Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
CHAPTER IX.
EXTRACTS FROM HIS SPEECHES AND LECTURES.
WE shall now make a few additional selections
from his speeches and lectures to show further
his style as orator and writer. We regret we
have no exact report of the Nantucket speech, to
which reference in these pages has already been
made. This was his maiden effort and was the
turning point of his whole life. I quote from Mr.
Garrison, who was in attendance upon the convention,
and heard the addresses of the different
speakers. After telling of the fortunate circumstance
that Mr. Douglass was induced to address
the meeting, he gives the impressions made upon
him by the speaker in his remarks on that occasion.
Here is what he says :—
" Fortunate, most fortunate occurrence !—fortunate
for the millions of his manacled brethren,
yet panting for deliverance from their awful thraldrom!
fortunate for the cause of negro emancipation,
and of universal liberty! fortunate for the
land of his birth, which he has already done so
much to save and bless! fortunate for a large circle
of friends and acquaintances, whose sympathy
and affection he has strongly secured by the
many sufferings he has endured, by his virtuous
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