Weeks after a rough return passage to the United States in September 1854, Brown was a featured speaker before the black congregation of Brick Wesley Church in Philadelphia. Summoning them as co-passengers on “an experimental voyage” to an eventual freedom, he reviewed with them the workings of “the monster slavery,” which segregated churches around the country and had territorial ambitions on Haiti, the Americas’ sole beacon of black freedom. Loyal to his friend William Lloyd Garrison, who was also honored that night, he encouraged the congregation to give its support to Garrison’s American Anti-Slavery Society and its official newspapers in the fight against slavery.
Mr. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: On my return from Europe, a few weeks since, we encountered very rough weather for the season of the year. For several days the clouds obscured the sky, the wind blew, and the waves run mountains high, so that the Captain was unable to ascertain the latitude in which he was, or the distance he had run. However, one morning the clouds cleared away, the sun appeared, and the waves ceased. The Captain then came on deck, with glass in hand, to take the sun, and find out the longitude, and the distance. We, the coloured people of this country, have been put upon an experimental voyage, and for more than two centuries we have been surrounded by the most boisterous weather, with clouds obscuring from our gaze the sun of freedom, and our bark in a leaky condition, seeking a safe harbour. Let us, my friends, stop and take the sun, and see where we are. Our fathers, torn from their native country, and brought to this, were made the “hewers of wood and drawers of water.” We, their children, are following in their footsteps. It was said, seventy years ago, that Christianity would cause slavery to cease. The Gospel, it was said, would wipe out the stain from the escutcheon of the country; but behold the result. This nation started with half a million of slaves, and to-day there are more than three millions, and this increase, too, under the preaching of the American Gospel. My friends, how could it be otherwise? Look at the tendency of this Gospel, and the cause is obvious. From Andover down to the man who teaches Theology on his “own hook,” the world has been taught that slavery is God-ordained. Moses Stuart was for more than forty years preparing men to preach this most infamous doctrine. Go to the fashionable churches in our cities, and you will see that those who worship there believe what has been taught them, by the “Negro pew,” or the isolated gallery that you will there find. “Slavery is the corner stone of our Republican Institutions,” said a church member. “Two hundred years have sanctioned and sanctified Negro Slavery,” says another; and to-day, the cardinal principle of American religion is to teach man to enslave his fellow-man. In politics as well as religion, we are denied our equality. What Court of Justice in the United States ever thinks of selecting coloured men as jurors? In Great Britain, if a foreigner is to be tried for an offence, one-half of his jury is drawn from amongst his own countrymen. Here, we are tried by men who are taught to hate us, and who never entertain the idea that we should have justice. The churches, schools, social circle, and all places where we should seek improvement, are shut against us. One thing is certain, and that is, our own education and elevation is to be one of the main levers to overthrow the institution of slavery in these United States. Then let us be true to ourselves and to the cause of our enslaved countrymen. By all means let us prove that we are worthy cooperators with the noble band who are advocating our rights. I am glad, my friends, that you have given such an enthusiastic welcome to our staunch friend, Mr. Garrison, to-night. We need union in this contest with the monster slavery, especially when we see it not content with keeping the ground it formerly occupied, but now seeking to spread itself over soil heretofore consecrated to freedom. The eye of the viper is now on Hayti, that government of people who have shown themselves such worthy recipients of liberty. If the Dominican Republic attempts to give the American Government a foothold in St. Domingo, let us hope that the Emperor of Hayti will put a stop to it. And if he gets into a war with them, and this nation interferes, let not only our prayers, but our sympathy, and, if needs be, let our arms speak for the Haytians. Your Vigilance Committee was formed for a high and grand purpose. What can be nobler than to help men and women who are escaping from the oppression of the Southern States of this confederacy? Then give of your abundance, that this association may be able to assist those that need their aid. You, no doubt, expect to hear from me something about Europe. (And here Mr. Brown narrated some of his experience abroad; showing that prejudice was unknown in Europe, and that every man was treated according to his merits and not according to his complexion.) I might have remained abroad, said Mr. Brown, and kept out of the danger of the Fugitive Slave Law, for no coloured person is safe, even though he may have been purchased, but I wanted to be here in the contest; I felt that duty called me home, and here I am. For the invitation which you extended to me, and the hearty welcome that you have given me, I am truly thankful to you. Before we separate to-night, let us renew our determination to devote our lives and our energies to the cause of human freedom. Let us ask ourselves what we are doing. How many of us take anti-slavery papers? Who of us takes the Anti-Slavery Standard or the Liberator? Friends, let us remember those in bonds as bound with them.