Anti-Slavery Opinions before the Year 1800: Read before the Cincinnati Literary Club, November 16, 1872Poole, William Frederick
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Anti-Slavery Opinions before the Year 1800: Read before the Cincinnati Literary Club, November 16, 1872
Poole, William Frederick
Antislavery movements -- United States; Slavery -- United States
A revenge, which they consider as justly merited; for being no longer
able to endure their unnatural and unlawful bondage, they are
determined to seek Liberty or Death.
Why then is there not some step to be taken to ward off the dreadful
catastrophe?
Fellow countrymen, will you stand and see your aged parents, your
loving wives, your dutiful children butchered by the merciless hand of
the enthusiast, when you have it in your power to prevent it?
In this enlightened period, when the Rights of Man is the topick of
political controversy, and slavery is considered not only unnatural
but unlawful, why do you not step forward and compleat the glorious
work you have begun, and extend the merciful hand to the unfortunate
Blacks? Why do you not form some wise plan to liberate them, and
abolish slavery in your country?
If it should be deemed injudicious or impolitic to effect it at once,
let it be done gradually; let the children for one or two generations
be liberated at a certain age, and less than half a century will the
plague be totally rooted out from amongst you--then will you begin to
see your consequence--thousands of good citizens will be added to your
number, and your arms will become invincible: Gratitude will induce
_them_ to become your friends; for the PROMISE alone of freedom to a
slave ensures his loyalty; witness their conduct in the second Punic
war which the Senate of Rome carried on against Hannibal; not a man
disgraced himself, but all with an intrepidity peculiar to veterans
met their foes, fought and conquered.
Witness also the valour of a few Blacks in South-Carolina, who under
the promise of freedom, joined the great and good Colonel JOHN
LAURENS; and in a sudden surprised the British, and distinguished
themselves as heroes.
I remember it was said, they were foremost in the ranks, and nobly
contended for their promised reward.
At this critical juncture, when savage cruelties threatened to invade
your peaceful territories, and murder your citizens, what great
advantage might be derived from giving freedom to the Africans at
once. Would they not all became your Allies; would they not turn out
hardy for the wilderness, to drive the blood-thirsty savage to his
den, and teach him it were better to live peaceably at home, than to
come under the scourge of such newly liberated levies.
Americans arouse--It is time to hear the cause of the wretched sons of
Africa, enslaved in your country; they plead not guilty to every
charge of crime, and unmeritedly endure the sufferings you impose upon
them.
Yet, like haughty Despots, or corrupt judges, you forbid a trial.
Justice however to yourselves and humanity toward your fellow mortals,
loudly demand it of you, and you ought not to hesitate in obeying
their sacred mandates.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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