Historical Collation

Historical Collation

This volume's "Textual Afterword" and 'Textual Notes" identify representative editorial emendations of the copy-texts, explaining why the editors adopted or rejected textual variants that appeared in print during Frederick Douglass's lifetime. Therein the editors also commented upon the rationales for making emendations without historical precedent. Complementing the explanations in both sections are the following entries dealing with substantive readings that vary from those of the Yale edition—variants that the editors view as non-authoritative but historically noteworthy and likely to be of interest to the reader.

Each entry begins with the page and line citation for the reading in the Yale edition that appears immediately to the right. Beyond the bracket that follows are the variant reading and then the symbols indicating the edition(s) and printing(s) 111 which that reading appears. The symbols are those seen in the "Descriptive Bibliography" section of this volume: A1 A5 signify the five printings of the first American edition: E1 E4 the English edition's four printings: BI B4 the four second American edition's printings: BX1 BX3 the three printings of the expanded second American edition.

9.2 6 shelter; and as to riding in public conveyances, mean spirited conductors at one time made it a rule to put all colored people, nolens volens, in the smoking car. Many times was Douglass subjected to this indignity. The] shelter. The A2-5, B1-4. BX1-3 9.20 23 platform. Free speech was violated: Boston was disgraced: but the Chairman of that meeting was not intimidated. It] platform. It A2-5. B1-4. BX1-3 9.34 Boston, Sept. 1st, 1881.] Not present A2-5, B1-4, BX1-3 70.34 thought] taught E1-4 83.26 attitudes] attributes E1-4 92.24 sight] looks E1-4 97.11 fornication] unchastity E1-4 99.27 You have, dear reader, seen] The reader has seen E1-4 99.28 and you understand how] and understands how E1-4 116.23 24 would plan an insurrection, no fear that he would escape] would escape E1-4 116.26 slave. But to proceed with my narrative.] slave. E1-4 126.7-8 concealment or destruction] concealment to escape destruction E1-4 138.16-17 Well, dear reader, I was not, as you have probably inferred, a loser by the general upstir described in the foregoing chapter. The little Our little E1-4

537

538 HISTORICAL COLLATION

143.35 murderous] reckless E1-4 184.12 by reason of his being a Jew, as] by Daniel O'Connell as E1-4 196.8 Candlish] Cavendish E1-4 205.35-206.14 out." [pilcrow] Among [less than sign]...[greater than sign] aid. [Pilcrow]Of] out." [pilcrow]Of E1-4 236.2 $1,000] £200 E1-4 239.29-31 court, subjected to a nominal trial, convicted of high-treason and inciting slaves to insurrection, and was executed. [pilcrow]His] court. [Pilcrow][The preliminary examination of Brown took place at Charlestown, Virginia. He protested against the unfairness of being so hastily charged, and denounced the whole proceedings as a mockery of justice . His conviction was a foregone conclusion, as the conviction of any man must be, who is taken in the very act of breaking the laws. He had challenged the strength of the Virginia, and indeed of all the Southern States, and of the Federation itself. He had defied ordinances which he knew to exist, and roused the passions and fears of men. It was not to be expected that the slave-owners would show him any mercy. They had power on their side, and legal right; and, however great one's admiration of the motives which influenced this man, it is impossihle not to see that a slave-insurrection, had it been really brought about, would have proved the most disastrous method of settling the great difficulty that could possibly have been devised. Brown was warmly supported hy the Abolitionists; but, even in the North, more temperate politicians deplored the error he had committed, and saw that there was no reasonable hope of his being spared. The case was handed over to the grand jury, and the trial took place on the 27th of Octoher. The prisoner requested time to prepare his defence, the assistance of counsel from the Free States, and liberty of communicating with the other prisoners; but most of these demands were refused, and the trial was pushed on with cruel and indecent haste. Virginia was frightened and vindictive, and, as an excuse for not granting any delay, it was urged that the women of the State were harassed by alarm and anxiety as long as their husbands were away from home, and that the jurymen desired to return to them. When Brown was brought into court, he was so weak, owing to the wounds he had received, that he could not stand upon his feet, but lay full-length upon a bed; yet the fears of his enemies were even then predominant. The Governor of Virginia, Mr. Wise, is stated to have remarked at Richmond, before the members of the Legislature, that Brown was a murderer, and ought to he hanged. As it was one of the prerogatives of the Governor to grant pardons, after convictions which might appear to him not strictly in accordance with justice, it was a monstrous outrage on propriety to give utterance to such an opinion while the case was yet awaiting trial. But the remark was only of a piece with the whole procedure. The prisoner was, indeed, furnished with counsel by the court; but the gentleman to whom the duty of defending him was assigned, had no time for preparing their speeches, for calling witnesses, or for examining the law of the case. He was supplied with no list of witnesses, for the prosecution, nor had he any knowledge of who they were to be, until they were produced in court. Brown himself had sent for counsel to the Northern States; but on arriving,

HISTORICAL COLLATION 539

they were so exhausted by their long and hurried journey that they asked for a short delay, which was denied them. All this while, the prisoner lay on his pallet, sick, feverish, and half-conscious, knowing little of the methods by which his conviction was to be secured, but feeling certain from the first that conviction was inevitable. A verdict of guilty, on the 31st of October, was followed by sentence of death, and the execution was fixed for the 2nd of December. The decision was appealed against, but ultimately confirmed. On hearing the verdict and the sentence of the judge, Brown said. "Gentlemen, make an end of slavery, or slavery will make an end of you." It was an utterance in the spirit of prophecy. [Pilcrow]As the fatal day approached, the feeling of apprehension on the part of the Virginians became still more intense. Governor Wise ordered out a large military force, to overawe any attempt at rescue that might be made. It was also proposed to establish martial law; but this was not done. Brown expressed entire resignation to his fate, and money was liberally contributed in the Northern and Western States to support his family. At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 2nd of December, the prisoner was brought out of gaol. Before leaving, he bade adieu to his fellow-prisoners, and was very affectionate to all except his principal assistant, a man named Cook whom he charged with having deceived and misled him respecting the support he was to receive from the slaves. Brown, it appears, had been led to believe that they were ripe for insurrection; but, whether from fear, or from actual disinclination, this seems not to have been the case. Cook denied the charge, but otherwise said very little. When asked whether he was ready, Brown replied, "I am always ready," and it was the simple truth. His arms were pinioned, and, wearing a black slouched hat, and the same clothes in which he had appeared at the trial, he proceeded to the door, apparently calm and cheerful. As he stepped out into the open air he saw a negro woman with a child in her arms: he paused for a moment, and kissed the infant tenderly. Another black woman exclaimed, "God blcss you, old man! I wish I could help you, but I cannot. " Six companies of infantry, and one troop of horse, were drawn up in front of the gaol; close by was a waggon, containing a coflin. After talking with some persons whom he knew, Brown seated himself on the waggon, and looked at the soldiers gathered about him. The vehicle then moved off, flanked by two files of riflemen in close order. The field where the gallows had been erected was also in full possession of the military. Pickets were stationed at various localities, and the spectators were kept back at the point of the bayonet, to prevent all possibility of a rescue. When Brown mounted the gallows, and the cap had been put on his head, together with the rope around his neck, the executioner asked him to step forward on to the trap. He replied, "You must lead me --I cannot see." All was now ready on the scaffold itself; but, owing to some fear on the part of the authorities, the soldiers were marched and counter-marched, frequently changing their positions as if in the face of an enemy. This lasted ten minutes, and the executioner asked the unfortunate man if he was not tired. "No," answered Brown, "not tired; but don't keep me waiting longer than is necessary." At length the fatal act was completed; but Brown was a strong man, and the pulse did

540 HISTORICAL COLLATION

not entirely cease, until after thirty-five minutes. His companions were executed in March, 1860. [pilcrow]It was a curious feature in the case that the criminal had expressed a desire that no religious ceremony should be performed over this body by "ministers who consent to or approve of the enslavement of their fellow-creatures." He said he should prefer to be accompanied to the scaffold by a dozen slave-children and a good old slave-mother, with their appeal to God for blessings on his soul, rather than have all the eloquence of the whole clergy of the commonwealth cornbined.--Ed.] [pilcrow]His E1-4 247.22--248.11 hand. [pilcrow] It ["less than" sign]...["greater than" sign] truth. [pilcrow]While at] hand. [pilcrow]While at E1-4 251.18 "Nova Scotian," ["less than" sign]...["greater than" sign] Borland] Scotia, ["less than" sign]...["greater than" sign] Thompson A1-5, B1-4, E 1-4, BX1-3 259.20 measure.*] ~.^ E1-4 259.28 *See " History of American Conflict," Vol. 11. by Horace Greeley.] ["less than" sign]Not present["greater than" sign] E1-4 291.27 kin."] kin."[pilcrow] *I sincerely regret that I have done Mr. Winthrop great injustice. This Faneuil Hall speech of his was not the first manifestation of his zealous interest in the loyal cause during the late war. While it is quite true that Mr. Winthrop was strongly against the anti-slavery movement at the North, his addresses and speeches delivered during the war, as they have come to my knowledge since writing the foregoing chapter, prove him to have been among the most earnest in his support of the National Government in its efforts to suppress the rebellion and to restore the Union. FREDERICK DOUGLAS. A3-5; DOUGLASS. B1-4, BX1-3. See "Textual Note," 288.34--289.22. 318.8 publican] centurion A1-5, B1-4, BX1-3; tax collector E1-4 327.34--35 celebrations. [pilcrow]The progress] celebrations. [pilcrow] ["less than" sign]Text of the 1876 Freedmen's Monument speech["greater than" sign] [pilcrow] The progress E1-4 365.37--370.14 day. The list ["less than" sign]...["greater than" sign] slavery. [pilcrow]Observing] day. [pilcrow]Observing E1-4 420.15--16 departed. Its week days resemble our Sundays, so silent and dead are its streets. Its grand] departed. Its grand BX1-3 422.1 ruins] remains BX1-3 422.2 Caracalla, in whose] Caracalla, among the ruins of whose BX1-3 457.13 the lines in which my life has fallen.] the allotments of life that have fallen to me. BX1-3 479.13 race of] race for B1-4, BX1-3 479.13--480.39 life. [pilcrow] Do ["less than" sign]...["greater than" sign] hand.] life. A1. E1-4