Elijah Parish Lovejoy
Elijah Parish Lovejoy
Elijah Parish Lovejoywas an American Presbyterian minister, journalist, newspaper editor and abolitionist. He was murdered by a pro-slavery mob in Alton, Illinois, during their attack on his warehouse to destroy his press and abolitionist materials...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth9 November 1802
CountryUnited States of America
appreciate begin fortune hitherto home hope learned left looked love past since
Fortune has, in the main, hitherto looked unfavourably upon me since I left home, but I begin to hope for better things. Still, in all my past distresses, one thought has consoled me - I have learned to appreciate a parent's love.
cease held human meant shall simply treated
Emancipation - what is meant by it? Simply that the slaves shall cease to be held as property and shall henceforth be held and treated as human beings. Simply, that we should take our feet from off their necks.
god seems unbelief
Is he not a God that showeth mercy and keepeth covenant? Of all sins, it seems to me that the sin of unbelief is the most dishonouring to God.
If I am not safe in Alton, I shall not be safe anywhere.
advise again earnestly expect love obey
I most earnestly advise you, again and again, love, honor, and obey your parents. Friends like them, you need not expect to find in this world.
besides cannot compromise life surrender though truth
I cannot surrender my principles, though the whole world besides should vote them down - I can make no compromise between truth and error, even though my life be the alternative.
blood country hold laws liberty please publish runs shall whatever
As long as I am an American citizen, and as long as American blood runs in these veins, I shall hold myself at liberty to speak, to write, and to publish whatever I please on any subject, being amenable to the laws of my country for the same.
alone believe born country held hold introduced men race slaves
Abolitionists believe that, as all men are born free, so all who are now held as slaves in this country were born free, and that they are slaves now is the sin, not of those who introduced the race into this country, but of those, and those alone, who now hold them and have held them in slavery from their birth.
freely land publish subject
I know that I have the right freely to speak and publish my sentiments, subject only to the laws of the land for the abuse of that right.
eternal god opposition sworn
I have sworn eternal opposition to slavery, and by the blessing of God, I will never go back.
act conviction performed voluntary
Emancipation, to be of any value to the slave, must be the free, voluntary act of the master, performed from a conviction of its propriety.
civil determined god grave refuse
If the civil authorities refuse to protect me, I must look to God, and if I die, I have determined to make my grave in Alton.
approve believe cease duty hold immediate man respect
As the Bible inculcates upon man but one duty in respect to sin, and that is immediate repentance, abolitionists believe that all who hold slaves, or who approve the practice in others, should immediately cease to do so.
cannot cry entered oppressed peace
The cry of the oppressed has entered not only into my ears, but into my soul, so that while I live, I cannot hold my peace.