That some desperate wretches should be willing to steal and enslave
men by violence and murder for gain, is rather lamentable than strange.
But that many civilized, nay, christianized people should approve, and be
concerned in the savage practice, is surprising; and still persist,
though it has been so often proved contrary to the light of nature, of every principle of Justice and
Humanity, and even good policy, by a succession of eminent men, and several late publications.
Our Traders in MEN (an unnatural commodity!) must know the wickedness of the
SLAVE-TRADE, if they attend to reasoning, or the dictates of their own hearts: and such as shun
and stiffle all these, wilfully sacrifice Conscience, and the character of integrity to that golden
Idol.
The Managers the Trade themselves, and others testify, that many
of these African nations inhabit fertile countries, are industrious
farmers, enjoy plenty, and lived quietly, averse to war, before the Europeans debauched them with
liquors, and bribing them against one another; and that these inoffensive people are brought into
slavery, by stealing them, tempting Kings to sell subjects, which they can have to right to do, and
hiring one tribe to war against another, in order to catch prisoners. By such wicked and inhuman
ways the English are said to enslave towards one hundred thousand yearly; of which thirty
thousand are supposed to die by barbarous treatment in the first year; besides all that are slain in
the unnatural ways excited to take them. So much innocent blood have the Managers and
Supports of this inhuman Trade to answer for to the common
Lord of all!
Many of these were not prisoners of war, and redeemed from savage conquerors, as some plead:
and they who were such prisoners, the English, who promote the war for that very end, are the
guilty authors of their being so; and if they were redeemed, as is alleged, they would owe nothing
to the redeemer but what he paid for them.
They should as little Reason as Conscience who put the matter by with saying - Men, in some
cases, are lawfully made Slaves, and why not
these? So men, in some cases, are lawfully put to death, deprived of their goods, without their
consent; may any man, therefore, be treated so, without any conviction of desert? Nor is this plea
mended by adding- They are set forth to us as slaves, and we buy them without farther inquiry, let
the sellers see to it. Such man may as well join with a known band of robbers, buy their ill-got
goods, and help on the trade; ignorance is no more pleadable in one case than the other; the sellers
plainly own how they obtain them. But none can lawfully buy without evidence that they are not
concurring with Men-Stealers; and as the true owner has a right to reclaim his goods that were
stolen, and sold; so the slave, who is proper owner of his freedom, has a right to reclaim it,
however often sold.
Most shocking of all is alledging the Sacred Scriptures to favour this wicked practice. One would
have thought none but infidel cavillers would
endeavour to make them appear contrary to the plain dictates of natural
light, and the Conscience, in a matter of common Justice and Humanity;
which they cannot be. Such worthy men, as referred to before, judged
otherways; Mr. BAXTER declared, the Slave-Traders should be called Devils, rather than
Christian; and that it is a heinous crime to buy them. But some say, the practice was permitted to
the Jews. To which may be replied,
1. The example of the Jews, in many things, may not be imitated by
us; they had not only orders to cut off several nations altogether, but if they were obliged to war
with others, and conquered them, to cut off every male; they were suffered to use polygamy and
divorces, and other things utterly unlawful to us under clearer light.
2. The plea is, in a great measure, false; they had no permission to catch and enslave people who
never injured them.
3. Such arguments ill become us, since the time of reformation came, under Gospel light. All
distinctions of nations and privileges of one above others, are ceased; Christians are taught to
account all men their neighbours; and love their neighbours as themselves; and do to all men as
they would be done by; to do good to all men; and Man-stealing is ranked with enormous crimes.
Is the barbarous enslaving out inoffensive neighbours, and treating them like wild beasts subdued
by force, reconcilable with the Divine precepts! Is this doing to them as we would desire they
should do to us? If they could carry off and enslave some thousands of us, would we think it just?
One would almost wish they could for once; it might convince more than Reason, or the
Bible.
As much in vain, perhaps, will they search ancient history for examples of the modern
Slave-Trade. Too many nations enslaved the prisoners they took in war. But to go to nations with
whom there is no war, who have in no way provoked, without farther design of conquest, purely
to catch inoffensive people, like wild beasts, for slaves, is an hight of outrage against Humanity
and Justice, that seems left by Heathen nations to be practised by pretended Christian. How
shameful are all attempt to colour and excuse it!
As these people are not convicted of forfeiting freedom, they have still a natural, perfect right to
it; and the Governments whenever they come should, in justice set them free, and punish those
who hold them in slavery. So monstrous in the making and keeping them slaves at all, abstracted
from the barbarous usage they suffer, and the many evils attending the practice; as selling
husbands away from wives, children from parents, and from each other, in violation of sacred and
natural ties; and opening the way for adulteries, incests, and many shocking consequences, for all
of which the guilty Masters must answer to the final Judge.
If the slavery of the parents be unjust, much more is their children's; if the parents were justly
slaves, yet the children are born free; this is the natural, perfect right of all mankind; they are
nothing but a just recompense to those who bring them up: And as much less is commonly spent
on them than others, they have a right, in justice, to be proportionably sooner free.
Certainly, one may, with as much reason and decency, plead for murder,
robbery, lewdness and barbarity, as for this practice: They are not more
contrary to the natural dictates of Conscience, and feeling of Humanity;
nay, they are all comprehended in it.
But the chief design of this paper is not to disprove it, which many have sufficiently done; but to
entreat Americans to consider:
1. With what consistency, or decency they complain so loudly of attempts to enslave the, while
they hold so many hundred thousands in slavery; and annually enslave many thousands more,
without an pretence of authority, or claim upon them?
2. How just, how suitable to our crime is the punishment with which Providence threatens us? We
have enslaved multitudes, and shed much innocent blood in doing it; and now are threatened with
the same. And while other evils are confessed, and bewailed, why not this especially, and
publicity; than which no other vice, if all others, has brought so much guilt on the land?
3. Whether, then, all ought not immediately to discontinue and renounce it, with grief and
abhorrence? Should not every society bear testimony against it, and account obstinate persisters in
it bad men, enemies to their country, and exclude them from fellowship; as they often do for much
lesser
faults?
4. The great Question may be - What should be done with those who are enslaved already? To
turn the old and infirm free, would be injustice and cruelty; they who enjoyed the labours of the
their better days should keep, and treat them humanely. As to the rest, let prudent men, with the
assistance of legislatures, determine what is practicable for masters, and best for them. Perhaps
some could give them lands upon reasonable rent, some, employing them in their labour still,
might give them some reasonable allowances for it; so as all may have some property, and fruits
of their labours at the own disposal, and be encouraged to industry; the family may
live together, and enjoy the natural satisfaction of exercising relative
affections and duties, with civil protection, and other advantages, like
fellow men. Perhaps they might sometime form useful barrier settlements on
the frontiers. Thus they may become interested in the public welfare, and
assist in promoting it; instead of being dangerous, as now they are, should any enemy promise
them a better condition.
5. The past treatment of Africans must naturally fill them with abhorrence of Christians; lead them
to think our religion would make them more inhuman savages, if they embraced it; thus the gain
of that trade has been pursued in oppositions of the redeemer's cause, and the happiness of men:
Are we not, therefore, bound in duty to him and to them to repair these injuries, as far as possible,
by taking some proper measure to instruct, not only the slaves here, but the Africans in their own
countries? Primitive Christians, laboured always to spread the Divine Religion; and this is equally
our duty while there is an Heather nation: But what singular obligations are we under to these
injured people!
These are the sentiments of
JUSTICE AND HUMANITY.
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