|
I
|


_54 //Z5. ZoZº.
is:
H A R V A R D
C O L L E G E
L I B R A R Y


ADDRESS OF REV. M.R. MAY,
dºw
Emancipation in British West Indies;
DELIVERED IN THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SYRAOUSE,
ADGUST 1st, 1815.


_54 //Z5. ZoZº.
VERT:
H A R V A R D
C O L L E G E
L I B R A R Y


ADDRESS OF REV. M.R. MAY,
dº
Emancipation in British West Indies;
DELIVERED IN THE FIRST PREsºterian cºurage; nº SYRAOUSE,
AIGL sº sº, isºlº.


EMANCIPATION IN THE BRITISH W, INDIES,
AUGUST 1, 1834,
AN ADDRESS,
DELIVERLD IN THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH III ſºrt AOUSE,
on Trie
FIRST OF AUGUST, 1845.
BY SAMUEL J. MAY,
PASTOR or THE CHUR&R! or MESSIAR, In, SYRACUSE;
PRINTED BY J. BARBER, LIBERTY INTELLIGENCER officz, syracusm,
1845.


|DDRESS ON WEST INDIA EMANCIPATION.
“Blow ye the trumpet abroad o'er the sea,
Humanity triumphs—the Bondmen are free;
Sing, for the pride of the tyrant is broken;
His scourges and fetters, all clotted with blood,
Are wrenched from his grasp;—for the word was but spoken,
And fetters and scourges were sunk in the flood.
Blow ye the trumpet abroad o'er the sea,
Humanity triumphs, the Bondmen are free.”
Blessed be God, this is not a mere poetical fiction. It is
a historical fact; and it should be celebrated by the true
friends of humanity throughout the earth. The first of Au-
gust should be hallowed. It is the anniversary of an
event more auspicious to the cause of the poor and
oppressed, than any other event since the advent of the
Messiah. The emancipation of the 800,000 slaves in the
British West Indies—which was consummated on the 1st
of August, 1834—is a signal illustration of the omnipotence
of the truth, and of the entire sufficiency of moral means
to effect the subversion of the worst forms of human ill. It
is a practical commentary, nay, it is an extant, living fulfil-
ment of the promise of Jesus to his disciples, that if they
only have faith, they shall remove mountains by a word.—
For what evil ever afflicted the human family more moun-
tainous, more deeply rooted, and of longer standing, than
slavery? ... Slavery countenanced, legalized, º by
the British Empire! And yet it has been abolished.
In a harsher, or a milder form, slavery has prevailed in
the world from the remotest time—originating in the bar-
barous practices of men, who knew no better principle than
that might gives right. Under the light of Christianity, some
juster views of the rights of man were acquired, and a tone
of feeling produced, by which the kind of slavery, that
j in Europe for ages, under the feudal system, had
given way, and in most of the states had become extinct.


4
But in the 15th century, slavery was revived in a highly ag-
gravated form, in the colonies of the new world. Then com-
menced what is damned to everlasting fame, for its pre-em-
inent atrocity—the African slave trade—begun and carried
on almost exclusively by the self-styled Christian nations
of Europe. It was prompted by the basest and most un-
yielding passions of the human soul—the thirst for gold, the
lust of power, and the love of ease. Yet the common opin-
ion of the so called civilized world acquiesced in this iniqui-
ty; and even Christian moralists attempted its justification.
No other abomination, except it be the horrid custom of war,
has been so strongly entrenched in the world as Slavery has
been. But it has been successfully assailed—in its worst
form—in one of its strongest holds—assailed and completely
carried. Blessed be God, we can now say completely car-
ried Carried, not by force and arms—not by stratagem—
but by the power of truth!
“No war or battle sound
Was heard the world around:
But peaceful was the night,”
In which by moral might,
This work was done :
“It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.”
We cannot yet fully appreciate the importance of this
event. We see, and rejoice in its bearing upon the aboli-
tion of slavery in our country, and upon the abolition of ne-
gro slavery throughout the world. But there are other forms
of oppression to be broken up; other abominations to be over-
thrown. And hereafter, those who may be roused to at-
tempt the removal of some mighty evil, yet untouched, will
look back for encouragement to the success of the British
abolitionists. In time to come, the philanthropist may ever
feel assured, by that event, which has signalized the 1st of
August, that he need not despair of success, if his object be
a good one, and he be patient, persevering and prayerful.
For this event has done more than any other to establish that
most encouraging doctrine, which all, who would go forward
with any power, must believe, that “whatever ought to be
done can be done—that whatever is right is also practica-
ble—that things, which are impossible with men, are possi-
ble with God.” . . . . . . . . . “ . .
. I would there were time, for me to give you only a brief


5
sketch of the history of that moral conflict, the triumph of
which we have come here to celebrate. Beginning with
the first movement ever made, in mercy to the outraged chil-
dren of Africa, it would do my heart good to tell, and your
hearts good to hear, of the generous espousal by Granville
Sharpe, in 1765, of the cause of a friendless slave, who
having been so shockingly beaten by his master, that he was
supposed to be disabled for life, was abandoned to perish,
if he might, in the streets of London, and afterwards, when
he had been unexpectedly restored to health by the skill of
a humane physician, was reclaimed by the shameless
wretch who had beaten him, and well nigh borne off to the
home of perpetual bondage, under what was supposed to
be the sanction of English Law. It would do my heart
good to tell, and your hearts good to hear how, stimulated”
by this outrage, Granville Sharpe was led to institute a care-
ful examination of the laws of his country, until he discov-
ered, as he expected to do, that there was no provision, under
which any man could hold his fellow man as a slave in Eng-
land; and how by years of persevering importunity at the
bench of Justice, he procured in 1772—aye, extorted
from Lord Mansfield, that glorious decision, which, howev-
er reluctantly given, has signalized that eminent jurist's
name more than any other act of his officiaflife.
It would do my heart good to tell, and your hearts good
to hear, the bold and thrilling condemnation of the slave
trade and slavery, by the venerable John Wesley, founder
of the Methodist Church,-and of the plain language used
and valuable labors performed in this cause, at that early
day, by the Society of Friends. Still more would it do our
hearts good to speak, and to hear, of the noble self consecra-
tion of Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce, in their
early manhood, to this then hopeless work of humanity,+
and of the unabated ardor and unflinching fidelity, with
which they prosecuted their enterprise for twenty long
years, until they triumphed over all opposition; and brought
many proud men to do them honor, by whom they had
been wrathfully and contemptuously denounced as pestilent
fanatics, not fit to live.”
* It is a fact worth mentioning, that William 4th, the crowning glory of whose
short reign was, that he had the honor of affixing the royal signature to the Act of
Emancipation, was one of the Lords who, a few years before, dared to speak indig-
mantly and contemptuously of Wilberforce and his fellow laborers.


7
The event of which I am speaking, was a signal illustration
of this fact. The cry for immediate emancipation rang
through the land, and waxed louder and stronger, until the
men who were in power, and the men who would be in
power—the office holders and the office seekers—were
alike compelled to give to it a respectful consideration.
The houses of Parliament were overwhelmed with peti-
tions. These increased in urgency, and in the weight of
numbers, until in 1833, May 14, the leading member of the
House of Commons introduced a bill for the emancipation
of the slaves. That Bill was indeed unjust in its spirit, and
unhappy in some of its prominent provisions—still it went
to the immediate abolition of Slavery. The bill was pass-
ed—and on the 1st of August, 1834, it took effect. On the
morning of this memorable day, the yoke of Slavery was
broken from the necks of more than eight hundred thousand
—who then stood up before the world disenthralled, eman-
cipated—their rights as men recognized, guarantied, se-
cured to them, by the government of the British Empire.
Stood up, did I say? No, they received the boon of freedom
not in the attitude of exultation, but of reverent gratitude.
On their bended knees did they await the coming of the
moment that would make them free. As the loud bell
at midnight tolled the hour, which separated forever the
long ages of slavery that had passed, from the ages to
come of liberty, and increasing light and happiness—“as
the loud bell tolled its first notes, the crowded assembly
prostrated themselves on their knees. All was silent, save
the quivering, half-stifled breath of the struggling spirit.
The slow notes of the clock fell upon the multitude—peal
on peal—peal on peal rolled over the prostrate throng, in
tones of angels' voices, thrilling among the desolate chords
and weary strings of the hearts, that had so long pined in
bondage. Scarce had the clock sounded its last note, when
the lightning of Heaven flashed vividly around, and a loud
eal of thunder roared along the sky; as it were, God’s
#. of fire, and trump of jubilee A moment of pro-
found silence passed. Then came the burst. They broke
forth into prayer; they shouted, they sung ‘Glory!’ ‘Al-
leluia!"—they clapped their hands, leaped up, fell down,
clasped each other in their free arms, cried, ſº and
went to and fro, tossing up their unfettered hands. But
high above the whole there was a mighty sound, which ever


_54 //Z5. ZoZº.
MEET:
is:
Eºr
H A R V A R D
C (O L L E G E
L I B R A R Y


ADDRESS OR REV. M.R. MAY,
on
Emancipation in British West Indies;
DELIVERED IN THE FIRST PREsºtºrian cºor nº SYRAOUSE,
AUGUST 1st, 1sº.





EMANCIPATION IN THE BRITISH W, INDIES,
AUGUST 1, 1834,
AN ADDRESS,
DELIVER D ITT THE FIRST PRESBYTERLAN CETURCH III ſºrt AOU′E,
on trie
FIRST OF AUGUST, 1845.
BY SAMUEL J. MAY,
rAsroR or The churen or Messian, In 81RACUSE;
PRINTED BY J. BARBER, LIBERTY INTELLIGENCER officz, s?RAct’sm.
1845.


REv. Mr. MAY-
DEAR SIR: The undersigned, impressed with the belief that the publica-
tion of your Address, delivered on the last Anniversary of Negro Emancipation in
the British West Indies, will greatly promote the cause of Universal Liberty, very
respectfully solicit a copy of the same for that purpose. We hope this request will
be granted; as a fair history of that event, and of the operation of Free Colored La-
bor, upon Profit and Character, is, at this time, very much needed. With sentiments
of high personal regard for your disinterested zeal in the cause of human freedom,
we remain, &c. Syracuse, Aug. 14th, 1845.
THOS. SPENCER, J. BROUGHTON,
GUY DAVIS, J. L. BAGG,
JOSEPH BARBER, DAVID COGSWELL,
J. W. NORTH, , H. HOYT, -
C. A. WHEATON, E. J. FOSTER,
HIRAM PUTNAM, J. H. BATES,
W. L. TURNEY, JOSIAH WRIGHT.
Syracuse, Aug. 22, 1845.
GrrrlzMEN :-
I am highly gratified that you were interested in my address, and that you
deem it worthy of publication. In the hope that you have not overrated it, I sub-
mit it to your disposal.
Yery Respectfully, Yours,
SAMUEL J. MAY.


|DDRESS ON WEST INDIA EMANCIPATION.
“BLow ye the trumpet abroad o'er the sea,
Humanity triumphs—the Bondmen are free;
Sing, for the pride of the tyrant is broken;
His scourges and fetters, all clotted with blood,
Are wrenched from his grasp;—for the word was but spoken,
And fetters and scourges were sunk in the flood.
Blow ye the trumpet abroad o'er the sea,
Humanity triumphs, the Bondmen are free.”
Blessed be God, this is not a mere poetical fiction. It is
a historical fact; and it should be celebrated by the true
friends of humanity throughout the earth. The first of Au-
gust should be hallowed. It is the anniversary of an
event more auspicious to the cause of the poor and
oppressed, than any other event since the advent of the
Messiah. The emancipation of the 800,000 slaves in the
British West Indies—which was consummated on the 1st
of August, 1834—is a signal illustration of the omnipotence
of the truth, and of the entire sufficiency of moral means
to effect the subversion of the worst forms of human ill. It
is a practical commentary, nay, it is an extant, living fulfil-
ment of the promise of Jesus to his disciples, that if they
only have faith, they shall remove mountains by a word.—
For what evil ever afflicted the human family more moun-
tainous, more deeply rooted, and of longer standing, than
slavery?, Slavery countenanced, legalized, protected, by
the British Empire! And yet it has been abolished.
In a harsher, or a milder form, slavery has prevailed in
the world from the remotest time—originating in the bar-
barous practices of men, who knew no better principle than
that might gives right. Under the light of Christianity, some
juster views of the rights of man were acquired, and a tone
of feeling produced, by which the kind of slavery, that
j in Europe for ages, under the feudal system, had
given way, and in most of the states had become extinct.


4
But in the 15th century, slavery was revived in a highly ag-
gravated form, in the colonies of the new world. Then com-
menced what is damned to everlasting fame, for its pre-em-
inent atrocity—the African slave trade—begun and carried
on almost exclusively by the self-styled Christian nations
of Europe. It was prompted by the basest and most un-
yielding passions of the human soul—the thirst for gold, the
lust of power, and the love of ease. Yet the common opin-
ion of the so called civilized world acquiesced in this iniqui-
ty; and even Christian moralists attempted its justification.
No other abomination, except it be the horrid custom of war,
has been so strongly entrenched in the world as Slavery has
been. But it has been successfully assailed—in its worst
form—in one of its strongest holds—assailed and completely
carried. Blessed be God, we can now say completely car-
ried Carried, not by force and arms—not by stratagem—
but by the power of truth!
“No war or battle sound
Was heard the world around:
But peaceful was the night,”
In which by moral might,
This work was done !
“It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.”
We cannot yet fully appreciate the importance of this
event. We see, and rejoice in its bearing upon the aboli-
tion of slavery in our country, and upon the abolition of ne-
gro slavery throughout the world. But there are other forms
of oppression to be broken up; other abominations to be over-
thrown. And hereafter, those who may be roused to at-
tempt the removal of some mighty evil, yet untouched, will
look back for encouragement to the success of the British
abolitionists. In time to come, the philanthropist may ever
feel assured, by that event, which has signalized the 1st of
August, that he need not despair of success, if his object be
a good one, and he be patient, persevering and prayerful.
For this event has done more than any other to establish that
most encouraging doctrine, which all, who would go forward
with any power, must believe, that “whatever ought to be
done can É. done—that whatever is right is also practica-
ble—that things, which are impossible with men, are possi-
ble with God.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. I would there were time, for me to give you only a brief


*
5
sketch of the history of that moral conflict, the triumph of
which we have come here to celebrate. Beginning with
the first movement ever made, in mercy to the outraged chil-
dren of Africa, it would do my heart good to tell, and your
hearts good to hear, of the generous espousal by Granville
Sharpe, in 1765, of the cause of a friendless slave, who
having been so shockingly beaten by his master, that he was
supposed to be disabled for life, was abandoned to perish,
if | might, in the streets of London, and afterwards, when
he had been unexpectedly restored to health by the skill of
a humane physician, was reclaimed by the shameless
wretch who had beaten him, and well nigh borne off to the
home of perpetual bondage, under what was supposed to
be the sanction of English Law. It would do my heart
good to tell, and your hearts good to hear how, stimulated”
by this outrage, Granville Sharpe was led to institute a care-
ful examination of the laws of his country, until he discov-
ered, as he expected to do, that there was no provision, under
which any man could hold his fellow man as a slave in Eng-
land; and how by years of persevering importunity at the
bench of Justice, he procured in 1772—aye, extorted
from Lord Mansfield, that glorious decision, which, howev-
er reluctantly given, has signalized that eminent jurist's
name more than any other act of his officiaflife. -
It would do my heart good to tell, and your hearts good
to hear, the bold and thrilling condemnation of the slave
trade and slavery, by the venerable John Wesley, founder
of the Methodist Church,-and of the plain language used
and valuable labors performed in this cause, at that early
day, by the Society of Friends. Still more would it do our
hearts good to speak, and to hear, of the noble self consecra-
tion of Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce, in their
early manhood, to this then hopeless work of humanity,+
and of the unabated ardor and unflinching fidelity, with
which they prosecuted their enterprise for twenty long
years, until they triumphed over all opposition; and brought
many proud men to do them honor, by whom they had
been wrathfully and contemptuously denounced as pestilent
fanatics, not fit to live.”
* It is a fact worth mentioning, that William 4th, the crowning glory of whose
short reign was, that he had the honor of affixing the royal signature to the Act of
Emancipation, was one of the Lords who, a few years before, dared to speak indig-
nantly and contemptuously of Wilberforce and his fellow laborers.


6
It would do my heart good to tell, and your hearts to
hear, of the revival of this work by Fowell Buxton, in 1823;
and of the clear and strong annunciation by Elizabeth Hey-
rick, of the new doctrine of “Immediate not Gradual Eman-
cipation, the right of the slave and the duty of the master.” She
lived not to witness the quickening influence of her truth-
ful word; but her name will live forever, in the story of re-
deemed humanity. The new view, which she, and a few
other kindred spirits, presented of this subject, seems to
have enkindled afresh all the anti-slavery zeal in the land;
and to have waked up the people to a deep sense of their
guiltiness, in having acquiesced so long in the continued en-
slavement of those, who were in bondage before Clarkson
and Wilberforce accomplished their generous purpose.—
*The people were soon brought to see, and those venerated
philanthropists were among the first to acknowledge, that
all that had been done for bleeding Africa, would be a nul-
lity—that the abolition of the slave trade would be but a
dead letter upon the statute book, unless slavery itself could
be abolished ; for so long as the market for any article of
merchandize be kept open, and a sufficient pecuniary in-
ducement is offered for the supply of that article, so long will
it be furnished, let the risk of the traffic be what it may.
(See Note A.) *
The Anti-slavery Society of London, in 1820, embraced
the doctrine of immediate emancipation. Men of signal abili-
ty were found ready and anxious to go to and fro, pressing
upon the public conscience the sinfulness of holding men
as property, or participating in the gains, or the productions
of those, who regarded and treated fellow men as domesti-
cated brutes. Hundreds of thousands, in the United King-
dom, were brought to pledge themselves to abstain from
the use of the produce of slave labor—and a much larger
number, who did not concur in this particular measure,
united with great heartiness in demanding of Parliament
the immediate abolition of slavery. The women of Eng-
land, Scotland and Ireland were especially active and suc-
cessful, in circulatiug petitions for this boon. And when
women leave the retirement, which they love, and become
É. active in any cause, it is an evidence, which all
istory shows us may not be despised, that the heart of hu-
manity is deeply moved; and is bent upon the j.
achievement, with a determination that will not be baulked.


7
The event of which I am speaking, was a signal illustration
of this fact. The cry for immediate emancipation rang
through the land, and waxed louder and stronger, until the
men who were in power, and the men who would be in
power—the office holders and the office seekers—were
alike compelled to give to it a respectful consideration.
The houses of Parliament were overwhelmed with peti-
tions. These increased in urgency, and in the weight of
numbers, until in 1833, May 14, the leading member of the
House of Commons introduced a bill for the emancipation
of the slaves. That Bill was indeed unjust in its spirit, and
unhappy in some of its prominent provisions—still it went
to the immediate abolition of Slavery. The bill was pass-
ed—and on the 1st of August, 1834, it took effect. On the
morning of this memorable day, the yoke of Slavery was
broken from the necks of more than eight hundred thousand
—who then stood up before the world disenthralled, eman-
cipated—their rights as men recognized, guarantied, se-
cured to them, by the government of the British Empire.
Stood up, did I say? No, they received the boon of freedom
not in the attitude of exultation, but of reverent gratitude.
On their bended knees did they await the coming of the
moment that would make them free. As the loud bell
at midnight tolled the hour, which separated forever the
long ages of slavery that had passed, from the ages to
come of liberty, and increasing light and happiness—“as
the loud bell tolled its first notes, the crowded assembly
prostrated themselves on their knees. All was silent, save
the quivering, half-stifled breath of the struggling spirit.
The slow notes of the clock fell upon the multitude—peal
on peal—peal on peal rolled over the prostrate throng, in
tones of angels' voices, thrilling among the desolate chords
and weary strings of the hearts, that had so long pined in
bondage. Scarce had the clock sounded its last note, when
the lightning of Heaven flashed vividly around, and a loud
peal of thunder roared along the sky; as it were, God’s
pillar of fire, and trump of jubilee A moment of pro-
found silence passed. Then came the burst. They broke
forth into prayer; they shouted, they sung ‘Glory!’ ‘Al-
leluia!’—they clapped their hands, leaped up, fell down,
clasped each other in their free arms, cried, laughed, and
went to and fro, tossing up their unfettered hands. But
high above the whole there was a mighty sound, which ever


S
and anon swelled up; it was the uttering in negro, broken
dialect, of gratitude to God.
“After this gush of excitement had spent itself, the con-
gregation became calm, and the remainder of the night was
occupied in singing and prayer, in reading the Bible, and
in addresses from the missionaries, explaining the nature of
the freedom just received, and exhorting the freed people
to show themselves, in all things, worthy of the high boon
which God had conferred upon them.”
Have you ever witnessed, have you ever heard of a scene
more sublime than this? Do you know of any passage in
the history of the whole race of man, that discloses more of
the best part of human nature ? When I first read this pas-
sage, I was overcome with emotion; and I can never read
it without a beating heart. Gladly would I give the best
volume in my library to any one, who would show me an-
other page in the history of man equal to this.
It would be my choice to spend the rest of the time, I
may occupy on this occasion, in dwelling more at length u
on the history of the event we came here to celebrate—in
showing you how the evil forebodings, of those who were
opposed to emancipation, and the fears of those who favor-
ed it, were all put to shame by the excellent conduct of the
newly freed men. I should prefer merely to narrate to you
the evidences we have of the happy effects of this act of
humanity—of the decrease of poverty and crime in the
West Indies—the increase of public confidence and sense
of security—of the rise in the value of real estate, a sure
index of the prosperity of a community—and of the plans
of individual and social relief and improvement, which have
all followed the emancipation of the enslaved. (See
Note B.)
But alas! our country is still full of unbelievers; and I
must turn from the glowing narration, to argue certain
points with some, to whom all this light, that has sprung up,
seems darkness—to whom all this good seems evil.
What concern have we, there be many that say—what
concern have we with the emancipation in the British West
Indies. It was a national affair. It was effected by instru-
ments, that we cannot use in this country; and your extrav-
agant panegyric upon England for this act, is, by implica-
tion, a reproach of our own nation, which we do not de-
serve. Let English philanthropists applaud their govern-


9
ment for the Act of West India Emancipation, if they can,
while so much terrible wrong remains in the social condi-
tion of their countrymen at home, and in the condition of
the subjects of the British Empire, in other parts of the
world. We may find some things more worthy of our
commendation than this transaction, which, after all that
has been said about it, is of a very mixed character, and
serves rather to illustrate the egregious inconsistency of
England, than to prove her philanthropy. Such is the tone,
in which I often hear the event of the 1st of August spoken
of Be it known to you, fellow citizens, I stand not here
the eulogist of England, as a nation. She is a paragon of
inconsistencies. I know not how to strike the balance, be-
tween her glory and her shame. I would say of her in one
line, what Pope has said of her most distinguished son, Lord
Bacon,-
“The greatest, wisest, meanest of mankind.”
But, whatever may be the guilt of that mighty nation as
a body politic—however crushing may be the weight of her
institutions at home—however grievous her oppressions
abroad—the event we this day celebrate reveals the cheer-
ing fact, that there are true hearted, noble minded philan-
thropists among her people; and that by the power of truth,
entreaty, remonstrance, and other moral means, they have
wrought such a change in the sentiments and feelings of the
people, that the government, unprincipled and corrupt as it
may be, could no longer withstand the righteous demands
of humanity; thus proving that “truth is mighty and will
prevail.”
Now whatever this great instrument of reform has effect-
ed in one part of the world, it may effect in any other
part. Aye, greater, works than this shall it do. It is the
instrument, by which the entire redemption of man is to be
wrought out. Whatever may have been done for the relief
of the suffering in any part, is a cause for congratulation and
rejoicing in every other part of the world—for humanity is
one. The sufferings of men in all parts of the earth flow
from the same, or similar sources. Whatever therefore has
operated, in England or in India, to relieve the oppressed,
to raise up the fallen, may operate to the same beneficent
result, in America, or any where else.
No one, who is at all acquainted with the story of West
B


11
created that public opinion, which will demand the aboli-
tion of Slavery—to Theodore D. Weld, and Charles Bur-
leigh, and Beriah Green, and Judge Jay, and Dr. Chan-
ning, and Dr. Follen, and Henry B. Stanton, and Wendell
Phillips, and others, too numerous to mention, whose elo-
quence and whose logic have convinced the understandings,
and warmed the hearts of thousands against the tremen-
dous wrongs of slavery, to Whittier and Pierpont and
Lowell, who have written those soul-stirring songs of free-
dom, that have found a voice in the Hutchinsons, which
has made the very stones cry out shame upon the oppres-
sors of man—and to Arthur Tappan, and Francis Jackson,
who have poured out their money like water, and periled
their estates, as if they were of no worth in comparison with
human rights—aye, and Gerrit Smith who has so liberally
given his wealth, and his eloquence too, to the cause of the
enslaved; and to William Goodell—the Granville Sharpe
of our country—who by his penetrating researches into the
provisions of our Constitution, and the principles of Com-
mon Law, has prepared the way perhaps for some future
Chief Justice to decree, that “slaves cannot breathe in
America,” any more than in England. To these men, and
women, and to others, as true hearted as they, whom I have
not time to name, and to others still, whom I may not know,
but of whose faithful words, and generous labors in the
cause of the slave, God has been witness—to these, (how-
ever now despised) will the praise be due, for that deliv-
erance, which is to come to the oppressed, down trodden
in our land—although, my word for it, they will not ask
for praise, so the work be done.
We rejoice this day in the act of West India Emancipa-
tion, not because it gives us a formula, by which the great
question of human redemption, in our own country, is to be
solved; but because it increases our faith in the power of
that spirit, and the efficiency of those means, by which the
event we celebrate was mainly brought about. If moral
ower has done so much, we say it may do much more.--
he height and the depth of it have not yet been fathomed.
What we propose to do in this country, is not a more hope-
less task than was the abolition of the slave trade, when
first determined on by Clarkson and Wilberforce; or the
overthrow of Slavery by the later abolitionists of Great


12
Britain. Nay, though the work we have to do be different,
and much more arduous than theirs, we need not despair,
we ought not, for we labor on the vantage ground, gained
by their toils and their sacrifices.
Some of the provisions of the Bill for West India Eman-
cipation, may have been such as we cannot approve. But
we need not thence infer, that the abolition of slavery in
our Republic cannot be accomplished, by such measures as
we do approve. And remember the Apprenticeship Sys-
tem, and the payment of £20,000,000 were not measures
º or approved, by the abolitionists of Great Britain;
ut by the political partizan managers, who always sully
every thing they handle.
The early abandonment of the Apprenticeship System,
by the consent of the planters themselves, is a most emphat-
ic acknowledgement of the truth of the doctrine, on which
we rely, that the abolition of slavery should be not gradual
but immediate and entire. (Note C.)
The payment of twenty millions of pounds sterling, as
the price of liberty, was a compromise of the principle, on
which we demand freedom for man—a dereliction of the
claim of liberty as the inalienable right, the birthright of all
men. It seemed to be a recognition too of the justice of
the claim of properly in human beings, which is the sem-
inal wrong in this whole system of wickedness.
Then the fact that this immense sum was paid out of the
revenue of England, a revenue derived by taxation from
the people, multitudes of whom were already groaning un-
der the load of public burthens, which the pride of Royalty,
the assumption of Nobility, the greediness of accumulation
and the love of military achievement, had already heaped
upon the nation—the fact, I say, that this £20,000,000 was
extorted by tax from the already overloaded people of
Great Britain; seems to make the injustice of the Act of
Parliament the more glaring. This provision, I acknowl-
edge, sullies greatly the moral purity of the act; and I do
not wonder much, that it has led those, who look only at
the surface of this matter, to say, that the event, for which
we give thanks, was after all effected not so much by the
force of truth as by the power of money. -
Fellow citizens, keep in mind, the abolitionists are not
responsible for the way in which the British Government


13
saw fit to do this act of tardy justice to the enslaved. But
to the abolitionists does belong the praise of having so rous-
ed the public sentiment and feeling of England, Scotland
and .. that the government of those United Kingdoms
could no longer withstand their demand to break the yoke
of oppression. To the British Parliament be the shame of
devising the Apprenticeship System. That was not asked
for by the abolitionists. It was suggested by pro-slavery
timidity—not by anti-slavery courage and faith in man.-
To the British Parliament be the shame of having paid
twenty millions of pounds to the oppressors, some of whom
were wealthy members of their own body; instead rather of
paying a much larger sum to the oppressed, if by the pay-
ment of money they could have made any adequate com-
pensation to the enslaved, for the wrongs that had been
done them. To the British Parliament be the shame of
having paid this immense sum of money to the strong, that
they would no longer trample upon the weak; to the rich,
that they might no longer rob the poor. But to the British
eople be the praise of consenting, that so much of their very
life’s blood should be drawn from them, if so be it would
only hasten the bestowment of liberty upon the enslaved.
The only plea, that will stand a moment in justification
of this part of the British Act, cannot be set up in behalf of
a similar measure in our own country. Parliament was
legislating for distant dependencies upon the English Crown,
that were not represented. It was about to enforce a
measure upon them, without their consent—a measure that
might subject them to some pecuniary loss; and therefore it
was urged that compensation ought to be made. This
lea, if it were valid for them, would not be for us. We
#. no central government, which has the power to eman-
cipate the slaves throughout the land. Our Congress can
do some things towards this result; and ought to be urged
to do them, with untiring importunity. But it cannot abol-
ish slavery throughout the land. This can be done only by
the legislatures of the several states. It will not therefore
be done, until majorities of the people in the several states
have been brought to demand it; and this they will not do,
until they have come to see the tremendous wickedness of
holding men in slavery. And then probably they will no


1S
living as they might. Should we not respect them all the
more, for showing this respect for themselves, and their
rights. I, for one, am thankful, that they will not work for
such wages as men grown old in slaveholding may think
enough for them. And I rejoice that such is the climate of
the West Indies, and so abundant the spontaneous produc-
tions of the soil, that they can live, in tolerable comfort,
without selling themselves for a piece of bread. Would to
God, that the poor people in the cities of our own country
could as easily escape from those extortioners among us,
who are willing to fatten upon their life's blood—to get rich
by paying wages, that are not half enough to supply the
wants of our mere animal nature. I rejoice that the soil
and climate of Jamaica are such as to encourage the freed-
men, and that their spirit is such as to prompt them, to leave
the plantations untilled, rather than work for men, who
would oppress them still. This fact increases my confi-
dence in them all the more, my assurance that they have
feelings, which become them as men. And when I am told
that the amount of produce, raised on the Island, is more-
over greatly lessened by the unwillingness of many of the
freed-men to have their wives and daughters labor in the
fields, preferring that they should live more like other fe-
males, I could clap my hands for joy at this evidence of
their hamanity. I should not grieve if there were never
another hogshead of sugar exported from the Island, if I
could only know, that the long oppressed laborers of Jamai-
ca were coming to taste more and more of the sweets of do-
mestic life; and were seeking individual and social, intellec-
tual and moral improvement, rather than riches for them-
selves or others. I am such an ultraist as to believe, that
there are some things much better for men, for all men, than
riches—than “gold, aye, than much fine gold.”
My hearers, I have inquired into these complaints, which
have come to us through certain channels from the West
Indies. If any of you will take one tithe of the pains, that
I have, to inform yourselves, you will know that what I say
is true. If the planters would pay fair wages, there would
Le ..ttle reluctance on the part of the freed-men to labor for
them. And if they will not, I hope their lands may be al-
lowed to return to the wilderness.
Let the representations of the state of things in the West


19 >
Indies, be what they may ; let the worst representation, that
has been given, be true; one thing we know, that the eight
hundred thousands, who once were slaves there, are slaves
no more. This fact alone should be enough to fill our
hearts with joy unspeakable. Were the love of liberty
alive in our land, were not the people of the south drunk
with the blood of their victims, and the people of the north
besotted with the lust of gain, the fact that eight hundred
thousand slaves have been set free, would raise a shout of
thanksgiving throughout our borders. Deliverance from
bondage is the first thing to be done for the redemption of
the enslaved. Enslavement is an insuperable barrier to hu-
man improvement. When this barrier is effectually broken
down, then, and not till then, are the golden gates thrown
open to endless progress in knowledge and virtue. This
barrier is broken down in the British West Indies. Halle-
lujah! praise ye the Lord for that! And if it must take
generations, to recover the freed-men from the deterioration
wrought by slavery, we will thank God all the more, that
the commencement of their recovery has been no longer de-
layed. We rejoice that they are free; that they are ac-
counted men; that their rights are to be henceforth protected
by the British arm. We need no prophetic foresight to as-
sure us, that this is the dawn of their better day.
We rejoice this day for all the oppressed throughout the
British Realm. Millions of the subjects of Great Britain
are groaning under burdens, too grievous to be borne. All
the laboring classes in England are cruelly oppressed. The
people of Ireland are peeled and scathed by the avarice of
their masters. Countless thousands in Hindoostan are
trodden under foot. Surely the British philanthropists will
persevere in the good work they have begun. The moral
energy, the faith, which have achieved emancipation in the
West Indies, cannot, will not slumber until justice and mer-
cy are shown to all the subjects of that Empire, upon whose
possessions the sun never sets.
We rejoice in anticipation of the effect, which the aboli-
tion of slavery in the West Indies must produce upon our
own country. No doubt there are many in this land, who
delight in the possession of absolute power; who boast of
the shame of living upon the unpaid labor of the poor. Yet
there are, I doubt not, a large number of persons, who with-


21
how to labor to the best advantage. But it may not be denied, that much was gain-
ed to the cause of humanity, when the British Parliament, and the American Con-
gress were brought to denounce the Slave Trade as piracy.
The endeavors of the British Government to enforce this prohibition, have been
on the whole, commendable, especially since 1834. But the duplicity of our Gov-
ernment has, in a great measure, thwarted those endeavors. See Dr. Madden's
Letter to Dr. Channing, and Fowell Buxton's work on the Slave Trade. Although
my bosom is hot with indignation, I wish to use no stronger language than I find in
a recent number of the “Onondaga Standard,” taken from the “Rochester Daily
Advertiser”—both of them democratic papers. “It was contemplated that the
Slave Trade should be prohibited after 1808. It has indeed been made piracy; but
the law has ever been evaded; and our government, under the influence of slave-
holders' dictation, has hitherto virtually connived at its continuance, by insisting on
the exemption from visitation and search, of all vessels carrying the flag of the Un-
ion. What wrong was ever done, or likely to be done, by an examination simply to
ascertain whether our flag was not fraudulently assumed to cover piracy and rob-
bing 7"
I rejoice to learn, from a correspondent of the N. Y. Evangelist, writing from Bra-
zil, that the Hon. Mr. Wise, the American Minister there, has been vigorously pros-
ecuting an investigation into this infamous business. Mr. Wise says in his official
communication to the Secretary of State—“Documents herewith transmitted will
show the nature, connections, and extent of the African Slave Trade as it is, and has
for some time been, unblushingly carried on by our citizens under our flag. It has
grown so bold and so bad, as no longer to wear a mask, even to those who reside
here, and who are at all acquainted with the trade between Brazil and Africa.” And
we are told, by the above correspondent, that Mr. Wise has expressed the opinion,
“that if the peºple of the United States knew the extent to which this worst of pi-
racies is conducted under their flag, and by vessels launched and owned in their free,
northern waters, a law would be passed at the very next session of Congress, for-
bidding all trade with the coast of Africa,” because the vessels, which go upon that
coast, are sure to be engaged directly or indirectly in the slave trade.
NOTE. B.
RESULT OF EMANCIPATION.
Many conflicting statements have been made, in relation to the effect
which emancipation has produced upon the character and condition,
both moral and physical, of the blacks in the English West India Isl-
ands. In a debate had in the English House of Commons, in 1842,
Lord Stanley made the following statement, on which, it seems to me,
full reliance may be placed.
“That the emancipation of the negro population of the West Indies had, in the
benefits which were derived from it, exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the
most ardent advocates of the measure. In every one of the islands, the physical
condition and prosperity of the laboring classes had reached to an extent far greater
than had been anticipated; and what was still more gratifying, the improvement in
their physical condition was accompanied by a corresponding improvement in their
social and moral habits. Religious instruction had produced its anticipated effects,


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