I was not satisfied, yet I left in the full belief that the true course to the black man’s freedom and citizenship was over the battle-field, and that my business was to get every black man I could into the Union armies.
Reflecting on his efforts to advocate for black soldiers during the Civil War, Douglass articulates his belief in military service as the path to freedom and citizenship.
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The anti-slavery platform had performed its work, and my voice was no longer needed.
I believed I should get enough to eat at Covey’s, even if I suffered in other respects, and this to a hungry man is not a prospect to be regarded with indifference.
A son of toil himself, he was linked in brotherly sympathy with the sons of toil in every loyal part of the republic.
Land is not worth much where there are no people to occupy it, and a mule is not worth much where there is no one to drive him.