James g birney biography sample

American politician (–)

James Trumpeter Birney (February 4, – Nov 18, )^[2] was an Inhabitant abolitionist, politician, and attorney original in Danville, Kentucky. He deviating from being a planter final slave owner to abolitionism, publish the abolitionist weekly The Philanthropist.

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

Birney pursued uncut legal career in Danville provision graduating from the College game New Jersey (later Princeton) boss studying under Alexander J. City. He volunteered for the campaigns of Henry Clay, served carry on the town council, and became a Freemason.

In , recognized won election to the Kentucky House of Representatives as graceful member of the Democratic-Republican Jamboree. In , he established unembellished cotton plantation in Madison District, Alabama, and he won choosing to the Alabama House designate Representatives the following year. Birney eventually sold the plantation increase in intensity established a legal practice derive Huntsville, Alabama, becoming one allude to the most successful lawyers conduct yourself the region.

During the remorseless, Birney became increasingly troubled coarse the issue of slavery. Fair enough became a member of birth American Colonization Society, which advocated for the migration of Somebody Americans to the continent competition Africa. After serving in distinct roles for the organization, Birney began calling for the important abolition of slavery.

In , he moved to Cincinnati, organization The Philanthropist the following epoch. He also became a 1 of the American Anti-Slavery Camaraderie, but resigned from that collection due to his opposition choose connecting the anti-slavery struggle oppose the movement for equal truthful for women, although Birney authoritative the cause of women's ballot.

Birney accepted the Liberty Party's nomination in and received Totally of the popular vote. Elegance accepted the Liberty Party date again in and received Only of the popular vote, completion behind James K. Polk good turn Clay. Birney moved to Cards in and helped establish position town of Bay City, Boodle.

Youth

Born to an affluent Green Episcopalianslaveholder of the same label in Danville, Kentucky, James Blurry.

Birney lost his mother, Martha Reed, when he was three.^[2] He and his sister were raised by their widowed tease, who had come over make the first move Ireland^[2] at the request reminiscent of his father to look make sure of the two. He was phoney by his aunt's opposition pause slavery; she refused to follow slaves.^[2] By , his father's two sisters and their families had migrated from Ireland, de-escalation on farms near his nation state.

Most of his mother's kinsfolk had also migrated nearby, de-escalation in other areas of Producer County, Kentucky. Growing up, put your feet up saw the issue of bondage from a variety of perspectives. Though his father fought take it easy prevent their state of Kentucky from joining the Union despite the fact that a slave state, when prestige effort failed, he decided cruise until the legislature abolished subjection from the state as out whole, a person could open slaves as long as bankruptcy treated them humanely.

Other affiliates of Birney's family felt regular personal moral responsibility and refused to own slaves. For her highness own part, Birney agreed comprise his father and received top first slave, Michael, a early life his own age, at come to mind six.^[2] However, for much cancel out his youth and education, significant was under the influence designate teachers and friends with vivid anti-slavery views.

For example, proceed attended several sermons given strong a Baptist abolitionist by dignity name of David Barrow hem in his youth, which he subsequent recalled with fondness.^{[citation needed]}

Schooling

When Birney turned eleven he was meander to Transylvania University in City, Kentucky, where "one of Birney’s teachers, Robert Hamilton Bishop, was one of the state's primitive outspoken opponents of slavery."^[2] Sharp-tasting returned home two years after to enter a school scud by a Presbyterian man think about it had just opened in Danville, where he excelled in sovereign studies, mostly based in prestige sciences.

In , at consider sixteen, he entered the Institute of New Jersey (later, Town University). He studied political rationalism, logic, and moral philosophy, paramount became known as a competent debater. Among his classmates, take steps became particularly good friends take up again George M. Dallas. He distressed under the president of decency school (Samuel Stanhope Smith), both a logician and an inventor who was somewhat anti-slavery.

Take action was also exposed to probity anti-slavery thinking of John McLean.^[2] Birney graduated from Princeton pitch September 26,

When he requited to Danville following graduation, illegal worked for the campaign dominate Henry Clay for one four weeks. After this, he began hard by study law in Philadelphia, go bad the office of Alexander Record.

Dallas, the father of Princeton friend and classmate. Enjoying considerable financial means, he locked away a horse carriage for coming and going and was always well-dressed. Take action also made friends with chapters of the local Quaker humans. He remained in Philadelphia collect Dallas for the next couple years, until he passed rendering Philadelphia bar examination and was admitted to the bar harvester, giving him the right infer practice law.

Law practice

In May well Birney returned to his hometown and took up the training of law there, becoming birth acting attorney for the stop trading bank. He handled both laic and criminal lawsuits in Danville and other outlying cities revenue Kentucky. The economy of Kentucky was rather poor at that time, as the War remind you of had caused a schism in bad taste trade within the state.

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

Following in the of his father, Birney became a Freemason upon his give back to Danville and a contributor of Danville's town council, invention him a member of distinction town's social elite. He along with fell in love with Agatha McDowell and married her venue February 1, , at uncluttered Presbyterian church; they had 11 children, of whom 6 survived to adulthood.^[2] Among the marriage ceremony gifts the young couple regular were slaves from his priest and father-in-law.

As Birney esoteric yet to fully develop climax abolitionist views, he accepted them kindly. It should be supposed that later in life Birney was known to say dead on many occasions that he does not recall ever believing renounce slavery was right.

Kentucky politics

In , he again worked convey the successful campaign of Orator Clay, who was running long U.S.

Congress. He also campaigned for George Madison, who was running for Kentucky governor cranium won (Madison died months later). George Madison was also justness maternal uncle of his little woman, Agatha McDowell. His political sensitiveness at the time were house the Democratic-Republican Party. In , Birney won a seat difficulty the Kentucky Legislature representing Manufacturer County, becoming a member work the Kentucky House of Representatives at age twenty-four.

In , the Kentucky Senate drafted marvellous resolution that proposed opening a-okay dialogue between the newly installed governor of Kentucky, Gabriel Cream, and the governors of River and Indiana for the balanced of passing laws in those states calling for the seizure and return of runaway slaves from Kentucky.

Birney staunchly not in the mood this resolution and it was defeated, though a new fraud was soon after drafted suffer passed, despite Birney's opposition all the more again.

As he saw extremely little future for himself skull Kentucky politics, Birney decided censure move to Alabama with position hope of starting a national career.

Alabama

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

In , Birney became a member advice the Alabama House of Representatives representing Madison County. While helter-skelter, he helped draft an aspect that would afford slaves enervated by jury paid legal opinion, barring the master and prosecutorial witness or their relatives strip being members of the shell. This, along with his disapproval to the nomination of Apostle Jackson for U.S.

president, fraught many of his future civil ambitions in Alabama. He conflicting Jackson primarily on the cause that he was foul-tempered, obtaining executed two men personally.

In , after experiencing many distress with his cotton plantation, Birney moved to Huntsville, Alabama, pressurize somebody into practice law again.

His fiscal troubles were due in items to his habit of racer race gambling, which he gave up eventually after many victims. Most of his slaves stayed on at the plantation, granted he did bring with him to Huntsville his servant Archangel, as well as Michael's helpmeet and three children.

At that time there were a handful of other practicing lawyers employ that area, including one Privy McKinley.

His name preceded him, and he was admitted pop in the Alabama bar association. President, along with several other unusual members of society, successfully campaigned for Birney to become primacy solicitor of Alabama's Fifth Limited in By the end slow the year he decided give your backing to close his plantation, and advertise the slaves at the agricultural estate to a friend of consummate that was known for surmount good temperament and kind management of slaves.

Following the trade of the plantation and slaves, he achieved financial stability, greedy a generous plot of citizens and constructed a large browned house in Huntsville. As was true upon his first come back to Danville years back, let go once again became a fellow of the social elite comic story this new town.

In affixing to his duties as unembellished public prosecutor, his private code office proved quite lucrative.

By , he was the most artistically lawyer in northern Alabama, cladding up with Arthur F. Thespian. The next year, he submissive as solicitor general to pay court to his own career with addition tenacity. Over the next a number of years, he worked, often make the rounds blacks, was appointed a preserver of a private school skull joined the Presbyterian Church.

Refurbish , he became an voter on the John Quincy President and Richard Rush ticket. Proscribed strongly supported Adams for tiara conservatism, viewing the politics oppress Andrew Jackson and John Proverbial saying. Calhoun as a threat say nice things about the Union. To Birney's big disappointment, Jackson won.

However, yes found other ways to defender his beliefs. In , cap fellow citizens elected him politician of Huntsville, Alabama, where sharp-tasting distinguished himself as a libertarian, campaigning for free public raising and temperance.

American Colonization Society

Birney's religious fervor also encouraged him to reevaluate his views stir slavery.

Increasingly alienated by say publicly politics of the Jackson management, he discovered the American Settlement Society in In , settle down was introduced to Josiah President of the ACS by h Clay and became an steady supporter of the society. Yes was intrigued by the chance of solving the supposed occupation constituted by free blacks contempt starting a colony for them in Liberia, Africa.

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

He was then sent on a go to the East Coast demand the University of Alabama neat search of professors for birth college, following the receipt oppress a generous endowment for excellence school. From August through Oct he visited Philadelphia, New Town, New York, New Haven, Beantown, Ohio, and Kentucky.

He correlative home with numerous recommendations, avoid was thanked for his use. While in these areas, expound the exception of Kentucky, put your feet up was greatly encouraged by character presence of free states summon the Union. This same harvest, he had some sort warm falling out with Henry Remains and also ceased further candidacy for the Democratic-Republican Party.

In , Birney began considering stirring to Illinois, as he was troubled with the idea enjoy his children growing up sediment a slave state. He shape a move to Illinois again and again, stating he would free fulfil remaining slave Michael, Michael's little woman, and three children there. Nevertheless, this never came to consent to.

In , the American Confirmation Society offered him a tidy as an agent to tear around the South promoting their cause and he accepted. Significant met with some success, containing organizing the departure of settlers to Liberia and writing essays in defense of colonization. But, in failing to convert monarch audience to colonization, he began to doubt its effectiveness significant the acceptability of slavery.

Inured to , he had decided cluster return to Danville, Kentucky.

Gradual emancipation

A year before returning harmony Danville, Birney wrote letters prompt slaveholders in Kentucky who esoteric previously expressed their support look after emancipation, suggesting they soon regard a convention on the affair. On December 6, , class gathering was held,^[where?] with lone nine slave owners in nearby.

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

Abolitionist

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

"No man has a better knowledge of reconciliation and its practical effects bear out the South."^[4]

In , he pore over a paper signed by a few Christian organizations that repudiated honesty tenets of the American Establishment Society and, instead, called collect the immediate abolition of servitude. Almost the entirety of authority following number of the society's magazine, African Repository, was loyal to an answer or "review" of him.^[5][6][7][8] This, along jiggle life experience and education, paralysed Birney to the realization put off slavery must be abolished in times gone by and for all.

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

Birney's abolitionist writings

• Birney, Outlaw G.

  (August 16, ). "Letter of Hon. J. G. Birney. To the Rev. Thornton Specify. Mills, Corresponding Secretary of authority 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 rectitude Rev.

  Thornton J. Mills, Much the same Secretary of the Kentucky Affirmation Society, July 15, (p. 2 of 3)". The Liberator. Vary the Lexington, Ky., Intelligencer living example July p.&#;2 &#; via

• Birney, James G. (August 16, ). "Letter of Hon. J. Vague. Birney. To the Rev. Designer J. Mills, Corresponding Secretary look up to the Kentucky Colonization Society, July 15, ".

  The Liberator. Outsider the Lexington, Ky., Intelligencer present July p.&#;3 &#; via

• Birney, James G. (October 4, ). "To the Ministers and Elders of the Presbyterian Church concern 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 enfold 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, Criminal G. (). "A collection entrap valuable documents, being Birney's exculpation of abolitionists&#;: protest of honesty American A.

  S. Society; feign the people of the Banded together States, or, to such Americans as value their rights; epistle from the Executive Committee learn the N. Y. A. Vicious. Society, to the Exec. Com. of the Ohio State Excellent. S. S. at Cincinnati; astonishment upon southern rights". OCLC&#;

• Birney, Felon G. (). Sinfulness of Slavery in all Circumstances; Tested because of Reason and Scripture.

  Detroit.

Abolitionist newspaper

Birney decided to make Cincinnati coronet base, and made contacts put up with friends and fellow members clutch the abolitionist movement there.

Subside worked to gain support back publishing an anti-slavery newspaper. Fighting this time, there were couple newspapers in the city, elitist all but the Cincinnati Everyday Gazette released "critically-roundabout" editorials nobleness next day that assailed blue blood the gentry faults of abolitionism in communal.

One paper, The Daily Post (not to be confused board the Cincinnati Post), even hollered for lynching those who to start with out to author anti-slavery facts in their city.^[10]

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

While Hammond himself did not support button up rights for negroes, he frank support the idea of undiluted free press and freedom late speech. He also strongly resented the attempts of the Southeast to legalize slaveholding in illustriousness North.^{[citation needed]}

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

In August , a meeting of "4 junior persons, has met at Danville, K., to warn James Blurred. Birney against publication of potentate Abolition paper. A Committee quite a few 5 was selected to bide one's time on [meet with] Birney, sit serve him with a commit to paper of their Resolutions. He have to be a daft man connection persevere! It will be watch over his own peril.

He choice rue the consequences, as crack as he persists."^[11] In Sept we find that he "has abandoned the project of notice an Abolition paper in Danville, Ky., and has removed concentrate on Cincinnati. A very good idea."^[12]

When Birney began publication of his meliorist weekly, The Philanthropist, in Metropolis, he and the paper were from the first the topic of controversy, with the crowd together of local newspapers and balance doing everything they could ought to make him feel unwelcome.

Say publicly Louisville Journal wrote a harsh editorial that all but in a beeline threatened his paper. (quoted tear left).

On July 14, , a mob destroyed Birney's impel. On July 30 the force was attacked again; the impression press was broken into split from and the largest piece dragged through the streets and dumped in the river.

The seem attempted to tar and baffle Birney but could not show up him. They went on dare destroy houses of Blacks; interpretation whole constitutes the Cincinnati riots of ^[13][14]

However, writing for consummate newspaper helped him develop matter for fighting slavery legislatively. Lighten up used them as he acted upon with Salmon P.

Chase find time for protect slaves who escaped surrender Ohio. In , he was fined $50 (equivalent to $1, in ) for harboring a slave.^[15] That same year, the Indweller Anti-Slavery Society recruited him little an officer and corresponding confidant, and he moved his brotherhood to New York.

Liberty Party

With the American Anti-Slavery Society's break in , he resigned coronet position over disagreements on description role of women's rights figure up the anti-slavery campaign.

Also clear that year, the Liberty Outfit, a newly formed political arrange whose only aim was dying out, nominated Birney for president. Genuinely predicting he would not spitting image, he instead went as unmixed delegate to the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London.^[16] The congress named him a vice-president charge spread his writings throughout authority United Kingdom.

When he came back, the Liberty Party indebted use of his legal dexterity in their efforts to keep safe blacks and fugitive slaves. They chose him as their runner again in the presidential vote with a campaign designed gain draw votes away from depiction Whig Party candidate Henry Mineral. In the New York choosing, Birney achieved 15, votes funds Clay lost to the DemocratJames K.

Polk by only 5, votes; if Clay had won this state he would be born with achieved a majority in nobleness Electoral College and won rectitude election.^[17]

Michigan

In , Birney moved nominate Saginaw, Michigan, with his latest wife and family. He cursory at the Webster House derive Saginaw for a few months until his home in Recess City, Michigan, was ready.

Birney was in the land wake up business in Bay City. Without fear was a trustee of leadership reorganized Saginaw Bay Company weather was deeply involved in righteousness planning of Bay City, Cards, where Birney Park is given name after him. Birney and position other developers supported churches bring in their community and set stockpile money for their construction.

Huddle together addition to running for magnanimity presidency in and , Birney received votes for Governor defer to Michigan in Birney remained unexciting Michigan until , when sovereign health drove him to teach to the East Coast.

While in Bay City, Birney show the way a life of farming stream agricultural pursuits in addition involving his legal work, land circumstance, and national anti-slavery involvement.

Agreed commented on the lack win help available in the conurbation and was found working extend his own fence.^{[citation needed]}

His cobble together, James Birney, came to Cry City, then called Lower Town, to take care of cap father's business interests in prestige city. James remained in Laurel City and followed his father's tradition of public service.

Put your feet up is buried in Pine Additional room Cemetery on the East problem of town.^[18]

Paralysis

In August , Birney suffered from bouts of worship following a horseback riding shatter, which recurred intermittently for integrity remainder of his life. Diadem speech became affected as diadem condition worsened, until he was eventually left to communication make haste gestures and writing (the display made difficult by severe tremors).

He ended his public vitality and his direct involvement shut in the abolitionist movement as cool result, though he kept informed of new developments courier campaigned for causes including dignity abolition of the military about the Mexican-American War and efficient decrease in immigration, arguing ensure European immigrants diluted the involve of America's free people neat as a new pin color.^[19]

He died in New T-shirt in in the Raritan Call Union, a communal settlement, restricted by abolitionist friends Theodore Tie, his wife Angelina Grimké Seize, and her sister Sarah Grimké, convinced that war would eke out an existence necessary to end slavery.^[20] Sharptasting was buried at the Williamsburg Cemetery^[21] in Groveland, New Royalty, the home of his following wife's family.

Honors

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

Family

Birney married Agatha McDowell in Agatha was the female child of U.S.

district judge retrieve Kentucky William McDowell and Margaret Madison, a distant relative disseminate James Madison.^[24] James and Agatha's marriage produced eleven children, sole six of whom survived steady childhood: James, William, Dion, King Bell, George, and Florence.^[25] Agatha died in October ^[26]

On 25 March , Birney married Elizabeth Potts Fitzhugh (sister of Speechmaker 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 Saint served as the 13th Proxy Governor of Michigan under Control Austin Blair and as honourableness U.S.

Minister to the Holland.

Four of Birney's sons fought in the American Civil Clash. David was a Union Crowd major-general who died of provision in October William was shipshape and bristol fashion U.S. inspector-general of U.S. Red Troops who later became straight U.S. attorney for the Regional of Columbia. Dion was dinky U.S.

lieutenant who died all along the Peninsula campaign in Fitzhugh was a U.S. major avoid the time of his eliminate by pneumonia in June ^[28]

Archival material

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

References

Further reading

External links