The year of jubilee; but not to Africans: a discourse, delivered July 4th, 1825, being the 49th anniversary of American independence ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE YEAR OF JUBILEE; BUT NOT TO AFRICANS: A Discourse, DELIVERED JULY 4TH, 1825, BEING THE 49TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. ──❧── BY NATHANIEL S. PRIME, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, in Cambridge, N. Y. ──❧── SALEM, N. Y. PRINTED BY DODD AND STEVENSON. 1825. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO THE READER. Though no apology for the present publication, or for the form in which it appears, will be attempted, yet it may not be improper or uninteresting to state a few facts relating to its origin. The author has been in the habit, for a number of years past, of celebrating the anniversary of our Independence with public worship in his own congregation. Previous to the last 4th of July, notice to that effect was given, and at the same time it was stated that the subject of discourse would be—not American _Liberty_, but—American _Slavery_: in connexion with which, the object and operations of “_The American Colonization Society_” would be brought into view, and its claims upon publick patronage defended and urged. A similar notice was sent to the other congregations in this place with an invitation to attend. To a very respectable audience, thus convened, the following discourse was delivered, and a contribution taken up in aid of the Colonization Society. At the close of the service, a meeting was organized, of which the following are the minutes: “_The Hon._ John M’Lean _was chosen Chairman, and_ Gerrit Wendell, _Secretary_. “_The following resolutions were then unanimously adopted._ “Resolved, _That it is expedient and proper, in the view of this meeting, hereafter to celebrate the anniversary of our National Independence with religious exercises._ “Resolved, _That Messrs._ John Ashton, Sidney Wells _and Dr._ Matthew Stevenson _be a committee to make arrangements for the next anniversary, by designating the place of meeting, and procuring a speaker for the occasion_.” “_On motion of Mr._ Ashton, _seconded by_ Sidney Wells,—Resolved _that the Rev. Mr._ Prime _be requested to furnish for the press, a copy of the Address delivered by him this day, and that the above mentioned committee be authorized to adopt the necessary measures to procure its publication_.”