Lincoln Speech Dred Scot

Lincoln Speech on The Dred Scott  Decision


    " No man can vindicate the character, motives and conduct of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence except upon the hypothesis that they referred to the white race alone, and not to the African, when they declared all men to have been created equal-that they were speaking of British subjects on this continent being equal to  British subjects born and residing in Great Britain- that
they were entitled to the same inalienable rights, and among them were enumerated life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness.  The Declaration was adopted for the purpose of justifying the colonists in the eyes of the civilized world in withdrawing their allegiance from the British crown, and dissolving their connection with the mother country."

This passage refers to Lincoln giving Justice Douglas view on the the subject of slavery and the question of what to do with the slave. The question of slavery had been plagueing the country since
even before the formation of the union.  His view is that (Douglas) the framers did not intend to
include the African,  as equal.  It was believed that slaves would then be assimilated into white
society, miscegenation would soon follow. He suggest that the framers only meant when it was said of being equal that it was meant for only the British, to be be equal as citizens. Consequently only then having allegiance to the union. There seemed to be great fear in the mingling of white and black
blood.

I write about his because, it relates to us still today.  Although slavery has been abolished in the
de jure sense, it is still de facto.  The climate has shifted from slavery, that now there is e.g.
immigration.  When in reality we are all immigrants.

These articles show how the slave believed that their participation in the war would eventually
allow them freedom.  Not knowing deep rooted prejudices and white male superiority would
ultimately curtailed all those efforts. The slave was by no means able to fight those prejudices
off for the institution of slavery had embedded a system that  would still be prevalent today.
It has keep the African from ever extolling the virtues of societal equality, by never the letting family
structure to develop.  Whereby that important fact would help in the slave mentality for freedom
as opposed to equality.

"Contraband of War"--African American Fugitives To Union Lines

Alfred R. Waud. Contrabands Coming into Camp. Drawing. Chinese white on brown paper. Published in Harper's Weekly, January 31, 1863. Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction Number: LC-USZC4-6173/LC-USZ62-14189 (4-1)

As Union armies moved into the South, thousands of slaves fled to their camps. Although some Union officers sent them back to their masters, others allowed them to remain with their troops, using them as a work force and dubbing them "contraband of war." Of this sketch, Waud, who photographed the "contrabands" and then prepared the drawing for the newspaper, wrote: There is something very touching in seeing these poor people coming into camp--giving up all the little ties that cluster about home, such as it is in slavery, and trustfully throwing themselves on the mercy of the Yankees, in the hope of getting permission to own themselves and keep their children from the auction-block. This party evidently comprises a whole family from some farm . . . .

"Contrabands" at the Nation's Capitol

Contrabands, Camp Brightwood. Washington, D.C., ca. 1863. Carte de visite. Gladstone Collection, Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction Number: LC-USZC4-6158 (4-9)

Black slaves who fled to Union lines, or "contrabands," often proved themselves extremely useful, even before the government enlisted them into service. A group of "contrabands" appear on this calling card. Calling cards, or cartes de visite, with photographs were popular during this era partly because photography was relatively new and the cards provided a means of sharing likenesses with friends and relatives. This one includes images of white officers of the 2nd Rhode Island Camp at Camp Brightwood in the District of Columbia. On the left is Capt. B. S. Brown. In the center is Lt. John P. Shaw, killed in action at the Wilderness, Virginia, May 5, 1864, and on the right is Lt. T. Fry. The "contrabands" with them are not named.

Anthony- Stanton - Douglas

The Working Woman"s Association

     The Working Woman"s movement in the city is already assuming an importance unlooked
for the few who met together searce one month since in the office of the "The Revolution" to
discuss the necessity of doing something for the protection of woman's labor.
     A Working Woman"s Association was organized by Susan B. Anthony, Which now numbers over two hundred members. They are to meet once a month to devise ways and means to open to
themselves new and more profitable employments, that thus by decreasing the numbers in the few
avocations now open to women, they can decrease the supply and raise the wages of those who remain.  They propose, also to demand an increase of wages in all those trades where they now work, beside
men for half pay. This can only be done by combination, for one person alone demanding higher wages can effect nothing, but 5,000 women in any one employment, striking for higher wages, would  speedily bring their employers to terms.

     One of Miss Anthony's most cherished plans is to have magnificent printing establishment, and
a daily paper, owned and controlled and all the work done by woman, thus giving employment to hundreds and making the world ring with a new evangel for women.

Elizabeth Cody Stanton   pages 105-106     November 5, 1865

    This passage is specifically about the equality of the woman, in all aspects of society.  I don't think
you can separate the two. They were very good friends, who shared the same intensity for this equality.
Both of them heavily influenced by Thoreau.

I picked this because it coincides with our lectures, and the learning of philosophy. We get a different
perspective on our own opinions after learning of the struggles of others, which include not just rhetoric but actions.  Each of this persons gave more than lip service.

Frederick Douglas

    Tremendous orator, who was a staunch advocator for he rights of slaves.  Synonymous with the plight of Anthony and Stanton, understood the difficulty in addressing the problems of equality of the slave.  Each one having learned of Thoreau, and used his practices for advancement.  I see the similarities in all three, with all having basically the same qualities.

Henry David Thoreau

     The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies.
They are the standing army; and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most
cases there os no free exercise whatever of the judgement of the moral sense; but they put themselves
on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well.  Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt.They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs.  Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens.
 

This passage relates to the mass of people, who no matter the proffesion they seem to just follow
direction, even though it may be against their own moral principles.  A lot of his writings were based
on his Puritanical religious beliefs.  He feels that one should stand up for their beliefs.  He shows his
validity by not paying his taxes and going to jail. He alludes to the fact that the masses only listen to the leaders, even though they may be wrong. This passage suggest that tou must follow your own mind
and convictions.

     I chose this passage because his words have stood the test of time.  From his support of John Brown,   Who based on his writings may have taken it a too the extreme.In the words of Ganhdi,"I became
convinced that noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good"
No other person has been more eloquent and passionate in getting his idea across than Henry David
Thoreau, as a result of his writings and personal witness,  "We are heirs of a legacy of creative protest
Martin Luther King, Jr. " (autobiography)

                            Fugitive Slave Law  -  Militant Abolition

    These two topics relate to his writings where he alludes that people are machines, They don't use their own minds to do what is morally right.  John Brown's action although he may have known Thoreau, according to his writings on Civil Disobedience were very extreme, he did not advocate violence.  It gives back to writings on Civil Disobedience  where men follow the corrupt government
without any conscious.

           Anti- Slavery Activism - Plea for the Suppression of the Slave Trade

     Thoreau's writings call for activism.  Which is possibly why many learned people have used his writings to develop a platform.  Ganhdi, Martin Mc Carthy, to name a few.  His writings suggest that you should not let government tell you what to do, when the leaders have their own agenda, one should
follow their own mind.