Committees were appointed to listen to southern grievances, and, if possible, devise means of redress for such as might be alleged. As showing their feeling toward me, I may state that a colored man appeared about this time in Knoxville, Tenn., and was beset by a furious crowd with knives and bludgeons because he was supposed to be Fred. The life and times of Frederick Douglass: from 1817-1882 Author's early home—Its charms—Author's ignorance of "old master"—His gradual perception of the truth concerning him—His relations to Col. Edward Lloyd—Author's removal to "old master's" home—His journey thence—His separation from his grandmother—His grief. Anthony's partiality to Aunt Katy—Allowance of food—Author's hunger—Unexpected rescue by his mother—The reproof of Aunt Katy—Sleep—A slave-mother's love—Author's inheritance—His mother's acquirements—Her death. The inquiry was an anxious one, and the blood of the North stood still, waiting for the response. Unfortunate delay—Renewed authority from the United States—Haïti's Refusal—Reasons for the Refusal—The Clyde contract—A dishonest proposition—A strange demand—Haïti's mistake—Bad effect of the Clyde proposition—Final words. This Forbes professed to be an expert in military matters, and easily fastened upon John Brown, and, becoming master of his scheme of liberation, professed great interest in it, and offered his services to him in the preparation of his men for the work before them. My bondage and my freedom ... My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass, 1892, De Wolfe, Fiske & co. edition, in English - New rev. Experience at Covey's summed up—First six month's severer than the remaining six—Preliminaries to the change—Reasons for narrating the circumstances—Scene in the treading-yard—Author taken ill—Escapes to St. Michaels—The pursuit—Suffering in the woods—Talk with Master Thomas—His beating—Driven back to Covey's—The slaves never sick—Natural to expect them to feign sickness—Laziness of slaveholders. The author's early reflections on Slavery—Aunt Jennie and Uncle Noah—Presentiment of one day becoming a freeman—Conflict between an overseer and a slave woman—Advantage of resistance—Death of an overseer—Col. John Brown—The Free Soil Movement—Colored Convention—Uncle Tom's Cabin—Industrial School for Colored People—Letter to Mrs. H. B. Stowe.Nothing lost in my attempt to run away—Comrades at home—Reasons for sending me away—Return to Baltimore—Tommy changed—Caulking in Gardiner's ship yard—Desperate fight—Its causes—Conflict between white and black labor—Outrage—Testimony—Master Hugh—Slavery in Baltimore—My condition improves—New associations—Slaveholder's right to the slave's wages—How to make a discontented slave. At any rate the country was soon relieved of the congressional drag-net and was now engaged in the heat and turmoil of a presidential canvass—a canvass which had no parallel, involving as it did the question of peace or war, the integrity or the dismemberment of the Republic, and, I may add, the maintenance or destruction of slavery. He did not at all object to rousing the nation; it seemed to him that something startling was just what the nation needed. It frightened the timid, but stimulated the brave; and the result was—the triumphant election of Abraham Lincoln. From Wikisource < Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1892) Jump to navigation Jump to search ←Chapter IX. Great changes had now taken place in the public mind touching the John Brown raid. I have a copy of this constitution in Captain Brown's own handwriting, as prepared by himself at my house. Chapter XI→ — CHAPTER X. LIFE AND TIMES.
Meanwhile, I called upon Mr. Henry Watson, a simple-minded and warm-hearted man, to whom Capt. Friends and Fellow Citizens : I warmly … My Bondage and My Freedom
Contrasts—Great House luxuries—Its hospitality—Entertainments—Fault-finding—Shameful humiliation of an old and faithful coachman—William Wilks—Curious incident—Expressed satisfaction not always genuine—Reasons for … Mr. Kagi, his secretary, would The shameful and shocking course of President Buchanan and his cabinet towards this rising rebellion Though disappointed in my tour on the Continent, and called home by one of the saddest events that can afflict the domestic circle, my presence here was fortunate, since it enabled me to participate in the most important and memorable presidential canvass ever witnessed in the United States, and to labor for the election of a man who in the order of events was destined to do a greater service to his country and to mankind than any man who had gone before him in the presidential office.