Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-01
OLD ABOLITIONISTS
CoOL-HEADED MEN WITH THE
COURAGE OF THEIR CONVICTIONS
John P. Hale's Stroll Into Hostile Ter
ritory-Pluck of Joshua r. Giddings
Of ohio-Slavery in the District.

Yes, 1t may appear somewhat remarka-
| BILE that |. born and nurtured amid an in
tense pro- slavery atmosphere, had allied
myself with the old abolition party before
l was man grown, but so II was and in
my time / have had the good fortune of
knowing personally many Of the old war
| horses of that organization"
This remark made by an old gentle
man who passed away the hours a week or
| so ago with several friends in a talk about
| party organizations that have now passed
! into history.
Continuing his homily on the subject,
! with numerous references to leading men
! in the old ant-slavery party, he said:
My views upon slavery it existed in
! this country based upon the Scnti-
ments uttered by an old friend of my grand
| father, who frequently visited our family.
/ This man. who was an Englishman by birth
and a Quaker so far any religious creed
was concerned. had the courage of his con-
vlctions and didn't hesitate to express them
no matter where he went ! admired the
| old gentleman sincerely and fervently cher
! ish his memory even unto this day.
/ Through him l learned that slavery was
| not legal and never could be. Not only has
| there never been law on our statute books
| creating it, but going back to antique ages
| history never showed the enactment OF
| law to establish 1t.
Slavery in the District.
| Il remember, ana pTODdbly soHe vi you
| do" he remarked to those present, when
| traffic in slaves fourished to no small ex-
| tent right here-this very District OF Co.
| lumbia and | can recollect very well when
! petition numerously signed. prepared by
| the New England nti-Slavery Society in
| the year 1893, and praying for the abolition
! of the slave trade in the District. was pre-
scented to Congress Among the reputed
! dealers right here in those days many well
! known persons were alleged TO be in the
| business. There was tavern in George
| town in those days mainly for the enter
| tainment of slave dealers. and l tell you
! there was something doing in those days
! between here and Alexandria, as well as
| Richmond and other points south of the Po-
tomac.
| Now. / want to say word about the
pluck and personal courage of the old time
! abolitionists. There used to be an idea
| that these old fellows did not do much
talking outside of their own territory.
| There never was a more erroneous impress
sion, and l just wish to say that this old
! Quaker friend and monitor of mine was one
! of the pluckiest of men, matter where
he was, in upholding HIS convictions. Most
| of you recolect the old abolitionists of this
city, Lewis Clephane, Dan Goodloe, CANA
| liel Bailey and that coterie. Did you ever
| hear of one of them showing the white
| feather?
Defended Their Convictions.
There was sometimes dispersion made
|
| halls of Congress. remember one day
when some senator in the pro-slavery group
| in the Senate made an assertion that could
easily be twisted into a defiance to any
| anti-slavery man to advocate his views in
| southern territory. Jolly, old John p. Hale
| of New Hampshire took II up and Jeered
| at 1t. AS proof that he was not alarmed
| at finding himself In southern territory he.
with his hands in his pockets, nonchalantly
| strolled over to the democratic camp, shook
| hands with some of his southern acquaint-
| ances on that side of the chamber, and
| with a grin on his intellectual face, walked
| ba elk again into home quarters.
| Stevens and Giddings.
| sMost of YOU knew old Triad Stevens OF
| PENNSYLVANIA He died in this city at his
| residence right under the shadow of the
| CAPITOL. in August, 1868. He was one OF the
! most fearless men who ever sat in the
| House of Representatives and stood always
ready to take the consequences, physical or
| otherwise
.Then there was Joshua r. Giddngs OF
| Ohio He never quailed in the presence or
| man One time when he was making
| speech representative from Georgia
| with a huge club in his hand raised 1t
and told the Ohio man IL he repeated the
| language of certain remarks he had made
| he would knock him down. Giddings SAID
| in a subsequent speech that he never had
| been knocked down, and having some
| curiosity to know how il felt he repeated
| the language. There was a hostile DEM
| onstration, in which several pro-slavery
| men took part, but no one was Knocked
| down.
| And so I might go on until midnight
| telling of similar acts of cool courage on
the part of old-time abolitionists, but
| what's the use? Everybody knows some
thing about their caliber."