Calvin Fairbanks in Jail
December 12, 1851
From Louisville, Nov. 13, Fairbanks writes from jail, “once more” for having given aid and comfort to an oppressed slave”. He gives an account of the event, and appeals for assistance.
Women’s Convention in Indiana
November 7, 1851
Henry C. Wright, writes from Indiana, where he has attended a Women’s Convention. The Convention has adopted several strong anti-slavery resolutions. One Methodist leader, Bible in hand, has spoken of the Biblical injunction of the right of men to compel obedience by women, and to use brute force to do so… “..the last half-day was devoted exclusively to the consideration of woman in slavery as a chattel.”
Pro-Slavery Sentiment in Indiana, Calvin Fairbanks
November 7, 1851
Writing from Jeffersonville, Fairbanks tells of the need of Abolitionist speakers in Indiana. “Public sentiment is more pro-slavery here than in Kentucky, because in Kentucky, many of the people are beginning to see the advantage of freedom over slavery, and many are convicted of their former sins on this point. Here, the people have not felt and seen its enormity, and being less with the colored people, they have become more prejudiced against them.”
Agitation Among The Friends
November 7, 1851
An item from Philadelphia, signed only “J.N.”, comments on a recent Friends Meeting, at Cherry Street. A member of the Society, during his remarks, speaks against the Fugitive Slave Law, remarking on its “irreligious character”. One of the elders interrupted him, by saying” that communication was not acceptable to the meeting”. The meeting was broken up, but a few hundred remained, including Lucretia Mott, who “expressed her protest against the arbitrary outrage that had been committed”. The writer says that a similar thing has happened before, and concludes, “It is a shame, yet the truth must be published to the world.”
Another fugitive escape
October 3, 1851
Under the title Another Shadrach Case, here is an account from Syracuse, of a man named Henry, who while on a charge of having escaped from slavery, was being examined by a Commissioner. During the examination he succeeded in making an escape. He was recaptured, and returned to the police. He was finally rescued, and “it is believed is now in safety. The latest dispatch states that the military are still under arms, and the whole city in the highest state of excitement.”
William and Ellen Craft
September 26, 1851
From the London Morning Advertiser, comes news that the Crafts have been received as pupils in the Ockham Schools, which were established by Lady Byron. William is giving boys instruction in carpentering and cabinet-making, while Ellen is “communicating some of her varied manual acquirements to the girls. The children are greatly attached to her, and both she and her husband are happy, industrious, and making progress in their pursuits.”
A joke (and maybe stereotype of Irish)
August 22, 1851
“The following is an Irishman’s description of making a cannon —- ‘take a long hole and pour brass or iron around it.’”
New England School of Design for Women
August 8, 1851
This article tells of the intent to create the School, indicates that there will be a meeting at which the Board of Directors will be chosen, and encourages subscriptions to support the effort. The editor introduces the article with these words: “Here is a new philanthropic and important enterprise, to which we give our warmest commendation. The amplest success to it!”
National Convention of Colored People
August 8, 1851
An account of the Convention, held at Albany. Resolutions expressed an opposition to the colonization scheme, “claiming the right to remain here and follow respectively whatever business pursuits the colored man may choose.” Also there was opposition to the Fugitive Slave Law, and another resolution supporting the right of colored children to be educated at the common schools with white children. There was also a resolution to petition for an amendment to the Constitution, granting the right to vote to the colored man, and another favoring the settlement upon lands granted to colored people by Gerrit Smith.
The Hutchinson’s denied hall in St. Louis
August 8, 1851
An account of a scheduled concert by the Hutchinsons, in Wyman’s Hall. There had been some discussion about allowing them to perform. On the evening prior to their appearance, during a break in the concert, My Wyman announced that, “having become aware of their ‘unenviable and odious public career’, he had deemed it his duty to break the engagement with them. He therefore announced that there would be not concert in that hall to-morrow night. His speech was warmly applauded.”