Liberty Further Extended: Or Free thoughts on the illegality of Slave-Keeping; Wherein those arguments that Are Used in its vindication Are plainly Confuted. Together with an humble Address to Such as are Concerned in the practice.
By Lemuel Haynes.
We hold these truths to Be self-Evident, that all men are Created Equal, that they are Endowed By their Creator with Ceartain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happyness. Congress.
The Preface
As tyrony had its Origin from the infernal regions: So it is the Deuty, and honner of Every Son of freedom to repel her first motions. But while we are Engaged in the important Struggle, it Cannot Be tho't impertinent for us to turn one Eye into our own Breast, for a Little moment, and See, whether thro' Some inadvertency, or a Self-Contracted Spirit, we Do not find the monster Lurking in our own Bosom; that now while we are inspired with So noble a Spirit And Becoming Zeal, we may Be Disposed to tear her from us. the following would produce Such an Effect the auther Should rejoice.
It is Evident, by Ocular demonstration, that man by his Depravety, hath procured many Courupt habits Which are detrimental to Society; And altho' there is a way preevil'd Whereby man may be re-instated into the favour of god, yet these Courupt habits Are Not Extirpated, nor Can the Subject of renovation Bost of perfection, till he Leaps into A State of immortal Existance. Yet it hath pleas'd the majesty of Heaven to Exhibet his will to men, and Endow them With an intulect Which is susceptible of Speculation; yet, as I observ'd before, man, in Consequence of the fall is Liable to digressions. But to proceed.
Liberty, & freedom, is an innate principle, which is unmovebly placed in the human Species: and to See a man Aspire After it, is not Enigmatical, Seeing he acts no ways incompatible with his own Nature; Consequently, he that Would infring upon a mans Liberty may reasonably Expect to meet with oposision, Seeing the Defendant Cannot Comply to Non-resistance, unless he Counter-acts the very Laws of nature. Liberty is a Jewel which was handed Down to man from the Cabinet of heaven and is Coaeval with his Existance; And as it proced from the Supreme Legislature of the univers, So it is he which hath a Sole right to take away; therefore, he that would take away a mans Liberty assumes a prerogative that Belongs to another, and acts out of his own domain.
One man may bost a Superorety above another in point Of Natural previledg; yet if he Can produce no convincive arguments in Vindication of this preheminence his hypothesis is to Be Suspected.
To affirm, that an Englishman has a right to his Liberty, is a truth which has Been So Clearly Evinced, Especially of Late, that to Spend time in illustrating this, would be But Superfluous tautology.
But I query, wheither Liberty is So Contracted a principle as to be Confin'd to any nation under Heaven; nay, I think it not hyperbolical to affirm, that Even an affrican, has Equally as a good a right to his Liberty in Common with Englishmen.
I know that those that are Concerned in the Slave-trade, Do pretend to Bring arguments in vindication of their practise; yet if we give them a candid Examination, we shall find them, (Even those of the most cogent kind) to be Essentially Deficient. We Live in a day wherein Liberty & freedom is the Subject of many millions concern; and the important Struggle hath alread caused great Effusion of Blood; men Seem to manifest the most Sanguine resolution not to Let their natural rights go without their Lives go with them; a resolution, one would think Every one that has the Least Love to his Country, or futer posterity, would fully Cofide in. Yet, while we are So Zelous to maintain, and foster our own invaded rights, it Cannot be tho't impertinent for us Candidly to reflect on our Own Conduct, and I Doubt not But that we Shall find that Subsisting in the midst of us, that may with propriety be Stiled Opression, nay, much greater opression, than that which Englishmen seem So much to Spurn at. I mean An opression which they, themselvs, impose upon others.
It is not my Business to Enquire into Every perticular practise, that is practised in this Land, that may come under this Odeus Character; But, what I have in view, is humbly to offer Som free thoughts, on the practise of Slave-Keeping.
Opression, is not Spoken of, nor ranked in the Sacred Oracles, among the Least of those Sins, that are the procureing Caus, of those Signal Judgments, which god is pleas'd to bring upon the Children of men. therefore let us attend—I mean to white with freedom, yet with the greatest Submission.
And the main proposition, which I intend for some Breif illustration, is this, Namely, That an African; or, in other terms, that a Negro may Justly Chalenge, and has An undeniable right to his Liberty: Consequently, the practise of Slave-Keeping, which So much abounds in this Land is illicit.
Every privilege that mankind Enjoy have their Origin from God; and whatever acts are passed in any Earthly Court, which are Derogatory to those Edicts that are passed in the Court of Heaven, the act is void.
If I have A perticular priviledg granted to me by god, and the act is not revoked nor the power that granted the benifit vacated, (as it is impossable but that god Should Ever remain immutable), then he that would infringe upon my Benifit, assumes an unreasonable, and tyronnic power.
It hath pleased god to make of one Blood all nations of men, for to dwell upon the face of the Earth. Acts 17, 26.
And as all are of One Species, so there are the same Laws, and aspiring principles placed in all nations; and the Effect that these Laws will produce, are Similar to Each other. Consequently we may Suppose, that what is precious to one man, is precious to another, and what is irksom or intolarable to one man, is so to another, consider'd in a Law of Nature. therefore we may reasonably Conclude, that Liberty is Equally as precious to a Black man, as it is to a White one, And Bondage Equally as intollarable to one as it is to the other: Seeing it Effects the Laws of nature Equally as much in the one as it Does in the Other. But, as I observed Before, those priviliges that are granted to us By the Divine Being, no one has the Least right to take them from us without our Consen; and there is Not the Least precept, or practise, in the Sacred Scriptures, that Constitutes A Black man a Slave, any more than a white one.
Shall a mans Couler Be the Decisive Criterion whereby to judg of his natural right? Or Becaus a man is not of the Same Couler with his Neighbour, Shall he Be Deprived of those things that Distiungsheth him from the Beasts of the field?
I would ask, whence is it that an English man is so far Distinguished from an Affrican in point of Natural privlege?
Did he receive it in his original Constitution? Or By Some Subsequent grant? Or Does he Bost of Some hygher Descent that gives him this pre-heminance?
for my part I can find no Such revelation. It is a Lamantable Consoquence of the fall, that mankind, have an insatiable thurst after Superorety one over another: so that however Common or prevalent the practise may Be, it Does not amount, Even to a surcomstance, that the practise is warrentable.
God has Been pleas'd to distiungsh Some men from others, as to natural abilitys, But not as to natural right, as they came out of his hands. But Sometimes men by their flagitious practise forfit their Liberty into the hands of men, By Becomeing unfit for Society; But have the affricans Ever as a Nation forfited their Liberty in this manner? What Ever individuals have done; yet, I Believe, no Such Chaleng can Be made upon them As A Body. As there Should Be Some rule whereby to govern the Conduct of men; So it is the Deuty, and intrest of a Community, to form A System of Law, that is Calculated to promote the Commercial intrest of Each other: and So Long as it produses So Blessed An Effect, it Should be maintained. But when, in Stead of Contributing to the well Being of the community, it proves banefull to its Subjects over whome it Extends, then it is hygh time to call it in question.
Should any ask, Where Shall we find any System of Law whereby to regulate our moral Conduct? I think their is none So Explicit, and indeffinite, as that which was given By the Blessed Saviour of the world. As you would that men Should Do unto you, do you Even So to them. One would think, that the mention of this precept, would Strike Conviction to the heart of these Slavetraders; unless an aviruous Disposision, governs the Laws of humanity.
If we Strictly adhear to the rule, we Shall not impose any thing upon Others, But what we Should Be willing Should Be imposed upon us were we in their Condision.
I Shall now go on to consider the manner in which the Slave-trade is carried on, By which it will plainly appear, that the practise is Vile and atrocious, as well as the most inhuman. it is undoubtedly true that those that Emigrate Slaves from Africa, Do Endevour to rais mutanies among them in order to procure Slaves—here I would make Some Extracts from a pamphlet printed in philadelphia, a few years ago: the varacity of which need not be Scrupled, Seeing it agrees with many other accounts.
N. Brue, Director of the french factory at Senegal, who Lived twenty-Seven years in that Country says, "that the Europeans are far from desiring to acts as peace-makers among the Negros, which would Be acting contrary to their interest, Since the greater the wars, the more Slaves are procured." Wilham Boseman, factor for the Dutch at Delmina, where he resided Sixteen years, relates, "that one of the former Commanders hired an army of the Negros, of Jefferia, and cabesteria, for a Large Sum of money, to fight the Negros of Commanry, which occasioned a Battle, which was more Bloody than the wars of the Negros usually are: And that another Commander gave at one time five hundred pounds, and at another time Eight hundred pounds, to two Other Negro nations, to induce them to take up arms against their Country people." this is confirmed by Barbot, agent general of the french African Company, who says, "The Hollanders, a people very zelous for their Commerce at the Coasts, were very Studious to have the war Carried on amongst the Blacks, to distract, as Long as possible, the trade of the Other Europeans and to that Effect, were very ready to assist upon all occasions, the Blacks, their Allies, that they mite Beat their Enemies, and so the Commerce fall into their hands."
And one William Smith, who was Sent By the African Company, to visit their Settlements in the year 1726, from the information he receiv'd from one, who had resided ten years, viz. "that the Discerning Natives Accounted it their greatest Unhappyness that they were Ever Visited By the Europeans: that we Christians introduced the traffick of Slaves, and that Before our Comeing they Lived in peace; But, Say they, it is observable, that Wherever Christianity Comes, there comes with it a Sword, A gun, powder, and Ball." And thus it Brings ignominy up on our holy religion, and makes the Name of Christions Sound Odious in the Ears of the heathen O Christianity, how art thou Disgraced, how art thou reproached, By the vicious practises of those upon Whom thou dost Smile!
Let us go on to consider the great hardships, and Sufferings, those Slaves are put to, in order to Be transported into these plantations; There are Generally many hundred Slaves put On board a Vessal, and they are Shakkled to gether, two By two, wors than Crimanals going to the place of Execution; and they are bounded together as Close as posable, And almost naked; and their Sufferings are so great, as I have Been Credibly informed, that It often Carries off One third of them on their passage; yea, many have put an End to their own Lives for very anguish; And As Some have manifested a Disposision to rise in their Defence, they have Been put to the most Cruel torters, and Deaths as human art could inflict, Nay, Such as is Scearsly known amongs Savages: When in fact, they had as good a right to rise in the Defence of their own natural rights and Libertys, as a man would have to repel the assaulte of an hyghway robber.
And o! the Sorrows, the greif the Distress, and anguish which attends them! And not onely them, But their frinds Also in their Own Country, when they must forever part with Each Other?
What must be the plaintive noats that the tend parents must assume for the Loss of their Exiled Child? Or the husband for his Departed wife? and how Do the Crys of their Departed friends Eccho from the watry Deep! Do not I really hear the fond mother Expressing her sorrows, in Accents that mite well peirce the most Obdurate heart? "O! my Child, why why was they Destiny hung on So precarious a theread! unhappy fate! O that I were a Captive with thee, or for thee! Cursed Be the Day wherein I Bare thee, And Let that inauspicious Night be remembered no more. Come, O King of terrors, Dissipate my greif, and Send my woes into oblivion."
But I need Not Stand painting the Dreery Sene: Let me rather appeal to tender parrents, whether this is Exaggarating matters? Let me ask them what would be their Distress. Should One of their Dearest Children Be Snach'd from them, in a Clandestine manner, And Carried to Africa, Or Some other forreign Land, to be under the most abject Slavery for Life, among a Strang people? Would it not imbitter all your Domestic Comforts? Would he not Be Ever Upon your mind? nay, Doth not nature Even recoil at the reflection?
And is not their many ready to Say, (unless void of natural Effections) that it would not fail to Bring them Down with Sorrow to the grave? And Surely, this has Been the Awfull fate of Some of those Negros that heave Been Brought into these plantations; which is not to Be wondered at, unless we suppose them to be with out natural Effections: which is to rank them Below the very Beaste of the field.
O! what an Emenss Deal of Affrican-Blood hath Been Shed By the inhuman Cruelty of English men! that reside in a Christian Land! Both at home, and in their own Country? they being the fomenters of those wars, that is absetutely necessary, in order to Carry On this Cursed trade; and in their Emigration into these Colonys? And By their merciless masters, in Some parts at Least? O ye that have made yourselves Drunk with human Blood! altho you may go with impunity here in this life, yet god will hear the Crys of that innocent Blood, which Crys from the Sea, and from the ground against you, like the Blood of Abel, more pealfull than thunder, vengence! vengence! what will you Do in that Day when god Shall make inquisision for Blood? he will make you Drink the phials of his indignation which Like a potable Stream Shall Be poured out without the Least mixture Of mercy; Believe it, Sirs, their Shall not a Drop of Blood, which you have Spilt unjustly, be Lost in forgetfullness: But it Shall Bleed affresh, and testify against you, in the Day when God Shall Deal with Sinners.
We Know that under the Levitical Oeconomy, that man-Stealing was to Be punished with Death; we Esteem those that Steal Any of Our Earthly commadaty gilty of a very heinous Crime:
What then must Be an adiquate punishment to Be inflicted on those that Seal men?
Men were made for more noble Ends than to be Drove to market, Like Sheep and Oxen. "Our being Christians, (Says one) Does not give us the Least Liberty to trample on heathen, nor Does it give us the Least Superority over them." And not onely are they gilty of man-stealing that are the immediate actors in this trade, But those in the colonys that Buy them at their hands, ar far from Being guiltless: for when they saw the theif they consented with him. if men would forbear to Buy Slaves off the hands of these Slave-merchants, then the trade would of necessaty ceace; if I Buy a man, whether I am told he was Stole, or not, yet I have no right to Enslave him, Because he is A human Being: And the immutable Laws of God, and indefeasible Laws of nature, pronounced him free:
Is it not Exceeding Strang that mankind Should Become Such mere Vassals to their own Carnal avarice As Even to imbrue their hands in inocent Blood? And to Bring Such intolerable Opressiones Upon others, that were they themselves to put them, perhaps they would Esteem Death preferable.
Pray Consider the miserys of a Slave, Being under the Absolute Controul of another, Subject to Continual Embarisments, fatigues, and Corections at the will of a Master; it is as much impossable for us to bring a man heartely to acquisce in a passive obedience in this case, as it would be to Stop a mans Breath, and yet have it caus no convulsion in nature. those negros amongst us that have Children, they viz. their Children are Brought up under a partial Disapilne: their white masters haveing But Little, or no Effection for them: So that we may Suppose, that the Abuses that they receive from the hands of their masters, are often very Considerable; their parants Being placed in Such a Situation as not being able to perform relative Deutys.
Such are those restrictions they are kept under By their task-masters, that they are render'd incapable of performing those morral Deutys Either to god or man that are infinnitely binding on all the human race, how often are they seperated from Each Other, here in this Land at many hundred miles Distance, Children from parents, and parents from Children, Husbands from wives, and wives from Husbands? those whom God hath Joined together, and pronounc'd one flesh, man assumes a prerogative to put asunder.
What can be more abject than their Condission? in Short, if I may So Speak 'tis a hell upon Earth; and all this for filthy Lucres Sake: Be astonished, O ye Heavens, at this! I believe it would Be much Better for these Colonys if their was never a Slave Brought into this Land: theirby our poor are put to great Extremitys, by reason of the plentifullness of Labour, which otherwise would fall into their hands.
I Shall now go on to take under Consideration Some of those arguments which those that are Concern'd in the Slave-trade Do use in vindication of their practise; which arguments, I Shall Endevour to Shew, are Lame, and Defective.
The first argument that I Shall take notice of is this viz—that in all probibilety the Negros are of Canaans posterity, which ware Destined by the almighty to Slavery: theirfore the practise is warrantable. To which I answer, Whethear the Negros are of Canaans posterity Or not, perhaps it not known By any mortal under Heaven.
But allowing they ware actually of Canaans posterity, yet we have no reason to think that this Curs Lasted any Longer than the Comeing of Christ: when that Sun of ritousness arose this wall of partition was Broken Down. Under the Law, their were many External Cerimonies that were tipecal of Spiritual things; or which Shadowed forth the purity, & perfection of the gospel: as Corporeal blemishes, Spurious Birth, flagicious practizes, delar'd them from the congregation of the Lord: theirby Shewing, the intrinsick purity of heart that a Conceal'd Gospel requir'd As the pre-requisite for heaven, and as Ham uncovered his fathers nakenedness, that, is Did not Endeavour to Conceal it, But gaz'd perhaps with a Lascivious Eye, which was repugnant to the Law which was afterwards given to the Children of Isarel: So it was Necessary that God Should manifest his Signal Disapprobation of this hainous Sin, By makeing him and his posterity a publick Example to the World, that theirby they mite be Set apart, and Seperated from the people of God as unclean.
And we find it was a previlege Granted to God's people of Old, that they mite Enslave the heathen, and the Stranger that were in the Land; theirby to Shew the Superior previleges God's people Enjoy'd above the feet of the world: So that we, Gentiles were then Subject to Slavery, Being then heathen; So that if they will Keep Close to the Letter they must own themselves yet Subject to the yoak; unless we suppose them free By Being Brought into the same place, or haveing the Same previleges with the Jews: then it follows, that we may inslave all Nations. be they White or Black, that are heathens, which they themselves will not Allow.
We find under that Dispensation, God Declareing that he would visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the Children, unto the third, And fourth generation &c.
And we find it So in the case of Ham, as well as many others; their posterity Being Extrinsically unclean.
But now our glorious hygh preist hath visably appear'd in the flesh, and hath Establish'd a more glorious Oeconomy. he hath not only vesably Broken Down that wall of partision that interposed Between the ofended Majesty of Heaven and rebellious Sinners and removed those tedeous forms under the Law, which savoured So much of servitude, and which Could never make the Corners thereunto perfect, By rendering them Obselete; But he has removed those many Emarassiments, and Distinctions, that they were incident to, under so contracted a Dispensation. So that whatever Bodily imperfections, or whatever Birth we sustain, it Does not in the Least Debar us from Gospel previlege's. Or whatever hainous practise any may Be gilty of, yet if they manifest a gospel repentance, we have no right to Debar them from our Communion. and it is plain Beyond all Doubt, that at the comeing of Christ, this curse that was upon canaan, was taken off; and I think there is not the Least force in this argument than there Would Be to Argue that an imperfect Contexture of parte, Or Base Birth, Should Deprive any from Gospel previleges; or Bring up Any of those antiquated Ceremonies from Oblivion, and reduse them into practise.
But you will Say that Slave-Keeping was practised Even under the Gospel, for we find paul, and the Other apostles Exhorting Servants to be obedient to their masters, to which I reply, that it mite Be they were Speaking to Servants in minority in General; But Doubtless it was practised in the Days of the Apostles from what St. paul Says, 1 Corin. 7 21. Art thou call'd, being A Servant? Care not for it; but if thou mayest Be Made free, use it rather.
So that the Apostle Seems to recommend freedom if attainable, q. d. "If it is thy unhappy Lot to Be a Slave, yet if thou art Spiritually free Let the former appear So minute a thing when Compared with the Latter that is comparitively unworthy of notice; yet since freedom is So Excelent a Jewel, which none have a right to Extirpate, and if there is any hops of attaining it, use all Lawfull measures for that purpose." So that however Extant or prevalnt it mite Be in that or this Age; yet it Does not in the Least reverse the unchangeble Laws of God, or of nature; Or make that Become Lawfull which is in it Self unlawfull; nither is it Strange if we Consider the moral Depravity of mans nature, thro' out all ages of the world, that mankind Should Deviate from the unering rules of Heaven. But again, another argument which Some use to maintain their intollarable opression upon others is this, viz., that those Negros that are Brought into these plantations are Generally prisoners, taken in their wars, and would otherwise fall a sacrifise to the resentment of their own people. But this argument, I think, is plainly confuted by the forecited Account which Mr. Boasman gives, as well as many others. Again, Some Say they Came honestly By their Slaves, Becaus they Bought them of their parents, (that is, those that Brought them from Africa) And rewarded them well for them. But without Doubt this is, for the most part fals; But allowing they Did actually Buy them of their parents, yet I query, whether parents have any right to See their children for Slaves: if parents have a right to Be free, then it follows that their Children have Equally as good a right to their freedom, Even Hereditary. So, (to use the words of a Learned writer) "one has no Body to Blame But himself, in Case he Shall find himself Deprived of a man whome he tho't By Buying for a price he had made his own; for he Dealt in a trade which was illicit, and was prohibited By the most obvious Dictates of Humanity. for these resons Every one of those unfortunate men who are pretended to Be Slaves, has A right to Be Declared free, for he never Lost his Liberty; he Could not Lose it; his prince had no power to Dispose of him. Of Cours the Sale was ipso Jure void."
But I shall take notice of one Argument more which these Slave-traders use, and it is this, viz. that those Negros that are Emigrated into these Colonies Are brought out of a Land of Darkness under the meridien Light of the gospel; and so it is a great Blessing insted of a Curs. But I would ask, Who is this that Darkneth Counsel By words with out Knowledg? Let us attend to the great appostle Speaking to Us in Rom. 3. 8. where he reproves Some Slanderers who told it as a maxim preached By the Apostles that they Said Let us Do Evil that good may Come, whose Damnation the inspired pen-man pronounces with an Emphasis to Be Just. And again Chp. 6 vers 1. where By way of interagation he asks, Shall we Continue in Sin that grace may abound? the Answer is obvious, God forbid. But that those slave marchants that trade upon the Coasts of Africa do not aim at the Spiritual good of their Slaves, is Evident By their Behaviour towards them; if they had their Spiritual Good at heart, we should Expect that those Slave-marchants that trade upon their Coasts, would insted of Causing quarrelings, and Blood-Shed among them, which is repugnant to Christianity, And below the Character of humanity, Be Sollicitous to Demean Exampleary among them, that By their Wholesom conduct, those heathen mite Be Endured to Entertain hygh, and admiring tha'ts of Our holy religion. Those Slaves in these Colonies are generally kept under the greatest ignorance. And Blindess, and they Are Scarsly Ever told By their white masters whether there is a Supreme Being that governs the universe; Or wheather there is any reward, Or punishments Beyond the grave Nay such are those restrictions they that they are kept under that they Scarsly know that they have a right to Be free, Or if they Do they are not allowed to Speak in their defence; Such if their Abject Condission that that genius that is pecular to the human race, Cannot have that Cultivation that the polite world is favour'd with, and therefore they Are Stiled the ignorant part of the world; whereas were they under the same advantages to git knoledge with them, perhaps their progress in arts would not Be inferior.
But Should we give ourselves the trouble to Enquire into the grand motive that induses men to concearn themselves in a trade So Vile and abandon, we shall find it to Be this, Namely, to Stimulate their Carnal avarice, and to maintain men in pride, Luxury, and idleness; and how much it hath Subserv'd to this vile purpose I leave the Candid publick to Judge; I speak it with reverence yet I think all must give in that it hath such a tendency.
But altho' God is of Long patience, yet it Does not Last always, nay, he has whet his glittering Sword, and his hand hath already taken hold On Judgement; for who knows how far that the unjust Oppression which hath abounded in this Land, may be the procuring Cause of this very Judgement that now impounds, which so much portends Slavery?
for this is gods way of working, Often he brings the same Judgements, or Evils upon men, as they unriteously Bring upon others. As is plain from Judges 1 and on.
But Adoni-Bezek fled, and they persued after him, and caut him, and Cut off his thumbs, and his great toes. And Adoni-bezek said, threescore and ten kings haveing their thumbs and their great toes cut off gathered their meat under my table: as I have Done, So god hath requited me.
And as wicked Ahab, and Jezebel to gratify their Coveteousness Caused Nabath to Be put to Death, and as Dogs Liked the Blood of Naboth, the word of the Lord was By the prophet Elijah, thus Saith the Lord in the place where Dogs Licked the Blood of Naboth, Shall Dogs Lick thy Blood Even thine. See 1 kings 21.19 And of Jezebel also Spake the Lord. Saying, the Dogs Shall Eat jezebel By the wells of Jezereal. vers. 23.
And we find the Judgement actually accomplished Ahab in the 22. Chap. of 38 vers.
And upon jezebel in the 9. Chap. of kings, Again Rev. 16. 6. for they have Shed the Blood of Saints and prophets and thou hast given them Blood to Drink for they are worthy. And Chap. 18–6 Reward her Even as She rewarded you. I Say this is after Gods way of Dealing, by retaliatory Back upon men. the Same Evils that they unjustly Bring upon Others. I Don't Say that we have reason to think that Oppression is the alone Caus of this Judgement that god is pleas'd to Bring upon this Land, Nay, But we have the greatest reason to think that this is not One of the Least. And whatever Some may think that I am instigated By a fals Zeal; And all that I have Said upon the Subject is mere Novelty; yet I am not afraid to appeal to the Conscience of any rational and honnest man, as to the truth of what I have Just hinted at; and if any will not Confide in what I have humbly Offer'd, I am persuaded it must Be Such Short-Sited porsons whose Contracted Eyes never penitrate thro' the narrow Confines of Self, and are mere Vassals to filthy Lucre.
But I Cannot persaude myself to make a period to this Small Treatise, without humbly addressing myself, more perticularly, unto all Such as are Concearn'd in the practise of Slave-Keeping.
Sirs, Should I persue the Dictates Of nature, resulting from a sense of my own inability, I Should be far from attempting to form this address: Nevertheless, I think that A mere Superficial reflection upon the merits Of the Cause, may Serve as an Ample Apology, for this humble attempt.
therefore hopeing you will take it well at my hands, I persume, (tho' with the greatest Submission) to Crave your Attention, while I offer you a few words.
Perhaps you will think the preceeding pages unworthy of Speculation; well, Let that be as it will; I would Sollicit you Seriously to reflect on your Conduct, wheather you are not gilty Of unjust Oppression. Can you wash your hands and Say, I am Clean from this Sin? perhaps you will Dare to Say it Before men; But Dare you Say it Before the tremendeous tribunal of that God Before Whome we must all, in a few precarious moments appear? then whatever fair glosses we may have put upon our Conduct, that god whose Eyes pervade the utmost Extent of human Tho't, and Surveys with one intuitive wiew, the affairs of men; he will Exmain into the matter himself, and will Set Every thing upon its own Basis; and impartiallity Shall Be Seen flourishing throughout that Sollemn Assembly. Alas! Shall men hazard their precious Souls for a Little of the transitory things of time. O Sins! let that pity, and Compassion, which is pecular to mankind, Especially to English-men, no Longer Lie Dormant in your Breast: Let is run free thro' Disinterested Benevolence.
then how would these iron yoaks Spontaneously fall from the gauled Necks of the oppress'd, And that Disparity, in point of Natural Previlege, which is the Bane of Society, would Be Cast upon the utmost coasts of Oblivion. If this was the impulsive Exercise that animated all your Actions, your Conscience's wold Be the onely Standard unto which I need appeal. think it not uncharitable nor Congorious to Say, that whenever we Erect our Battery, So as it is Like to prove a Detriment to the interest of any we Loos their Attention. Or, if We Don't Entirely Loos that; yet if true christain candour is wanting we cannot Be in a Sutiable frame for Speculation: So that the good Effect that these Otherwise mite have, will prove abortive. If I Could once persuade you to reflect upon the matter with a Single, and an impartial Eye, I am almost assured that no more need to Be Said Upon the Subject: But whether I shall Be So happy as to persuade you to Cherish Such an Exercise I know not; yet I think it is very obvious from what I hve humbly offer'd, that so far forth as you have Been concearned in the Slave-trade, so far it is that you have assumed an oppressive and tyrannic power. therefore is it Not hygh time to undo these heavy Burdens, and Let the Oppressed go free?
And while you manifest Such a noble and magnanimous Spirit, to maintain inviobly your own Natural rights, and militate so much against Despotism, as it hath respect unto yourselves, you do not assume the same usurpations, and are no Less Tyrannic. pray Let there be a Congruity amidst you Conduct, Least you fall amongst that Class the inspir'd pen-man Speaks of, Rom. 2.21. and on thou therefore which teacheth another, teachest thou not thy Self? thou that preachest a man Should not Steal, Dost thou Steal?
thou that Sayest A man Should not Commit adultery, Dost thou commit adultery? thou that Aboreth idols, Dost thou Commit Sacrilege? thou that makest thy Bost of the Law, through Breaking the Law Dishonnerest thou god?
While you thus Sway your tyrant—Scepter over others, you have nothing to Expect But to share in the Bitter pill. Twas an Exelent note that I Lately read in a modern peice, and it was this, "O when Shall America be Consistantly Engaged in the Cause Of Liberty?"
If you have any Love to yourselves, or any Love to this Land, if you have any Love to your fellow men, Break these intollerable yoaks, and Let tehir names Be remembered no more; Least they be retorted on your own necks, and you Sink under them; for God will not hold you Guiltless.
Sirs, the important Caus in which you are Engag'd in is of an Excelent nature, 'tis ornamental to your Characters, and with, undoubtedly immortallize your names thro' the Latest posterity. And it is pleasing to Behold that patriottick Zeal which fire's your Breast; But it is Strange that you Should want the Least Stimulation to further Expressions of so noble a Spirit. Some gentlemen have Detetermined to contend in a consistant manner; they have Let the oppressed go free; And I cannot think it is for the want of Such a generous principle in you, But thro' some inadvertency that [This primary source ends here; no other pages have been found].
