Jefferson declared to the world, that we are inferior to the whites, both in the endowments of our bodies and our minds?" (Walker, 1829) In contrast to Walker's defiance, although his oration gathers in passionate momentum, Douglass begins his speech modestly before his audience. "Should I seem at ease, my appearance would much misrepresent me. The little experience I have had in addressing public meetings, in country school houses, avails me nothing on the present occasion." (Douglass, 1852) He also ends his speech with hope, "Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country." (Douglass, 1852) In contrast, Walker makes a historical overview of slavery of the past, from Greece, to Rome, to ancient Israel and points out that of all forms of slavery, America's remains the worst, and the most difficult for a slave to extricate him or herself from, legally and socially. "The world knows, that slavery as it existed was, mans, (which was the primary cause of their destruction) was, comparatively speaking, no more than a cipher, when compared with ours under the Americans," that is, it was no where nearly as proudly and openly practiced against an entire race as it is in America. (Walker, 1829)

But the styles and attitudes towards America of the two men become most manifest in Douglass' confusion, as Douglass states that the country is broken, but its principles are sound, and the Constitution is sound, provided slaves become like participants in the American democratic experiment of the constitution. Douglass denies the pro-slavery character of the Constitution and states that "interpreted as it ought to be interpreted,...

Read its preamble, consider its purposes." (Douglass, 1852) But Walker offers no such comforting a legal reading for Blacks. He does not believe long-standing legal redress exists within the language of the land. Rather, he exhorts, Blacks to flout the legacy of Jefferson and to seize their own liberty. The only document from history he celebrates, ironically, is the one celebrated on Independence Day, unlike the Constitution that was signed on a different date. Walker cries, "See your Declaration Americans!!! Do you understand your won language? Hear your languages, proclaimed to the world, July 4th, 1776 -- "We hold these truths to be self evident -- that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL!! That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!!" Compare your own language above, extracted from your Declaration of Independence, with your cruelties and murders inflicted by your cruel and unmerciful fathers and yourselves on our fathers and on us -- men who have never given your fathers or you the least provocation!!!!!!" (Walker, 1829)
Works Cited

Douglass, Frederick. "What to a Slave is the 4th of July?" Chicken bones: Online Journal. 1852. http://www.nathanielturner.com/fourthofjulyspeech.htm.[4 Feb 2005]

Walker, David. David Walker's Appeal, In Four Articles: Together With A Preamble To The Colored Citizens Of The World, But In Particular, And Very Expressly, To Those Of The United States Of America. Revised Edition with an Introduction by Sean Wilentz. Hill and Wang, New York, 1995. Full text from PBS Website. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2931t.html.[4 Feb 2005]