The Liberator (newspaper)/September 18, 1857/Paul Cuffe and President Madison
Paul Cuffe and President Madison.
Many of our readers will remember Paul Cuffe, who formerly transacted business in this city, some account of whom was given in this paper a year or two ago. He was a colored man, but possessed much ability for conducting business, and was highly respected. A correspondent of the Fall River News gives the following incident, which occurred at a time when a white President was not ashamed nor afraid to acknowledge and enforce the rights of his colored fellow-men.—New Bedford Standard.
‘Paul was a man of rare ability for a black man; was very active and persevering, of stern integrity, and was respected by all who knew him. He had accumulated some forty or fifty thousand dollars, a part of which was invested in a vessel, of which he was commander. The vessel was manned by a black crew. Capt. Cuffe took in a cargo and cleared for Norfolk, Va., and on his arrival there, entered at the custom-house, and deposited his papers. After Capt. Cuffe had settled his out-bound voyage, and taken in a cargo, he went to the custom-house for a clearance, and to get his papers; but the collector of the port would neither clear him out nor give him his papers, and abused him with the most shameful language. Capt. Cuffe had no other redress than to go to Washington, and, after getting the necessary proof as to who he was, where from, &c., repaired thither. Capt. Cuffe was a Quaker, and used their plain language, and on being introduced to President Madison, he said: ‘James, I have been put to much trouble, and have been abused,’ and then proceeded to tell the President his story, giving such proof as was needed in his case, and added, “I have come here for thy protection, and have to ask thee to order the collector for the port of Norfolk to clear me out for New Bedford, Mass.”
President Madison, after bearing Capt. Cuffe’s case, promptly ordered the collector of Norfolk to clear Capt. Cuffe with his black crew for the above-named port. After Capt. C. returned to Norfolk, he heard no more abuse from the collector, but received his papers and his clearance; and although the collector believed black men had no rights that white men were bound to respect, yet he was bound, in this instance, to respect the rights of Capt. Cuffe.
Thus President Madison regarded Capt. Cuffe as a citizen of the United States, and considered that he had rights which the President of the United States of America was bound to protect and respect.’
In person, Paul Cuffe was tall, well formed, and athletic; his deportment conciliating, yet dignified and prepossessing; his countenance blending gravity with modesty and sweetness, and firmness with gentleness and humanity; in speech and habit he was plain and unostentatious.
When he was prevented from going abroad, as usual, in the pursuit of his business, on account of the rigors of the winter, he often devoted a considerable portion of his time to teaching navigation to his own sons, and to others in the neighborhood of his residence; and even on his voyages, when opportunities occurred, he employed himself in imparting a knowledge of this invaluable science to those under him; so that he had the honor of training up, both among the white and colored population, a considerable number of skilful navigators.
By petitions and other proceedings, Paul Cuffe was mainly instrumental in securing the elective franchise to the colored citizens of Massachusetts. The history of this movement, with interesting details of Paul Cuffe and many other distinguished individuals, may be found in W. C. Nell’s book, ‘The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution.’