Frederick Douglass

The day we celebrate is preëminently the colored man’s day.

It was not logic, but the trump of jubilee, which everybody wanted to hear.

The laws which determine the destinies of individuals and nations are impartial and eternal.

Its meaning to me was the entire abolition of slavery, wherever the evil could be reached by the Federal arm, and I saw that its moral power would extend much further.

It is not a bad thing to have individuals or nations do right though they do so from selfish motives.

It was no longer a mere strife for territory and dominion, but a contest of civilization against barbarism.

In this way he proved himself to be not only a wise General, but a great man--one who could adjust himself to new conditions, and adopt the lessons taught by the events of the hour.

This quality in General Grant was and is made all the more conspicuous and striking in contrast with his West Point education and his former political associations; for neither West Point nor the Democratic party have been good schools in…

In his company I was never in any way reminded of my humble origin, or of my unpopular color.

So long as there was any hope whatsoever of the success of Rebellion, there was of course a corresponding fear that a new lease of life would be granted to slavery.

It had no interest in recognizing or preserving any of the ties that bind families together or to their homes.

A country, redeemed and regenerated from the foulest crime against human nature that ever saw the sun!