Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS. 99
slave, trembling for his safety, hardly daring to
believe that on the American soil a single white
person could be found who would befriend him
at all hazards, for the love of God and humanity!
As soon as he had taken his seat, filled with hope
and admiration, I arose and declared that Patrick
Henry, of Revolutionary fame, never made a
speech more eloquent in the cause of liberty than
the one we had just listened to from the lips of
that hunted fugitive. So I believed at that time,
such is my belief now."
Afterwards Mr. Douglass, referring to the
remarks he made on this occasion, said that he
had no idea that he was making much of an
effort. Getting over his embarrassment, he
caught the spirit of the meeting and somehow
words came to him spontaneously.
Mr. Douglass in December, 1841, made an
anti-slavery speech in Providence, Rhode Island.
This speech, like the Nantucket one, was never
written out or fully reported. We give the account
of it as furnished by that elegant writer,
N. P Rogers.
" Friday evening was chiefly occupied by colored
speakers. The fugitive Douglass was up
when we entered. This is an extraordinary man.
He was cut out for a hero. In a rising for liberty
he would have been a Toussaint or a Hamilton.
He has the * heart to conceive, the head to