james gilllespie birney
liberty party founder
biography
James G. Birney, born in Danville Kentucky on February 4, 1792, he studied law and removed early to Alabama, where he prospered in his profession and held his office as district attorney. Having his attention turned toward the question of property in slaves, in 1833 he interested himself in the organization of a branch of the Colonization society for the State of Alabama.
Soon afterward, returning to Kentucky, he organized one there also, of which he soon became president. However, in 1834, he espoused the cause of immediate emancipation in his public letter, Letter on Colonization, which was followed by American Churches, the Bulwarks of American Slavery, Speeches in England, and Examination of the Decision of the United States Supreme Court in the Case of Stroder et al. Vs. Graham.
Birney made arrangements to establish a newspaper to disseminate these views at Danville, where he resided, and where he held a professorship in the university. He found it impossible to have such a paper printed in Kentucky, and moved to Cincinnati, where he began to issue The Philanthropist. This had not been published before it was found no less obnoxious to public sentiment in Ohio than in Kentucky, and the press was thrown into the river. However, the editor was able to revive the paper for use as a political instrument.
In the year 1836 he went to New York as the secretary of the American Anti-Slavery Society, and for many years devoted his time and strength to the furtherance of the objects of that society by publishing further letters and articles. He wanted to build up a political party, later called the Liberty Party, on the single question of slavery to act upon the government within the forms of the Constitution.
He was absent in England, but was nominated by his party in 1840. His candidacy met little success, but he was once again nominated in 1844, when he received more votes. It was charged upon his friends that by electing him, they accomplished the election of James Polk, by pulling from other candidates.
