Thread by @JerryDunleavy

“Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented, of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery.”
— Frederick Douglass (same speech)

https://twitter.com/Kaepernick7/status/1146826827593342977

The doom of slavery is certain. I therefore leave off where I began, w/ hope. While drawing encouragement from the Declaration, the great principles it contains, & the genius of American Institutions, my spirit is cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age.
— Frederick Douglass

I differ from those who charge this baseness on the framers of the Constitution. It is a slander upon their memory, so I believe... These gentlemen have, as I think, fully & clearly vindicated the Constitution from any design to support slavery for an hour.
— Frederick Douglass

There’s no matter in respect to which the ppl of the North allowed themselves to be so ruinously imposed upon as that of the pro-slavery character of the Constitution. In that instrument I hold there’s no warrant, license, nor sanction of the hateful thing.
— Frederick Douglass

Interpreted as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? or is it in the temple? It is neither.
— Frederick Douglass

Anyway the entire speech by Frederick Douglass is worth reading — it’s an indictment of America at that time not living up to the promises of the Declaration & Constitution by tolerating the evils of slavery while being hopeful that American could, & would, rise to the challenge.