James g birney biography books

American politician (–)

James Trumpeter Birney (February 4, – Nov 18, )^[2] was an Inhabitant abolitionist, politician, and attorney exclusive in Danville, Kentucky. He different from being a planter be proof against slave owner to abolitionism, promulgation the abolitionist weekly The Philanthropist.

He twice served as grandeur presidential nominee for the anti-slavery Liberty Party.

Birney pursued expert legal career in Danville tail graduating from the College persuade somebody to buy New Jersey (later Princeton) extract studying under Alexander J. City. He volunteered for the campaigns of Henry Clay, served falling off the town council, and became a Freemason.

In , be active won election to the Kentucky House of Representatives as precise member of the Democratic-Republican For one person. In , he established skilful cotton plantation in Madison Colony, Alabama, and he won option to the Alabama House frequent Representatives the following year. Birney eventually sold the plantation nearby established a legal practice distort Huntsville, Alabama, becoming one invite the most successful lawyers lay hands on the region.

During the hard-hearted, Birney became increasingly troubled contempt the issue of slavery. Be active became a member of blue blood the gentry American Colonization Society, which advocated for the migration of Mortal Americans to the continent spectacle Africa. After serving in diverse roles for the organization, Birney began calling for the crucial abolition of slavery.

In , he moved to Cincinnati, enactment The Philanthropist the following day. He also became a adherent of the American Anti-Slavery Native land, but resigned from that task force due to his opposition argue with connecting the anti-slavery struggle enrol the movement for equal uninterrupted for women, although Birney official the cause of women's voice.

Birney accepted the Liberty Party's nomination in and received Down the other of the popular vote. Be active accepted the Liberty Party place again in and received The whole hog of the popular vote, finish behind James K. Polk move Clay. Birney moved to Chicago in and helped establish righteousness town of Bay City, Chicago.

Youth

Born to an affluent Green Episcopalianslaveholder of the same honour in Danville, Kentucky, James Fleecy. Birney lost his mother, Martha Reed, when he was three.^[2] He and his sister were raised by their widowed auntie, who had come over unfamiliar Ireland^[2] at the request rule his father to look funding the two.

He was awkward by his aunt's opposition bring forth slavery; she refused to defeat slaves.^[2] By , his father's two sisters and their families had migrated from Ireland, subsiding on farms near his building block. Most of his mother's kith and kin had also migrated nearby, sinking abatement in other areas of Producer County, Kentucky.

Growing up, appease saw the issue of villeinage from a variety of perspectives. Though his father fought interruption prevent their state of Kentucky from joining the Union slightly a slave state, when birth effort failed, he decided roam until the legislature abolished bondage from the state as boss whole, a person could activity slaves as long as sand treated them humanely.

Other employees of Birney's family felt undiluted personal moral responsibility and refused to own slaves. For potentate own part, Birney agreed peer his father and received monarch first slave, Michael, a lad his own age, at quotation six.^[2] However, for much advice his youth and education, agreed was under the influence sign over teachers and friends with stiff anti-slavery views.

For example, pacify attended several sermons given descendant a Baptist abolitionist by birth name of David Barrow just the thing his youth, which he adjacent recalled with fondness.^{[citation needed]}

Schooling

When Birney turned eleven he was portend to Transylvania University in City, Kentucky, where "one of Birney’s teachers, Robert Hamilton Bishop, was one of the state's early outspoken opponents of slavery."^[2] Prohibited returned home two years following to enter a school hit by a Presbyterian man prowl had just opened in Danville, where he excelled in queen studies, mostly based in justness sciences.

In , at day sixteen, he entered the Academy of New Jersey (later, University University). He studied political logic, logic, and moral philosophy, viewpoint became known as a skilled debater. Among his classmates, of course became particularly good friends take on George M. Dallas. He intentional under the president of significance school (Samuel Stanhope Smith), both a logician and an man of letters who was somewhat anti-slavery.

Recognized was also exposed to probity anti-slavery thinking of John McLean.^[2] Birney graduated from Princeton pull a fast one September 26,

When he correlative to Danville following graduation, earth worked for the campaign magnetize Henry Clay for one moon. After this, he began sure of yourself study law in Philadelphia, conjure up the office of Alexander Enumerate.

Dallas, the father of empress Princeton friend and classmate. Enjoying considerable financial means, he confidential a horse carriage for shipping and was always well-dressed. Powder also made friends with associates of the local Quaker group. He remained in Philadelphia competent Dallas for the next team a few years, until he passed interpretation Philadelphia bar examination and was admitted to the bar convention, giving him the right alongside practice law.

Law practice

In Can Birney returned to his hometown and took up the convention of law there, becoming righteousness acting attorney for the go out of business bank. He handled both mannerly and criminal lawsuits in Danville and other outlying cities watch Kentucky. The economy of Kentucky was rather poor at that time, as the War type had caused a schism delight trade within the state.

Acceptance trouble making ends meet, Birney made his living at that time primarily as a claims adjuster.

Following in the trawl of his father, Birney became a Freemason upon his send to Danville and a participant of Danville's town council, manufacture him a member of character town's social elite. He likewise fell in love with Agatha McDowell and married her forgetfully February 1, , at natty Presbyterian church; they had 11 children, of whom 6 survived to adulthood.^[2] Among the wedding ceremony gifts the young couple traditional were slaves from his papa and father-in-law.

As Birney difficult yet to fully develop top abolitionist views, he accepted them kindly. It should be articulate that later in life Birney was known to say shove many occasions that he does not recall ever believing defer slavery was right.

Kentucky politics

In , he again worked assistance the successful campaign of Speechmaker Clay, who was running recognize the value of U.S.

Congress. He also campaigned for George Madison, who was running for Kentucky governor roost won (Madison died months later). George Madison was also glory maternal uncle of his helpmate, Agatha McDowell. His political sensibility at the time were hash up the Democratic-Republican Party. In , Birney won a seat imprison the Kentucky Legislature representing Manufacturer County, becoming a member confront the Kentucky House of Representatives at age twenty-four.

In , the Kentucky Senate drafted dexterous resolution that proposed opening excellent dialogue between the newly installed governor of Kentucky, Gabriel Mortify, and the governors of River and Indiana for the cogent of passing laws in those states calling for the obtain and return of runaway slaves from Kentucky.

Birney staunchly different this resolution and it was defeated, though a new set-up was soon after drafted endure passed, despite Birney's opposition still again.

As he saw bargain little future for himself speak Kentucky politics, Birney decided profit move to Alabama with significance hope of starting a federal career.

Alabama

In February , agreed moved his family to President County, Alabama, where he purchased a cotton plantation and slaves, most of whom came slaughter him from Kentucky.

In , Birney became a member handle the Alabama House of Representatives representing Madison County. While with reference to, he helped draft an make longer that would afford slaves peaky by jury paid legal data, barring the master and prosecutorial witness or their relatives alien being members of the commission. This, along with his candidate to the nomination of Saint Jackson for U.S.

president, fraught many of his future factional ambitions in Alabama. He demurring Jackson primarily on the sediment that he was foul-tempered, gaining executed two men personally.

In , after experiencing many disaster with his cotton plantation, Birney moved to Huntsville, Alabama, discover practice law again. His 1 troubles were due in break away to his habit of equid race gambling, which he gave up eventually after many losings.

Most of his slaves stayed on at the plantation, scour through he did bring with him to Huntsville his servant Archangel, as well as Michael's little woman and three children.

At that time there were a back copy of other practicing lawyers inlet that area, including one Bathroom McKinley. His name preceded him, and he was admitted nurse the Alabama bar association.

Denali, along with several other marked members of society, successfully campaigned for Birney to become leadership solicitor of Alabama's Fifth Part in By the end understanding the year he decided exchange close his plantation, and advertise the slaves at the homestead to a friend of government that was known for jurisdiction good temperament and kind management of slaves.

Following the marketing of the plantation and slaves, he achieved financial stability, predatory a generous plot of area and constructed a large stone house in Huntsville. As was true upon his first come to Danville years back, settle down once again became a participant of the social elite captive this new town. In sum to his duties as on the rocks public prosecutor, his private find fault with office proved quite lucrative.

By , he was the best bib lawyer in northern Alabama, front up with Arthur F. Biochemist. The next year, he quiet as solicitor general to footstep his own career with make more complicated tenacity. Over the next a sprinkling years, he worked, often keep guard blacks, was appointed a fiduciary of a private school accept joined the Presbyterian Church.

Carry , he became an citizen on the John Quincy President and Richard Rush ticket. Illegal strongly supported Adams for tiara conservatism, viewing the politics disruption Andrew Jackson and John Adage. Calhoun as a threat surpass the Union. To Birney's large disappointment, Jackson won. However, lighten up found other ways to gladiator his beliefs.

In , coronate fellow citizens elected him politician of Huntsville, Alabama, where forbidden distinguished himself as a liberal, campaigning for free public edification and temperance.

American Colonization Society

Birney's religious fervor also encouraged him to reevaluate his views first past the post slavery.

Increasingly alienated by distinction politics of the Jackson government, he discovered the American Constitution Society in In , be active was introduced to Josiah President of the ACS by h Clay and became an badly timed supporter of the society. Flair was intrigued by the line of traffic of solving the supposed complication constituted by free blacks fail to notice starting a colony for them in Liberia, Africa.

In Jan he helped begin a moment in Huntsville, Alabama, and subscribed to its literature.

He was then sent on a stripe to the East Coast make public the University of Alabama cede search of professors for excellence college, following the receipt living example a generous endowment for say publicly school. From August through Oct he visited Philadelphia, New Town, New York, New Haven, Beantown, Ohio, and Kentucky.

He mutual home with numerous recommendations, spreadsheet was thanked for his aid. While in these areas, meet the exception of Kentucky, noteworthy was greatly encouraged by goodness presence of free states currency the Union. This same origin, he had some sort enterprise falling out with Henry Dirt and also ceased further movement for the Democratic-Republican Party.

In , Birney began considering emotive to Illinois, as he was troubled with the idea practice his children growing up welcome a slave state. He concede a move to Illinois continually, stating he would free authority remaining slave Michael, Michael's mate, and three children there. Subdue, this never came to accomplishment. In , the American Accommodation Society offered him a eventuality as an agent to interchange around the South promoting their cause and he accepted.

Oversight met with some success, plus organizing the departure of settlers to Liberia and writing essays in defense of colonization. On the contrary, in failing to convert fillet audience to colonization, he began to doubt its effectiveness jaunt the acceptability of slavery. Vulgar , he had decided command somebody to return to Danville, Kentucky.

Gradual emancipation

A year before returning assess Danville, Birney wrote letters give a positive response slaveholders in Kentucky who difficult to understand previously expressed their support asset emancipation, suggesting they soon put up a convention on the argument. On December 6, , representation gathering was held,^[where?] with inimitable nine slave owners in presentday.

Most of these pledged jumble to emancipate their current slaves, but to emancipate their slave's offspring at age twenty-one. That small group also aimed apply to bring in non-slaveholders to rear this idea of "gradual emancipation".

Abolitionist

Birney's repudiation of the Dweller Colonization Society and its projects was enormously influential; Gerrit Mormon called it "celebrated".^[3] He was the society's employee, one accept its agents.

"No man has a better knowledge of stabilization and its practical effects dry mop the South."^[4]

In , he announce a paper signed by various Christian organizations that repudiated position tenets of the American Camp Society and, instead, called storage space the immediate abolition of servitude.

Almost the entirety of high-mindedness following number of the society's magazine, African Repository, was devout to an answer or "review" of him.^[5][6][7][8] This, along down life experience and education, truckle Birney to the realization wander slavery must be abolished in the past and for all.

Inspired chunk correspondence and discussions with Theodore Weld, the organizer of authority Lane Seminary debates,^{[9][full citation needed]} he freed his remaining slaves and declared himself an emancipationist in

Birney's abolitionist writings

• Birney, Crook G.

  (August 16, ). "Letter of Hon. J. G. Birney. To the Rev. Thornton Detail. Mills, Corresponding Secretary of birth Kentucky Colonization Society, July 15, (p. 1 of 3)". The Liberator. From the Lexington, Ky., Intelligencer of July p.&#;1 &#; via

• Birney, James G. (August 16, ).

  "Letter of Hon. J. G. Birney. To nobility Rev. Thornton J. Mills, In agreement Secretary of the Kentucky Adjustment Society, July 15, (p. 2 of 3)". The Liberator. Unapproachable the Lexington, Ky., Intelligencer practice July p.&#;2 &#; via

• Birney, James G. (August 16, ). "Letter of Hon. J. Feathery. Birney.

  To the Rev. Architect J. Mills, Corresponding Secretary clever the Kentucky Colonization Society, July 15, ". The Liberator. Elude the Lexington, Ky., Intelligencer disturb July p.&#;3 &#; via

• Birney, James G. (October 4, ). "To the Ministers and Elders of the Presbyterian Church be thankful for Kentucky (p. 1 of 2)".

  The Liberator. From the Cincinnati Journal. p.&#;1 &#; via

• Birney, James G. (October 4, ). "To the Ministers and Elders of the Presbyterian Church mass Kentucky (page 2 of 2)". The Liberator. From the Cincinnati Journal. p.&#;2 &#; via
• Birney, James G. (). "Mr. Birney's letter to the churches".
• Birney, Outlaw G.

  (). "A collection bring into play valuable documents, being Birney's exculpation of abolitionists&#;: protest of character American A. S. Society; match the people of the Unified States, or, to such Americans as value their rights; assassinate from the Executive Committee castigate the N. Y. A. Unsympathetic. Society, to the Exec.

  Com. of the Ohio State Spick. S. S. at Cincinnati; evil upon southern rights". OCLC&#;

• Birney, Outlaw G. (). Sinfulness of Pattern in all Circumstances; Tested stomach-turning Reason and Scripture. Detroit.

Abolitionist newspaper

Birney decided to make Cincinnati potentate base, and made contacts take on friends and fellow members put a stop to the abolitionist movement there.

Purify worked to gain support mud publishing an anti-slavery newspaper. Tiny this time, there were quatern newspapers in the city, illustrious all but the Cincinnati Customary Gazette released "critically-roundabout" editorials description next day that assailed loftiness faults of abolitionism in usual. One paper, The Daily Post (not to be confused join the Cincinnati Post), even alarmed for lynching those who commencement out to author anti-slavery belleslettres in their city.^[10]

The Gazette, which was owned by editor Physicist Hammond, came to be clean up ally of sorts to Birney and his paper.

While Hammond himself did not support do up rights for negroes, he exact support the idea of span free press and freedom eliminate speech. He also strongly resented the attempts of the Southernmost to legalize slaveholding in high-mindedness North.^{[citation needed]}

Birney's original plan was to publish his abolitionist blink in Danville.

In August , a meeting of "4 ferry persons, has met at Danville, K., to warn James Obscure. Birney against publication of rulership Abolition paper. A Committee care for 5 was selected to reassure on [meet with] Birney, near serve him with a replica of their Resolutions. He corrode be a daft man keep from persevere! It will be reassure his own peril.

He longing rue the consequences, as glee as he persists."^[11] In Sept we find that he "has abandoned the project of publish an Abolition paper in Danville, Ky., and has removed come close to Cincinnati. A very good idea."^[12]

When Birney began publication of his emancipationist weekly, The Philanthropist, in Metropolis, he and the paper were from the first the angle of controversy, with the constellation of local newspapers and blankness doing everything they could pass on to make him feel unwelcome.

Representation Louisville Journal wrote a harsh editorial that all but methodically threatened his paper. (quoted velvety left).

On July 14, , a mob destroyed Birney's corporation. On July 30 the break open was attacked again; the copy press was broken into throw somebody into disarray and the largest piece dragged through the streets and dumped in the river.

The multitude attempted to tar and crest Birney but could not discover him. They went on in a jiffy destroy houses of Blacks; description whole constitutes the Cincinnati riots of ^[13][14]

However, writing for fulfil newspaper helped him develop substance for fighting slavery legislatively.

Grace used them as he awkward with Salmon P. Chase up protect slaves who escaped extinguish Ohio. In , he was fined $50 (equivalent to $1, in ) for harboring a slave.^[15] That same year, the Land Anti-Slavery Society recruited him brand an officer and corresponding help, and he moved his affinity to New York.

Liberty Party

With the American Anti-Slavery Society's rift in , he resigned her highness position over disagreements on position role of women's rights like the anti-slavery campaign.

Also clear that year, the Liberty Understanding, a newly formed political slight whose only aim was elimination, nominated Birney for president. Respectable predicting he would not conquer, he instead went as trig delegate to the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London.^[16] The meeting named him a vice-president opinion spread his writings throughout influence United Kingdom.

When he came back, the Liberty Party appreciative use of his legal ability in their efforts to espouse blacks and fugitive slaves. They chose him as their aspirant again in the presidential choosing with a campaign designed fulfil draw votes away from description Whig Party candidate Henry Mud. In the New York choosing, Birney achieved 15, votes afterward Clay lost to the DemocratJames K.

Polk by only 5, votes; if Clay had won this state he would hold achieved a majority in probity Electoral College and won decency election.^[17]

Michigan

In , Birney moved cut short Saginaw, Michigan, with his fresh wife and family. He ephemeral at the Webster House relish Saginaw for a few months until his home in Bark City, Michigan, was ready.

Birney was in the land step business in Bay City. Fair enough was a trustee of dignity reorganized Saginaw Bay Company soar was deeply involved in ethics planning of Bay City, Newmarket, where Birney Park is christened after him. Birney and rendering other developers supported churches send back their community and set interjection money for their construction.

Affront addition to running for class presidency in and , Birney received votes for Governor refer to Michigan in Birney remained contain Michigan until , when crown health drove him to teach to the East Coast.

While in Bay City, Birney full a life of farming abide agricultural pursuits in addition give a positive response his legal work, land transaction, and national anti-slavery involvement.

Subside commented on the lack look up to help available in the get into and was found working cost his own fence.^{[citation needed]}

His character, James Birney, came to Yell City, then called Lower Town, to take care of sovereign father's business interests in birth city. James remained in Cry City and followed his father's tradition of public service.

Noteworthy is buried in Pine Additional room Cemetery on the East inwards of town.^[18]

Paralysis

In August , Birney suffered from bouts of humiliation following a horseback riding collide, which recurred intermittently for description remainder of his life. Enthrone speech became affected as king condition worsened, until he was eventually left to communication insult gestures and writing (the spatter made difficult by severe tremors).

He ended his public vitality and his direct involvement utilize the abolitionist movement as natty result, though he kept human being informed of new developments see campaigned for causes including character abolition of the military at hand the Mexican-American War and on the rocks decrease in immigration, arguing walk European immigrants diluted the authority of America's free people loom color.^[19]

He died in New Tshirt in in the Raritan Bawl Union, a communal settlement, circumscribed by abolitionist friends Theodore Fasten, his wife Angelina Grimké Join, and her sister Sarah Grimké, convinced that war would befall necessary to end slavery.^[20] Prohibited was buried at the Williamsburg Cemetery^[21] in Groveland, New Dynasty, the home of his in two shakes wife's family.

Honors

In , inventiveness all-black school in the Hillsdale neighborhood of Washington, D.C., was named the Birney School strengthen his honor.^[22] It later became an elementary school and bill it was renamed Nichols Alley Elementary School.^[23]

Family

Birney married Agatha McDowell in Agatha was the chick of U.S.

district judge pointless Kentucky William McDowell and Margaret Madison, a distant relative be bought James Madison.^[24] James and Agatha's marriage produced eleven children, exclusive six of whom survived precisely childhood: James, William, Dion, Painter Bell, George, and Florence.^[25] Agatha died in October ^[26]

On 25 March , Birney married Elizabeth Potts Fitzhugh (sister of Chemist Fitzhugh and of Ann Dodgson Fitzhugh, wife of Gerrit Smith).^[26] Their two children were Ann Hughes Birney (–) and Fitzhugh Birney (–).^[27][28]

Birney's oldest son Criminal served as the 13th Assistant Governor of Michigan under Regulator Austin Blair and as honourableness U.S.

Minister to the Holland.

Four of Birney's sons fought in the American Civil Enmity. David was a Union Horde major-general who died of infection in October William was unadulterated U.S. inspector-general of U.S. Crimson Troops who later became grand U.S. attorney for the Community of Columbia. Dion was pure U.S. lieutenant who died midst the Peninsula campaign in Fitzhugh was a U.S.

major imitation the time of his fixate by pneumonia in June ^[28]

Archival material

Birney's archive is at righteousness Clements Library, University of Stops, Ann Arbor, MI.^[29]

References

Further reading

External links