58 William Lloyd Garrison (1805-79) was the editor and publisher of The Liberator and the most radical of the abolitionists. He introduced Douglass to the movement. (right) Charles Sumner (1811-74) was U.S. senator from Massachusetts from 1851 until his death. An ardent abolitionist, he was a close friend of Douglass. He opposed President Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction Plan and proposed that the former Confederate States not be readmitted to the Union until they guaranteed voting rights for blacks. Sumner's plan was accepted. In 1870 Sumner dashed the hopes of another President, Ulysses S. Grant, when he steadfastly opposed Grant's cherished project of annexing Santo Domingo. This extraordinary document, a safe-conduct for Douglass, carries the signatures of two cabinet members, a U.S. senator, and the President. This pass was signed by Secretary of the Interior, John Palmer Usher, and U.S. Senator Samuel Clarke Pomeroy of Kansas. The note at the bottom bears the signature of Postmaster General Montgomery Blair. On the left is Abraham Lincoln's signature. The bearer of this, Frederick Douglass, is known to us as a loyal, fike, man, and is, hence, entitled to travel, unmolested. We trust he will be recognized everywhere, as a every gentleman. 60 John Brown (1800-1859) was the champion of the blacks in Kansas and at Harpers Ferry. Douglass' involvement in Brown's schemes forced his flight to Canada and ultimately to England late in 1859. (Below) Philip Bell was among the black leaders who urged participation in the political processes of the Nation to achieve abolition and equality. George Luther Stearns, a Massachusetts abolitionist, was recruiting com missioner for black troops once the decision was made to allow them to fight. This letter (right), signed by Stearns, names Douglass his agent. All three of his sons served with the Union armies. On pages 62 through 65 are a few important documents from Douglass' life. In order, they are: the title page of one of Douglass' printed speeches, which was given during the Centennial celebrations. The letter names Douglass U.S. minister resident and consul general to Haiti. It is signed (overleaf) by Secretary of State James G. Blaine. And, Douglass' special passport as minister to Haiti. |