Letters to Catherine E. Beecher, in Reply to an Essay on Slavery and Abolitionism, Addressed to A.E. Grimke.

by Angelina Emily Grimké

Letters to Catherine E. Beecher, in reply to An essay on slavery and abolitionism, addressed to A.E. Angelina Emily Gale, Sabin Americana Based on Joseph Sabin's famed bibliography, Bibliotheca Americana, Sabin Americana, 1500--1926 contains a collection of books, pamphlets, serials and other works about the Americas, from the time of their discovery to the early 1900s. Sabin Americana is rich in original accounts of discovery and exploration, pioneering and westward expansion, the U.S. Civil War and other military actions, Native Americans, slavery and abolition, religious history and more.Sabin Americana offers an up-close perspective on life in the western hemisphere, encompassing the arrival of the Europeans on the shores of North America in the late 15th century to the first decades of the 20th century. Covering a span of over 400 years in North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, this collection highlights the society, politics, religious beliefs, culture, contemporary opinions and momentous events of the time. It provides access to documents from an assortment of genres, sermons, political tracts, newspapers, books, pamphlets, maps, legislation, literature and more.Now for the first time, these high-quality digital scans of original works are available via print-on-demand, making them readily accessible to libraries, students, independent scholars, and readers of all ages.++++The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition ++++ Huntington 18380101 Selected Americana from Sabin's Dictionary of books relating to 130 p.; 19 cm. (12mo)

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1838

About the author

Political activist, women's rights advocate, supporter of the women's suffrage movement, and besides her sister, Sarah Grimké, the only known white Southern woman to be a part of the abolition movement.

Not to be confused with Angelina Weld Grimké, her grand-niece, also a writer.

Reviews

[Parmida R. A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah, woah! Please ladies! Take it easy! 😂

Grimké's reply to Beecher addresses two main points: abolitionism and gender equality.

In this review, I am going to mention some of her interesting debates:

Grimké believed that whatever it is morally right for a man to do, it is morally right for a woman to do.
"...I recognize no rights but human rights--I know nothing of men's rights and women's rights; for in Christ Jesus, there is neither male nor female."

She referred to Christian doctrine to support her claim. She declares that woman never was given to man (which reminded me of a bitter verse I read in Quran years ago); that "she was created, like him, in the image of God, and crowned with glory and honor."

She appears to be a faithful and wise woman whose doctrine, in her own words, can be summarized as this:

"The investigation of the rights of the slave has led me to a better understanding of my own. I have found the Anti-Slavery cause to be the high school of morals in our land—the school in which human rights are more fully investigated, and better understood and taught, than in any other. Here a great fundamental principle is uplifted and illuminated, and from this central light, rays innumerable stream all around. Human beings have rights, because they are moral beings: the rights of all men grow out of their moral nature; and as all men have the same moral nature, they have essentially the same rights. These rights may be wrested from the slave, but
they cannot be alienated. Now if rights are founded in the nature of our moral being, then the mere circumstance of sex does not give to man higher rights and responsibilities, than to woman. To suppose that it does, would be to deny the self-evident truth, that the ‘physical constitution is the mere instrument of the moral nature.’ To suppose that it does, would be to break up utterly the relations, of the two natures, and to reverse their functions, exalting the animal nature into a monarch, and humbling the moral into a slave; making the former a proprietor, and the latter its property. When human beings are regarded as moral beings, sex, instead of being enthroned upon the summit, administering upon rights and responsibilities, sinks into insignificance and nothingness. My doctrine then is, that whatever it is morally right for man to do, it is morally right for woman to do. Our duties originate, not from difference of sex, but from the diversity of our relations in life, the various gifts and talents committed to our care, and the different eras in which we live."

***

Honestly, reading these two essays written by prominent women of early 19th century helped me to have a better understanding of cultural, social, and political status of America. If you enjoy debates between two "friends" who try to oppose each other respectfully, you can read Beecher and Grimké letters.

***

It is worthy of attention that Grimké was a Southern lady and Beecher a Northen one, yet Grimké showed stronger devotion and faith to human rights. This advocates using labels to judge whether someone is good or bad is ridiculous.

***

I think Americans better look at their history and be proud to have such women at those ages, who had not only right to think but also speak in favor of justice. I believe instead of making fuss over a dead action, slavery, 21st century Americans should see how those dark ages helped men and women to question their position and see a wider image of humanity; to see how many women, like Grimké, urged to think beyond domestic problems and demand their rights as well. See how those cruel years yield in not only freedom of slaves but also suffragettes movements in following years. Those bitter times were a blessing in disguise, for nothing, even evil, happens for no reason. So, instead of fighting for no reason, Americans should appreciate their history and learn from it.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grimke's letters are in a response to an essay that Beecher had written (addressed to Grimke) on how women shouldn't participate in the abolitionist movement--rather scandalously for the time, Grimke and her sister addressed mixed gender crowds when they spoke and Angelina was the first woman to speak before a state legislature; and Beecher also complained that the abolitionists were too aggressive or radical in their demands. Grimke fired off a series of letters in the newspapers about how necessary abolition was, that their tactics were achieving results, and that women just like men needed to speak out against injustice when they saw it. Although most of the letters are concerned with slavery and the general abolitionist movement, two of Grimke's quotes on the role of women got a lot of attention:

"whatever it is morally right for a man to do, it is morally right for a woman to do. I recognize no rights but human rights – I know nothing of men's rights and women's rights; for in Christ Jesus, there is neither male nor female."

"I believe it is the woman's right to have a voice in all the laws and regulations by which she is to be governed, whether in Church or State: and that the present arrangements of society, on these points, are a violation of human rights, a rank usurpation of power, a violent seizure and confiscation of what is sacredly and inalienably hers."

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women's rights and all that jazz