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Central New York …Hotbed of Abolitionism
What Did Anti-SlaveryAdvocates Want?
The Anti-slavery movement was not
monolithic.
It included:
– Gradualists– Immediatists– Abolitionists
Who Were the Abolitionists?
Abolitionists wanted the
– immediate,
– uncompensated emancipation of
– all slaves.Frederick Douglass
William Lloyd Garrison
• BostonBoston
• The The LiberatorLiberator, 1831, 1831
• Organized New England Organized New England Anti-Slavery Society, 1832Anti-Slavery Society, 1832
The Second “Great Awakening”in the “Burned-Over District”
““No more impressive revival has No more impressive revival has occurred in American history.”occurred in American history.”
Whitney CrossWhitney CrossThe Burned Over DistrictThe Burned Over District
“Oneida County was the birthplace of what has been called the Second Great Awakening. If the First Great Awakening influenced the founding of the nation, this Second Great Awakening helped to determine the great reform movements of the 19th century and influenced dramatically the great debate on slavery which ended in the Civil War. 1826 in Oneida County was a portentous moment for the history of the United States.”
Richard L. Manzelmann,“Revivalism and Reform”
““Most scholars agree that it was revivalism as it came Most scholars agree that it was revivalism as it came out of Oneida County with Charles Finney and his out of Oneida County with Charles Finney and his cohorts that played the crucial role in the 19th century. cohorts that played the crucial role in the 19th century. Revivalism added an urgency, an energy, a moral and Revivalism added an urgency, an energy, a moral and theological imperative to reform that the cool and theological imperative to reform that the cool and general philosophy of the Enlightenment could not general philosophy of the Enlightenment could not supply.”supply.”
Richard L. Manzelmann,Richard L. Manzelmann,““Revivalism and Reform”Revivalism and Reform”
Charles Grandison Finney
“The dominant force behind reform in the 1830s was a tremendous evangelical religious revival generated by one of the greatest preachers of his day, the Reverend Charles Grandison Finney.”
C. S. Griffin,The Ferment of Reform, 1830-1860
Rev. Charles Grandison Finney
• Raised in Oneida Raised in Oneida CountyCounty
• Preached individual Preached individual responsibility for responsibility for salvation and salvation and redemptionredemption
“Mankind will not act until they are excited.”
Charles Grandison Finney
““It is the business of the It is the business of the church to reform the world, church to reform the world, to put away every sin.”to put away every sin.”
Charles Grandison FinneyCharles Grandison Finney
Rev. Finney’s Evangelism
• Invited to New York Mills by George Andrews, superintendent at the textile mills, in 1826.
• First preached in New York Mills school house, and the next day in the Walcott & Campbell spinning mill.
• Led to flood of membership in local Methodist and Presbyterian Churches.
• Later spoke to large audiences in Utica.
• One of his converts was Theodore Weld.
Gerrit Smith
• Born in Utica, 1797
• Son of pioneer merchant, land speculator and slave owner
• Moved to Peterboro, 1806
• Hamilton College, 1818
• Wife related to Robert E. Lee and Fitzhugh Lee.
• Supported many reform Supported many reform movementsmovements
• Supported the American Supported the American Colonization Society Colonization Society
• Believed slavery Believed slavery incompatible with the very incompatible with the very definition of lawdefinition of law
• A biographer said he A biographer said he practiced "Bible politics”practiced "Bible politics”
• Gave away more than $8 Gave away more than $8 million to various causes, million to various causes, especially anti-slavery especially anti-slavery movementmovement
“He is an honest, brave, kind-hearted Christian philanthropist, whose religion is not put aside with his Sunday cloak, but lasts him clear through the week.”
Horace Greeley
Writing about Gerrit Smith in the
New York Tribune
The Abolitionists are nothing more than “misguided philanthropists” whose actions are “little short of treason. The slavery question should not be discussed since slavery is constitutional and since discussion will only provoke sectional rifts that would otherwise disappear.”
Utica Common Council, 1832
Second Presbyterian Church, Utica
• Built in 1826
• Corner of Bleecker & Charlotte Streets in Utica
• Site of first meeting of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society in 1835
The petitioners pray the Council “not submit to the indignation of an abolition assemblage being held in a public building of the city … developed to be used for salutary public objects and not as a receptacle for deluded fanatics or restless incendiaries.”
Petition to Utica Common Council against granting permission for an
anti-slavery meeting, 1835
They “intended to insult us … They “intended to insult us … to degrade the character of the to degrade the character of the city in the esteem of the world city in the esteem of the world … to treat us with the utmost … to treat us with the utmost contempt--insult us to our contempt--insult us to our faces. The laws of propriety faces. The laws of propriety forbid that they should come forbid that they should come here. We are to be picked out here. We are to be picked out as the head-quarters of as the head-quarters of Abolitionism in the state of Abolitionism in the state of New York. Rather than this, I New York. Rather than this, I would almost as soon see it would almost as soon see it [the city] swept from the face of [the city] swept from the face of the earth, or sunk as low as the earth, or sunk as low as Sodom and Gomorrah!” Sodom and Gomorrah!”
Congressman Samuel Beardsley, Congressman Samuel Beardsley, UticaUtica
Beardsley
October 21, 1835
• First meeting of the New York Anti-Slavery Society with between 300 and 400 delegates.
• Disturbance, mobs, yelling, abuse, threats of violence prevented speakers from continuing.
• Gerrit Smith rose and said he was not an abolitionist, but believed in fair play. Invited them to reconvene at Peterboro the next day.
“Resolved, That the right of free discussion, given to us by God, and asserted and guarded by the laws of our country, is a right so vital to man's freedom, and dignity, and usefulness, that we can never be guilty of its surrender, without consenting to exchange that freedom for slavery, and that dignity and usefulness for debasement and worthlessness.”
Gerrit Smith
Gerrit Smith Home
Gerrit Smith Mansion
“Now is the time for men who have souls to speak out.”
Gerrit Smith
Slavery is “robbery, and Slavery is “robbery, and the worst species of it for it the worst species of it for it plunders its victim, not of plunders its victim, not of goods and money, but of goods and money, but of his body, his mind, his his body, his mind, his soul.”soul.”
Gerrit SmithGerrit Smith
Gerrit Smith & Gerrit Smith &
Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass
Gerrit Smith
• Many consider him and William Lloyd Garrison on a par, with Garrison the leader in New England and Smith in Middle Atlantic and Midwestern states.
• Used Bible to denounce slavery.
• Used some of his fortune to purchase freedom of slaves.
• Reward of $20,000 put on his head by a radical Southerner.
1836
• Theodore Weld delivered 16 lectures in Utica to overflow crowds.
• Reportedly 600 people joined the Utica Anti-Slavery Society.
• 184 enrolled in Rome Anti-Slavery Society
• 100 people formed a Young People’s Anti-Slavery Society in New York Mills.
• 1,200 names appeared on a petition to Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia.Theodore Weld
1836
• William Goodell established the anti-slavery newspaper The Friend of Man in Utica.
• 6 Uticans elected to the Executive Committee of the New York Anti-Slavery Society, and to offices of vice president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary and treasurer.
• Stunning victory for the anti-slavery forces.
““The New York abolitionist The New York abolitionist leaders were radical. They leaders were radical. They held ideas which were held ideas which were radical in substance — radical in substance — specifically, immediate specifically, immediate emancipation and political emancipation and political and economic equality for and economic equality for blacks. … they experienced blacks. … they experienced a total commitment to a total commitment to abolitionism.”abolitionism.”
Gerald SorinGerald SorinThe New York AbolitionistsThe New York Abolitionists
““Abolitionism in Utica and Abolitionism in Utica and its environs was sparked by its environs was sparked by some of the nation’s most some of the nation’s most important advocates of important advocates of immediatism.”immediatism.”
Edward MagdolEdward MagdolThe Antislavery Rank and FileThe Antislavery Rank and File
Presbyterian Church, Whitesboro
• 1835: resolution condemning slavery as "a sin against God and man.”
• Called on slaveholding states to free their slaves voluntarily
• Slavery question divided congregation.
Presbyterian Church, New York Mills
• Considerable turnover in ministers who were not Considerable turnover in ministers who were not radical enough for the congregation.radical enough for the congregation.
• Rev. Ira Pettibone, an outspoken “immediatist,” Rev. Ira Pettibone, an outspoken “immediatist,” frequently asked Rev. Beriah Green to address frequently asked Rev. Beriah Green to address congregation.congregation.
• Passed resolution “strongly denouncing slavery” that Passed resolution “strongly denouncing slavery” that formed “as decided a document as the most radical formed “as decided a document as the most radical might ask” (Rev. Austin).might ask” (Rev. Austin).
New York Mills Anti-Slavery Petition, 1837
Welsh Anti-Slavery Petition, 1837
Rev. George Washington Gale
• Converted Finney to Abolitionist cause
• Founded Oneida Institute in 1827 to prepare Finney’s converts for Ministry
• Unique combination of work and study used as a model by many, including Oberlin
• Left in 1834 and replaced by Beriah Green
Oneida Institute of Science and IndustryWhitesboro
First educational institution in the country
to enroll black and white students on an equal basis.
Rev. Beriah Green
• 1795-1874
• Clergyman, Educator, Abolitionist
• President of Oneida Institute in 1834
Oneida Institute
• Board of Directors heavily represented from Utica, Whitesboro & New York Mills.
• Supported financially by Benjamin Walcott of New York Mills.
• Enrolled both black and white students.
• Vied with Oberlin College as leader in African education.
Theodore Weld
• Son of conservative Presbyterian minister in Cazenovia
• Education paid for by British anti-slavery leader Charles Stuart
• Lecturer on temperance and moral reform
• Argued against slavery as a sin against religion
Rev. Jermain W. Loguen
• From Rochester
• Prominent in the movement to colonize Liberia
• Began school for black children in Utica
• Minister in African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Rev. Alexander Crummel
• Active in organizing the New York Association for the Political Improvement of Colored People
• Earned baccalaureate from Queen's College, Cambridge, England
• Became Episcopal minister
• Two decades as missionary in Liberia
• Quarter century as rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC
Rev. Henry Highland Garnet
• Acclaimed public speaker
• Member of the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society
• Joined Liberty Party and fought for Black franchise in NY State
• Assisted escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad
• Presbyterian minister in Britain, Scotland and West Presbyterian minister in Britain, Scotland and West IndiesIndies
• Supported American Colonization SocietySupported American Colonization Society
• In 1854 to Liberia as U.S. Minister Resident; later held In 1854 to Liberia as U.S. Minister Resident; later held same post in Liberia in 1880ssame post in Liberia in 1880s
“Voluntary submission to slavery is a sin. It is your solemn and imperative duty to use every means ... moral, intellectual, and physical, that promises success. You should all stop working. If they then commence the work of death, they and not you will be responsible for the consequences.”
Henry Highland Garnet,
Convention of the Free People of Color,
Buffalo, New York, 1843
Garnet vs. Frederick Douglass
• Garnet advocated slave Garnet advocated slave uprising at the uprising at the Convention in Buffalo, Convention in Buffalo, 18431843
• Douglass urged Douglass urged moderationmoderation
• Douglass purchased Douglass purchased The The North StarNorth Star in Rochester in Rochester and surpassed Garnet as and surpassed Garnet as the chief African-the chief African-American spokesmanAmerican spokesman
Theodore Weld
• Advocate of “Agency Advocate of “Agency System” of identifying System” of identifying local anti-slavery agentslocal anti-slavery agents
• Leading recruiter and Leading recruiter and trainer of local agentstrainer of local agents
• Helped organize the first Helped organize the first nationwide petition nationwide petition campaign. campaign.
• Wrote abolitionism’s Wrote abolitionism’s most famous propaganda most famous propaganda tract--tract--Slavery as It IsSlavery as It Is..
William Goodell
• Editor of Editor of Genius of Genius of TemperanceTemperance, Boston, 1830-, Boston, 1830-3333
• Editor of Editor of EmancipatorEmancipator, , official organ of the official organ of the American Anti-Slavery American Anti-Slavery Society 1833-36Society 1833-36
• Settled in Utica in to edit Settled in Utica in to edit TheThe Friend of ManFriend of Man, 1836-42, 1836-42
• Major contributor to Major contributor to organizing political actionorganizing political action
Gerrit Smith and William Goodell were instrumental in Gerrit Smith and William Goodell were instrumental in organizing the Liberty party in New York State in 1840.organizing the Liberty party in New York State in 1840.
“In this section a Liberty party convention is an Abolition convention, and an Abolition convention a Liberty party convention.
Gerrit Smith to Salmon P. Chase,
May 31, 1842
Compromise of 1850
• Admission of CaliforniaAdmission of California
• Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty
• Fugitive Slave LawsFugitive Slave Laws
Kansas-Nebraska DebateKansas-Nebraska Debate
Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty
Repealed Missouri CompromiseRepealed Missouri Compromise
Further Sectionalized NationFurther Sectionalized Nation
““Beecher’s Bibles”Beecher’s Bibles”
““Border Ruffians”Border Ruffians”
““Popular Sovereignty”Popular Sovereignty”
“Forcing Slavery Down the Throat of a Freesoiler”
Stephen A. Douglas is Stephen A. Douglas is
a "demagogue," a "demagogue," a "scavenger," a "scavenger," a "second Benedict Arnold," a "second Benedict Arnold," an "enemy of Liberty.”an "enemy of Liberty.”
Utica HeraldUtica Herald
Oneida County’s ResponseOneida County’s Response
• 400 names on petition against the act in Rome400 names on petition against the act in Rome
• 755 names on petition against the act in Utica755 names on petition against the act in Utica
• Petitions from New Hartford, Whitesboro, New York Petitions from New Hartford, Whitesboro, New York Mills, Remsen, Prospect, and elsewhere in Oneida Mills, Remsen, Prospect, and elsewhere in Oneida CountyCounty
• In Whitesboro Stephen A. Douglas was hung in effigy In Whitesboro Stephen A. Douglas was hung in effigy and then burned in a tar barrel.and then burned in a tar barrel.
““The traitor Douglas will be ordered down at 8 The traitor Douglas will be ordered down at 8 this evening and burned in a tar barrel at the this evening and burned in a tar barrel at the stake. By order of the Guard of Liberty.stake. By order of the Guard of Liberty.
Whitesboro, June 15, 1854. Whitesboro, June 15, 1854.
P.S. A band is expected to play the rogues march P.S. A band is expected to play the rogues march and other appropriate airs on this occasion, for and other appropriate airs on this occasion, for the Prince of Doughfaces and enemy of Liberty.”the Prince of Doughfaces and enemy of Liberty.”
Utica Morning HeraldUtica Morning Herald
Dred Scott DecisionDred Scott Decision
• ““Surely there can be fewer great monstrosities than the Surely there can be fewer great monstrosities than the proposition that one race has the right to enslave another.” proposition that one race has the right to enslave another.” -- Roscoe ConklingRoscoe Conkling
• "A new code of political ethics is pronounced: a new theory of "A new code of political ethics is pronounced: a new theory of Government has been discovered. It is not a Republic, but a Government has been discovered. It is not a Republic, but a Despotism we are living under. The Constitution is not a chart Despotism we are living under. The Constitution is not a chart of freedom, but an instrument of Bondage. The object of the of freedom, but an instrument of Bondage. The object of the Government is not to protect the liberties of the People, but to Government is not to protect the liberties of the People, but to further the interests of Slavery. It is not Freedom that is further the interests of Slavery. It is not Freedom that is national, but Slavery.”national, but Slavery.” - Utica HeraldUtica Herald
The “Secret Six”
Dr. Samuel Gridley HoweDr. Samuel Gridley Howe• Born in BostonBorn in Boston
• Graduated from Brown Graduated from Brown Univ. and Harvard Medical Univ. and Harvard Medical SchoolSchool
• Director, Perkins Institute Director, Perkins Institute for the Blindfor the Blind
• Developed system of Braille Developed system of Braille and published first Braille and published first Braille New TestamentNew Testament
• ““I do not like caution. It I do not like caution. It betokens little faith in God’s betokens little faith in God’s arrangements.”arrangements.”
Franklin B. SanbornFranklin B. Sanborn• Born in New HampshireBorn in New Hampshire
• Graduate of HarvardGraduate of Harvard
• Opened a college Opened a college preparatory school in preparatory school in Concord, NHConcord, NH
• His “quiet, steadfast His “quiet, steadfast earnestness and ethical earnestness and ethical fortitude are of the type fortitude are of the type that calmly, so calmly, that calmly, so calmly, ignites and then throws ignites and then throws bomb after bomb” bomb after bomb” (Henry (Henry David Thoreau)David Thoreau)..
George Luther SternsGeorge Luther Sterns
• Medford, MAMedford, MA
• Prosperous businessmanProsperous businessman
• Backed Charles Sumner’s Backed Charles Sumner’s political careerpolitical career
• Fugitive Slave Act: Fugitive Slave Act: Purchased revolver and Purchased revolver and vowed “no runaway will be vowed “no runaway will be taken from my premises.”taken from my premises.”
Rev. Theodore ParkerRev. Theodore Parker
• Born in BostonBorn in Boston
• Harvard Divinity SchoolHarvard Divinity School
• Believed in God’s “Higher Believed in God’s “Higher Law”Law”
• Outspoken abolitionistOutspoken abolitionist
• ““All the great charters of All the great charters of humanity are writ in blood humanity are writ in blood and must continue to be for and must continue to be for some centuries.”some centuries.”
Thomas Wentworth HigginsonThomas Wentworth Higginson• Harvard Divinity SchoolHarvard Divinity School
• Believed clergy had an Believed clergy had an obligation to promote obligation to promote reformreform
• Supported Parker’s “Higher Supported Parker’s “Higher Law” philosophyLaw” philosophy
• Exceptionally radicalExceptionally radical
• 1854 led assault on Boston 1854 led assault on Boston jail to free fugitive slavejail to free fugitive slave
• Thereafter supported Thereafter supported disuniondisunion
Gerrit Smith
• Annual income in excess of $60,000 (over $1 million today)
• A founder of the anti-slavery Liberty Party in 1840
• Endorsed African repatriation and compensated emancipation, but soon rejected both
• Benefactor of Oberlin College
• Set aside 120,000 acres near Lake Placid to resettle ex-slaves.
– About 3,000 small farms.– Franklin, Essex, Hamilton, Fulton, Oneida, Delaware,
Madison and Ulster Counties.– Each deed was 40 to 60 acres.– Many were valuable for the timber growing on them.
John Brown
• Failed at business and farming
• To Kansas in 1855 with his five sons
• Sack of Lawrence
• Pottawatomie Massacre
“Bleeding Kansas”
““Captain John Brown,Captain John Brown,
I have known you many years, and have highly esteemed I have known you many years, and have highly esteemed you as long as I have known you. I know your you as long as I have known you. I know your unshrinkable bravery, your self-sacrificing benevolence, unshrinkable bravery, your self-sacrificing benevolence, your devotion to the cause of freedom, and have long your devotion to the cause of freedom, and have long known them. May heaven preserve your life and health, known them. May heaven preserve your life and health, and prosper your noble purposes!”and prosper your noble purposes!”
Gerrit Smith, 1856Gerrit Smith, 1856
““Much as I abhor war, I nevertheless believe that there Much as I abhor war, I nevertheless believe that there are instances when the shedding of blood is are instances when the shedding of blood is unavoidable. … The slave will be delivered by the unavoidable. … The slave will be delivered by the shedding of blood and the signs are multiplying that his shedding of blood and the signs are multiplying that his deliverance is at hand.”deliverance is at hand.”
Gerrit Smith to Joshua Giddings, 1858Gerrit Smith to Joshua Giddings, 1858
““For several years I have frequently given him money For several years I have frequently given him money towards sustaining him in his conquests with the slave-towards sustaining him in his conquests with the slave-power. Whenever he shall embark in another of these power. Whenever he shall embark in another of these contests I shall again stand ready to help him; and I will contests I shall again stand ready to help him; and I will begin with giving him a hundred dollars. I do not wish to begin with giving him a hundred dollars. I do not wish to know Captain Brown’s plans. I hope he will keep them know Captain Brown’s plans. I hope he will keep them to himself.”to himself.”
Gerrit Smith to Franklin B. Sanborn,Gerrit Smith to Franklin B. Sanborn,
Summer,1858Summer,1858
• Believed slavery could be ended only by the sword
• Rented farm in Maryland
• 17 white & 5 black recruits
• 18 men to arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia
• No plans or supplies
Harper’s Ferry
The Engine House
Storming the Engine House
John Brown Prison
““I am worth inconceivably more to hang than for any I am worth inconceivably more to hang than for any other purpose.”other purpose.”
John Brown to FamilyJohn Brown to Family
“I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with Blood.”
John Brown Note to Jailer
December 2, 1859
John Brown HomeNorth Elba, NY
John Brown Grave
John Brown “will make the gallows as glorious as the cross.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
““No breath of shame can touch his shieldNo breath of shame can touch his shield
Nor ages dim its shineNor ages dim its shine
Living, he made life beautifulLiving, he made life beautiful
Dying, made death divine.”Dying, made death divine.”
Louisa May AlcottLouisa May Alcott
Northern abolitionists “designed to slaughter sleeping Northern abolitionists “designed to slaughter sleeping Southern men and their awakened wives and children.”Southern men and their awakened wives and children.”
Edmund RuffinEdmund Ruffin
““The day ofThe day of
compromise is passed.”compromise is passed.”
Charleston MercuryCharleston Mercury
• When Brown was captured a canceled check for $100 from Gerrit Smith was found in his pocket
• Warrant issued for Smith’s arrest
• Armed neighbors and blacks surrounded his house to defend him
• Smith “suffered a breakdown”
• Committed to the New York State Lunatic Asylum in Utica (an institution he financially supported)
Conclusions
• Oneida County was one of the first areas in the nation to actively support anti-slavery initiatives and more radical abolitionism.
• Oneida County held a place of prominence in Oneida County held a place of prominence in the development of the abolitionism the development of the abolitionism movement nationally, and the shaping of the movement nationally, and the shaping of the anti-slavery debate.anti-slavery debate.
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