Page 15 - Integrity Seminars - Special Report

"Impudent curiosity" is a memorable description as a base and cowardly outrage; and another,
of independent thinking. From that foundation deprecating and regretting the holding of such a
came Douglass’s love of learning and sustained meeting, by such men, at such a time. We are
commitment to human rights, civil liberties, and told that the meeting was ill-timed, and the
human equality. parties to it unwise.

An example of Douglass's commitment to civil
liberties is his Plea for Freedom of Speech in
Boston (December 9, 1860). The context of these
remarks was the violent disruption of another
speech he had been prevented from delivering a
few days before:

The world knows that last Monday a meeting
assembled to discuss the question: “How Shall
Slavery Be Abolished?” The world also knows
that that meeting was invaded, insulted,

captured by a mob of gentlemen, and thereafter
broken up and dispersed by the order of the
mayor, who refused to protect it, though called
upon to do so . . .

No right was deemed by the fathers of the
Government more sacred than the right of
speech. It was in their eyes, as in the eyes of all

thoughtful men, the great moral renovator of
society and government. Daniel Webster called it
Why, what is the matter with us? Are we going to
a homebred right, a fireside privilege. Liberty is
palliate and excuse a palpable and flagrant
meaningless where the right to utter one’s
outrage on the right of speech, by implying that
thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That,
only a particular description of persons should
of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right
exercise that right? Are we, at such a time, when
which they first of all strike down. They know its
a great principle has been struck down, to
power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and
quench the moral indignation which the deed
powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure
excites, by casting reflections upon those on
to tremble, if men are allowed to reason of
whose persons the outrage has been committed?
righteousness, temperance, and of a judgment to
come in their presence. Slavery cannot tolerate
free speech. Five years of its exercise would Douglass edited newspapers in which he
banish the auction block and break every chain practiced what he proclaimed in Boston. He
in the South. They will have none of it there, for would, on occasion, engage in published debates
they have the power. But shall it be so here? with opponents, knowingly providing a forum for
their views (see e.g. Blight, supra p. 304 and this
related excerpt concerning an ongoing debate
Even here in Boston, and among the friends of between Douglass and Henry Highland Garnet
about colonization of African-Americans to
freedom, we hear two voices: one denouncing
Africa).
the mob that broke up our meeting on Monday

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