Part 53 (1/2)
In 1785, the New York Manumission Society was formed. John Jay was chosen its first President, and held the office five years. Alexander Hamilton was its second President, and after holding the office one year, resigned upon his removal to Philadelphia as Secretary of the United States' Treasury. In 1787, the Pennsylvania Abolition Society was formed. Benjamin Franklin, warm from the discussions of the convention that formed the U.S. const.i.tution, was chosen President, and Benjamin Rush Secretary--both signers of the Declaration of Independence. In 1789, the Maryland Abolition Society was formed. Among its officers were Samuel Chase, Judge of the U.S. Supreme Court, and Luther Martin, a member of the convention that formed the U.S. const.i.tution. In 1790, the Connecticut Abolition Society was formed. The first President was Rev.
Dr. Stiles, President of Yale College, and the Secretary, Simeon Baldwin, (late Judge Baldwin of New Haven.) In 1791, this Society sent a memorial to Congress, from which the following is an extract:
”From a sober conviction of the unrighteousness of slavery, your pet.i.tioners have long beheld, with grief, our fellow men doomed to perpetual bondage, in a country which boasts of her freedom. Your pet.i.tioners were led, by motives, we conceive, of general philanthropy, to a.s.sociate ourselves for the protection and a.s.sistance of this unfortunate part of our fellow men; and, though this Society has been _lately_ established, it has now become _generally extensive_ through this state, and, we fully believe, _embraces, on this subject, the sentiments of a large majority of its citizens_.”
The same year the Virginia Abolition Society was formed. This Society, and the Maryland Society, had auxiliaries in different parts of those States. Both societies sent up memorials to Congress. The memorial of the Virginia Society is headed--”The memorial of the _Virginia Society_, for promoting the Abolition of Slavery,” &c. The following is an extract:
”Your memorialists, fully believing that slavery is not only an odious degradation, but an _outrageous violation of one of the most essential rights of human nature, and utterly repugnant to the precepts of the gospel_,” &c.
About the same time a Society was formed in New-Jersey. It had an acting committee of five members in each county in the State. The following is an extract from the preamble to its const.i.tution:
”It is our boast, that we live under a government, wherein _life, liberty_, and the _pursuit of happiness_, are recognized as the universal rights of men. We _abhor that inconsistent, illiberal, and interested policy, which withholds those rights from an unfortunate and degraded cla.s.s of our fellow creatures_.”
Among other distinguished individuals who were efficient officers of these Abolition Societies, and delegates from their respective state societies, at the annual meetings of the American convention for promoting the abolition of slavery, were Hon. Uriah Tracy, United States' Senator, from Connecticut; Hon. Zephaniah Swift, Chief Justice of the same State; Hon. Cesar A. Rodney, Attorney General of the United States; Hon. James A. Bayard, United States' Senator, from Delaware; Governor Bloomfield, of New-Jersey; Hon. Wm. Rawle, the late venerable head of the Philadelphia bar; Dr. Caspar Wistar, of Philadelphia; Messrs. Foster and Tillinghast, of Rhode Island; Messrs. Ridgely, Buchanan, and Wilkinson, of Maryland; and Messrs. Pleasants, McLean, and Anthony, of Virginia.
In July, 1787, the old Congress pa.s.sed the celebrated ordinance abolis.h.i.+ng slavery in the northwestern territory, and declaring that it should never thereafter exist there. This ordinance was pa.s.sed while the convention that formed the United States' const.i.tution was in session.
At the first session of Congress under the const.i.tution, this ordinance was ratified by a special act. Was.h.i.+ngton, fresh from the discussions of the convention, in which _more than forty days had been spent in adjusting the question of slavery, gave it his approval_. The act pa.s.sed with only one dissenting voice, (that of Mr. Yates, of New York,) _the South equally with the North avowing the fitness and expediency of the measure on general considerations, and indicating thus early the line of national policy, to be pursued by the United States' Government on the subject of slavery_.
In the debates in the North Carolina Convention, Mr. Iredell, afterward a Judge of the United States' Supreme Court, said, ”_When the entire abolition of slavery takes place_, it will be an event which must be pleasing to every generous mind and every friend of human nature.” Mr.
Galloway said, ”I wish to see this abominable trade put an end to. I apprehend the clause (touching the slave trade) means _to bring forward manumission_.” Luther Martin, of Maryland, a member of the convention that formed the United States' Const.i.tution, said, ”We ought to authorize the General Government to make such regulations as shall be thought most advantageous for _the gradual abolition of slavery_, and the _emanc.i.p.ation of the slaves_ which are already in the States.” Judge Wilson, of Pennsylvania, one of the framers of the const.i.tution, said, in the Pennsylvania convention of '87, [Deb. Pa. Con. p. 303, 156:] ”I consider this (the clause relative to the slave trade) as laying the foundation for _banis.h.i.+ng slavery out of this country_. It will produce the same kind of gradual change which was produced in Pennsylvania; the new States which are to be formed will be under the control of Congress in this particular, and _slaves will never be introduced_ among them. It presents us with the pleasing prospect that the rights of mankind will be acknowledged and established _throughout the Union_. Yet the lapse of a few years, and Congress will have power to _exterminate slavery_ within our borders.” In the Virginia convention of '87, Mr. Mason, author of the Virginia const.i.tution, said, ”The augmentation of slaves weakens the States, and such a trade is _diabolical_ in itself, and disgraceful to mankind. As much as I value a union of all the States, I would not admit the Southern States, (i.e., South Carolina and Georgia,) into the union, _unless they agree to a discontinuance of this disgraceful trade_.” Mr. Tyler opposed with great power the clause prohibiting the abolition of the slave trade till 1808, and said, ”My earnest desire is, that it shall be handed down to posterity that I oppose this wicked clause.” Mr. Johnson said, ”The principle of emanc.i.p.ation _has begun since the revolution. Let us do what we will, it will come round_.”--[Deb. Va. Con. p. 463.] Patrick Henry, arguing the power of Congress under the United States' const.i.tution to abolish slavery in the States, said, in the same convention, ”Another thing will contribute to bring this event (the abolition of slavery) about. Slavery is _detested_. We feel its fatal effects; we deplore it with all the pity of humanity.” Governor Randolph said: ”They insist that the _abolition of slavery will result from this Const.i.tution_. I hope that there is no one here, who will advance _an objection so dishonorable_ to Virginia--I hope that at the moment they are securing the rights of their citizens, an objection will not be started, that those unfortunate men now held in bondage, _by the operation of the general government_ may be made free!” [_Deb. Va. Con._ p. 421.] In the Ma.s.s. Con. of '88, Judge Dawes said, ”Although slavery is not smitten by an apoplexy, yet _it has received a mortal wound_, and will die of consumption.”--[_Deb.
Ma.s.s. Con._ p. 60.] General Heath said that, ”Slavery was confined to the States _now existing_, it _could not be extended_. By their ordinance, Congress had declared that the new States should be republican States, _and have no slavery_.”--p. 147.
In the debate, in the first Congress, February 11th and 12th, 1789, on the pet.i.tions of the Society of Friends, and the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, Mr. Parker, of Virginia, said, ”I cannot help expressing the pleasure I feel in finding _so considerable a part_ of the community attending to matters of such a momentous concern to the _future prosperity_ and happiness of the people of America. I think it my duty, as a citizen of the Union, to _espouse their cause_.”
Mr. Page, of Virginia, (afterwards Governor)--”Was _in favor_ of the commitment: he hoped that the designs of the respectable memorialists would not be stopped at the threshold, in order to preclude a fair discussion of the prayer of the memorial. He placed himself in the case of a slave, and said, that on hearing that Congress had refused to listen to the decent suggestions of the respectable part of the community, he should infer, that the general government, _from which was expected great good would result to_ EVERY CLa.s.s _of citizens_, had shut their ears against the voice of humanity, and he should despair of any alleviation of the miseries he and his posterity had in prospect; if any thing could induce him to rebel, it must be a stroke like this, impressing on his mind all the horrors of despair. But if he was told, that application was made in his behalf, and that Congress were willing to hear what could be urged in favor of discouraging the practice of importing his fellow-wretches, he would trust in their justice and humanity, and _wait the decision patiently_.”
Mr. Scott of Pennsylvania: ”I cannot, for my part, conceive how any person _can be said to acquire a property in another. I do not know how far I might go, if I was one of the judges of the United States, and those people were to come before me and claim their emanc.i.p.ation, but I am sure I would go as far as I could_.”
Mr. Burke, of South Carolina, said, ”He _saw the disposition of the House_, and he feared it would be referred to a committee, maugre all their opposition.”
Mr. Baldwin of Georgia said that the clause in the U.S. Const.i.tution relating to direct taxes ”was intended to prevent Congress from laying any special tax upon negro slaves, _as they might, in this way, so burthen the possessors of them, as to induce a_ GENERAL EMANc.i.p.aTION.”
Mr. Smith of South Carolina, said, ”That on entering into this government, they (South Carolina and Georgia) apprehended that the other states, * * * _would, from motives of humanity and benevolence, be led to vote for a general emanc.i.p.ation_.”
In the debate, at the same session, May 13th, 1789, on the pet.i.tion of the society of Friends respecting the slave trade, Mr. Parker, of Virginia, said, ”He hoped Congress would do all that lay in their power _to restore to human nature its inherent privileges_. The inconsistency in our principles, with which we are justly charged _should be done away_.”
Mr. Jackson, of Georgia, said, ”IT WAS THE FAs.h.i.+ON OF THE DAY TO FAVOR THE LIBERTY OF THE SLAVES. * * * * * Will Virginia set her negroes free? _When this practice comes to be tried, then the sound of liberty will lose those charms which make it grateful to the ravished ear_.”
Mr. Madison of Virginia,--”The dictates of humanity, the principles of the people, the national safety and happiness, and prudent policy, require it of us. * * * * * * * I conceive the const.i.tution in this particular was formed in order that the Government, whilst it was restrained from laying a total prohibition, might be able to _give some testimony of the sense of America_, with respect to the African trade. * * * * * * It is to be hoped, that by expressing a national disapprobation of this trade, we may destroy it, and save ourselves from reproaches, AND OUR PROSPERITY THE IMBECILITY EVER ATTENDANT ON A COUNTRY FILLED WITH SLAVES.”
Mr. Gerry, of Ma.s.sachusetts, said, ”he highly commended the part the Society of Friends had taken; it was the cause of humanity they had interested themselves in.”--Cong. Reg. v. 1, p. 308-12.
A writer in the ”Gazette of the Unites States,” Feb. 20th, 1790, (then the government paper,) who opposes the abolition of slavery, and avows himself a _slaveholder_, says, ”I have seen in the papers accounts of _large a.s.sociations_, and applications to Government for _the abolition of slavery_. Religion, humanity, and the generosity natural to a free people, are the _n.o.ble principles which dictate those measures_. SUCH MOTIVES COMMAND RESPECT, AND ARE ABOVE ANY EULOGIUM WORDS CAN BESTOW.”
In the convention that formed the const.i.tution of Kentucky in 1790, the effort to prohibit slavery was nearly successful. A decided majority of that body would undoubtedly have voted for its exclusion, but for the great efforts and influence of two large slaveholders--men of commanding talents and sway--Messrs. Breckenridge and Nicholas. The following extract from a speech made in that convention by a member of it, Mr.
Rice a native Virginian, is a specimen of the _free discussion_ that prevailed on that ”delicate subject.” Said Mr. Rice: ”I do a man greater injury, when I deprive him of his liberty, than when I deprive him of his property. It is vain for me to plead that I have the sanction of law; for this makes the injury the greater--it arms the community against him, and makes his case desperate. The owners of such slaves then are _licensed robbers_, and not the just proprietors of what they claim. Freeing them is not depriving them of property, but _restoring it to the right owner_. The master is the enemy of the slave; he _has made open war upon him_, AND IS DAILY CARRYING IT ON in unremitted efforts.
Can any one imagine, then, that the slave is indebted to his master, and _bound to serve him?_ Whence can the obligation arise? What is it founded upon? What is my duty to an enemy that is carrying on war against me? I do not deny, but in some circ.u.mstances, it is the duty of the slave to serve; but it is a duty he owes himself, and not his master.”
President Edwards, the younger, said, in a sermon preached before the Connecticut Abolition Society, Sept. 15, 1791: ”Thirty years ago, scarcely a man in this country thought either the slave trade or the slavery of negroes to be wrong; but now how many and able advocates in private life, in our legislatures, in Congress, have appeared, and have openly and irrefragably pleaded the rights of humanity in this as well as other instances? And if we judge of the future by the past, _within fifty years from this time, it will be as shameful for a man to hold a negro slave, as to be guilty of common robbery or theft_.”
In 1794, the General a.s.sembly of the Presbyterian church adopted its ”Scripture proofs,” notes, and comments. Among these was the following:
”1 Tim. i. 10. The law is made for manstealers. This crime among the Jews exposed the perpetrators of it to capital punishment. Exodus xxi.