO listen TO bis
mistress reading the Bible with curious in
terest, and he longed TO learn the secret
which enabled her TO read and enjoy the
holy book. One day he asked her If she
would not teach him TO read. The good
lady consented, and he proceeded with such
aptitude and rapidity that his master, who
did not believe Gin teaching niggers to read,'
SUNNI arily put an end to the good work. In
spite of every obstacle which was thrown In
his way, he at length learned TO read, and
in company with another young man started
O Sunday school. This excited the religious
indignation Of the church people, and the
Sunday school was rudely broken up at one
Of It's sessions. His sensitive nature began
to chafe under the hardships TO which he
was subjected, and the ignominy which
rested on his race. His whole soul was In
rebellion and he resolved, Heaven helping
him, to break away from his bondage. For
many years he kept secret the manner OF his
escape, but it was made known not long
since.
Procuring what was called a sailors pro-
lection papers from friend who had been
seaman, and making himself up to answer
the description in 1t as nearly as possible, he
boarded the train at Washington and sue
ceeded In reaching New York. Thence pro-
ceeding to New Bedford, Mass, he married
a colored woman and settled down. He
worked here until 1S41, when he attended an
Anti. Slavery Convention at Nantucket and
spoke so eloquently that he was immediate |
ly employed as lecturer by the Massachu-
sets Anti-Slavery Society, and for four years
he occupied the platform with great success.
In 1915 he published his Autobiography and |
accepted an invitation TO make a lecturing |
tour in Great Britain, where ESQ were con-
tributed for the purchase of his freedom. In |
1917 he established a weekly abolition news |
paper at Rochester, n Y, called "Freder- |
lex Douglass Paper" He was not in favor |
of the extreme measures employed by John |
Brown, and during the war he Insisted on |
the active cooperation of the colored people. |
In 1871, he was Secretary to the Santo Do |
mingo Commission, and was made presi-
Dental elector for the State of New York |
in 1872. He was appointed United States |
Marshal for the District Of Columbia by |
President Hayes, which position he still
holds. lie is forcible and fluent speaker,
very formidable In debate.