Douglass described the spirit of those awaiting the proclamation: "We were waiting and listening as for a bolt from the sky ... we were watching ... by the dim light of the stars for the dawn of a new day ... we were longing for the answer to the agonizing prayers of centuries."
Douglass udtalte at: "Vi ventede og lyttede som efter et lyn fra himmelen... vi spejdede... ved det dæmpede lys fra stjernerne efter morgengrøden af en ny dag... vi længtes efter svaret fra århundredernes pinefulde bønner."