The Beginning of the End of Slavery in the North (and
life for Free Northern Blacks
Ending Slavery in the Northern States:
Vermont Constitution of 1777
[Slavery in Vermont ended with the creation of the so-called “Republic of
Vermont” in 1777, which was as much a declaration of independence from New York
and New Hampshire as it was a from Britain. Although most Vermonters accepted
this constitution,
A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE STATE OF
I. THAT all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. Therefore, no male person, born in this country, or brought from over sea, ought to be holden by law, to serve any person, as a servant, slave or apprentice, after he arrives to the age of twenty-one Years, nor female, in like manner, after she arrives to the age of eighteen years, unless they are bound by their own consent, after they arrive to such age, or bound by law, for the payment of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like.
Gradual Emancipation
in
[In 1780,
An ACT for the GRADUAL ABOLITION of SLAVERY
When we contemplate our Abhorence of that Condition to which the Arms and Tyranny of Great Britain were exerted to reduce us, when we look back on the Variety of Dangers to which we have been exposed, and how miraculously our Wants in many Instances have been supplied and our Deliverances wrought, when even Hope and human fortitude have become unequal to the Conflict; we are unavoidably led to a serious and grateful Sense of the manifold Blessings which we have undeservedly received from the hand of that Being from whom every good and perfect Gift cometh. Impressed with these Ideas we conceive that it is our duty, and we rejoice that it is in our Power, to extend a Portion of that freedom to others, which hath been extended to us; and a Release from that State of Thraldom, to which we ourselves were tyrannically doomed, and from which we have now every Prospect of being delivered. It is not for us to enquire, why, in the Creation of Mankind, the Inhabitants of the several parts of the Earth, were distinguished by a difference in Feature or Complexion. It is sufficient to know that all are the Work of an Almighty Hand, We find in the distribution of the human Species, that the most fertile, as well as the most barren parts of the Earth are inhabited by Men of Complexions different from ours and from each other, from whence we may reasonably as well as religiously infer, that he, who placed them in their various Situations, hath extended equally his Care and Protection to all, and that it becometh not us to counteract his Mercies.
We esteem a peculiar Blessing granted to us, that we are enabled this Day to add one more Step to universal Civilization by removing as much as possible the Sorrows of those, who have lived in undeserved Bondage, and from which by the assumed Authority of the Kings of Britain, no effectual legal Relief could be obtained. Weaned by a long Course of Experience from those narrow Prejudices and Partialities we had imbibed, we find our Hearts enlarged with Kindness and Benevolence towards Men of all Conditions and Nations; and we conceive ourselves at this particular Period extraordinarily called upon by the Blessings which we have received, to manifest the Sincerity of our Profession and to give a substantial Proof of our Gratitude.
And whereas, the Condition of those Persons who have heretofore been denominated Negroe and Mulatto Slaves, has been attended with Circumstances which not only deprived them of the common Blessings that they were by Nature entitled to, but has cast them into the deepest Afflictions by an unnatural Separation and Sale of Husband and Wife from each other, and from their Children; an Injury the greatness of which can only be conceived, by supposing that we were in the same unhappy Case. In Justice therefore to Persons so unhappily circumstanced and who, having no Prospect before them whereon they may rest their Sorrows and their hopes have no reasonable Inducement to render that Service to Society, which they otherwise might; and also ingrateful Commemoration of our own happy Deliverance, from that State of unconditional Submission, to which we were doomed by the Tyranny of Britain.
Be it enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met and by the Authority of the same, That all Persons, as well Negroes, and Mulattos, as others, who shall be born within this State, from and after the Passing of this Act, shall not be deemed and considered as Servants for Life or Slaves; and that all Servitude for Life or Slavery of Children in Consequence of the Slavery of their Mothers, in the Case of all Children born within this State from and after the passing of this Act as aforesaid, shall be, an hereby is, utterly taken away, extinguished and for ever abolished.
Provided always and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Negroe and Mulatto Child born within this State after the passing of this Act as aforesaid, who would in Case this Act had not been made, have been born a Servant for Years or life or a Slave, shall be deemed to be and shall be, by Virtue of this Act the Servant of such person or his or her Assigns, who would in such Case have been entitled to the Service of such Child until such Child shall attain unto the Age of twenty eight Years, in the manner and on the Conditions whereon Servants bound by Indenture for four Years are or may be retained and holden; and shall be liable to like Correction and punishment, and intitled to like Relief in case he or she be evilly treated by his or her master or Mistress; and to like Freedom dues and other Privileges as Servants bound by Indenture for Four Years are or may be intitled unless the Person to whom the Service of any such Child Shall belong, shall abandon his or her Claim to the same, in which Case the Overseers of the Poor of the City Township or District, respectively where such Child shall be so abandoned, shall by Indenture bind out every Child so abandoned as an Apprentice for a Time not exceeding the Age herein before limited for the Service of such Children.
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Person who is or shall be the Owner of any Negroe or Mulatto Slave or Servant for life or till the Age of thirty one Years, now within this State, or his lawful Attorney shall on or before the said first day of November next, deliver or cause to be delivered in Writing to the Clerk of the Peace of the County or to the Clerk of the Court of Record of the City of Philadelphia, in which he or she shall respectively inhabit, the Name and Sirname and Occupation or Profession of such Owner, and the Name of the County and Township District or Ward where he or she resideth, and also the Name and Names of any such Slave and Slaves and Servant and Servants for Life or till the Age of thirty one Years together with their Ages and Sexes severally and respectively set forth and annexed, by such Person owned or statedly employed, and then being within this State in order to ascertain and distinguish the Slaves and Servants for Life and Years till the Age of thirty one Years within this State who shall be such on the said first day of November next, from all other persons, which particulars shall by said Clerk of the Sessions and Clerk of said City Court be entered in Books to be provided for that Purpose by the said Clerks; and that no Negroe or Mulatto now within this State shall from and after the said first day of November by deemed a slave or Servant for life or till the Age of thirty one Years unless his or her name shall be entered as aforesaid on such Record except such Negroe and Mulatto Slaves and Servants as are hereinafter excepted; the said Clerk to be entitled to a fee of Two Dollars for each Slave or Servant so entered as aforesaid, from the Treasurer of the County to be allowed to him in his Accounts.
Provided always, That any Person in whom the Ownership or Right to the Service of any Negro or Mulatto shall be vested at the passing of this Act, other than such as are herein before excepted, his or her Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns, and all and every of them severally Shall be liable to the Overseers of the Poor of the City, Township or District to which any such Negroe or Mulatto shall become chargeable, for such necessary Expence, with Costs of Suit thereon, as such Overseers may be put to through the Neglect of the Owner, Master or Mistress of such Negroe or Mulatto, notwithstanding the Name and other descriptions of such Negroe or Mulatto shall not be entered and recorded as aforesaid; unless his or her Master or Owner shall before such Slave or Servant attain his or her twenty eighth Year execute and record in the proper County, a deed or Instrument securing to such Slave or Servant his or her Freedom.
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Offences and Crimes of Negroes and Mulattos as well as Slaves and Servants and Freemen, shall be enquired of, adjudged, corrected and punished in like manner as the Offences and Crimes of the other Inhabitants of this State are and shall be enquired of adjudged, corrected and punished, and not otherwise except that a Slave shall not be admitted to bear Witness agaist [sic] a Freeman.
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in all Cases wherein Sentence of Death shall be pronounced against a Slave, the Jury before whom he or she shall be tried shall appraise and declare the Value of such Slave, and in Case Such Sentence be executed, the Court shall make an Order on the State Treasurer payable to the Owner for the same and for the Costs of Prosecution, but in Case of a Remission or Mitigation for the Costs only.
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Reward for taking up runaway and absconding Negroe and Mulatto Slaves and Servants and the Penalties for enticing away, dealing with, or harbouring, concealing or employing Negroe and Mulatto Slaves and Servants shall be the same, and shall be recovered in like manner, as in Case of Servants bound for Four Years.
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Man or Woman of any Nation or Colour, except the Negroes or Mulattoes who shall be registered as aforesaid shall at any time hereafter be deemed, adjudged or holden, within the Territories of this Commonwealth, as Slaves or Servants for Life, but as freemen and Freewomen; and except the domestic Slaves attending upon Delegates in Congress from the other American States, foreign Ministers and Consuls, and persons passing through or sojourning in this State, and not becoming resident therein; and Seamen employed in Ships, not belonging to any Inhabitant of this State nor employed in any Ship owned by any such Inhabitant, Provided such domestic Slaves be not aliened or sold to any Inhabitant, nor (except in the Case of Members of Congress, foreign Ministers and Consuls) retained in this State longer than six Months.
Provided always and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act nor any thing in it contained shall not give any Relief or Shelter to any absconding or Runaway Negroe or Mulatto Slave or Servant, who has absented himself or shall absent himself from his or her Owner, Master or Mistress, residing in any other State or Country, but such Owner, Master or Mistress, shall have like Right and Aid to demand, claim and take away his Slave or Servant, as he might have had in Case this Act had not been made. And that all Negroe and Mulatto Slaves, now owned, and heretofore resident in this State, who have absented themselves, or been clandestinely carried away, or who may be employed abroad as Seamen, and have not returned or been brought back to their Owners, Masters or Mistresses, before the passing of this Act may within five Years be registered as effectually, as is ordered by this Act concerning those who are now within the State, on producing such Slave, before any two Justices of the Peace, and satisfying the said Justices by due Proof, of the former Residence, absconding, taking away, or Absence of such Slave as aforesaid; who thereupon shall direct and order the said Slave to be entered on the Record as aforesaid.
And Whereas Attempts may be made to evade this Act, by introducing into this State, Negroes and Mulattos, bound by Covenant to serve for long and unreasonable Terms of Years, if the same be not prevented.
Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Covenant of personal Servitude or Apprenticeship whatsoever shall be valid or binding on a Negroe or Mulatto for a longer Time than Seven Years; unless such Servant or Apprentice were at the Commencement of such Servitude or Apprenticeship under the Age of Twenty one Years; in which Case such Negroe or Mulatto may be holden as a Servant or Apprentice respectively, according to the Covenant, as the Case shall be, until he or she shall attain the Age of twenty eight Years but no longer.
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That an Act of Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania passed in the Year one thousand seven hundred and five, intitled "An Act for the Trial of Negroes;" and another Act of Assembly of the said Province passed in the Year one thousand seven hundred and twenty five intitled "An Act for "the better regulating of Negroes in this Province;" and another Act of Assembly of the said Province passed in the Year one thousand seven hundred and sixty one intitled "An Act for laying a Duty on Negroe and Mulatto Slaves imported into this Province" and also another Act of Assembly of the said Province, passed in the Year one thousand seven hundred and seventy three, intitled "An Act for making perpetual An Act for laying a duty on Negroe and Mulatto "Slaves imported into this Province and for laying an additional "Duty on said Slaves;" shall be and are hereby repealed annulled and made void.
Ending Slavery in
(Slavery in
Charge of Chief Justice Cushing
As to the doctrine of slavery and the right of Christians to hold Africans in perpetual servitude, and sell and treat them as we do our horses and cattle, that (it is true) has been heretofore countenanced by the Province Laws formerly, but nowhere is it expressly enacted or established. It has been a usage--a usage which took its origin from the practice of some of the European nations, and the regulations of British government respecting the then Colonies, for the benefit of trade and wealth. But whatever sentiments have formerly prevailed in this particular or slid in upon us by the example of others, a different idea has taken place with the people of America, more favorable to the natural rights of mankind, and to that natural, innate desire of Liberty, with which Heaven (without regard to color, complexion, or shape of noses--features) has inspired all the human race. And upon this ground our Constitution of Government, by which the people of this Commonwealth have solemnly bound themselves, sets out with declaring that all men are born free and equal--and that every subject is entitled to liberty, and to have it guarded by the laws, as well as life and property--and in short is totally repugnant to the idea of being born slaves. This being the case, I think the idea of slavery is inconsistent with our own conduct and Constitution; and there can be no such thing as perpetual servitude of a rational creature, unless his liberty is forfeited by some criminal conduct or given up by personal consent or contract . . . .
Northwest
Ordinance (1787)
[The Northwest Ordinance dealt with territorial governance of what today is the American Midwest. It dealt with how the territories would be governed and sold and set rules for their eventual statehood]
An Ordinance for the government of the Territory of the
Art. 6. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted: Provided, always, That any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid.
Bill of Rights
sec 2. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in this State, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; nor shall any male person, arrived at the age of twenty-one years, or female person arrived at the age of eighteen years, be held to serve any person as a servant, under the pretense of indenture or otherwise, unless such person shall enter into such indenture while in a state of perfect freedom, and on a condition of a bona fide consideration, received or to be received, for their service, except as before excepted. Nor shall any indenture of any negro or mulatto, hereafter made and executed out of the State, or if made in the State, where the term of service exceeds one year, be of the least validity, except those given in the case of apprenticeships.
Constitution of
ART. V.
1. The militia of the State of Illinois shall consist of all free male able-bodied persons, negroes, mulattoes and Indians excepted, resident in the state, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, except such persons as now are, or herea fter may be, exempted by the laws of the United States or of this state, and shall be armed, equipped and trained as the general assembly may provide by law.
ART. VI.
1. Neither slavery or involuntary
servitude shall hereafter be introduced into this state, otherwise than for the
punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; nor
shall any male person, arrived at the age of 21 years, nor female person
arrived at the age of 18 years, be held to serve any person as a servant, under
any indenture hereafter made, unless such person shall enter into such
indenture while in a state of perfect freedom, and on condition of a bona -fide
consideration received or to be received for their service. Nor shall any
indenture of any negro or mulatto, hereafter made and executed out of this
state, or if made in this state, where the term of service exceeds one year, be
of the least validity, except those given in cases of apprenticeship.
2. No person bound to labor in any
other state, shall be hired to labor in this state, except within the tract
reserved for the salt works near Shawneetown; nor
even at that place for a longer period than one year at any one time; nor shall
it be allowed there after the year 1825: any violation of this article shall
effect the emancipation of such person from his obligation to service.
3. Each and every person who has been bound to service by contract or indenture in virtue of the law of Illinois territory heretofore existing, and in conformity to the provisions of the same, without fraud or collusion, shall be held to a specific performance of their contracts or indentures; and such negroes and mulattoes as have been registered in conformity with the aforesaid laws, shall serve out the time appointed by said laws: Provided however, that the children hereafter born of such person , negroes or mulattoes, shall become free, the males at the age of 21 years, the females at the age of 18 years. Each and every child born of indentured parents, shall be entered with the clerk of the county in which they reside, by their owners, within s ix months after the birth of said child.
ART. VIII. That the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and unalterably established, we declare:
1. That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights; among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, and of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness.
Not-so-Free Freedom in the North
Calls Against Repeal of
Mr. PRINTER.
I AM a poor negro, who with myfelf and children have
had the good fortune to get my freedom, by means of an act of affembly paffed on the firft of March 1780, and fhould
now with my family be as happy a fet of people as any
on the face of the earth; but I am told the affembly
are going to pafs a law to fend us all back to our mafters. Why dear Mr. Printer, this would be the cruelleft act that ever a fett of
worthy good gentlemen could be guilty of. To make a law to hang us all, would
be merciful, when compared with this law; for many of our mafters would treat us with unheard of barbarity, for daring
to take the advantage (as we have done) of the law made in our favor. --Our
lots in flavery were hard enough to bear: but
having tafted the fweets of
freedom, we fhould now be miferable
indeed. --Surely no chriftian gentlemen can be fo cruel! I cannot believe they
will pafs fuch a law. --I
have read the act which made me free, and I always read it with joy--and I
always dwell with particular pleafure on the
following words, fpoken by the affembly
in the top of the faid law. "We efteem it a particular bleffing
granted to us, that we are enabled this day to add one more ftep
to univerfal civilization, by removing as much as poffible the forrows of thofe, who have lived in undeferved
bondage, and from which, by the affumed authority of
the kings of Great-Britain, no effectual legal relief could be obtained"
See it was the king of Great Britain that kept us in flavery
before. --Now furely, after faying fo, it cannot be poffible for
them to make flaves of us again--nobody, but the king
of England can do it--and I fincerely pray, that he
may never have it in his power --It cannot be, that the affembly
will take from us the liberty they have given, becaufe
a little further they go on and fay, "we
conceive ourfelves, at this particular period,
extraordinarily called upon, by the bleffings which we
have received, to make manifeft the fincerity of our profeffions and
to give a fubftantial proof of our gratitude."
If after all this, we, who by virtue of this very law (which has thofe very words in it which I have copied,) are now
enjoying the fweets of that "fubftantial
proof of gratitude' I fay if we fhould
be plunged back into flavery, what muft we think of the meaning of all thofe
words in the begining of the faid
law, which feem to be a kind of creed refpecting flavery? but what is most ferious than all,
what will our great father think of fuch doings? But
I pray that he may be pleafed to tern the hearts of
the honourable affembly
from this cruel law; and that he will be pleafed to
make us poor blacks deferving of his mercies.
CATO.
A Correfpondent informs us that a petition is about
to be prefented to the affembly
by the negroes who obtained freedom by the late act, praying to be heard by counfel; and as they prefented a
petition to the houfe fome
time ago, on the fubject of preferving
their liberty, he has requefted us to publifh it. The following he fays is a pretty exact copy:
To the honourable the Reprefentatives
of the Freemen of the State of
We are fully fenfible, that an addrefs from perfons of our rank is wholly unprecedented, and we are fearful of giving offence in the attempt; but touched in the moft fenfible manner, by a dread of being deprived of that liberty which we have obtained under the late law, we venture to appear before you. In the act which gave us our freedom, we read with gratitude and joy thefe admirable fentiments contained in the preamble; a part of which we beg leave to repeat. It begins with thefe pathetic words: "When we contemplate our abhorrence of that condition, to which the army and tyranny of Great Britain were exerted to reduce us; when we look back on the variety of dangers to which we have been expofed, and how miraculouly our wants in many inftances have been fupplied, and our deliverances wrought, when even hope and human fortitude had become unequal to the conflict, we are unavoidably led to a ferious and grateful fenfe of the manifold bleffings which we have undefervedly received from the hand of that being, from whom every good and perfect give cometh Impreffed with thefe ideas, we conceive that it is our duty, and we re[j]oice that is in our power, to extend a portion of that freedom to others, which hath been extended to us, and a releafe from that flate of thraldom, to which we ourfelves were tyrannically doomed, and from which we have now every profpect of being fpeedily relieved," &c. We your petitioners are a few amongft the great number in this ftate, who have derived freedom from that claufe which directs all flaves to be regiftered by a certain day, of which we have obtained certificates from the cleark of the feffions.
Juft emerging from a flate of hereditary flavery, and enjoying the fweets of that freedom fo forceably defcribed in the preamble, it is with the utmoft poignancy of grief, that we are informed your honourable houfe are about to pafs a law to return us to our late mafters, and allow them a ftill further time for regiftering us as flaves. Whilft it pleafed the great author of our beings to continue us in flavery, we fubmitted to our hard lot, and bore it with habitual patience; but refcued from our mifery, and tafting the fweets of that liberty, for the defence of which this whole continent is now involved in war, we fhall deem our felves the moft wretched of the human race, if the propofed act fhould take place. Raifed to the pinnacle of human happinefs by a law unfought and unexpected by us, we find ourfelves p[l]unged into all the horrors of hateful flavery; made doubly irkfome by the fmall portion of freedom we have already enjoyed. Not having by any act of ours deprived ourfelves of the common rights of mankind, we were happy to find the houfe fympathing in our diftrefs, and declaring that we had hitherto "lived in unde[r]ferved bondage" &c. "We cannot therefore perfuade ourfelves to believe that this honorable houfe, poffeffed of fuch fentiments of humanity and benevolence, will pafs an act to make flaves of thofe whom they they have freed by law; and to whom they have reftored" the common bleffings "they were by nature entitled to." We fear we are too bold, but our all is a ftake. The grand queftion of flavery or liberty, is too important for us to be filent--It is the momentous perfon of our lives; if we are filent this day, we may be filent for ever; returned into flavery we are deprived of even the right of petitioning; and this emboldens us to grafp the prefent moment, and to pray on behalf of ourfelves and a number of our unhappy colour, that this houfe will not pafs the bill. And we further pray that you may long poffefs that heart felt peace and joy, which will ever arife in the humane breaft, when fuccefsfully employed in the relief of mifery and diftrefs.
Fearful of the danger and delay, we have not allowed ourfelves time to collect the names of others within this city, whofe cafes are fimilar to ours: but on the feelings of the honorable houfe and not on our numbers do we build our hopes.
AN ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC;
FROM THE
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, AND THE RELIEF OF FREE
NEGROES UNLAWFULLY HELD IN BONDAGE.
It is with peculiar satisfaction we assure the friends of humanity, that, in prosecuting the design of our association, our endeavours have proved successful, far beyond our most sanguine expectations.
Encouraged by this success, and by the daily progress of that luminous and benign spirit of liberty, which is diffusing itself throughout the world, and humbly hoping for the continuance of the divine blessing on our labours, we have ventured to make an important addition to our original plan, and do therefore earnestly solicit the support and assistance of all who can feel the tender emotions of sympathy and compassion, or relish the exalted pleasure of beneficence.
Slavery is such an atrocious debasement of human nature, that its very extirpation, if not performed with solicitous care, may sometimes open a source of serious evils.
The unhappy man, who has long been treated as a brute animal, too frequently sinks beneath the common standard of the human species. The galling chains, that bind his body, do also fetter his intellectual faculties, and impair the social affections of his heart. Accustomed to move like a mere machine, by the will of a master, reflection is suspended; he has not the power of choice; and reason and conscience have but little influence over his conduct, because he is chiefly governed by the passion of fear. He is poor and friendless; perhaps worn out by extreme labour, age, and disease.
Under such circumstances, freedom may often prove a misfortune to himself, and prejudicial to society.
Attention to emancipated black people, it is therefore to be hoped, will become a branch of our national policy; but, as far as we contribute to promote this emancipation, so far that attention is evidently a serious duty incumbent on us, and which we mean to discharge to the best of our judgment and abilities.
To instruct, to advise, to qualify those, who have been restored to freedom, for the exercise and enjoyment of civil liberty, to promote in them habits of industry, to furnish them with employments suited to their age, sex, talents, and other circumstances, and to procure their children an education calculated for their future situation in life; these are the great outlines of the annexed plan, which we have adopted, and which we conceive will essentially promote the public good, and the happiness of these our hitherto too much neglected fellow-creatures.
A plan so extensive cannot be carried into execution without considerable pecuniary resources, beyond the present ordinary funds of the Society. We hope much from the generosity of enlightened and benevolent freemen, and will gratefully receive any donations or subscriptions for this purpose, which may be made to our treasurer, James Starr, or to James Pemberton, chairman of our committee of correspondence.
Signed, by order of the Society,
B. FRANKLIN, President.
John Adams on
Slavery and Anti-Slavery, 1801:
Although I have never sought popularity by animated Speeches or inflammatory publications against Slavery of the Blacks, my opinion against it has always been known...and never in my life did I own a Slave. The Abolition of Slavery must be gradual and accomplished with much caution and Circumspection. Violent means and measures would produce greater violations of Justice and Humanity than the continuance of the practice. Neither...[of you], I presume, would be willing to venture on exertions which would probably excite Insurrection among the Blacks to rise against their Masters.... There are many other evils in our Country which are growing, (Whereas the practice of slavery is fast diminishing) and threaten to bring punishment on our Land, more immediately than the oppression of the blacks. That Sacred regard to Truth in which you and I were educated, and which is certainly taught and enjoyed from on high seems to be vanishing from among us. A general Dereliction of Education and Government. A general Debauchery as well as dissipation, produced by pestilential philosophical Principles of Epicurus infinitely more than by Shews and theatrical Entertainments. These are in my opinion more serious and threatening Evils, than even the Slavery of the Blacks, hateful as that is.
I might even add that I have been informed that the condition of the common sort of White People in some of the Southern states particularly Virginia, is more oppressed, degraded and miserable than that of the Negroes...I wish you success in your benevolent Endeavours to relieve the distresses of our fellow Creatures, and shall always be ready to co-operate with you, as far as my means and Opportunities can reasonably be expected to extend.
The Fugitive Slave
Law of 1793
[In 1793, Congress passed a Fugitive Slave Law to build on the fugitive slave provisions in the Constitution (Art. IV, Section 2, which held that “No person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.”]
ART. 4 [of 1793 Fugitive Slave Act]. For the better security of the peace and friendship now entered into by the contracting parties, against all infractions of the same, by the citizens of either party, to the prejudice of the other, neither party shall proceed to the infliction of punishments on the citizens of the other, otherwise than by securing the offender, or offenders, by imprisonment, or any other competent means, till a fair and impartial trial can be had by judges or juries of both parties, as near as can be, to the laws, customs, and usage's of the contracting parties, and natural justice: the mode of such trials to be hereafter fixed by the wise men of the United States, in congress assembled, with the assistance of such deputies of the Delaware nation, as may be appointed to act in concert with them in adjusting this matter to their mutual liking. And it is further agreed between the parties aforesaid, that neither shall entertain, or give countenance to, the enemies of the other, or protect, in their respective states, criminal fugitives, servants, or slaves, but the same to apprehend and secure, and deliver to the state or states, to which such enemies, criminals, servants, or slaves, respectively below.
"People of Colour, Freemen within the City and Suburbs of
To the
President, Senate, and House of Representatives of the
The Petition
of the People of Colour, Freemen within the City, and
Suburbs of
Humbly Sheweth,
That thankful to God our Creator and the Government under which we live, for the blessing and benefit extended to us in the enjoyment of our natural right to Liberty, and the protection of our Persons and property from the oppression and violence which so great a number of like colour and National Descent are subjected; We feel ourselves bound from a sense of these blessings to continue our respective allotments and to lead honest and peaceable lives, rendering due submission to the Laws, and exciting and encouraging each other thereto, agreeable to the uniform advice of our real friends of every denomination. - Yet" while we feel impressed with grateful sensations for the Providential favours we ourselves enjoy, We cannot be insensible of the conditions of our afflicted Brethren, suffering tinder curious circumstances in different parts of these States; but deep in, sympathizing with them. We are incited by a sense of Social duty and humbly conceive ourselves authorized to address and petition you in their behalf, believing them to be objects of representations in your public Councils, in common with ourselves and every other class of Citizens within tile .Jurisdiction of the United States, according to the declared design of the present Constitution formed by the General Convention and ratified in the different States, as set forth in the preamble thereto in tile following words--vix-"We the People of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestick tranquility, provide for the Common Defence, and to secure the blessings of Liberty, to ourselves and posterity, do ordain &c."- We apprehend this solemn Compact is violated by a trade carried on in clandestine manner to the Coast of Guinea, and another equally wicked practised openly by Citizens of some of the Southern States upon the waters of Maryland and Delaware: Men sufficiently callous as to qualify, for the brutal purpose, are employed in kidnapping those of our Brethren that are free, and purchasing others of such as claim a property? in them; thus these poor helpless victims like droves of Cattle are seized, fettered, and 1-iiirried into places provided for this most horrid traffic, Such as dark cellars and garrets, as is notorious at Northurst, Chester-town, Eastown, and divers other places. After a sufficient number is obtained, then, are forced on board vessels, crouded tinder ]latches, and without the least commiseration, left to deplore the sad separation of the dearest ties in nature, husband from wife, and Parents from children thus pocket'd together they are transported to Georgia and other places and there inhumanely, exposed to sale: Can any Commerce, trade, or transaction, so detestably, shock the feelings of Man, or degrade the dignity of his nature equal to this, and how increasingly is the evil aggravated when practised in a Land, high in profession of the benign doctrines of our blessed Lord who taught his followers to do unto others as they would they should do unto them!--Your petitioners desire not to enlarge the volumes [that] might be filled with the sufferings of this grossly abused class of the human species (700,000 of whom it is said are now in unconditional bondage in these United States.) but, conscious of the rectitude of our motives in a concern so affecting its, and so essentially interesting to [the] welfare of this Country, we cannot but address you as is Guardians of our Civil rights, and Patrons of equal and National Liberty, hoping you will view the subject in an impartial and unprejudiced light.--We do not wish for:- the immediate emancipation of all, knowing,- that the degraded state of many and their Native of education, would greatly disqualify for such a change; but humbly desire, you may exert every means in your power to undo the heavy burdens, and prepare way for the oppressed to go free, that every yoke may, be broken.
The Law not long since enacted Congress called the Fugitive Bill, is, in its execution found to be attended, with circumstances peculiarly hard and distressing for many of our afflicted Brethren in order to avoid the barbarities wantonly exercised upon them, or thro fear of being carried off by those Men-stealers, have been forced to seek refuge by flight; they are then hunted by armed Men, and under colour of this law, cruelly treated, shot, or brought back in chains to those who have no just claim upon them.
In the Constitution and the Fugitive bill, no mention is made of Black people or Slaves -- therefore if the Bill of Rights, or the declaration of Congress are of any validity, we beseech that we as men, we may be admitted to partake of the Liberties and unalienable Rights therein held forth firmly believing that the extending of justice and equity to all Classes would be a means of drawing down the blessing of Heaven upon this Land, for the Peace and Prosperity of which, and the real happiness of every member of the Community, we fervently pray --
Be it enacted by the
Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Illinois Territory that
it shall not be lawful for any free Negro or mulatto to migrate in this
territory, and every free Negro or mulatto who shall come into this Territory
contrary to this act shall and may be apprehended and carried by an citizen
before some justice of the peace of the county where he shall be taken; which
Justice is hereby authorized to examine, and order to leave the Territory every
such free Negro or mulatto
[“Negroes” who
remained in