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Eight-16-1843
An Sort out to the Slaves of the USA of
America, Buffalo, N.Y., 1843
Henry Highland Garnet
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Garnet, Henry Highland, “An Sort out to the Slaves of the USA of America, Buffalo, N.Y., 1843” (1843). Digital Texts in
American Analysis. Eight.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/etas/Eight
AN ADDRESS
TO THE SLAVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(REJECTED BY THE NATIONAL CONVENTION, 1843.)
BY HENRY HIGHLAND GARNET.
______________________
PREFACE.
The following Sort out was first be taught on the Nationwide Convention
held at Buffalo, N.Y., in 1843. Since that time it has been barely
modified, retaining, nonetheless, all of its distinctive doctrine. The doc elicited further dialogue than another paper that was ever
launched sooner than that, or another deliberative physique of colored people, and their buddies. Gents who opposed the Sort out, based
their objections on these grounds. 1. That the doc was warlike, and impressed rebel; and a few. That if the Convention
should undertake it, that these delegates who lived near the borders of
the slave states, would not dare to return to their properties. The Sort out was rejected by a small majority; and now in compliance with
the earnest request of many who heard it, and in conformity to the
wants of fairly a number of buddies who’re anxious to see it, the author
now gives it to most of the people, praying God that this little e-book is also
borne on the four winds of heaven, until the concepts it contains
shall be understood and adopted by every slave throughout the Union.
H.H.G.
Troy, N.Y., April 15, 1848.
ADDRESS TO THE SLAVES OF THE UNITED STATES
2
An Sort out to the Slaves of the USA of
America, Buffalo, N.Y., 1843
rethren and Fellow-Residents:—Your brethren of the North,
East, and West have been accustomed to fulfill collectively in Nationwide Conventions, to sympathize with each other, and to weep
over your unhappy state of affairs. In these conferences we have addressed
all programs of the free, nevertheless we have on no account, until this time, despatched a phrase
of consolation and advice to you. Now we’ve got been contented in sitting
nonetheless and mourning over your sorrows, earnestly hoping that sooner than
at the moment your sacred liberties would have been restored. Nevertheless, we
have hoped in ineffective. Years have rolled on, and tens of 1000’s
have been borne on streams of blood and tears, to the shores of
eternity. While you could have been oppressed, we have moreover been partakers with you; nor can we be free if you find yourself enslaved. We, because of this reality, write to you as being sure with you.
A number of you are sure to us, not solely by the ties of an ordinary
humanity, nevertheless we’re linked by the additional tender relations of
dad and mother, wives, husbands, kids, brothers, and sisters, and
buddies. As such we most affectionately deal with you.
Slavery has fixed a deep gulf between you and us, and whereas it
shuts out from you the help and consolation which your mates
would willingly render, it afflicts and persecutes you with a fierceness which we would not anticipate to see throughout the fiends of hell. Nevertheless nonetheless
the Almighty Father of mercies has left to us a glimmering ray of
hope, which shines out like a lone star in a cloudy sky. Mankind are
turning into wiser, and increased—the oppressor’s vitality is fading, and
you, on every day foundation, have gotten increased educated, and further fairly a number of.
Your grievances, brethren, are many. We is not going to strive, on this
temporary deal with, to present to the world all the darkish catalogue of this
nation’s sins, which have been devoted upon an innocent people.
Neither is it actually important, for you feel them from every day, and
all the civilized world look upon them with amazement.
B
HENRY
HIGHLAND
GARNET
three
2 hundred and twenty-seven years prior to now, the first of our injured
race had been dropped on the shores of America. They acquired right here not with
glad spirits to select their properties throughout the New World. They acquired right here not
with their very personal consent, to hunt out an unmolested enjoyment of the
blessings of this fruitful soil. The first dealings that that they had with males
calling themselves Christians, exhibited to them the worst choices
of corrupt. and sordid hearts: and happy them that no cruelty is
too good, no villainy and no theft too abhorrent for even enlightened males to hold out, when influenced by avarice and lust. Neither
did they arrive flying upon the wings of Liberty, to a land of freedom. Nevertheless they acquired right here with broken hearts, from their beloved native
land, and had been doomed to unrequited toil and deep degradation.
Nor did the evil of their bondage end at their emancipation by
dying. Succeeding generations inherited their chains, and lots of of 1000’s
have come from eternity into time, and have returned as soon as extra to the
world of spirits, cursed and ruined by American slavery.
The propagators of the system, or their speedy ancestors, very
rapidly discovered its rising evil, and its massive wickedness,
and secret ensures had been made to destroy it. The gross inconsistency of a people holding slaves, who had themselves “ferried o’er
the wave” for freedom’s sake, was too apparent to be solely missed. The voice of Freedom cried, “Emancipate your slaves.”
Humanity supplicated with tears for the deliverance of the children
of Africa. Data urged her solemn plea. The bleeding captive
pleaded his innocence, and pointed to Christianity who stood
weeping on the cross. Jehovah frowned upon the nefarious institution, and thunderbolts, crimson with vengeance, struggled to leap forth
to blast the accountable wretches who maintained it. Nevertheless all was ineffective.
Slavery had stretched its darkish wings of dying over the land, the
Church stood silently by—the clergymen prophesied falsely, and the
people beloved to have it so. Its throne is established, and now it
reigns triumphant.
Virtually three lots of of 1000’s of your fellow-citizens are prohibited by
regulation and public opinion (which on this nation is stronger than regulation)
from learning the E book of Life. Your thoughts has been destroyed as
loads as doable, and every ray of sunshine they’ve tried to
ADDRESS TO THE SLAVES OF THE
UNITED STATES
4
shut out out of your minds. The oppressors themselves have develop into
involved throughout the smash. They’ve develop into weak, sensual, and rapacious—they’ve cursed you—they’ve cursed themselves—they
have cursed the earth which they’ve trod.
The colonists threw the blame upon England.. They talked about that the
mother nation entailed the evil upon them, and that they’d
rid themselves of it if they might. The world thought that they had been sincere, and the philanthropic pitied them. Nevertheless time rapidly examined their
sincerity. In quite a few years the colonists grew sturdy, and severed
themselves from the British Authorities. Their independence was
declared, and so that they took their station among the many many sovereign powers of
the earth. The declaration was a wonderful doc. Sages admired
it, and the patriotic of every nation reverenced the God-like sentiments which it contained. When the ability of Authorities returned
to their palms, did they emancipate the slaves? No; they fairly
added new hyperlinks to our chains. Have been they unaware of the concepts
of Liberty? Really they weren’t. The emotions of their revolutionary orators fell in burning eloquence upon their hearts, and with
one voice they cried, Liberty or Dying. Oh what a sentence was that!
It ran from soul to soul like electrical fireplace, and nerved the arm of 1000’s to battle throughout the holy motive behind Freedom. Among the many many vary of
opinions which may be entertained in regard to bodily resistance, there
are nevertheless quite a few found to gainsay that stern declaration. We’re amongst
those who do not.
Slavery! How loads misery is comprehended in that single phrase.
What ideas is there that does not shrink from its direful outcomes?
Till the image of God be obliterated from the soul, all males cherish the love of Liberty. The nice discerning political economist does
not regard the sacred correct larger than the untutored African who
roams throughout the wilds of Congo. Nor has the yet one more correct to the entire
enjoyment of his freedom than the alternative. In every man’s ideas the
good seeds of liberty are planted, and he who brings his fellow
down so low, as to make him contented with a state of affairs of slavery,
commits the perfect crime in opposition to God and man. Brethren, your
oppressors purpose to do this. They endeavor to make you as similar to
brutes as doable. As soon as they’ve blinded the eyes of your ideas—
HENRY
HIGHLAND
GARNET
5
as soon as they’ve embittered the sweet waters of life—as soon as they
have shut out the sunshine which shines from the phrase of God—then,
and by no means till then, has American slavery executed its glorious work.
To such Degradation it is sinful throughout the Extreme as a way to make voluntary Submission. The divine commandments you are in accountability sure
to reverence and obey. In case you do not obey them, you may completely
meet with the displeasure of the Almighty. He requires you to love
him supremely, and your neighbor as your self—to take care of the Sabbath
day holy—to go searching the Scriptures—and produce up your kids
with respect for his authorized tips, and to worship no completely different God nevertheless him. Nevertheless
slavery models all these at nought, and hurls defiance throughout the face of Jehovah. The forlorn state of affairs by which you are positioned, would not destroy your moral obligation to God. You are not certain of heaven,
because you endure yourselves to remain in a state of slavery, the place
you possibly can’t obey the commandments of the Sovereign of the universe. If the ignorance of slavery is a passport to heaven, then it is a
blessing, and no curse, and it’s best to fairly need its perpetuity
than its abolition.. God just isn’t going to acquire slavery, nor ignorance, nor
another state of mind, for love and obedience to him. Your state of affairs would not absolve you out of your moral obligation. The diabolical injustice by which your liberties are cloven down, neither God;
nor angels, or just males, command you to endure for a single second.
Subsequently it is your solemn and essential accountability to make use of every means, every
moral; psychological and bodily that ensures success. If a band of heathen males should attempt to enslave a race of Christians, and to
place their kids under the have an effect on of some false religion,
completely, Heaven would frown upon the boys who would not resist
such aggression, even to dying. If, nevertheless, a band of
Christians should attempt to enslave a race of heathen males, and to
entail slavery upon them, and to take care of them in heathenism throughout the
midst of Christianity, the God of heaven would smile upon every
effort which the injured could make to disenthral themselves.
Brethren, it is as fallacious on your lordly oppressors to take care of you in
slavery, as a result of it was for the particular person thief to steal our ancestors from the
coast of Africa. It’s essential because of this reality now use the similar methodology of
resistance, as would have been merely in our ancestors, when the
ADDRESS TO THE SLAVES OF THE
UNITED STATES
6
bloody footprints of the first remorseless soul-thief was positioned upon
the shores of our fatherland. The humblest peasant is as free throughout the
sight of God as a result of the proudest monarch that ever swayed a sceptre.
Liberty is a spirit despatched out from God, and like its good Creator, is not any
respecter of people.
Brethren, the time has come when it is important to behave for yourselves. It
is an outdated and true saying that, “if hereditary bondmen may be
free, they must themselves strike the blow.” You probably can plead your
private set off, and do the work of emancipation increased than any others.
The nations of the outdated world are transferring throughout the good motive behind frequent freedom, and a number of of them a minimal of will, ere prolonged, do you justice. The combined powers of Europe have positioned their broad seal
of disapprobation upon the African slave-trade. Nevertheless throughout the slaveholding components of the USA, the commerce is as brisk as ever. They
buy and promote you as should you had been brute beasts. The North has
executed loads—her opinion of slavery throughout the abstract is known. Nevertheless in
regard to the South, we undertake the opinion of the New York Evangelist—“Now we’ve got superior so far, that the set off apparently waits
for a further effectual door to be thrown open than has been however.” We
are about to stage you to that further effectual door. Search around
you, and behold the bosoms of your loving wives heaving with
untold agonies! Hear the cries of your poor kids! Take into account the
stripes your fathers bore. Contemplate the torture and disgrace of your
noble mothers. Contemplate your wretched sisters, loving benefit and
purity, as they’re pushed into concubinage and are uncovered to the
unbridled lusts of incarnate devils. Contemplate the timeless glory that
hangs throughout the historic title of Africa:—and overlook not that you simply simply
are native-born People, and as such, you are justly entitled to all the rights which may be granted to the freest. Assume what variety of
tears you have acquired poured out. upon the soil which you have acquired cultivated
with unrequited toil and enriched collectively along with your blood; after which go to
your lordly enslavers and inform them plainly, that you simply’re determined
to be free. Attraction to their sense of justice, and inform them that they
don’t have any further correct to oppress you, than it’s good to enslave them.
Entreat them to remove the grievous burdens which they’ve imposed upon you, and to remunerate you on your labor. Promise
HENRY
HIGHLAND
GARNET
7
them renewed diligence throughout the cultivation of the soil, if they’re going to
render to you an equal on your suppliers. Degree them to the rise of happiness and prosperity throughout the British West Indies since
the Act of Emancipation. Inform them in language which they cannot
misunderstand, of the exceeding sinfulness of slavery, and of a future judgment, and of the righteous retributions of an indignant
God. Inform them that every one you need is freedom, and that nothing
else will suffice. Try this, and for ever after cease to toil for the
heartless tyrants, who offer you no completely different reward nevertheless stripes and
abuse. Within the occasion that they then start the work of dying, they, and by no means you,
will seemingly be accountable for the implications. You had significantly better all
die—die immediately, than keep slaves, and entail your wretchedness
upon your posterity. Within the occasion you may be free on this expertise, proper right here is
your solely hope. Nonetheless loads you and all of us would possibly need it,
there’s not loads hope of redemption with out the shedding of
blood. Within the occasion it’s best to bleed, let all of it come immediately—fairly die freemen,
than keep to be the slaves. It is inconceivable, like the children of Israel, to
make a grand exodus from the land of bondage. The Pharaohs are
on both facet of the blood-red waters! You cannot switch en masse, to
the dominions of the British Queen—nor can you cross by the use of
Florida and overrun Texas, and lastly uncover peace in Mexico. The
propagators of American slavery are spending their blood and
treasure, that they might plant the black flag throughout the coronary coronary heart of Mexico
and riot throughout the halls of the Montezumas. Inside the language of the Rev.
Robert Hall, when addressing the volunteers of Bristol, who had been
dashing forth to repel the invasion of Napoleon, who threatened to
lay waste the truthful properties of England, “Religion is an extreme quantity of involved along with your behalf, to not shed over you her most gracious influences.”
You may not be compelled to spend so much time to have the ability to develop into inured to hardships. From the first second that you simply simply breathed
the air of heaven, you have acquired been accustomed to nothing else nevertheless
hardships. The heroes of the American Revolution had been on no account put
upon extra sturdy fare than a peck of corn and some herrings per week.
You have not develop into enervated by the luxuries of life. Your sternest
energies have been overwhelmed out upon. the anvil of utmost trial, SlavADDRESS TO THE SLAVES OF THE
UNITED STATES
Eight
ery has executed this, to make you subservient to its private capabilities; nevertheless
it has executed larger than this, it has prepared you for any emergency.
Within the occasion you acquire good remedy, it is what you might probably hardly anticipate; if
you meet with ache, sorrow, and even dying, these are the frequent.
lot of the slaves.
Fellow-men! affected particular person victims! behold your dearest rights crushed
to the earth! See your sons murdered, and your wives, mothers and
sisters doomed to prostitution. Inside the title of the merciful God, and
by all that life is worth, let it not be a debatable question,
whether or not or not it is increased to resolve on Liberty or dying.
In 1822, Denmark Veazie, of South Carolina, usual a plan for
the liberation of his fellow-men. In your complete historic previous of human efforts to overthrow slavery, a further refined and massive
plan was on no account usual. He was betrayed by the treachery of his
private people, and died a martyr to freedom. Many a brave hero fell,
nevertheless historic previous, dedicated to her extreme perception, will transcribe his title on the
similar monument with Moses, Hampden, Inform, Bruce and Wallace,
Toussaint L’Ouverture, Lafayette and Washington. That giant movement shook your complete empire of slavery. The accountable soulthieves had been overwhelmed with fear. It is a matter of fact, that at
that time, and in consequence of the threatened revolution, the slave
States talked strongly of emancipation. Nevertheless they blew nevertheless one blast
of the trumpet of freedom, after which laid it aside. As these males turned quiet, the slaveholders ceased to discuss emancipation: and
now behold your state of affairs instantly! Angels sigh over it, and humanity has prolonged since exhausted her tears in weeping in your account!
The patriotic Nathaniel Turner adopted Denmark Veazie. He
was goaded to desperation by fallacious and injustice. By despotism,
his title has been recorded on the itemizing of infamy; and future generations will keep in mind him among the many many noble and brave.
Subsequent arose the immortal Joseph Cinque, the hero of the Amistad.
He was a neighborhood African, and by the help of God he emancipated a
full ship-load of his fellow-men on the extreme seas. And he now
sings of liberty on the sunny hills of Africa and beneath his native
palm-trees, the place he hears the lion roar and feels himself as free as
that king of the forest.
HENRY HIGHLAND GARNET
9
Subsequent arose Madison Washington, that good star of freedom, and
took his station throughout the constellation of true heroism. He was a slave
on board the brig Creole, of Richmond, sure to New Orleans, that
good slave mart, with 100 and four others. Nineteen struck
for liberty or dying. Nevertheless one life was taken, and your complete had been
emancipated, and the vessel was carried into Nassau, New Windfall.
Noble males! Those who have fallen in freedom’s battle, their
recollections will seemingly be cherished by the true-hearted and the God-fearing
in all future generations; those who stay, their names are surrounded by a halo of glory.
Brethren, come up, come up! Strike on your lives and liberties. Now might be
the day and the hour. Let every slave all by means of the land do this,
and the occasions of slavery are numbered. You may’t be further oppressed than you have acquired been—you possibly can’t endure higher cruelties
than you have acquired already. Comparatively die freemen than keep to be slaves. Take into account that you are four lots of of 1000’s!
It is in your vitality so to torment the God-cursed slaveholders,
that they will be glad to permit you to go free. If the dimensions was turned, and
black males had been the masters and white males the slaves, every damaging agent and ingredient may be employed to place the oppressor low. Hazard and dying would dangle over their heads day and
night time time. Certain, the tyrants would meet with plagues further horrible than
these of Pharaoh. Nevertheless you are a affected particular person people. You act as if
you had been made for the actual use of these devils. You act as if
your daughters had been born to pamper the lusts of your masters and
overseers. And worse than all, you tamely submit whereas your lords
tear your wives out of your embraces and defile them sooner than your
eyes. Inside the title of God, we ask, are you males? The place is the blood
of your fathers? Has all of it run out of your veins? Awake, awake;
lots of of 1000’s of voices are calling you! Your lifeless fathers converse to you
from their graves. Heaven, as with a voice of thunder, calls on you
to return up from the mud.
Let your motto be resistance! resistance! resistance! No oppressed
people have ever secured their liberty with out resistance. What
type of resistance you had increased make, it is important to find out by the cirADDRESS TO THE SLAVES OF THE UNITED STATES
10
cumstances that embody you, and in step with the suggestion of
expediency. Brethren, adieu! Perception throughout the residing God. Labor for the
peace of the human race, and keep in mind that you simply’re four lots of of 1000’s.
―――――――
Delivered sooner than the Nationwide Convention of Colored Residents, Buffalo, New York, August 16, 1843. Printed in Henry Highland
Garnet, Walker’s Attraction, with a Transient Sketch of His Life. And as well as Garnet’s Sort out to the Slaves of the USA of America. New-York,
Printed by J. H. Tobitt, 1848, pages 89–97.

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