Front cover image for His brother's blood : speeches and writings, 1838-64

His brother's blood : speeches and writings, 1838-64

His Brother's Blood is a story about ending slavery in America told in the words of one of the most eloquent and influential leaders of the antislavery movement -- Owen Lovejoy (1811-64). In 1837, Owen Lovejoy knelt before the dead body of his brother Elijah, an antislavery newspaper publisher killed by an angry proslavery mob in Alton, Illinois. It was then that he vowed never to forsake the cause that was now sprinkled with his brother's blood. Instead of seeking revenge on the murderers, Lovejoy dedicated himself to work with others to eradicate the system of racial slavery. In 1839, Lovejoy became a Congregational minister, serving in Princeton, Illinois, until 1856. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives that same year and became a powerful antislavery voice in the 37th Congress. Lovejoy faced prosecution several times for using his Princeton home to harbor slaves on their way north, and in 1852 he invited Frederick Douglass to Princeton, to promote opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.Lovejoy also helped to organize the Liberty Party, the Free Soil Party, the Free Democratic Party, and the Republican Party, blending religion with pragmatism in a new way, different from that of the Eastern abolitionists. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1854 and supported Lincoln in his bid for U.S. senator. In the summer of 1856 when Lovejoy was nominated for Congress, Lincoln was at first upset, but within a month realized Lovejoy's political strength and supported him indirectly. In Congress, Lovejoy served as a bridge between the Radical Republicans and Lincoln. Lovejoy said of Lincoln, "If he does not drive as fast as I would, he is on the same road, and it is a question of time." Lincoln said of Lovejoy, "It would scarcely wrong any other to say, he was my most generous friend." His Brother's Blood is the first comprehensive collection of Lovejoy's sermons, campaign speeches, open letters, congressional exchanges, and addresses. It offers a colorful and important perspective on the turmoil leading up to the Civil War and the excitement in Congress that produced universal emancipation.
Print Book, English, 2004
Univ. of Illinois Press, Urbana, 2004
XXVI, 432 Seiten : Illustrationen
9780252029196, 0252029194
260113981
Forewordxi
Paul Simon
Prefacexiii
Introductionxix
Editorial Methodxxvii
Chronologyxxix
PART 1: MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY, 1838--42
Introduction: Sinners, Saints, and God-fearing Folk
1(3)
Open Letter to the Citizens of Alton, Illinois, 1838
4(11)
Open Letter from the Rock River Congregational Association of Illinois to the Reformed Church of Scotland, July 16, 1841
15(4)
Sermon on the Supremacy of the Divine Law, January 1842
19(6)
Open Pastoral Letter to the Rock River Congregational Association, March 26, 1842
25(8)
Sermon on Religion and Politics, July 21, 1842
33(15)
PART 2: MEMBER OF THE LIBERTY PARTY, 1842--48
Introduction: Evangelicals, Republicans, and Political Organizers
45(3)
Address to the Liberty Party of Illinois, May 27, 1842
48(7)
Open Letter Entitled ``No Sin to Steal,'' July 26, 1842
55(3)
Reports on Speeches at the National Liberty Party Convention in Buffalo, New York, August 30--31, 1843
58(3)
Open Letter upon Returning from the Liberty Party Convention in Buffalo, New York, September 8, 1843
61(2)
Sermon Entitled ``Christ Died for All, without Regard to Person, Age, Rank or Color,'' July 1844
63(2)
Report on Speeches at the Northwestern Convention of the Liberty Party in Chicago, June 1846
65(5)
Two Letters and a Report While Canvassing in Massachusetts for the Liberty Party, Fall 1846
70(7)
Report on Two Speeches at the Last National Liberty Party Convention, Buffalo, New York, October 20, 1847
77(5)
PART 3: MEMBER OF THE FREE SOIL AND FREE DEMOCRATIC PARTIES, 1848--54
Introduction: Perfectionists, Opportunists, and Religious Change Agents
79(3)
Open Letter in Response to Political Questions in the Aurora Guardian, July 14 and 15, 1848
82(4)
Open Letter upon Returning from the Free Soil Convention in Buffalo, New York, August 22, 1848
86(2)
Sermon on the Signs of the Coming Reign of the Messiah, January 1850
88(5)
Report on the Free Democratic State Convention, October 25--26, 1853
93(7)
PART 4: LEADER IN FORMING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, 1854--56
Introduction: Douglas, Lincoln, and Fusion
97(3)
Report on Remarks at the State Republican Convention, October 4--5, 1854
100(2)
Report on a Speech in the Illinois State Legislature on ``Colored People'' Having the Right to Testify in Court, January 11, 1855
102(3)
Speech and Reporter's Comments on Three Antislavery Resolutions Given in the Illinois State Legislature, February 6 and March 5, 1855
105(16)
Opening Prayer at the First National Meeting of the Republican Party, February 22, 1856
121(2)
Report on a Speech at the First National Meeting of the Republican Party, February 22, 1856
123(3)
Reports on the ``Lost Speech'' at the Bloomington, Illinois, Anti-Nebraska State Nominating Convention, May 29--31, 1856
126(3)
Reports on a Speech after the Bolter's Convention in Bloomington, Illinois, July 16, 1856
129(6)
Report on a Campaign Speech for Congress at Neponset, Illinois, October 26, 1856
135(5)
PART 5: MINORITY GADFLY MEMBER OF THE 35TH CONGRESS, 1857--59
Introduction: Ruffians, Abusers of Power, and ``Fanatics''
137(3)
First Speech in Congress, on Deception in the Treasury Note Bill, December 21, 1857
140(2)
Speech Entitled ``Human Beings, Not Property,'' in Response to the Supreme Court Decision on the Dred and Harriet Scott Case, February 17, 1858
142(12)
Remarks on Contract Corruption during the Debate on the Deficiency Bill, April 2 and 7, 1858
154(2)
Remarks on the Decoration of the Agriculture Committee Room, May 19, 1858
156(1)
Acceptance Speech on Receiving Unanimous Renomination at the Joliet, Illinois, Convention, June 30, 1858
157(4)
National Sabbath Speech at Bryant's Grove, Princeton, Illinois, July 22, 1858
161(1)
Report on a Speech after the First Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858
162(2)
Report on a Speech on the Fugitive Slave Law after the Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Freeport, Illinois, August 27, 1858
164(2)
Speech on the Fanaticism of the Democratic Party, February 21, 1859
166(14)
Speech at the Mount Vernon Association, Princeton, Illinois, May 25, 1859
180(6)
PART 6: PARTISAN REPUBLICAN MEMBER OF THE 36TH CONGRESS, 1860--61
Introduction: Voters, Compromisers, and Promise Keepers
183(3)
Speech Championing the Homestead Bill, March 26, 1860
186(5)
Debate on Slavery, Conducted under Hostile Conditions in Congress, April 5, 1860
191(20)
Reports on and Concluding Remarks of a Campaign Speech Near Alton, Illinois, July 20, 1860
211(4)
Report on a Campaign Speech at Greenup, Illinois, August 16, 1860
215(1)
Report on a Campaign Speech at Freeport, Illinois, September 12, 1860
216(9)
Campaign Speech at the Chicago Wigwam, October 15, 1860
225(22)
Resolution on Obedience to the Constitution and the Defense of National Property, December 17, 1860
247(3)
Speech and Brief Debate on Making No Compromises with Slavery, January 23, 1861
250(12)
Brief Remarks on Compromises with Slavery, January 28, 1861
262(1)
Report on a Speech at the War Meeting in Princeton, Illinois, April 25, 1861
263(7)
PART 7: A FLOOR LEADER OF THE TRIUMPHANT 37TH CONGRESS, 1861--63
Introduction: Unionists, Moderates, and Emancipationists
267(3)
Resolutions Opposing the Return of Fugitive Slaves to Their Masters, July 8 and 9, 1861
270(1)
Report on a Speech about the Use of War Powers to Free the Slaves with the Help of Black Troops, Late November 1861
271(7)
Resolutions on Expanding the Confiscation Act to Include Slaves of All Citizens in Rebellion, December 5 and 20, 1861
278(3)
Resolution Granting Diplomatic Status to ``Hayti'' and Liberia, December 11, 1861
281(1)
Speech and Debate on the Conduct of the War, January 6, 1862
282(12)
Remarks on the Surrender of Traitors to the British Government, January 14, 1862
294(4)
Remarks on a Bill to Establish a Department of Agriculture, February 17, 1862
298(1)
Remarks on Taxing Slaveholders per Slave, March 25, 1862
299(2)
Response to Charges That Antislavery Men Are As Responsible for the War As the Rebels, March 25, 1862
301(2)
Remarks on a Bill to Abolish Slavery in the District of Columbia, April 11, 1862
303(2)
Remarks on the Pacific Railroad Bill, April 17, 1862
305(2)
Speech and Brief Debate on the Second Confiscation Act, April 24, 1862
307(17)
Resolutions on Prohibiting Slavery in the Territories, May 1, 9, 12, and June 17, 1862
324(5)
Speech at Cooper Institute, New York City, with an Introduction by William Cullen Bryant, June 12, 1862
329(20)
Speech at a War Meeting in Chicago, Rallying Troops and Encouraging the Use of Black Troops, August 2, 1862
349(2)
Report on a Speech at a War Meeting in Princeton, Illinois, on the Agony and Necessity of This Conflict, August 7, 1862
351(2)
Report on Remarks on the Emancipation Proclamation at the Springfield, Illinois, Convention, September 25, 1862
353(2)
Reports on Speeches Promoting the Administration on the Campaign Trail, Fall 1862
355(2)
Reports on and Speech at Princeton, Illinois, on Victory after a Bitter Campaign, November 14 and 19, 1862
357(9)
Remarks on Reconstruction Policy Contrary to Congressman Stevens, January 9, 1863
366(4)
Speech and Brief Debate on the Negro Regiment Bill, January 29, 1863
370(9)
Open Letter to the Springfield Journal Affirming Lincoln for President, August 31, 1863
379(2)
Report on a Speech in Princeton, Illinois, on the Results of Off-year Elections, October 22, 1863
381(4)
Speech at the North Western Fair of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, November 5, 1863
385(6)
Open Letter Read at the American Anti-Slavery Society Meeting in Philadelphia, November 22, 1863
391(2)
Last Public Prayer at Hampshire Colony Congregational Church, November 26, 1863
393(7)
PART 8: ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE OF THE 38TH CONGRESS, 1863--64
Introduction: Freedman, Avengers, and Allies
397(3)
Report on Last Speech in Princeton, Illinois, on Reconstruction Policy, November 26, 1863
400(2)
Remarks Concerning a Bill Making Slaveholding a Crime, December 14, 1863
402(2)
Report on a Speech at the New City Hall in Portland, Maine, Predicting Lincoln's Re-election, December 26, 1863
404(3)
Letter to William Lloyd Garrison, February 22, 1864
407(2)
Last Public Words in the Form of a Letter to Governor John Andrew of Massachusetts, February 22, 1864
409(2)
Eulogy by Abraham Lincoln, June 9, 1864
411(2)
Bibliography413(10)
Index423