Daniel Thomas Bayley
“Abolitionists never sought place and power. All they asked was freedom, all they wanted was the white man should take his foot off the Negroes neck”[1]– Angelina Grimke
In relation to this statement, to what extent did abolitionist activism play a significant role in the breakdown of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?
Abolitionist activism was a key component in the breakdown of fugitive slave law, and created new ideas for American society, as it was an influential catalyst in setting the wheels of emancipation in motion. The fugitive slave act, enacted in 1850, allowed slaveholders increasing power to pursue and reclaim a fugitive that was under their jurisdiction.[2] As Angelina Grimke’s statement suggested, abolitionist activism was a selfless act of humanity, as prominent abolitionist activists such as the aforementioned Angelina Grimke and her husband, Theodore Weld were open about their relationships with black people, and believed in the freedom of all enslaved black peoples.[3] Activism took on many forms in terms of breaking down the fugitive slave law. These factors include the expansive network of the Underground Railroad, the overt resistance of abolitionists in terms of freeing slaves and the establishment of anti-slavery committees. The amalgamation of these points demonstrated that abolitionist activism resulted in the breakdown of fugitive slave act to a great extent. The city of Oberlin is an effective case study in demonstrating such abolitionist activity.
Firstly, in terms of secretive resistance from abolitionists, the Underground Railroad was an exemplary example of such action. One prominent abolitionist, Thomas Garret, wrote a letter to fellow compatriot, William Still, outlining that he hoped that one family he oversaw in crossing from the slave to the freed states, that the “rest of their days be happy together”.[4] This compassionate attitude demonstrated the idea Grimke highlighted in her statement that abolitionists did not seek place or power, but saw it as their duty to protect the black populous from hardship. Additionally, the case study of Oberlin, in the free state of Ohio, was a prominent place in terms of this network. As figure 1 highlights, Oberlin remembers its integral role in the Underground Railroad through one of its most iconic monuments. This reminder outlined such resistance in Oberlin towards the Fugitive Slave Law. Figure 2 also, was dedicated to the effort of all those who contributed to the success of the Underground Railroad. Both these commemorative messages are a reminder to all of the prominent work of the aforementioned Thomas Garret and many other abolitionist figures that allowed the Underground Railroad to become such an effective network.
Additionally, overt examples of such resistance in Oberlin are demonstrated in the case of the Oberlin-Wellington rescue. The Cleveland Gazette documented a first hand account from Oberlin undergraduate W. E. Lincoln. He told the paper that he came to the aid of a kidnapped black man as he felt obliged rescue him, as he stated “for this poor black man is my brother”.[5] The fact that he identified this black man as a brother indicated the abolitionist humanitarian attitude that everyone deserved freedom. This is further backed up by one of the rescuers in the publication of ‘The Rescuer’, as he stated that they were “charged with the crime of helping a fellowman maintain the liberty of which his captors sought to rob him”.[6] This again emphasised the humanitarian approach from the rescuers of the Oberlin- Wellington rescue. It was this humanitarian thought that made the fugitive law seem an outdated system of order. Figure 3 is a plaque from Oberlin which not only helps to demonstrate the importance of the aforementioned Underground Railroad but additionally the compassionate and humanitarian mind set of abolitionist people in the area. Similar to the figures 1 and 2, this monument displays the significance of Oberlin towards the emancipation of slavery.
Finally, the role of abolitionist committees and societies in the states played a detrimental role on the fugitive slave law. There are many examples of abolitionists collaborating in order to raise greater recognition of the inhumanity of slavery. One key example to illustrate this was the establishment of the New England Anti-Slavery society which was organised by the African Baptist church in Boston during 1832.[7] This committee’s intent was not to cause violence, but to act as an advocate of emancipation, much like Grimke outlined in her statement. In Toronto on the 11th September 1851, the North American Convention was in assembly, in order to discuss the welfare of minorities in modern day western Canada.[8] The Anti-Slavery committee of this region sat in and allowed to contribute to negotiations according to the article, demonstrating that such negotiation and acknowledgment of the growing abolitionist movement meant that action was to be taken against the fugitive slave act.
In relation to the committees forming in Oberlin, many religious professors from Oberlin College were influential in forming and conducting the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue, and freeing a kidnapped black man from his captors. As outlined by one of the rescuers in ‘The Rescuer’, “Ten of us were professors of religion”.[9] This outlined that certain groups were developing in Oberlin, and the fact it was the religious members of the college that were very much the catalyst in abolitionist action such as the aforementioned rescue. Figures 4 and 5 are pictures taken within the first church of Oberlin, where committees and societies congregated, not only to practice religion but to also act as a place to meet and plan abolitionist activities.
In conclusion, the quote Angelina Grimke uses in her speech was highly accurate in terms of understanding the motives and beliefs of many abolitionists. The actions taken by abolitionist activists was incredibly important to the eventual breakdown of the fugitive slave law. This can be seen through several factors such as the success of the Underground Network, especially in places such as Oberlin, the overt resistance as demonstrated through the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue and finally the establishment of anti-slavery committee’s demonstrating the degree of organisation amongst the abolitionist community. All these factors gained significant recognition, especially by the press as outlined from the aforementioned articles from ‘The Cleveland Gazette’ and ‘The Rescuer’. Therefore, the public recognition of abolitionist that a greater number of people started adopting more progressive ideas of race and emancipation meaning that the Fugitive Slave Law was becoming an increasingly outdated policy.
Bibliography
Delbanco, Andrew et al. The Abolitionist Imagination. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012
“Deliver Him That is Spoiled Out Of The Hand Of The Oppressor” The Rescuer, July 4th 1859. Courtesy of the Oberlin College Library
Money, Charles H. “The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 In Indiana.” Indiana Magazine of History 17, no. 2 (1921): 159-98. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27785991
Still, William. The Underground Railroad. New York: Arno Press, 1968
“Voice of the Fugitive” A Project of Knowledge Ontario (Sandwich, Canada West) September 21st 1851 https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://coloredconventions.org/files/original/74e10ad63c45dea986660bef8f7aea19.pdf Accessed: 19/11/2017
Weld, Angelina Grimke. “Address At The Women’s Loyal National League”- ‘The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed’, Blackpast.org. Last Modified 2017. Accessed September 27, 2017 http://www.blackpast.org/1863-angelina-grimke-weld-address-women-s-loyal-national-league
Wellington, W.E. “The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue” Cleveland Gazette. July 10, 1909 http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=V58A4EUCMTUxMTI5NzE5Ni42NDc5ODc6MToxNDoxMjkuMTAwLjI1My44MQ&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=2&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=2&p_docnum=3&p_docref=v2:12B716FE88B82998@EANX-12BBBF0DEFA8D228@2418498-12BA056131D7CBD0@0-12D5BEF99FFE0870@Oberlin-Wellington%20Rescue.%20A%20True%20and%20Full%20Account%20of%20that%20Famous%20and%20Historic%20Affair%20by%20One Accessed: 29/11/2017
Whitfield, Harvey. North to Bondage. Vancouver, BC: The University of British Colombia, 2016
[1] (1863) Angelina Grimke Weld “Address At The Women’s Loyal National League”- ‘The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed’, Blackpast.org. Last Modified 2017. Accessed September 27, 2017 http://www.blackpast.org/1863-angelina-grimke-weld-address-women-s-loyal-national-league
[2] Charles H Money. “The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 In Indiana.” Indiana Magazine of History 17, no. 2 (1921): 159-98. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27785991
[3] Andrew Delbanco et al., The Abolitionist Imagination (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012) p 119
[4] William Still, The Underground Railroad (New York : Arno Press, 1968) p 39
[5] W. E. Wellington. The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue (Cleveland Gazette, July 10, 1909) http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/HistArchive/?p_product=EANX&p_theme=ahnp&p_nbid=V58A4EUCMTUxMTI5NzE5Ni42NDc5ODc6MToxNDoxMjkuMTAwLjI1My44MQ&p_action=doc&s_lastnonissuequeryname=2&d_viewref=search&p_queryname=2&p_docnum=3&p_docref=v2:12B716FE88B82998@EANX-12BBBF0DEFA8D228@2418498-12BA056131D7CBD0@0-12D5BEF99FFE0870@Oberlin-Wellington%20Rescue.%20A%20True%20and%20Full%20Account%20of%20that%20Famous%20and%20Historic%20Affair%20by%20One Accessed: 20/11/2017
[6] “Deliver Him That is Spoiled Out Of The Hand Of The Oppressor” The Rescuer, July 4th 1859. Courtesy of the Oberlin College Library
[7] Andrew Delbanco et al., The Abolitionist Imagination (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012) p 118
[8] “Voice of the Fugitive” A Project of Knowledge Ontario (Sandwich, Canada West) September 21st 1851 https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://coloredconventions.org/files/original/74e10ad63c45dea986660bef8f7aea19.pdf
[9] “Deliver Him That is Spoiled Out Of The Hand Of The Oppressor” The Rescuer, July 4th 1859. Courtesy of the Oberlin College Library