By 1860, Douglass was well known for his efforts to end slavery and his skill at public speaking.
During the Civil War, Douglass was a consultant to President Abraham Lincoln and helped convince
him that slaves should serve in the Union forces and that the abolition of slavery should be a goal of the war.
Frederick Douglass continued to be a vocal advocate for equal rights and the abolition of slavery throughout the 1860s.
In 1860, he gave several speeches addressing issues related to the struggle for equal rights.
In one such speech, given on May 9, 1860, in Boston, Douglass emphasized the need for equal rights for all people,
regardless of race or gender. He argued that the struggle for equal rights was not just a matter of morality or justice,
but also of practicality and common sense. He pointed out that denying equal rights to any group of people limited their
potential contributions to society and hindered the progress and prosperity of the nation as a whole.
In another speech given on August 1, 1860, in Syracuse, New York, Douglass celebrated the anniversary of the abolition
of slavery in the British West Indies and called for the immediate and complete abolition of slavery in the United States.
He argued that slavery was a violation of the principles of the Declaration of Independence, which held that all people
were created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness. He also argued that slavery was incompatible with the Christian principles of love and brotherhood, and that it
was a moral stain on the nation that needed to be eradicated.
Overall, Douglass's speeches in 1860 emphasized the urgent need for equal rights and the abolition of slavery, and his
powerful arguments and eloquent rhetoric helped to inspire and motivate many people to join the struggle for
freedom and justice.