Lansingburgh and Albany's Rev. Nathaniel Paul (1829)
The African Celebration.—The colored people from Albany, Schenectady, Lansingburgh, Waterford, and other places in the neighborhood, besides some from towns along down the Hudson, assembled in this city on Monday last, to celebrate the second anniversary of the abolition of slavery in this state. We said nothing on this subject in our last, because when our paper was made up, (on Monday) the day was not over, and though every thing that we saw looked well, we had not seen the whole. We can now, however, speak advisedly and confidently; and justice requires that we should not withhold the expression of the universal opinion of this community in favor of the character of the celebration on Monday. The arrangements were exceedingly proper, and in good taste, and the decorum maintained throughout the day, was eminently worthy of notice and commendation. The Oration was delivered by [Rev.] Mr. [Nathaniel] Paul, the colored preacher of Albany; and if it was as good as his discourse last year on the same occasion, it was an able one; written in a more manly style and charged with stronger thoughts, than the great majority of the performances on the 4th, from whiter speakers.There were about 300 in the procession, which was uncommonly well marshalled; and we suppose about 600 or 700, of both sexes, attended the celebration. We did not, during the day, see a single colored person intoxicated, and we have heard many others say the same. On this point, one of their resolutions was worthy of all praise; no ardent spirits, of any kind, were permitted to come to the table; their drink was cider, beer, and water. They left the pleasures of the day, in good order and without any breach of harmony.Troy Sentinel. July 10, 1829: 2 col 3.Rev. Paul's oration from two years' prior might give a general indication of what the 1829 one was like:Paul, Nathaniel. An Address, Delivered on the Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery. Albany, NY: John B. Van Steenbergh, 1827. https://archive.org/details/addressdelivered00paulDEATH OF REV. NATHANIEL PAUL. The decease of this estimable and eloquent colored brother, who was pastor of the Hamilton-street Baptist church in Albany, is announced in the daily papers of that city. Mr. Paul was in almost constant companionship during our sojourn in London, a few years since, and to his active and efficient co-operation were we greatly indebted for the triumphant success which attended our anti-colonization mission to England.The Liberator [Boston, MA]. July 26, 1839: 119 col 5.