Lawrence of Brookline.ġ3 - The struggle in Kansas between the pro-slavery and the anti-slavery factions raged until 1858, and the aid sent to John Brown, and others was largely the result of the labors of Mr. On July 30th, of that year, a band of emigrants, sent out by the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society, settled at Lawrence, Kansas, and set up " squatter government." This town was named for Amos A. In 1854 the attention of the abolitionists was directed to the settlement of Kansas. ![]() It is needless to say that the meeting was a great success and one that was long remembered. As Phillips, the most eloquent man of his time, addressed them, the audience swayed back and forth, moved by his great personal magnetism. Wendell Phillips was the speaker, and the hall was crowded to its utmost capacity. The most effective and stimulating meeting ever held in the old Town Hall was in 1855. ![]() This gentleman, because of his practice in lecturing, was much at home on the platform, and conducted the meetings with credit to himself and to the town. Bowditch, the most prominent abolitionist in Brookline, is reported to have made a fine address in calling one of the meetings to order. Jackson, and from there safely reached Canada. In the afternoon the slave was sent on to Mr. Browne, drove the fugitive to Brookline, reaching there in time for dinner. The boat soon reached South Boston Point. Bowditch, always awake to the humor of even the most dangerous situation, could not restrain his laughter to think how easily the mate had been fooled. ![]() And in about two minutes from the time that they hailed the ship, the triumphant party was headed back for the city with the negro safe on board. As the party came alongside the coaster, Captain Bearse called out to a man on deck: "Is the cap'n aboard?" "No, sir." "Is the first mate there?" "I'm the man." " Well, I want that nigger damned quick! " Supposing that the stranger had authority, the mate, without hesitation, produced the poor slave from his tiny pen at the keel of the vessel. The latter replied that he had no plan, but would depend on the inspiration of the moment. Bowditch asked the captain, Austin Bearse, how he had planned to rescue the slave. Browne, hastily called together, put off from Long Wharf about nine o'clock in the "Moby Dick," a vessel owned by the Vigilance Committee. On the morning of that day the committee were notified that a slave was secreted in the brig Florence from Wilmington, anchored off Fort Independence. An interesting case occurred on July 15th, 1853. Many of the fugitives came concealed in coasting vessels, and the Vigilance Committee were especially watchful for this class of runaways. They were part of an educational movement to create and strengthen public sentiment against slavery, and undoubtedly the eloquence of the orators won over many supporters. Not so many of them were held in Brookline as in other more enthusiastic places, but the meetings that did take place were always very interesting and were well conducted. Important factors in this popular change of opinion were the anti-slavery meetings that began to be held in the town. ![]() But in 1850 a genuine anti-slavery feeling began to appear in Brookline, and from that time on there was a steady decline of the pro-slavery sentiment, and a consequent strengthening of the abolition party. Its citizens were too conservative and aristocratic to take kindly to any new ideas which were antagonistic to the opinions that had always prevailed consequently it was almost impossible for the Brookline abolitionists to make headway against notions of such long standing. Before that time it was in no way an anti-slavery town. 13 - The passage of the Fugitive Slave Law, on September 9th, 1850, made a great change in the general feeling in Brookline.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |