Frederick Douglass

Narrative of the Life of FREDERICK DOUGLASS Frederick Douglass

was a slave, -he was induced togive his attendance, on the occasion alluded to, though atthat time a resident in New Bedford. Fortunate, most fortunate occurrence!-fortunate forthe millions of his manacled brethren, yet panting fordeliverance from their awful thraldom!-fortunate for thecause of negro emancipation, and of universal liberty!-fortunate for the land of his birth, which he has alreadydone so much to save and bless!-fortunate for a large circleof friends and acquaintances, whose sympathy andaffection he has strongly secured by the many sufferings hehas endured, by his virtuous traits of character, by his everabidingremembrance of those who are in bonds, as beingbound with them!-fortunate for the multitudes, in variousparts of our republic, whose minds he has enlightened onthe subject of slavery, and who have been melted to tearsby his pathos, or roused to virtuous indignation by hisstirring eloquence against the enslavers of men!-fortunatefor himself, as it at once brought him into the field of publicusefulness, "gave the world assurance of a MAN,"quickened the slumbering energies of his soul, andconsecrated him to the great work of breaking the rod ofthe oppressor, and letting the oppressed go free