%images;]>LCRBMRP-T2303Speech : delivered by J.W. Thompson, chairman of Douglass Monument Committee, before the Finance Committee of the State Assembly, at Albany, N.Y. February 24, 1897, asking an appropriation of $5,000 for the Monument to be erected in Rochester, N.Y. $3,000 was granted.: a machine-readable transcription. Collection: African-American Pamphlets from the Daniel A. P. Murray Collection, 1820-1920; American Memory, Library of Congress. Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.

Washington, 1994.

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 91-898516Daniel Murray Pamphlet Collection, 1860-1920, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress. Copyright status not determined.0001

SPEECHDelivered by J.W. Thompson, Chairman of Douglass Monument Committee, before the Finance Committee of the State Assembly, at Albany, N.Y. February, 24, 1897, asking an appropriation of $5,000 for the Monument erected in Rochester, N.Y. $3,000 was granted.Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen:

To stand within the walls of this capitol building the very essence of architectural beauty and elegance, the wealthiest and most influential state in the union, to address this honorable and respected committee of the Assembly of the State of New York on this occasion, I esteem it the honor of my life, for a few brief moments asking an appropriation to aid us in erecting a monument to the memory of the late Frederick Douglass, in the city of Rochester, N.Y., where he resided for nearly fourty years and the best days of his life were spent.

I shall make no effort however to speak for this ex-slave leader and statesman who has fallen by the will of the Almighty, after reaching the highest round in the ladder of fame. Last Friday as I stood at the foot of his grave, watching the six United States flags placed there by myself last Decoration day, and as they were being tossed by the winter's wind, I said, the remains of Frederick Douglass wrapped in the narrow confinement of the grave, resting under our National flags in their magnificent silence are more eloquent than any words that could be used by me to-day, I shall therefore give a few reasons why the State should make the appropriation asked for.

Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery in the year 1838. He went to New Bedford Mass. and worked in a ship yard for nearly two years, there the Liberator a newspaper edited by Wm. Lloyd Garrison fell into his hands, he said the sentiments expressed in that paper against slavery was the sentiments of his own soul. He left that city and went to Rochester, N.Y., where he established a newspaper known as the North Star, in the interest of freeedom and justice, by which he created a sentiment against human slavery that caused hundreds of thousands of New York's bravest men to declare that they would march to the front and put down the horrible and wretched curse for ever. They went with thousands from other states, but the work was not accomplished side with their brothers to the field of battle in defence of the American flag, and in this Frederick Douglass was an important factor. He traveled in every State this side of the Mason Dixon line soliciting volunteers to preserve our glorious Union, in this he declared as a citizen of the United States and the great State of New York, I shall do my duty. He was chosen by the citizens of Rochester, to deliver a 4th of July oration in the year 1855, later on he came very near being elected a member of Assembly from the city of Rochester, he was a great orator, and a prominent figure in the history of our State, he was a Presidential elector from this State, he attended many National Conventions and received votes for the highest office in the gift of the American people. He was Minister to Hayti, he was United States Marshall under President Hayes, he was Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia. So great was his ability and his high character that at his death the State Assembly adjourned in respect to his memory, the 26th day of February 1895, his remains were received in Rochester in the honored presence of the Mayor and Common Council of that city and thousands of citizens with uncovered heads, his remains laid in state in the City Hall, schools were closed that teachers and scholars might view for the last time the picturesque form of Frederick Douglass.

Now Mr. Chairman, if you will grant us the appropriation asked we will add to that the $2.500 already pledged, we will solicit the balance and unveil the monument of Frederick Douglass very shortly, and will place those features and form in bronze that these same children and the people of the world may know that the citizens of the Empire State regards a man and a statesman as such regardless of his color or previous conditions. Now sir, grant our appeal and gladden the hearts of millions of our citizens, grant this appeal and we shall rear a monument which shall testify that we are not unmindful of him and his noble work. Far beyond that--by the erection of such a memorial we may leave a witness which shall speak long after our tongues are hushed, a witness whose silent testimony shall be eloquent, which shall be a inspiration for generations to come, insighting to American manhood to love of country; to unconquerable devotions to a great cause, telling our boy's and girls that the humbleness of birth is no insurmountable barrier to eminence, that all doors swing open to those who keep their heart right, and give themselves with unremitting toil and high purpose to the work which lies before them.

Now sirs, happy am I to speak for his monument, and happy thrice-happy will be those who by your recommendation be given an opportunity to vote for this appropriation.