There were two newspapers in Troy with which Rev. Henry Highland Garnet was involved, the Clarion and the National Watchman. There is not a lot known about either newspaper, not even the years in which they were in operation; different texts make different claims.The Afro-American Press and Its Editors (1893) by Irvine Garland Penn, for example, claimed that the National Watchman began in 1842 and that when it ceased to publish the Clarion began. Some even claim they were published simultaneously. A Masters thesis from several years ago claimed that no issues of either newspaper survive.Upon initial searches, the only mentions of the National Watchman in other newspapers seem to be from 1847 (examples of quoted material from it in other papers appear below). Thus it would appear that the Clarion was the first of the two, not the other way around as is often claimed.
THE NATIONAL WATCHMAN—is a new and vigorous paper published at Troy, N. Y., by Wm. G. Allen. It is to represent and advocate the wants and interests of our colored fellow citizens, which it does with great vigor and ability.
Emancipator and Republican [Boston, MA]. April 14, 1847: 2.In the People's Journal of the present month, we find the following article:
AN 'ALBION' PRESS FOR FREDERICK DOUGLASS.The proposition to raise a fund to present F. Douglass with a press, type &c., originated with an esteemed lady of Newcastle-on-Tyne, the same benevolent individual who proposed and accompanied F. D.'s ransom from the despotic grasp of the slaveholder. [...]It seems to be the impression of our trans-atlantic coajutors, that there is not a single newspaper either published or edited by any colored person in the United States; and hence their laudable desire to see one established, under one so gifted as Mr. Douglass. But they labor under a mistake. Already, there are not less than four such papers, devoted to the interests of the colored population, and exclusively conducted by intelligent colored men—viz: 'The Disfranchised American,' published in Cincinnati; 'The Mystery,' in Pittsburgh; '
The Ram's Horn,' in the city of New York; and the 'National Watchman,' in Troy. Three of these have been commenced during the present year, and all of whom are conducted with sufficient talent to reflect credit on their enterprising projectors. They fully demonstrate the capacity of the colored population for freedom, and are probably quite as numerous as can secure a living patronage at present.
Anti-Slavery Bugle [Salem, OH]. July 9, 1847: 2 col 1. [
The Disfranchised American and
The Mystery appear to have begun publishing in 1843-1844, not 1847.]Rev. Mr. GARNET announces, in a neat and well written introductory, his connection with Mr.
[William G.] ALLEN in the editorial department of the National Watchman. Both of these gentlemen are good writers and they will no doubt make an interesting paper.
Northern Budget [Troy, NY]. July 30, 1847: 2 col 3.
COLORED TRAVELLERS.One of the most wicked and disgraceful forms in which prejudice against color manifests itself at the North, is in refusing ordinary travelling accommodations to colored passengers. On board one of the magnificent steamers of Long Island Sound, a few days since, we met a colored clergyman of the Episcopal Church, who assured us that he had been indebted to the compassion of a black waiter for a miserable night's rest on a berth temporarily fitted up—the rules of the boat not allowing colored men to enjoy the privileges of the cabin. The editor of the National Watchman, a colored man, speaks of this custom in the following language:—'For meanness and absolute villainy, the steamboat proprietors and railroad conductors on the route from New York to Boston, via Stonington and Providence, certainly stand pre-eminent. With the sailor, we ask, 'If the devil does not get these men, what use can there be of a devil?''On the route, via Stonington, we last fall took passage from New York to Boston. Unable on any consideration to get passage in the cabin, we were compelled to remain on deck, and though somewhat secured from the inclemency of the weather, our situation was anything else than desirable. In company with us was a clergyman of New York city. This friend ordered supper, and accordingly, between ten and eleven o'clock at night, he was directed into the kitchen!—his supper served up on a shelf, and to this he had to stand like a horse to his fodder! On arriving at Stonington, we were shown into our
appropriate places—the second class cars; and here, amid every variety of ruffianism, vulgarism, and loaferism, we sat it out till we reached the city of Providence.'Within the last week or so we took passage, via Norwich, from Boston to New York; and although we had procured a cabin ticket in Boston, when we arrived on board the steamboat, the clerk was desirous of paying us back a dollar, and compelling us to take the deck. Our talk at the office having attracted the attention of many, the man became finally so ashamed that we at last went down into the cabin, no one offering hinderance. We cherish hopes of this man. Shame is at least one step in the ladder of true reform.'
Liberator [Boston, MA]. August 13, 1847: 120 col 2.
From the National Watchman.☞ We have received '
The Narrative of WILLIAM W. BROWN, a fugitive slave, written by himself, and published at the Anti-Slavery Office, No. 21 Cornhill, Boston.The same sad story of wrongs and cruelties which a DOUGLASS and
[Henry] BIBB and the
CLARKS have told in the ear of sympathizing thousands, and which none can read or hear without feeling his whole soul aroused against a system of such vile oppression—such daring outrage upon humanity, and such an insult and mockery to Heaven—such blasphemy to the religion of Christ.—What a chapter will the narrative of American Slavery make in the book of God's remembrance is the last great day! How awful, that 'holy men,' in his name, 'give Scripture for the dead'!'Go teach us wellOf holy truth from falsehood born!Of heaven refresh'd from airs of hell!Of virtue nursed by open vice,Of demons plagueing Paradise.'
Liberator [Boston, MA]. August 27, 1847: 1 col 6. [Poem is by John Greenleaf Whittier; "plagueing" should be planting.]
GERRIT SMITH AND HIS LAND.On our first page is an article from the Albany Evening Journal in relation to the letter of Gerrit Smith on Land Monopoly, and some very appropriate comments on the Journal's article, by the Tribune. The following article on the same subject is from the Troy "National Watchman:"REMARKS.—When the mail brought the paper containing the article, we were in Peterboro' on a visit to Mr. Smith, and we must say that we were greatly astonished to see such an article in a journal which hitherto had been remarkable for its candor and courtesy. Moreover we regret that the article bears evidence that the writer has not read the able and eloquent address of Messrs. [Rev. Theodore] Wright, [Charles Bennett] Ray and Dr. [James McCune] Smith, of New-York, to the colored people whom Mr. Smith has made landowners. That address embodies two letters in which Mr. Smith gives the public no little information appertaining to his circumstances, and his views respecting land-ownership. Does the
Journal know that such a pamphlet was ever published? or has he read it.At the death of his father, some ten years ago, Mr. Smith found himself in the possession of from
three-fourths to a million acres of land, all but some
thirty thousand acres lying in this state. These thirty thousand acres, with trifling exceptions, he gave to public schools identified with the anti-slavery cause. Of the remainder of his possessions he determined to sell enough to pay the immense debts charged upon it, and to give away most or all that might be left.
His extensive, tracts of land that were low, or mountainous, or were very deep in the bosom of the wilderness, he either offered to give to actual setlers [sic], or sell it at five cents per acre. His farming lands, and some detached parcels of village lots, and houses, he has given to an outraged, oppressed and impoverished people.Mr. Smith hopes to complete his gifts to our people before the coming winter, and to have not more than fifty thousand acres remaining at that time. These fifty thousand acres, the most of which is waste land, he hopes to be able to dispose of in a year or two. Mr. Smith pointed out to us the
thirty acres which he hopes will be all that he will leave at the time of his death. Such a man the
Journal calls a "land king." He does not reserve for himself as much as he gives to poor men.
Mr. Smith lives in a small wooden cottage, which, although it presents the appearance of the dwelling of a man of taste, yet in all probability it would be too humble for the opulent and accomplished editors of the Journal. Is this manner of living and acting, evidence that Mr. Smith's "schemes" are impracticable?—that all he says is nothing more than the hallucinations of a wild "enthusiast"?Mr. and Mrs. Smith have long been forming and perfecting their plans. They are among the earliest promoters of the land reform movement in this county. Mrs. Margaret Smith even went before her distinguished consort in adopting the principles which thus far, they have carried out so gloriously. Years ago this accomplishedaccomplished and christian lady had a pamphlet printed, and widely circulated, at her own expense, that this great question of the 19th century might be placed before the people. It is a spectacle grand altogether beyond description, to see Mrs. Smith standing by husband, like a guardian angel cheering him on in every work of reform.It is not to poor
colored people only that Mr. Smith has given homes.—Within the last year many a houseless white man, in his own neighborhood, has received a home at his hands. In Peterboro' and elsewhere, scores rise up early and call him blessed.Mr. Smith informed us that his father acquired the greater portion of his lands by purchase from the state,—and that not a twentieth part of the property was purchased at the sales of lands for taxes. It s a mistake which the
Journal's information ought not to have allowed him to make, that farms can be obtained by sales for taxes without knowledge of the occupants. The law requires that a notice shall be given, and when sold, two years are allowed to redeem. Most of the land sold for taxes are so poor, that the owners are unwilling to meet the expenses, and therefore suffer them to be sold. The law regulating taxation seems to be equitable. No man's farm can be sold for taxation if here chooses to retain it.Suppose that all the
Journal says of Mr. Smith's father is true, is this a just reason for finding fault with the good deeds of his son? Let every large land-holder follow Mr. Smith's example, and soon every poor industrious man will have a "green spot" and a comfortable cottage. H. G. H.This conduct of Mr. Smith is highly creditable to him as a Philanthropist, and is, so far as I am informed, without a parallel in modern times; but I think his policy as a Reformer is not good. Would it not have been much better for him to have applied to the State for power to dispose of his land subject to the Limitation and Homestead Exemption principles, to have
sold instead of given it, and to have applied the proceeds to further the cause? Even if the state had refused, the subject would have been of great benefit; and the proceeds of the land would have advanced the cause incalculably, the only serious obstacle to its success being the want of means to lay it before the people.
Young America! Organ of the National Reform Association [NY]. September 4, 1847: 2 col 2. [The digital scan of the microfilm of the newspaper rendered the first initial a little indistinct; it appears to be an N., M., or H.]The editor of the National Watchman, a 'colored' paper at Troy, says that
J. Harleston Read of Charleston, S. C., one of the thirty-seven Southerners who issued a circular to establish a pro-slavery paper in Washington, to his 'certain knowledge,' has a colored family, consisting of a beautiful woman, 'a swarthy prototype of Hagar,' and five children.
New-York Daily Tribune. September 10, 1847: 1 col 3.
Sabbath Recorder [NY]. September 16, 1847: 51 col 3.
Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph [MA]. September 18, 1847: 2.
Exeter News-Letter and Rockingham Advertiser [NH]. September 20, 1847: 3.
American Freeman [Waukesha, WI]. September 22, 1847: 3.
Western Christian Journal [Columbus, OH]. September 24, 1847: 3 col 4.[Of the several newspapers above carrying the above item, only the
American Freeman gave a name. The phrase "swarthy prototype of Hagar" appears in the poem "To M'Duffie" by John Greenleaf Whittie]
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.LYNN, Mass., Feb. 5, 1848.MY DEAR [William Cooper] NELL:—In accordance with my promise, I will now commence to keep yourself and the readers of the North Star informed of my movements during my absence from my post at Rochester. [...]The most interesting part of my visit to Springfield, was a private interview with Mr. [John] Brown, Mr. [Thomas] Van Rensselaer and Mr. [Augustus] Washington. [...] Mr. Washington is from Hanford, Connecticut, and is the same whose letter to the National Watchman last summer had the happy effect to put an end to the most disagreeable and unprofitable controversy which existed between that paper and the "Ram's Horn." [...]Yours in the case of Freedom,F. D.
Frederick Douglass' Paper. [Rochester, NY]. February 10, 1848: 2.