Daniel O'Connell Calls Frederick Douglass the Black O'Connell

Ann Coughlin recounts how when Frederick Douglass meets Daniel O'Connell, O'Connell calls Douglass the Black O'Connell.  Both great orators, O'Connell had consistently fought for the rights of American slaves even while fighting for the constitutional liberties of has fellow Irishmen.  The emancipation story of the Irish Catholics from England can be likened to the emancipation of the American slaves in earning the right to vote.  Frederick Douglass was only 27 when he came to Ireland, still a slave, owned by a Marylander.  Why was the world astounded that a man who was a slave could speak so well?