1859 Diary Anti - Slavery Convention Riots Bombs Philadelphia Quaker Abolitionist
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| Reference Number: Avaluer:733 |
This week we are pleased to offer a collection of diaries and photographs related to Henry Jones and his family. Henry Jones was a Quaker abolitionist living in the Philadelphia area. He was very active in anti-slavery meetings and the movement. There is much research to be done on his journals. This diary is from 1859 to 1860 and includes remarkable content on his life and his anti-slavery activities. He describes riots at an Anti-Slavery Fair, including ...handmade bombs being thrown through the windows, what was happening with John Brown, and much much more. It is over 100 pages long and each page is completely filled. It is in very good condition and very readable. Here is a small sample of what is in the diary:
Mary went to Philadelphia this afternoon to attend the Anti Slavery Fair and Willie Hilles came here this morning to remain and go to school…at the fair a short time attended in evening a lecture by Rev E. Chapin of New York subject the Chivalry of the present age. This lecture was one of the best I ever heard or expect to hear for combined the power of delivery strength and beauty of language he excels…Went to the Fair at noon and got dinner there..Attended a lecture in Independence Hall by George W Curtis of New York on the present effect of the slavery questions. Here we got into bad company. The lecture was strong for freedom but not abusive yet the Mobocrats and Democrats had willed the meeting should be broken up and they made strong efforts to effect said object. A concourse of some thousands 2 or 3 assembled by public notice outside the hall but Mayor Henry with commendable good sense and honorable motive had present a large police force and prevented them entrance. Inside also were 150 or 300 and but for theses the meeting would I think have been broken up. Curtis had spoken but a short time when a great hissing and tumult arose but the policemen in quick time arrested eight or ten and order was restored. The mayor during this stood by the side of the lecturer also Judge Kelley, about the time of the arrests some stones from outside were thrown thru the windows also by some devilish one a bottle filled with vitriol which burned several. Of those arrested some were southern students. Thus thanks to the Mayor despite these efforts the lectures were heard and the freedom of speech maintained…
Went this evening to hear the venerable and worth Joshua R Giddings on the subject of a recent outbreak at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Old John Brown of Kansas notoriety attempted with 19 men to liberate the slaves of that state! He was captured after a desperate resistance and a number of lives lost on both sides. He is being tried and will doubtless suffer death. Gidding and others were accused of aiding but unjustly….That high minded man John Brown has been sentenced to be hung on the 2nd of next month and four of his comrades on the 16th…
Captain John Brown is on the Scaffold about to suffer death for having rosin arms at Harpers Ferry to rescue men from slavery! His hatred of the system and the brutal murder of his sons in Kansas, woke in him the spirit of revolt and let to the recent mad outbreak. We deplore the act but every generous heart swells with emotion as the thought of his unhappy end….But the slave power wills it and the quiet that attaches…
John Brown was executed at 11 1/2 o’clock . He met his fate like the same hero that he has been from first to last…the danger of an attempted rescue and so an army was out on the occasion. He made no remark on the scaffold but has left enduring letters. His body was given over to his relatives to Elba …Bells were tolled thro the eastern part of the states and much demonstration awakened. A degree of feeling prevails on the subject North and South that threatens seriously than ever before a dissolution of the union. If the union can be preserved only but by the perpetuation of slavery then let the union perish…
Today the pictures on one sheet of Greeley, Seward, Hale, Sumner, Chase, Beecher and Whitten, also a photograph of well meaning but deluded John Brown, left them in city to be framed, yesterday four of Brown’s accomplices were hung at Charlestown, two are yet to be tried…
Have just heard that the Republicans in congress after eight weeks delay triumphed by electing Wm Pennington of NJ speaker of the lower house. It has been a contest between freedom and slavery, the whole south with Northern sympathizers opposing Republicans…
At meeting in the morning….finished reading the Life of John Brown that ill fated man, and a wonderful man he was. Mistaken we think in his views, but honest and upright and unswerving from his conceived line of duty, fearless and courages through life so he reminded to the close, meeting death with calmness and composure. An hundred years hence when slavery shall be viewed with the abhorrence it deserves, John Brown will be a much greater man than now…
At meeting again which closed finally about 1 o’clock, our meeting has been large and of more than usual interest, while difference of opinion was manifest but little temper was shown…we went to C, Phrenologist and had an examination of our bumps, received a chart…At political discussion in afternoon, last week Republicans at Chicago nominated for President Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for Vice Prest Hannibal Hamlin of Maine…Attended the annual meeting of the Library Co and Meeting the Board…
Received the painful and distressing intelligence of the death of our brother in law Lea Michener…having been killed on the railroad. He was returning from market last evening two trains came in collision and he having stepped on the front platform was instantly killed…several were injured but none beside he killed. The conductors, engineers and two at Lea’s side saved themselves by jumping. What shall be done with eh seeming wickedness of such conductors…
Enough is already known to assure us that Lincoln and Hamlin are elected handsomely having carried all the free states except perhaps New Jersey…
I have recently read American Agitators a very good work by D.W. Bartlett and My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass…I attended a medical college commencement so called about 140 radiated at the class a well written discourse delivered by Professor Leidy…
Attended this morning Horsham M Meeting went chiefly to meet the funeral of Salom Walton, who under some delusion committed suicide by hanging, no definite cause is known thou he has been depressed in spirit by suffering a loosen property…At Preparative Meeting received the appointment of treasurer…
Went to attend quarterly meeting and heard Horace Greeley…had as chief speakers Nicholas and Margaret Brown of Canada…heard H.H. Lecture in eve on Reforms and Reformers went Lukens’ to college, the lecture was well written but very poorly delivered…
Attended this morning the closing session. The meeting has been large and marked by a good degree of charity and a proposition was made to allow women greater equality and was rejected but will prevail as long being a matter only of time…
Left home this morning on a long contemplated visit to the Falls of Niagara, had intended going last week but postponed on account of M Jones illness…our company were driven to Hatfield Station on the NPRR which place we left at 11 and arrived at Bethlehem at 12:18…Took boat at 7 bound for Albany…Left Albany by the NY Central RR at 7 dined at Syracuse and visited their extensive Salt Works…reached Buffalo and took quarters at the Niagara Temperance House…
Mary went to Philadelphia this afternoon to attend the Anti Slavery Fair and Willie Hilles came here this morning to remain and go to school…at the fair a short time attended in evening a lecture by Rev E. Chapin of New York subject the Chivalry of the present age. This lecture was one of the best I ever heard or expect to hear for combined the power of delivery strength and beauty of language he excels…Went to the Fair at noon and got dinner there..Attended a lecture in Independence Hall by George W Curtis of New York on the present effect of the slavery questions. Here we got into bad company. The lecture was strong for freedom but not abusive yet the Mobocrats and Democrats had willed the meeting should be broken up and they made strong efforts to effect said object. A concourse of some thousands 2 or 3 assembled by public notice outside the hall but Mayor Henry with commendable good sense and honorable motive had present a large police force and prevented them entrance. Inside also were 150 or 300 and but for theses the meeting would I think have been broken up. Curtis had spoken but a short time when a great hissing and tumult arose but the policemen in quick time arrested eight or ten and order was restored. The mayor during this stood by the side of the lecturer also Judge Kelley, about the time of the arrests some stones from outside were thrown thru the windows also by some devilish one a bottle filled with vitriol which burned several. Of those arrested some were southern students. Thus thanks to the Mayor despite these efforts the lectures were heard and the freedom of speech maintained…
Went this evening to hear the venerable and worth Joshua R Giddings on the subject of a recent outbreak at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Old John Brown of Kansas notoriety attempted with 19 men to liberate the slaves of that state! He was captured after a desperate resistance and a number of lives lost on both sides. He is being tried and will doubtless suffer death. Gidding and others were accused of aiding but unjustly….That high minded man John Brown has been sentenced to be hung on the 2nd of next month and four of his comrades on the 16th…
Captain John Brown is on the Scaffold about to suffer death for having rosin arms at Harpers Ferry to rescue men from slavery! His hatred of the system and the brutal murder of his sons in Kansas, woke in him the spirit of revolt and let to the recent mad outbreak. We deplore the act but every generous heart swells with emotion as the thought of his unhappy end….But the slave power wills it and the quiet that attaches…
John Brown was executed at 11 1/2 o’clock . He met his fate like the same hero that he has been from first to last…the danger of an attempted rescue and so an army was out on the occasion. He made no remark on the scaffold but has left enduring letters. His body was given over to his relatives to Elba …Bells were tolled thro the eastern part of the states and much demonstration awakened. A degree of feeling prevails on the subject North and South that threatens seriously than ever before a dissolution of the union. If the union can be preserved only but by the perpetuation of slavery then let the union perish…
Today the pictures on one sheet of Greeley, Seward, Hale, Sumner, Chase, Beecher and Whitten, also a photograph of well meaning but deluded John Brown, left them in city to be framed, yesterday four of Brown’s accomplices were hung at Charlestown, two are yet to be tried…
Have just heard that the Republicans in congress after eight weeks delay triumphed by electing Wm Pennington of NJ speaker of the lower house. It has been a contest between freedom and slavery, the whole south with Northern sympathizers opposing Republicans…
At meeting in the morning….finished reading the Life of John Brown that ill fated man, and a wonderful man he was. Mistaken we think in his views, but honest and upright and unswerving from his conceived line of duty, fearless and courages through life so he reminded to the close, meeting death with calmness and composure. An hundred years hence when slavery shall be viewed with the abhorrence it deserves, John Brown will be a much greater man than now…
At meeting again which closed finally about 1 o’clock, our meeting has been large and of more than usual interest, while difference of opinion was manifest but little temper was shown…we went to C, Phrenologist and had an examination of our bumps, received a chart…At political discussion in afternoon, last week Republicans at Chicago nominated for President Abraham Lincoln of Illinois for Vice Prest Hannibal Hamlin of Maine…Attended the annual meeting of the Library Co and Meeting the Board…
Received the painful and distressing intelligence of the death of our brother in law Lea Michener…having been killed on the railroad. He was returning from market last evening two trains came in collision and he having stepped on the front platform was instantly killed…several were injured but none beside he killed. The conductors, engineers and two at Lea’s side saved themselves by jumping. What shall be done with eh seeming wickedness of such conductors…
Enough is already known to assure us that Lincoln and Hamlin are elected handsomely having carried all the free states except perhaps New Jersey…
I have recently read American Agitators a very good work by D.W. Bartlett and My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass…I attended a medical college commencement so called about 140 radiated at the class a well written discourse delivered by Professor Leidy…
Attended this morning Horsham M Meeting went chiefly to meet the funeral of Salom Walton, who under some delusion committed suicide by hanging, no definite cause is known thou he has been depressed in spirit by suffering a loosen property…At Preparative Meeting received the appointment of treasurer…
Went to attend quarterly meeting and heard Horace Greeley…had as chief speakers Nicholas and Margaret Brown of Canada…heard H.H. Lecture in eve on Reforms and Reformers went Lukens’ to college, the lecture was well written but very poorly delivered…
Attended this morning the closing session. The meeting has been large and marked by a good degree of charity and a proposition was made to allow women greater equality and was rejected but will prevail as long being a matter only of time…
Left home this morning on a long contemplated visit to the Falls of Niagara, had intended going last week but postponed on account of M Jones illness…our company were driven to Hatfield Station on the NPRR which place we left at 11 and arrived at Bethlehem at 12:18…Took boat at 7 bound for Albany…Left Albany by the NY Central RR at 7 dined at Syracuse and visited their extensive Salt Works…reached Buffalo and took quarters at the Niagara Temperance House…
