Theodore Parker

 

Theodore Parker's Speech at the Faneuil Hall Meeting (May 26, 1854)

http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/aboltheopark.html

 

As an abolitionist, Theodore Parker beleived that the issue of slavery in the US was a great problem. He beleived that the law that was passed, the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 (following the Compromise of 1850), was controversial to the Compromise. He did not beleive it was fair that slaves that reached the Northern states had to be returned to their slave owners in the South. He was against slavery and he openly advocated for the people to the violate this law. An example of him sharing his ideas against slavery is in May 26, 1854 at Faneuil Hall. There, Parker gave his speech that the Fugitive Slave Law was unfair and they should stand against it. He planned to not allow a slave, that had been recently recaptured, be taken back to the South with his owner.

According to Parker, the great issue in the US was the issue of slavery. Parker beleived that the current government had issues and that over time it would be fixed so that justice would be met and slavery would end. Legislation can control human behavior but not change it because humans will still act as they wish but legislation puts a borderline to what extent the people could act as they wish. Parker beleived in immediate changes because he planned to take action at the Faneuil Hall Meeting when he planned to not let the slave leave.

Parker showed that society can be improved by involvement because he took action against what he did not agree with. He spoke against the capture of the slave in his speech at Faneuil Hall. He also hid slaves from the Fugitive Slave Law. Parker was directly involved in getting rid of slavery so he obviously beleived in the active involvement to make a better society. He beleives a society with no slavery would be a good society. He followed what he beleived was a good society and fought to get rid of slvery.