Henry Highland Garnet

Author(s): L. D. Reddick
Source: Negro History Bulletin , NOVEMBER, 1941, Vol. 5, No. 2 (NOVEMBER, 1941), pp.
41-42
Published by: Association for the Study of African American Life and History

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/44246601

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 November, 1941 41

One of her most venturesome
journeys was when she brought
old parents North. She finally pur-
chased a small plot of ground in
Auburn, New York, for them.
There she erected also a home for
aged and indigent colored people.
She had several interviews with
Captain John Brown who had the
greatest respect for " General Tub-
man,' ' as he called her - "one of
the best and bravest persons of this Ward moved to Syracuse. As an
continent. ' ' Frederick Douglass
wrote to her, "Excepting John
Brown, I know of no one who en- became involved in the celebrated
countered more perils and hard-
ships to save our people."
Harriet Tubman also rendered
invaluable service as nurse and
during the Civil War.
A tablet was erected by thewith
zens of Auburn, New York, inshared
in memory of Harriet Tubman
later for the New York Anti-Slav-
eryher
Society.
In April, 1841, he was called to
the pastorate of the white Congre-
gational Church in South Butler,
New York, and next to a successful
pastorate at Cortlandt, New York.
He resigned in 1843 and moved to
Geneva, New York.
Because of tonsil troubles, he de-
cided to study medicine. In 1851,
active participant in the "Under-
ground Railroad ' ' Movement, he
"Jerry Rescue Case" and fled to
Canada in October of that year.
Samuel R. Ward became one of
thespymost popular orators of his
day. He was closely associated
citi-Frederick Douglass and often
1914 the same platform with him.
He who
identified himself with the Lib- SAMUEL R. WARD

died March 10, 1913. The tablet erty Party in 1844. He had a
adorns one of the public buildings,strong voice, a magnificent phy- Crummell and Thomas S. Sidney
and upon it is inscribed the outline sique that stood six feet and a embraced this opportunity.
of the life story of this woman splendid intellectual background. The townspeople of Canaan were
whose charity was unbounded, He preached and lectured through- so enraged at the sight of the col-
whose wisdom, integrity and patri- out central and western New York. ored students that they hitched
otism enabled her to perform won- After fleeing to Canada, he contin- some 90 yoke of oxen to the school
ders in the cause of freedom. ued his work in behalf of the abo- house and dragged it into the mid-
Catherine A. Latimer lition of slavery. dle of a swamp. One night these
He was sent to England, Wales prejudiced persons attacked the
and Ireland to lecture and preach. house in which the boys were liv-
Samuel Ringgold There he formed fast friendships ing. Garnet answered this with a
Ward with some of the leading statesmen discharge from a double-barrelled
in Europe including Lord Shafts- shot gun. The cowardly ruffians
Of slave parentage, Samuel Ring- bury. Ward edited and published
gold Ward was born October 17, two newspapers during his career.
1817, on the eastern shore of Mary- He was a teacher, lawyer, physi-
land. Fugitives from slavery, his cian, preacher and lecturer. How-
parents fled to New Jersey, and ever, his first love was the soul.
later they brought young Ward to His writings include a story of his
New York when he was nine years life published in London in 1855,
old.
called Autobiography of a Fugitive
He attended school and prepared Negro .
himself for the teaching profession. James Egert Allen
Through the financial aid of Gerrit
Smith, the staunch abolitionist,
Ward obtained a liberal education Henry Highland
in the classics and theology. He Garnet
studied at Oneida Institute. sometimes one dramatic inci-
After teaching school in New dent demonstrates the character of
Town, New York, and Newark, a man. So it may be said of the
New Jersey, Ward married a Miss' 4 Canaan affair ' ' in the life of Hen-
Reynolds of New York in January,ry Highland Garnet. This is how
1838. In 1839 he was licensed to it happened : In 1835 the abolition-
preach by the New York Congre- ists of New Hampshire made the
"radicar' departure of opening a
gational Association, and in Novem-
ber of that year he became a school
trav- to "all races and sexes."
eling agent for the American,Accordingly,
and Garnet, Alexander HENRY H. GARNET

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 42 The Negro History Bulletin

took to their heels. This was Gar- leadership is waging an all-out bat-It was his feeling that by so doing,
net 's way - matching blow with tle to break down the undemocratic the Negro community would be bet-
blow. The colored students, of practices in the armed forces of theter off politically.
course, left after the school was nation, it is very refreshing to give Downing died July 21, 1903.
closed. notice of the effective struggle of Guichard Parris
No doubt this view of life grew George T. Downing to secure equal
out of his experience as much as justice and the fundamental rights T. Thomas Fortune
from anything else. He was born a of citizenship for Negro troops
slave in Kent County, Maryland, that were being called to the col- One of the able, fearless and
December 23, 1815. At the age of ors in the North in the battle most sarcastic of New York jour-
nalists was T. Thomas Fortune. He
ten the " Underground Railroad' ' against oppression and slavery.
brought him to New York City. was known to make presidents and
Downing was in the foreground,
Here Henry attended the famous senators tremble. Many a corrupt
and also in the battle for equality
Mulberry Street School. Other stu- of educational opportunities politician
for and enemy of the Negro
dents were Charles L. Reason, Negro youth. In fact, Downingcould trace his downfall to the pen
of this editor.
represents the best leadership of
George T. Downing, Ira Aldridge
and Alexander Crummell - all be- what rightly may be called theTimothy
Ne- Thomas Fortune is an-
came famousģ gro Youth Movement in the other
Unitedexample of a Florida-born
After the Canaan affair Garnet States. personality who made good in New
York. His date of birth is October
studied at Oneida Institute, whereAt the early age of fourteen
he was graduated with honor. He years, George T. Downing, along3, 1856. His parents were slaves.
then turned to theology and began with Phillip Bell, Alexander Crum- When Timothy was but a child,
to preach in Troy in 1842. He mel, Jame McCune Smith, and his family, now freed by the Civil
taught awhile also and edited a Henry Highland Garnet, formed
newspaper. The abolition move- a society of boys between fourteen
ment was his heart and soul. In and sixteen years of age to discuss
many respects, Garnet was thequestionsmost pertaining to the social
forceful and revolutionary Negro and economic condition of Negro
intellectual of his day. people.
In the convention of the free Downing was born in New York
people of color in 1843 GarnetCity, wason December 30, 1819. His
so far in advance of his fellows, father, Thomas Downing, was a
that leaders like the great Freder- successful caterer, and made for
ick Douglass felt urged to take a himself a good name and fortune
more moderate stand. But not Gar- in that city. George T. Downing
net. In an eloquent speech he was thoroughly trained in the fun-
called upon the Southern slavedamentals
to at the Mulberry Street
revolt. He said, " Brethren, arise, School in New York City.
arise! Strike for your lives and Downing stood for the freedom
liberties !" This was the strongest and rights of his people. When the
appeal since the days of David clash of the sections came he rushed
Walker. It was the prophecy for to the aid of the Union. In Massa-
John Brown. chusetts he organized several regi-
In this uncompromising fashion,ments of Negro soldiers and secured
T. THOMAS FORTUNE
Garnet served for years as the pas-for them the same rights granted to
tor of the Shiloh Presbyterian white regiments. In connection
Church in New York City. His with the problem of education forWar, moved from Marianna to
speeches were regularly reported in Negro youth, he besieged the legis-Jacksonville, Florida. Young
the press. lature of Rhode Island for twelve Thomas attended there the Stanton
For three years Garnet served as years, seeking complete integrationSchool and worked in the local
president of Avery College in Pitts- for Negro boys and girls within thenewspaper offices. For a while he
burgh, Pennsylvania. Finally he school system. Through his valiant was employed in the Jacksonville
was appointed United States Min- efforts, the separate school idea Post
in Office.
ister to the Republic of Liberia. the State of Rhode Island was com- In 1875 he left Jacksonville to
Here he died February 13, 1882. pletely abandoned in 1866. become special inspector of customs
L. D. Reddick It is curious to note the interest for the eastern district of Delaware.
of Downing in the politics of hisSoon he resigned this post, entered
day. Downing urged the Negro Howard University and remained
George T. Downing voters not to put all of their eggs there for two years of study.
At this critical period in the his- into one basket but strongly ad- Thomas, now a young man, re-
tory of the United States, when itsvised a division of the Negro vote. turned to Florida to teach.

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