I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!

I recognize the Republican Party as the sheet anchor of the colored man's political hopes and the ark of his safety.

A government, founded on impartial liberty, where all have a voice and a vote, irrespective of color or of sex--what is there to hinder such a government from standing firm.

At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed.

Poverty, ignorance and degradation are the combined evils, these constitute the social disease of the free colored people of the US.

Man's greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.

For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling in the nation must be quickened, the conscience of the nation must be roused, the propriety of the nation must be startled, the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed: and its crimes against God and man must be denounced.