Anti-Slavery Movement

“One anti-slavery movement nearly died out fifty years ago, and I am not prepared to deny the possibility of a like fate for this one. The elements of discord and deterioration are already in it, and working their legitimate results. And yet I am not gloomy. Present organizations may perish, but the cause will go on. That cause has a life, distinct and independent of the organizations patched up from time to time to carry it forward. Looked at apart from the bones and sinews, and body, it is a thing immortal. It is the very essence of justice, liberty and love. The moral life of human society—it cannot die, while conscience, honor and humanity remain. If but one be filled with it, the cause lives.…If there be but one such man in the land, no matter what becomes of abolition societies and parties, there will be an anti-slavery cause, and an antislavery movement.…"

In this passage Fredrick Douglas is stating that the Anti-Slavery organizations in the movement aren’t as eager and ready to fight to end slavery as they once were. He feels like the organizations aren’t on the same mission and have become less concerned with the federal government granting liberty for all. These abolitionist have moved to the notion that slave masters would be the person in charge of freeing the slaves ultimately.  Douglas does believe that even if these Anti-Slavery movements deteriorate, there will still be people in the country who will push for the end of slavery through the federal government.

                I believe Fredrick Douglas wasn’t giving up on Anti-Slavery movements and organizations but he was giving up on what they stood for at the time and there efficiency. They were no longer concerned about making it a law that all people whether in the Freed North or South deserved liberty. Although, they all had the same mission to end slavery, they all didn’t go about it the same way. But Douglas had hope that future generations would come forth and push for the end of slavery.