Levi Coffin, Reminiscences of Levi Coffin (1880)

Levi Coffin

 

"Reminiscences of Levi Coffin, the Reputed President of the

Underground Railroad; Being a Brief History of the Labors of a 

Lifetime in Behalf of the Slave, with the Stories of Numerous 

Fugitives, Who Gained Their Freedom Through His Instrumentality,

and Many Other Incidents:Electronic Edition," Documenting the American South, 

accessed January 18, 2012,

 http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/coffin/coffin.html

1880-XX-XX

Document

Greensboro, North Carolina

Jamestown, North Carolina

Guilford County, North Carolina

Randolph County, North Carolina

Book

Some plan of gradual manumission was the theme of general discussion at that day, but none of the advocates spoke or seemed to think of immediate and unconditional emancipation. Manumission societies were organized in different counties. The first, I believe, was organized at New Garden, Guilford County. I was a member of it, and can well remember the proceedings. We also had several State Conventions, which were largely attended, and at which addresses were delivered and speeches made, by prominent men. The various branches were represented by delegates. The first convention of this kind was held at Jamestown, in Guilford County, and William Swaim, editor of the Greensboro Patriot, took an active part in the proceedings. His cousin Moses, a lawyer of Randolph County, delivered a lengthy and able address, which was afterward printed and widely circulated. It was a strong abolition speech, and would not have been allowed a few years later. Several lenient slaveholders united with us in those meetings, and advocated plans for gradual manumission. About this time the same subject was agitated in East Tennessee, and similar societies organized in that part of the State.