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PREFACE.
Throughout the day regarding August, 1841, I attended a keen anti-thraldom convention in the Nantucket, where it actually was my pleasure becoming familiar with Frederick Douglass, the author of following Narrative. He was a complete stranger in order to almost every person in you to looks; however,, having has just produced their getting away from the south prison-household out of bondage, and you will feeling their interest delighted to look for the values and you will methods of the abolitionists,-regarding which he previously heard a comparatively vague malfunction as he is actually a slave,-he was created provide their attendance, to the event alluded in order to, even when at that time a citizen in the Brand new Bedford.
Lucky, extremely lucky occurrence!-fortunate for the millions of their manacled brethren, yet panting having deliverance off their dreadful thraldom!-fortunate toward reason for negro emancipation, and of common liberty!-fortunate into residential property regarding his beginning, that he has done so much to save and bless!-fortunate to possess a giant community out-of family members and you may colleagues, whose sympathy and you will passion they have strongly protected of the of several sufferings they have experienced, of the their virtuous attributes of reputation, by the their actually ever-abiding remembrance of these who're from inside the bonds, to be likely together!-fortunate for the thousands, in almost any parts of all of our republic, whose minds he's got enlightened on the subject of bondage, and you can who were melted so you can tears from the his pathos, or roused to virtuous indignation by their stirring eloquence up against the enslavers of men!-lucky for himself, as it simultaneously introduced him for the field of personal usefulness, “provided the country promise out of a guy,” quickened this new slumbering powers out of their soul, and consecrated your towards the higher work away from damaging the rod of the oppressor, and you may permitting the fresh new oppressed go 100 % free!
I will remember 1st address in the conference-brand new over the top emotion they thrilled inside my notice-the fresh effective effect it authored through to a packed auditory, entirely taken because of the amaze-the fresh new applause and therefore used right away to your stop from his felicitous statements. I think I never ever disliked bondage thus greatly as the at this moment; indeed, my impression of your own astounding rage that is inflicted by it, with the godlike character of the victims, are made so much more clear than before. Here endured you to definitely, when you look at the physical ratio and prominence commanding and you will perfect-into the intelligence luxuriously blessed-inside natural eloquence a beneficial prodigy-in the heart manifestly “composed but a tiny lower than the fresh angels”-yet , a servant, ay, good fugitive servant,-trembling to possess their coverage, hardly adventurous to believe that into American floor, one light individual will be receive who does befriend your whatsoever danger, toward love of Goodness and mankind! Able to large attainments due to the fact a cerebral and you may moral getting-in need of nothing but a relatively small amount of cultivation and make your a design so you're able to area and you may a true blessing to help you his race-by legislation of homes, by the voice of the people, by terms of the newest servant password, he was only an item of possessions, a beast out of load, a great chattel personal, nevertheless!
A beloved friend of The fresh new Bedford prevailed towards Mr. Douglass to address the brand new convention. He appeared forward to the platform that have good hesitancy and you will pity, necessarily the brand new attendants away from a sensitive attention this kind of a manuscript condition. Shortly after apologizing to have their lack of knowledge, and you may reminding the audience that bondage was a bad school for the human being intellect and center, the guy proceeded in order to narrate some of the items in the own history due to the fact a slave, plus in the class regarding their address offered utterance to numerous good opinion and you will exciting reflections. Once he'd removed their seat, full of pledge and you can love, We flower, and you will age, never made a presentation way more eloquent in the reason for independence, as compared to you to we had merely heard in the throat of the hunted fugitive. Therefore i believed during the time-eg try my personal religion now. We reminded the viewers of your danger and therefore encircled so it self-emancipated son within North,-despite Massachusetts, into the ground of Pilgrim Dads, among descendants out-of leading edge sires; and i appealed in it, whether or not they carry out actually ever succeed him to get sent back into bondage,-laws or no rules, structure or no structure. The brand new response are unanimous plus in thunder-tones-“Zero!” “Do you ever succor and you may cover him because the a sis-man-a citizen of your own dated Bay County?” “Sure!” shouted the whole mass, with an electricity thus startling, that the questionable tyrants south out of Mason and 
you can Dixon's line might almost have heard the latest mighty burst of effect, and you can approved it new promise off an invincible devotion, on the behalf of individuals who provided it, to not betray him one to wanders, but to cover up the latest outcast, and you can firmly to abide the effects.