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Anti-Abolition Definition of Abolitionist

ANTI- ABOLITION DEFINITION

Southern Literary Messenger Richmond, Virginia, and “devoted to Literature, Science and Art”,  defines an Abolitionist thus:

“ An Abolitionist is a man who does not love slavery for its own sake, as a divine institution; who does not worship Ds the corner-stone of civil liberty; who does not adore it as the only possible social condition on which a permanent republican government can be erected; and who does not, in his inmost soul, desire to see it extended and perpetuated over the whole earth, as a means of human reformation second in dignity, importance and sacredness alone to the Christian religion.  He who does not love African slavery with this love is an Abolitionist.”

(Liberator,  April 5, 1861, pg 3)

Residents of north slope worked in Abolition Acre area

Often people who lived in the African American community of the north slope were in communication with folk in the area of Abolition Acre as their work was  located there.

John Coburn’s clothing store at various times was on either Cornhill or Brattle Streets.  Coffin Pitts, James Barbadoes, George Putnam, William Cooper Nell were among who shared work space in the area.

Cordwainer Benjamin Roberts was on Washington Street at one time.

Charles Tyler had his boot black shop on both Brattle Street and Wilson’s Lane.

Henry Tyler had a clothing store on Brattle Street and other streets of the area.

On this site you will see an ad telling of David Walker’s clothing store, at 42 Brattle.   In the Liberator there are two references to Lewis Hayden with his clothing store at different times at 107 and 121 Cambridge Street, probably in the Acre area.  (Liberator, Aug 3, 1849, and Liberator, April 1, 1851)

 

Early Abolition: Massachusetts General Colored Association

Several members of the Prince Hall Lodge  met in 1826 and established the Massachusetts General Colored Association “to promote the welfare of the race by working for the destruction of slavery.”[1][2] The elected officers were

  • Thomas Dalton, President
  • William G. Nell, Vice President
  • James G. Barbadoes, Secretary.[1][2]

One of their most influential founders was David Walker, who probably expressed many of their ideas in his 1829 “Appeal in Four Articles to the Colored Citizens of the World”. Walker had moved to Boston and in 1825 was the owner of a used clothing store. In March 1827, he began writing for and selling subscriptions to Freedom’s Journal, the first national newspaper in the country published by blacks.[1]

Other founding members included Walker Lewis, John Scarlett and John T. Hilton.[1] The organization was said to have had “among its leaders the most spirited and intelligent colored citizens of Boston.”[

 

Residents of north slope community who worked in Abolition Acre area

Often people who lived in the African American community of the north slope were in communication with folk in the area of Abolition Acre as their work was  located there. John Coburn’s clothing store at various times was on either Cornhill or Brattle Streets.  Coffin Pitts, James Barbadoes, George Putnam, William Cooper Nell were among who shared work space in the area.  Cordwainer Benjamin Roberts was on Washington Street at one time.  Charles Tyler had his boot black shop on both Brattle Street and Wilson’s Lane.   Henry Tyler had a clothing store on Brattle Street and other streets of the area.  On this site you will see an ad telling of David Walker’s clothing store, at 42 Brattle.   In the Liberator there are two references to Lewis Hayden with his clothing store at different times at 107 and 121 Cambridge Street, probably in the Acre area.  (Liberator, Aug 3, 1849, and Liberator, April 1, 1851)

 

Senator Webster, March 7, 1850 speech in US Senate

 

On the floor of the US Senate, Webster, March 7, 1850,  spoke words which endorsed the Fugitive Slave Act, and were largely responsible for its passage.  In that speech, and during his last years Webster were spent in defending the Fugitive Slave Bill, and whose last  counsel to the State was to ‘conquer her prejudices’ against Slave-hunting, and to return men to bondage’ with alacrity.’

 

 

Court House Building, used as “prison”

The building located on Court Street opposite from the Home  for Veterans has had numerous usages,. but during the period of  Abolition Acre it was used as a “prison” for “Fugitive Slaves”.That is until the there was legislation which forbade the use of state buildings for such purpose.

CourtHouse_1838