{"collection":"philosophy-ethics","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_69090/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_69090","id":"gutenberg_69090","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/69090","summary":null,"tags":["Category: History - British","Category: History - Modern (1750+)","Category: Philosophy & Ethics","Category: Politics","Slave trade -- Early works to 1800"],"text":"TRANSCRIBER\u2019S NOTE\n\n  Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.\n\n  The original text used the character \u017f (long-form s); these have been\n  replaced by the normal s in this etext.\n\n  There is only one Footnote and this has been placed at the end of the\n  book.\n\n  Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.\n\n\n\n\n                                   A\n\n                               DISSUASION\n\n                                FROM THE\n\n                              SLAVE TRADE.\n\n\n\n\n                                   A\n\n                               DISSUASION\n\n                                   TO\n\n                             GREAT-BRITAIN\n\n                                AND THE\n\n                               COLONIES,\n\n                                FROM THE\n\n                         SLAVE TRADE TO AFRICA.\n\n                                SHEWING,\n\nThe Contradiction this Trade bears, both to Laws divine and provincial;\nthe Disadvantages arising from it, and Advantages from abolishing it,\nboth to EUROPE and AFRICA, particularly to BRITAIN and the Plantations.\n\n                             ALSO SHEWING,\n\n             How to put this Trade to AFRICA on a just and\n                            lawful Footing.\n\n                             By JAMES SWAN,\n\n              A Native of GREAT-BRITAIN, and Friend to the\n                       Welfare of this CONTINENT.\n\n\n                              BOSTON: NE.\n\n        Printed by E. RUSSELL, near the New Intelligence-Office\n               and Auction-room, and next the Cornfield,\n                             Union-street.\n\n\n\n\nTHE\n\nDEDICATION.\n\n\nTo all FRIENDS to LIBERTY.\n\n  FELLOW SUBJECTS,\n\nIt is to you I dedicate this Treatise, and beg your protection of the\nsame, hoping it will meet with a kind reception.\n\nThe approbation men of character and sense have given the following\nWork, has made me venture it into your hands: And I hope in the perusal\nyou will keep in view the Author, I am certain you cannot then fail\nof making great allowances. I am a _North-Briton_! And when you know\nthat, it alone may be judged by some, sufficient to brand me with the\nhateful name of _Tory_, and thereby condemn this Dissuasion. But let\nme inform you (for there is no general rule without an exception) that\nI am a most sincere well-wisher to the common cause of _Liberty_, both\n_personal_ and _constitutional_; then you will, give me a place in the\nlist of your staunch Friends, and accept of this Attempt, as intended\nto be a mean of abolishing one great part of _Slavery_ here.\n\nIf there is any merit in endeavouring to set free from _Bondage_ our\nfellow creatures, and in trying to promote the good and welfare of any\nnation, province, country, or individual, surely I may claim it; for\nmy sincere endeavour is to these purposes: And if I should happen to\nmiss my aim, I shall sit down satisfied with the merit of a good intent.\n\nReaders, I have but one favour to ask of you, which is, to peruse\nthis Performance with an open unbiassed mind; overlooking any defects\nyou may observe in these sheets, knowing they are the hasty and\nundigested thoughts of the Author, put together with more good intent\nthan ability; after this you may either reject or practise, according\nto your own consciences, and the light of this Treatise, if there\nis any to be found in it. _Enslaving_ your fellow men, and using\nand massacring them as they do in the _West-Indies_ and Southern\nProvinces, is a matter of too great importance to be only slightly\nthought of. And as I hope you have the _humanity_ of _Britons_, and\nthat _love of Liberty_, with which every true _Englishman_ is, or ought\nto be possessed of, you will not countenance it, but declare yourselves\nas I do, _well-wishers of the British Empire, and consequently enemies\nto_ Slavery.\n\nAccept then, Friends and Brethren in one common cause, this small token\nof that love and veneration which I bear to freedom, (for no country\ncan be called free where there is one Slave) and give me leave to\nsubscribe myself,\n\n                                                         Your Friend and\n                                                         humble Servant,\n\n                                                             JAMES SWAN.\n\n\n\n\nTHE\n\nPREFACE.\n\n\nI had not well arrived in _America_, when casting my eyes on so many\nBlack Slaves, I immediately found a warm inclination arise in my\nbreast, to do my endeavours for relieving them by publishing to the\nworld my sentiments upon their state.\n\nScarce had I time to draw a breath of this air, before I immediately\napplied myself to enquire into the state of this _Slavery_, and the\nconstitution upon which it is founded, and having met with proper\npreliminaries by way of foundation for a small Treatise, I set myself\nto work in forming, and in short finished this Pamphlet.\n\nFrom the consideration of the smallness of this production, and my\ninability to treat the subject properly, I was nigh resolving not\nto prefix my name hereto: But thinking again, some opposite party\nmight take hold of that, I thought it most proper to shew my common\nsignature, knowing the cause I defend is good and well founded.\n\nSome will no doubt be surprised that I have wrote this Dissuasion after\nthe form of a Sermon: It is easily accounted for. A Sermon being _a\ndiscourse of instruction pronounced by a Divine for the edification\nof the people_. I am no Divine nor ever expect to be; but I hope that\nis no reason why these sheets should not be of publick benefit, as my\ndesign was for that end; I chose to write it in this form, as being the\ntruest way to display with perspicuity and plainness the unlawfulness,\n_&c._ of the Slave Trade, for which purpose I have attempted it in\ndifferent heads and branches, in some of which are contained many\npertinent remarks or observations on this inhuman Commerce; and I\nthought further, it was the easiest method for myself, and plainest for\nmy Readers; it being intended for the weakest and highest capacities.\n\nIt may be objected by some, that the writings on this subject are too\nnumerous already. I answer, that however many there may be extant,\n(although I could find but very few) yet there are none so full as not\nto admit of amendments or improvements: If so, and that these may not\naltogether be of inconsiderable use to mankind, why may not I make\nthem? and why may they not be transmitted to mankind?\n\nA Treatise of this kind may not be unnecessary, notwithstanding many\nBooks, Pamphlets, and Letters have been published on the subject.\n\nBut however ineffectual this Treatise may prove hereafter among men,\nthis I comfort myself with, it is as full, considering the largeness,\nas any upon the subject which I have seen; and there are few arguments\nthat possibly could be advanced, or citations drawn from Scripture\nconcerning man-selling, _&c._ that have escaped, in trying to wean men\nfrom this base and inhuman trade. And in fine, if this Work meets with\nencouragement equal to the Author\u2019s care and endeavours to make it the\nmost useful of the kind, by having the desired effect he shall esteem\nhimself sufficiently rewarded.\n\nWith regard to the Dissuasion, I leave the Reader to judge, after\nhaving read it over cooly and impartially, whether it ought to be\napproved or disapproved; if the former, it will no doubt meet with his\nprotection in publick. But I have something to ask, which I beg may not\nbe refused, and that is, if you have not a fund of patience laid up\nin store, before you begin to peruse it, you are requested to lay it\naside, until you have.\n\nThere is one small part of it taken from _Postlethwayt_\u2019s Dictionary\nof Commerce. Another part from _A. Benezett_\u2019s Caution to\n_Great-Britain_ and her Colonies, both which Authors I am very glad\nwere born before me, they having assisted me so far. And with regard to\nthe remaining part, I can tell where it came from.\n\nAs it is necessary in order to bring about a change in any,\nparticularly a publick affair, to touch the minds of the people with\na just and true sense of the unlawfulness of the thing wanted to be\nremoved, that to the end they may be unanimous in the abolishment\nthereof; this Dissuasion I am convinced you will find upon perusal, is\ncalculated for that purpose, and am very sensible, that it alone never\ncan strike the great blow without the legislative force added to it.\n\nI will detain you no longer; indeed I have almost run into an\nIntroduction amidst this Preface: But it could not well be otherwise,\nthe connexion between them was so great, and had I separated them, I\nshould have incurred your displeasure, by increasing the Prolegomenas\nto a degree larger than the Dissuasion itself.\n\n                                                                   J. S.\n\n\n\n\nA\n\nDISSUASION, _&c._\n\n\nThe subject of which these few sheets treat, would have been one of\nthe last I should have ventured upon; had not the delusion of the men\nwho are concerned in enslaving the people called _Negroes_ appeared\nso glaring, and the contradiction that the _Slave Trade_ bears to\nChristianity, prompted me to it.\n\nI shall be as cool and impartial in treating of this matter, as\nany British subject or Christian can: But why do I say cool? It is\nimpossible I should speak cooly of such base, unchristian, and inhuman\npractices, in a land of Liberty and Christianity: However, in case\nany thing should be mentioned in the sequel that may give unintended\noffence to any person, I hope the tender feelings for these distressed\nCaptives, with which I am possessed, and the warmth that is in my\nbreast, to have this Trade abolished, will be sufficient excuse.\n\nI propose dividing the following Treatise into these different heads.\n\nI. Shew, that this custom of making Slaves of our fellow-men, is\nexpressly against the revealed laws of God.\n\nII. That it is likewise against the law of nature, and the Charter of\nthis Province.\n\nIII. The disadvantages arising from this base Trade.\n\nIV. The advantages arising from abolishing it. And,\n\nV. Conclude with a short admonition to those concerned, and a method to\nput the Trade to _Africa_ on a just and lawful footing.\n\nThe first head was, That the custom of making Slaves of our fellow\ncreatures, is expressly against the revealed laws of GOD. And in\ntreating of this part, I shall divide it into the following branches.\n1st. By the laws of GOD, _He that stealeth and selleth a man, shall\nbe put to death_. 2d. _He in whose hands he shall be found, shall be\nput to death_, by the same laws. 3d. _He that buyeth a Servant and\nserveth him six years, shall set him free the seventh, and furnish him\nliberally with what he hath._ And 4th. _If thy Brother_, that is, your\nfellow-creature, _be sold unto thee, thou shall not compel him to\nserve as a Bond-man; but as an hired Servant_.\n\nThe first branch under this head is, _He that stealeth and selleth\na man, shall be put to death_. This is one of the most express laws\nof _Moses_, as you may see in _Exod._ xxi. 16, two first, and last\nclauses of the verse, there mentioned in the most peremptory words;\n_And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, shall surely be put\nto death._ It certainly can be looked upon in no other light in the\nMerchants and Ship-masters who are in this Trade to _Africa_, than\nstealing of men, being accessary to, and aiding in inciting them\nto war one with another, and for this purpose, supplying them with\nprodigious quantities of arms and ammunition, whereby they are hurried\ninto confusion, bloodshed, and all the extremities of temporal misery,\nwhich must consequently beget in their minds such a general detestation\nand scorn of the Christian name, as may deeply affect, if not wholly\npreclude, their belief of the great truths of our holy religion. Thus\nan insatiable desire of gain prevails with their Kings, who, instead of\nbeing protectors of their people, for this alluring bait laid before\nthem, by the _European_ and _American_ Factors, or Ship-masters, invade\nthe Liberties of these unhappy people, and occasion their oppression.\nThese Kings, whenever they want goods send to the Ship-masters,\nacquainting them they have Negroes, and sometimes the Factors and\nShip-masters send to acquaint them, that they have a quantity of goods,\nand want Slaves for the same. These Chiefs, whether they have Slaves\nthen or not, agree, and immediately go to war with their neighbours,\nand in procuring three or four hundred prisoners, burn five or six\ntowns, as appears by the following extract from a Surgeon\u2019s Journal in\na _Liverpool_ vessel.\n\n                                            _Sestro, December 29, 1724._\n\n\u201cNo trade to-day, though many Traders came on board; they inform us,\nthat the people are gone to war within land, and will bring prisoners\nenough in two or three days; in hopes of which we stay.\n\n\u201c30th. No trade yet; but our Traders came on board to-day and informed\nus the people had burnt four towns, so that to-morrow we expect Slaves\noff.\n\n\u201c31st. Fair weather, but no trade yet; we see each night towns\nburning, but we hear the _Sestro_ men are many of them killed by the\ninland Negroes, so that we fear this war will be unsuccessful.\n\n\u201cThe 2d of _January_. Last night we saw a prodigious fire break out\nabout eleven o\u2019clock, and this morning saw the town of _Sestro_ burnt\ndown to the ground, (it contained some hundred houses) so that we find\ntheir enemies are too hard for them at present; consequently our trade\nspoiled here, so that about seven o\u2019clock we weighed anchor, as did\nalso the three other vessels, to proceed lower down.\u201d\n\nHere follows another relation taken from an original Journal of a\nSurgeon who sailed out of _New-York_, \u201cBeing on the Coast of _Guinea_\nat a place called _Basalia_, the Commander of the vessel, according to\ncustom, sent a person on shore, with a present to the King, acquainting\nhim with his arrival, and informing him they wanted a cargo of Slaves.\nThe King promised to furnish them, and in order to do it, set out to\nwar against his enemies; designing also to surprise some town, and\ntake all the people prisoners: Some time after, the King sent them\nword, he had not yet met with the desired success, having been twice\nrepulsed in attempting to break up two towns; but that he still hoped\nto procure a number of Slaves for them, and in this design persisted,\nuntil he met his enemies in the field, where a battle was fought, which\nlasted three days, during which time, the engagement was so bloody that\nfour thousand five hundred men were slain on the spot. Think (says\nhe) what a pitiful sight it was to see the Widows weeping over their\nlost Husbands, Orphans deploring the loss of their Fathers, _&c._\u201d Oh!\nshocking spectacles! to see four or five towns burnt, and four thousand\nfive hundred people killed, for the sake of taking three or four\nhundred, and you! you! Merchants, Ship-masters and Factors the cause\nof it all! Think you ever to get the crime of spilling so much blood\nrepented of?\n\nIt is a known custom among the Factors who reside in _Africa_, and the\nShip-masters who trade there, to corrupt many Negroes on the sea coast,\nwho stop at no act of cruelty for gain. They make it a practice, to\nsteal abundance of little Blacks of both sexes, when found on the\nroads, or in the fields, where their Parents keep them all day to watch\nthe corn, _&c._ Can it be denied that the _Africans_ are _stolen_\nafter so many proofs of it, and if it is not direct stealth in the\nShip-masters, _&c._ yet it is the same in effect; for if they did not\ngo there and entice the Chiefs with money or goods, there would be no\nwars, as is the case at present; and there would be none stolen if\nthe stealers were not bribed by the Factors or Ship-masters; and not\nonly those that are made Slaves of, there would still be ten thousand\nothers who are killed in the broils, that would be saved, were they to\ndiscontinue this base Trade.\n\nThus far I have shewn that they are stolen. They may say they pay for\nthem. I answer, they give money or goods by way of price to some of the\nPrinces and Negroes, who, for the sake of lucre, take them prisoners by\nwar or stealth, so that what money they give these scoundrels, (forgive\nme the expression; for, what name can a man expect who would take his\nFather or Brother and sell then for gain?) who take them in these\nways cannot be looked upon as a price paid in lieu, for the Negroes\nthemselves never condescend to be mancipated, as they get none of the\nmoney that is pretendedly given for them. They at length arrive at the\nport, the Ship-master sell them at a most exorbitant profit, and in a\nfew voyages he makes what he calls his fortune; this is all he aimed\nat and wished for; and what follows, secures his eternal destruction,\nunless timely repented of: For the truth of this, I could mention very\nstriking instances of men, who I see almost every day; but I do not\nchuse mentioning names, for fear of seeing them contemned and despised\nby every well thinking person.\n\nI need add no more on this branch, it being clear that they are stolen\nin every sense it can be taken; they, the Ship-masters, _&c._ being\nthe sole cause of the many wars and broils that are amongst the Negro\nPrinces and Chiefs, consequently the cause of these poor creatures\nbeing taken and made Slaves of, and of the many thousands that are\nkilled in the wars: Besides, it is not, nor can be denied that they\nsell them, so that they who practise this branch of Man-stealing and\nselling can expect nothing but the penalties of GOD\u2019s laws, which he,\nin his own time, will inflict, since man! indolent man! will not punish\nthem with death, as warranted sufficiently by the above cited passage\nin holy writ.\n\nBefore I leave this branch it may not be improper to give my Readers\na short sketch of the barbarous usage these unhappy people meet with\nfrom the Ship-masters in their passage from _Africa_. After they\nhave got them on board shackled two and two together, they keep them\nconfined below all the passage, never permitting more than two on deck\nat a time to take one breath of fresh air, the most common blessing we\nenjoy, conscious that they are doing wrong to these people, and not\ncertain but GOD might raise them against the Ship-master and his crew,\nif they had the least opportunity to stir up an insurrection in the\nship, to retrieve their Liberty which they had in their own country,\nand which they ought to enjoy by the laws of GOD, of _Britain_, and the\nPlantations.\n\nFor the Reader\u2019s true satisfaction as to this inhuman and unchristian\nusage, which could be expected of no other than Barbarians, I shall\nhere narrate some accounts which have been given by men concerned in\nthe Slave Trade.\n\nFirst, the following case is mentioned in _Astley_\u2019s Collection\nof Voyages, by _John Atkins_, Surgeon on board Admiral _Ogle_\u2019s\nsquadron, \u201cOf one _Harding_, Master of a vessel, in which several of\nthe Men-slaves and a Woman-slave had attempted to rise in order to\nrecover their Liberty; some of whom the Master of his own authority\nsentenced to cruel deaths, making them first eat the hearts and liver\nof one of those he killed. The woman he hoisted by the thumbs, whiped,\nand slashed with knives before other Slaves, until she died.\u201d Oh\nunparralelled cruelty!\n\nNext is an account given by a Ship-master who brought a Cargo of\nSlaves to _Barbadoes_, upon an enquiry what had been the success of\nthe voyage, he answered, \u201cThat he had found it a difficult matter to\nset the Negroes a fighting with each other in order to procure the\nnumber he wanted.\u201d This shews, Reader, what methods they practise to\nobtain these Slaves, _by setting them a fighting with each other_. \u201cBut\nwhen he had obtained his end, having filled his vessel with Slaves, a\nnew difficulty arose from their refusal to take food: Those desperate\ncreatures chusing rather to die with hunger than to be carried from\ntheir native country.\u201d Upon a further enquiry how he got them to forego\nthis desperate resolution, he answered, \u201cThat he obliged all the\nNegroes to come on deck, where they persisting in their resolution of\nnot taking food, he caused his sailors to lay hold on one of the most\nobstinate, who chopped the poor creature into small pieces, forcing\nsome of the others to eat a part of the mangled body; swearing to\nthe survivors, that he would use them all one after the other in the\nsame manner if they did not consent to eat.\u201d This horrid execution he\napplauded as a good act, it having had the desired effect in causing\nthem to take food.\n\nAs detestable and shocking as these usages to the poor Negroes may\nappear to such whose hearts are not yet hardened by the practise of\nthat cruelty which the love of wealth by degrees introduceth into the\nhuman mind, it will not be strange to those who have been concerned or\nemployed in the Trade.\n\nThe second branch was, _If he be found in his hands, he surely shall\nbe put to death_. This is the third and fourth clause of the before\ncited verse in _Exod._ _If he be found in his hands_. This is to be\nunderstood in two senses, either found in the Ship-master\u2019s hands\nwho stole him, or bought, as he says, or in the person\u2019s hands who\npurchases him. As to the first of these senses in which this passage\nmay be taken, if the laws of GOD, yea, even of man, were to be put into\nexecution, he, the stealer, or even the buyer, would be punished with\ndeath, for it is clear as to Man-stealing, that it deserves death,\nby the above passage of Scripture, and it is no less with regard to\nbuying: But why do I say buying? For no money can be equal to the\nworth of a man: Buying, I admit that word because Ship-masters and\nothers in this Trade, say, for their justification that they purchased\nthe Negroes, but as there are no laws, either of GOD or man, for the\nbuying and stealing of _Africans_, I am inclined to think it cannot\nbe supposed, but they justly deserve death. And in the second sense,\nthe man who buys the _Africans_ or Negroes is full as culpable as the\nstealer, and liable to the same punishment, for Scripture does not\npoint out particularly either of them, but only just, _If he be found\nin his hands_, that is, in any man\u2019s hands, so that it can be proved he\nstole or bought him, _he surely shall be put to death_.\n\nThe third part was, _He that buyeth a Servant and serveth him six\nyears, shall set him free the seventh, and furnish him liberally\nwith what he hath_. The first part of this branch is proved in three\ndifferent texts, _viz._ _Exod._ xxi. 2. _Deut._ xv. 12. and _Jer._\nxxxiv. 14. In all which parts it is expressly mentioned, _That if an_\nHebrew _Servant be sold unto thee_, or if you buy him he _shall serve\nthee six years, and the seventh, thou shall let him go free from thee_,\nthat is, he shall pay nothing for his Liberty.\n\nSome persons for argument sake may object to this, saying, these\npeople are not _Hebrews_, as mentioned in these texts of Scripture,\nbut _Heathens_. This may be difficult enough to determine. However,\nadmit they are _Heathens_, (although it is well known they are not)\nit must be owned by those who know them, that the natives of _Africa_\nhave exalted notions of a Deity. It is an odd method these Traders\ntake to civilize and teach them the Christian religion, by importing\none hundred thousand of them yearly into _Virginia_ and other Southern\nProvinces, together with the _West-India_ islands, where they are kept\nin greater darkness than before, as they are not allowed to worship\nGOD on the Sabbath; but are employed in worldly business on that day,\nwhich is a scandal to the Rulers of the _British_ Colonies and Islands\nwhere such things are practised. It is subversive of the Christian\nreligion not to allow those ignorant people the benefit of it, who\nmake up more than two thirds of the inhabitants of the beforementioned\nplaces. It is expressly against the laws of GOD; for he gave _Paul_ and\nother Apostles commission to go and preach the gospel to every nation,\nkindred, and tongue; but instead of that, where the gospel is preached\nthroughout the _British_ Colonies, and where these people might expect\nto receive the light of it; I say, instead of that, they are kept from\ndivine worship on Sundays, and never once in their lifetime admitted to\nchurch, but obliged to cultivate their small piece of ground allowed\nthem by their Masters.\n\nThe last part of the verse runs thus, _And shall furnish him liberally\nwith what he hath._ That is, when the Servant hath served thee six\nyears, as expressed in _Exod._ xxi. 2, and _Deut._ xv. 12. _Then in the\nseventh year you shall let him go free from you_; and in ver. 13. _Thou\nshall not let him go away empty._ Ver. 14. _Thou shall furnish him\nliberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy wine\npress; of that wherewith the_ LORD _thy_ GOD _hath blessed thee, thou\nshalt give him. This is in token that thou dost acknowledge the benefit\nthat thou hast received by his labours._ Marg. Bible.\n\nIt is still further required to set your Servants or Bond-men free at\nthe above appointed time, by the 15th verse of the same chap. _And thou\nshalt remember that thou wast a Bond-man in the land of_ Egypt, _and\nthe_ LORD _thy_ GOD _redeemed thee; therefore I command thee this thing\nto-day. I command thee._ You are ordered, yea, commanded to do _this\nthing_. What thing? To set free your Bond-servants after six years\nservice. You are commanded to do it _to-day_, _viz._ At the expiration\nof six years, for, says GOD, by the voice of his Servant, _I command\nthee this thing to-day_.\n\nThere is a blessing promised to those who do this thing in ver. 18 of\nthe above chap. After enjoining that it may not seem hard unto you in\nsending away this Servant, as he hath been worth a double hired one,\nin serving thee six years, he says, _and the_ LORD _thy_ GOD _shall\nbless thee in all that thou doest_. Sweet encouragement for poor sinful\nsouls! To be blessed in every thing that they do. What man will forfeit\nthis great blessing for the sake of the service of one, two, or more\nServants for life? Will he allow himself to be cursed by GOD in every\nthing that he doeth for the small gain he can make by their services?\nThis charming promise of a blessing in all that thou doest, and the\ndreadful events that may take place in contradicting the command of\nGOD, I hope will make such impressions upon the minds of men, that they\nwill not bind Servant to serve above six years; but will set him at\nliberty in the seventh year, and give him liberally of what the LORD\nhath blessed them with, as required in the above cited text. If you\nthink you have not enough of this, pass along to\n\nThe fourth and last section on this head, _If thy Brother be sold\nunto thee, thou shall not compel him to serve as a Bond-man; but as\nan hired Servant_. This is proved by _Lev._ xxv. 39, 40. where it is\nsaid, _If thy Brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be\nsold unto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a Bond-servant._\nThis is expressly against making Slaves of any of our poor Brethren,\nor compeling them to serve as Bond-servants. _If thy Brother that\ndwelleth by thee be waxen poor_, are the words of the verse; the poor\n_Africans_ who fall into the hands of the Men-wolves that prowl on\ntheir coasts, are obliged to serve their lifetime, and their children\nafter them: This is being Bond-men with a witness, and as we have great\nreason to believe they are poor enough when they steal them, they are\nkept so forever after, not having means to make a penny themselves. The\n_Africans_ will be understood, if not primarily intended, to be the\npeople mentioned in this text! It is said, _Thy Brother who dwelleth\nby thee_: When they are in _Africa_ it is certain they are at a great\ndistance; but when they come to _America_ or the _West-Indies_ they\nthen dwell _by us_; therefore I think, from the above citations, no\nperson can buy these people, and oblige them and their children to\nserve as Slaves, without incuring the displeasure of GOD and his\npunishments for disobeying his just commands.\n\nIt may be added, as in v. 42d of the same chap. _For they are my\nservants, which I brought forth out of_ Egypt; _they shall not be\nsold as Bond-men_. The last part of this verse is expressly against\n_selling_ them as Bond-men. Should it be objected, that the _Africans_\nwere not _brought forth out of the land of_ Egypt, it would not affect\nthe controversy. I would sincerely advise every man who is in this\nabominable Trade not to persist in it, seeing the many threats and\ncommands against him in GOD\u2019s laws, and the blessings that are promised\nif he does not.\n\nThe IId General Head proposed, is, That this practice of making Slaves\nof our Brethren is likewise against the law of nature, and the Charter\nof this Province. The first part of this head, may be easily proved\nby the following texts of Scripture; _Matt._ vii. 12. _Therefore all\nthings whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to\nthem._ _Luke_ vi. 31. _And as you would that men should do to you, do\nye so to them likewise._ Who is that proud one that will not receive\nthese instructions? And who is that man that will do unto any person,\neither white or black, Christian or Savage, contrary to what he would\nthat he should do to him? This would be acting contrary to reason and\ncommon sense. Would any person consent to have himself torn from his\nfriends and native country, and be made a Slave for life, and to\nhave his dear, dear little children continue in the same condition\nfrom one generation to another? No; surely no person would agree to\nthat. Well then, it certainly must be contrary to the laws of nature,\nchristianity, and subversive of the texts just quoted, which were\nwrote for our direction and guidance in this world. It is likewise\ncertain, that those who carry on this Trade, do not unto men as they\nwould men should do to them; for if these poor people which they, the\nShip-masters take from their own Country and then sell for Slaves, were\ndoing to them as they are done to, they would (were it in their power,\nwhich seldom is the case, the owners being conscious of the wrong they\nare doing, and dreading what naturally would follow) revenge the injury\nthey receive in being made Slaves, and resume that Liberty again, which\nwas wrongfully taken from them; I say, they would often revenge the\ninjury offered them by killing the Captain of the ship who had taken\nthem to be mancipated for life, and would serve in the same manner the\nOwners of the vessel if they could get them, who are no better than the\nMasters, in putting them into such employ. Who could find fault with\nthem? No person. They were only retrieving the most common blessing we\nenjoy, Liberty, and instead of being punished, the law would protect\nthem in so noble an action. But,\n\nReaders, before I leave this, let me beg you to \u201cbring the matter\nhome to yourselves, and think whether any condition in life can be\nmore completely miserable than that of those distressed Captives. On\nreflecting, that each of them had some tender attachments which were\nbroke by the cruel separation! Some Parent or Wife who had not an\nopportunity of mingling tears in a parting embrace! Perhaps some Infant\nor aged Parent whom his labour was to feed, and vigilance protect! and\nhimself under the dreadful apprehensions of perpetual Slavery.\u201d\n\nTo inforce this part of the head, allow me, Reader, to intrude a little\nupon your time, by giving you a short account of the barbarous usage\nthese poor Negroes meet with from their Masters in the _West-Indies_\nand Southern Provinces of _North-America_; on reading of which, you\nwill not be long in concluding, that they do not in this case observe\nthe golden rule.\n\nThe crimes attending the Slave Trade are greatly aggravated by the\nextreme cruel usage the Negroes meet with in the Plantations, as well\nwith regard to food and cloathing as the hard and unreasonable labour\nthat is exacted from them, and what cannot be forgot, the severe\nchastisements they frequently suffer, which is bounded by the wrath\nand pleasure of their hard task-masters. 1st. As to their food. In\n_Barbadoes, &c._[1] \u201cthree quarts of corn and three herrings are a\nweeks allowance for a working Slave; and it is mentioned in the System\nof Geography, that in _Jamaica_ the Owners of the Negro Slaves set\naside for each, a piece of ground, and allow them Sundays to cultivate\nit, the produce of which with a few salt herrings or other salt fish\nis all that is allowed for their support. But need I go so far as\n_Jamaica_ to prove this? No. In _Virginia_ they do the same. 2d. As to\ntheir cloathing. In the Islands, the allowance for a Slave\u2019s cloathing\nis seldom more than six yards of oznabrigs a year, and in the Southern\nColonies, where the piercing westerly winds are long and sensibly felt,\nthese poor _Africans_ suffer much for the want of sufficient cloathing;\nindeed, shocking to relate! some of them are obliged to work most of\nthe night in boiling-houses, notwithstanding the hard days work they\nhave performed. Their Owners make great gain by their Slaves\u2019 labour.\nThey lay heavy burdens on them, and yet feed and cloath them very\nsparingly, and some scarcely at all; so that it cannot be wondered that\nthese poor creatures are obliged to shift for their living as they do,\nwhich occasions many of them being killed in stealing potatoes or other\nfood to satisfy hunger. If they are detected in taking any thing from\nthe plantation they belong to, which they have so hardly laboured for,\nthey are cruely whiped.\u201d Lastly. With respect to the beating which\nthese poor people meet with in the _West-Indies_. For the least fault\nthey whip them most unmercifully, _viz._ for not being at work in half\nan hour after the usual notice; speaking a word which the Overseer may\nthink saucy; not shewing respect enough to him; not doing with agility\nsome hard piece of work ordered them; and any thing which the Overseer\nmay take exception at. They beat them with thick clubs, and you may see\ntheir bodies all whaled in a terrible manner.\n\nMr. _George Whitefield_ writes in a letter to the Planters in\n_Virginia_, _Carolina_, _&c._ \u201cThe task-masters, by their inhuman\nusage and unrelenting scourges have ploughed their backs and made long\nfurrows, and at length brought them even to death.\u201d This is the fate\nwhich great numbers in the islands and Southern Provinces meet with.\nWhen speaking of their cloathing and food, he adds, \u201cWhen passing\nalong, I have viewed your plantations cleared and cultivated, many\nspacious houses built, and the Owners of them faring sumptuously every\nday. My blood has frequently run cold within me to consider how many of\nyour Slaves had neither convenient food to eat or proper raiment to put\non, notwithstanding many of the comforts you enjoy were solely owing\nto their indefatigable labours.\u201d In _Virginia_, _&c._ in case a Negro\ngives the slightest affront to a white person, he goes to the Negroe\u2019s\nMaster and demands satisfaction, the Master delivers him to the white\nperson to take what satisfaction he pleases; who whips him, strikes him\nwith clubs, and, as is often done, cuts off his ears, and marks him by\ncuting his face, or other parts of his body. What more could be done\nto a brute beast, who was brought up and designed for the yoke? Oh!\nhow long will you continue in this delusion and horrid abuse of the\nprincipal workmanship of GOD. It is astonishing how a people who so\nmuch value themselves upon their Freedom can continue in the practice\nof so much oppression. Will not the groans of this afflicted and\nmiserable people reach Heaven! And when the cup of inequity is filled,\nthe unavoidable tendency must be the pouring forth of GOD\u2019s judgments\nupon their oppressors. But alas! is it not too plain that this cruelty\nhas already been the object of divine anger? For what greater judgment\ncan befal any person than to become a prey to that obduracy of heart,\nthat neglectfulness of GOD, and a callousness to every religious\nimpression?\n\nI could say a great deal more concerning the unparralleled cruelty that\nthese Negroes meet with: But I apprehend more has been said already\nthan will be believed, although it is far from coming up to the real\ntruth; for it is impossible my pen can represent in proper colours the\nhard usage they meet with. The sympathizing Reader must feel the rest,\nfor I can assist him no farther. I believe there are but few that have\nnot heard or read of the cruel treatment of those unhappy mortals.\nIndeed it is almost incredible that such cruelty should be practised in\nany of the _British_ dominions.\n\nI could have quoted a dozen Authors, setting forth the inhuman\npunishments inflicted upon the _Africans_; but that would have swelled\nmy page. I hope this short, but true narrative, for great part of which\nI am much obliged to Mr. _Benezet_, will answer the same end of raising\nin every breast an utter detestation and abhorrence of the horrid\ncustoms and savage usage in the Islands and Colonies abovementioned,\nand I make no doubt but every one will clearly see, _they do not to\nthese Negroes as they would that they should do to them_.\n\nI think it is time to leave this part and go to the last, _viz._ That\nthis base custom is likewise against the Charter of this Province; as\nis clearly and most simply demonstrated by a clause in said Charter,\ngranted by King _William_ and Queen _Mary_, dated at _Westminster_,\nthe 7th of _October_, in the third year of their reign, wherein,\n_inter alia_, it is established and ordained, _That all and every of\nthe Subjects of Us, our Heirs, and Successors, which shall go to and\ninhabit within Our said Province and territory, and every of their\nChildren which shall happen to be born there, or on the seas in going\nthither, or returning from thence, shall have and enjoy all_ Liberties\n_and immunities of_ FREE _and natural Subjects within the dominions\nof Us, Our Heirs, and Successors, to all intents, constructions, and\npurposes whatsoever, as if they and every of them were born within our\nrealm of_ England. I need say but little as to this branch of the head\nfurther than to observe, that the clause of the Charter just cited,\nproves clearly, and which cannot be further disputed, _that all and\nevery of the Subjects, the Inhabitants of_ New-England, _which shall\ncome to and inhabit within the Province and territory of the same, and\nevery of their Children which shall happen to be born there, shall\nhave and enjoy all the_ Liberties, &c. _of_ FREE _and natural Subjects\nof the realm of_ England. Indeed I am sorry to mention that this\nCharter should have been so long subverted and remained unobserved by\nthe Publick in so interesting a point, when by timely observance it\nmight have saved many thousands from Slavery that are now dead and\nmouldered into dust. I hope this easy found light will not be too late\ndiscovered to direct and save the present Slaves from their Bondage,\nwhich many! too many! groan under: So that I expect the inhabitants of\nthe _American_ Provinces will not give any person an opportunity of\ncharging them with that infamous character of making or keeping any man\nor woman Slaves, when they are complaining daily that their Liberties\nare wrested from them, and little think how they deprive these poor\nBlack People of their Freedom, when there is as little reason for it\nas there is for making Slaves of _British_ Subjects. The above cited\nclause in the Charter, says, _Those born in or shall come to and dwell\nwithin the Province of the_ Massachusetts-Bay are FREE; from which\nI am led to think, and which every person must see, will extend to\nBlack as well as White. But, Reader, excuse me, whoever you are, that\nmay take offence at my construing this clause of the Charter in the\nmanner I have done, it is only my opinion, and every one is at liberty\nto enjoy his own sentiments upon it as well as I; therefore I flatter\nmyself of hearing soon, that means will be taken by the Legislature of\nmost, if not all the Provinces of _North-America_, and the _West-India_\nIslands, totally prohibiting the importation of Negroes into the\n_British_ Plantations; and setting at Liberty with universal consent,\nevery Negro throughout the whole, at least in _North-America_, which\nwill be an honour to human nature, to say that this great and this only\nremaining hinderance to the absolute freedom as well as legality of the\n_English_ trade is now happily and gloriously abolished; and then we\nmay all cry with shouts of joy! which few more countries in the four\nquarters of the globe can, _That complete_ FREEDOM _both in people and\ntrade is allowed throughout the_ British _Islands and Plantations in_\nAmerica _and_ the West-Indies!\n\nThe IIId General Head proposed was, To shew the disadvantages arising\nfrom this base Trade. This head I propose to consider separately, and\nshall 1st. Shew the disadvantages to _Africa_ in taking so many of its\nnatives away yearly. 2d. Treat of the hurt and prejudice of this Trade\nwith _Europe_. 3d. Shew the disadvantages to the _British_ Plantations\nin _America_, particularly to the _West-Indies_, in carrying Black\nPeople thither.\n\nThe first part of this head is, To shew the disadvantages to _Africa_\nin taking so many of its natives yearly. Before I enter upon this\nbranch it may not be improper to mention a few observations which\nMr. _Postlethwayt_ makes upon the great qualities which this country\nabound with. \u201cIts situation for commerce is certainly beyond any of the\nother quarters of the world, for it stands in the center between the\nother three, and has thereby a much nearer communication with _Europe_,\n_Asia_, and _America_, than any other quarter has with the rest. It is\nwonderfully accommodated for commerce by the interposition of islands,\nand more particularly by the assistance of the trade winds, which\nrender the navigation safe, easy, and constant. It is furnished with\nthe greatest and most convenient navigable rivers, and perhaps with as\nmany of them as any other of the chief parts of the world: Such are\nthe _Nile_, _Nubia_, _Niger_, _Natal_, which are rivers of the first\nmagnitude; besides these there are innumerable others, though not equal\nto the former, are yet very excellent streams, situated for navigation\nand commerce, and which by their noble courses penetrate far inland;\nif the _Europeans, &c._ would cultivate a human and Christian like\ncommerce with the _Africans_, they might through these rivers become\nthe medium of an endless beneficial commerce. The country is populous\nbeyond credibility, the soil fruitful, the season for the greatest\npart mild and clement, and the air salubrious.\u201d I must stop in the\nmidst of this agreeable description, being afraid of leading myself\ninto an undue length in this narrative of the beautious perfection of\nthat rich and fruitful part of the world.\n\nI shall now consider the disadvantages to _Africa_ in taking so many\nof its natives away yearly. But it is needless to speak much on this\nhead, as most of my Readers will perceive the prejudices to _Africa_\nin thus draining it of the inhabitants yearly in the manner _Britain_\nand the Plantations do. I shall mention a few of them. 1st. There can\nbe no loss to any country (particularly to one like _Africa_ that is\nyet mostly to cultivate) equal to that of depopulating it. 2d. It\nprevents the inland country, where the incessant broils are carried on,\nfrom defending themselves against the attacks and encroachments made\non their properties by the Kings and Chiefs, whereby many thousands\nof their subjects being taken prisoners, are sold to the Coasters,\nthey being nourished and caressed by the _Europeans_, particularly by\n_Britain_ and the Colonies, in doing so, for the sake of the Slave\nTrade to _America_, and the _West-Indies_; and further, in consequence\nof this depriving them of defending themselves against these base\nassaults, it prevents them entirely from cultivating and manuring\nthat fruitful and rich country, to the degree it is capable of. 3d.\nIt ever obstructs the civilizing of those people, and consequently\nof propagating amongst them the Christian religion, and extending\nthe Trade into the bowels of _Africa_, which by contrary means might\nbe easily practicable. 4th. That whilst the slaving Trade of those\npeople, continue to be the great object of the powers that trade\nthere it is to be feared it will ever, as it does at present spirit\nup wars and hostilities amongst the Negro Princes and Chiefs, for the\nsake of making captives of each other for sale. And 5th. The greatest\ndisadvantage to _Africa_, by thus draining it of the inhabitants is,\nthat it prevents them from cultivating and peopling that great fertile\ncountry, of introducing _European_ arts and sciences amongst them, and\nof carrying on a friendly, civil, and christian Commerce with them into\nthe heart of their region.\n\nThe second branch alluding to the third head was, to treat of the\nprejudice to _Africa_, and its trade with _Europe_. It is an absolute\nfact, that these people are incessently at war with their neighbouring\nPrinces so that they cannot get their business looked into or\nfollowed, and consequently a great hinderance to the manufacturing\nsuch quantities of their country\u2019s produce of every kind, to send to\n_Europe_ and _America_, _&c._ as they might do, were this Slave Trade\nabolished, and the Rulers in amity, friendship, and concord, one with\nanother.\n\nIt is further a hurt to the _African_ trade with _Europe_, for the\nSlave Trade has so gained upon the minds of those men that traffick\nto _Africa_, that they never once think of the other commodities, at\nleast in such quantities as _Europe_ might consume were the attention\nnecessary paid to it by making this the only object of the traders\nnotice. I believe it would turn out much more profitable to keep wholly\nto the produce of this country, _viz._ gums, ivory, gold and silver\ndust, _&c._ and to resign that base unchristian Trade of Man-selling.\n\nLastly, on this head, To shew the disadvantages to the _British_\nPlantations in _America_, _&c._ in bringing Black people into them.\nThis will be made very easily appear when you consider, that these\nnumerous Black People, which are yearly brought into the southern-most\nparts of _North-America_ and the _West-Indies_ were very poor at that\ntime, not having a penny to command, and never so much as once in\ntheir lifetime had it in their power to make one half that sum for\nthemselves, so that the different Provinces in the Continent, and the\nIslands in the _West-Indies_ are filled with these necessitous Black\nPeople, and must be put upon the townships to which they belong, in\ncase this enslaving them be ever abolished, which I flatter myself, and\nI hope not vainly, will be done in time, and that with effect. Further,\nwhy do they fill their Plantations with Black People, so unnatural to\nthe Whites, the Proprietors of the different Colonies, when it seems\nno way difficult to obtain White People to serve free in their stead?\n_Europe_ in general affords numbers of poor and distressed objects\nfor that purpose, and if these were not overworked, as the Negroes\ngenerally are, they would make as good Servants for the _American_ and\n_West-India_ Plantations as the Blacks do. And if the _Europeans_ were\nupon a level with regard to the price of labour, in their Colonies, I\ncannot but think they would reap great advantage in laying aside the\nSlave Trade, and cultivate a friendly and civilised Commerce with the\n_Africans_. Until this is done it does not seem possible that the\ninland trade of that country should ever be extended to the degree it\nis capable of; for while the spirit of _Butchery_ and making Slaves\nof each other, is promoted by the _Europeans_, _Americans_, _&c._\namongst those people, they will never be able to travel with safety\ninto the heart of the country, or to cement such commercial friendship\nand alliance with them, as will actually introduce our arts and\nmanufactures.\n\nThe IVth General Head was, To shew the advantages arising from\nabolishing this base custom. This Head I propose dividing into two\nparts, 1st. The advantages to _Africa_, and 2d. The advantages to\n_Europe_ particularly to _Britain_ and the Plantations in _America_ and\nthe _West-Indies_.\n\nFirst to _Africa_. The advantages that would arise to it, in abolishing\nthis base and unchristian-like Commerce are numerous, some of which may\nbe comprehended under the following. 1st. The abolishing this Trade may\nbe a means of peopling this country, and of cultivating it in the same\nmanner with any other country in _Europe_ or _Asia_, so as to render it\ncapable of bearing in as great abundance as the _East-Indies_, spices\nof equal quality to those of _Banda_, _Ternate_, and _Amboyna_; I say,\nthe like spices might be produced on the rich and fruitful shores of\n_Melinda_ on the east side, or of the slave coast on the west side of\n_Africa_, and that as easy and to as great advantage, as where they\nare now raised, the latitude being the same, and soil not unlike;\nand, in short, cinnamon and all others, the production of _East_ and\n_West-Indies_, by proper management might be raised here as well as\nin those parts. 2d. It would introduce the Christian religion among\nthem, which is a shame to these nations who pretend to hold fast the\nprinciples of Christianity, to keep so long hid, and of consequence, be\na means of bringing among them the more civilized arts and sciences.\n3d. It will recommend the _European_ dress, and introduce their customs\namong the natives, and of course civilize them like other Christian\nnations. Lastly. It will be a means of bringing this country to as\ngreat perfection in trade, riches, and grandeur, as any in _Europe_,\nit being a much more fertile and plentious soil for many valuable\nproductions.\n\nMuch more could I say upon the numerous advantages arising to this\nexcellent country: But let what has been said suffice, I leave the rest\nto the Reader\u2019s own feeling, if he has any for this poor distressed\n_Africa_ which groans under a heavy load of oppression.\n\nThe next thing in course is, the advantages that would arise to\n_Europe_ in thus carrying on a Christian-like Commerce with _Africa_.\nThis trade even in its present state, excluding that of the Slaves, is\nas advantageous as any that is now followed; and what will it be when\na friendly traffick is carried on? It is as it were all profit, the\nfirst cost being some things of _European_, particularly of _British_\nmanufactures, and others generally purchased with them; for which\nthere is in return, gold, elephant\u2019s-teeth, wax, gums, cotton-wool,\ndivers dying-woods, and Slaves: But this last piece of Commerce,\n_viz._ Man-slaving, I am far from making a part of the _British_\ntrade, and I dare say every humane person will be likeminded. These\nare articles which the country abound in, and would be still cheaper\nto an immense degree, were the inland parts settled with their own\npeople; but instead of that, a hundred thousand are yearly carried\naway. _Britain_ pays but little for the commodities it exports to\n_Africa_, being mostly, as observed before, its own produce, such as\nworsted and cotton cloths of all kinds, brass, iron, and copper work\nof every sort, particularly large quantities of all kinds of defensive\narms, with powder and shot in proportion; _East-India_ goods, every\nkind of _British_ manufactures, and a good deal of _American_ and\n_West-India_ rum, _&c._ It is not easy to say what vast quantities\nof the above _British_ and _American_ productions would be exhausted\nyearly among so great a people, and in so very extensive a country,\nwere the Slave Trade stopped. It is the interest of every Merchant\nin _Britain_ and the Plantations who are now concerned in traffick\nto _Africa_, to cultivate the inland commerce in its utmost extent,\nas having no manner of concern with the Slave Trade, there being the\ngreatest reason to believe, that where they now export twenty shillings\nworth of commodities thither, they would then export an hundred pound;\nand I am inclined to think when the trade comes to be extended to the\ndegree it will admit of, notwithstanding those goods that are imported\nfrom _Africa_, there will still be discovered an infinite variety\nof trafficable articles, with which the present Traders are totally\nunacquainted, and this Trade become the most beneficial to _Britain_,\n_America_, and the _West-Indies_, of any that is at present on foot,\nas it is common to every individual, and of which the government has\ntaken much notice, by granting an annual sum of ten thousand pounds\nsterling for the maintaining and upholding the forts and castles in the\n_British_ Settlements in _Africa_, so that they are entirely defended\nagainst the attacks of any enemy, and their Trade and Colonies secured\nby irresistible strength of forts and castles.\n\nA great deal more could be mentioned on the thousands of advantages\nthat may arise to the interest of _Britain_ and the Plantations in\nabolishing this wicked Trade: However, I shall detain my Readers no\nlonger on this head, but as proposed,\n\nConclude the whole with some short admonitions to those concerned,\nand a method to put this Trade to _Africa_ upon a just and lawful\nfooting. I advise every Merchant and Ship-master who is in this Trade\nof Man-slaving to renounce and give it up. What arguments or reason,\npray, can be advanced for his justification, when he sees such threats\nand curses against him, particularly mentioned in the first head? Why\nshould any person incur the penalties of GOD\u2019s Law so daringly for the\nsake of gain? Should they think themselves on a death-bed, what agonies\nand troubles of mind must they undergo in the thoughts of enslaving so\nmany miserable creatures, of murdering so many thousands of innocent\npeople in the wars they occasion, treacherously taking them out of\ntheir own country, using them barbarously, massacring numbers of them\nin all the cruel ways imaginable on the passage, selling them for life,\nand depriving them even of a comfortable living, notwithstanding they\nserve for nothing else; surely the judgment of GOD must come upon such\nmen who will thus use their own Brethren who were born to inherit the\nsame salvation with us, and if his judgment does not come upon them, it\nwill pursue their children unto the third and fourth generation, until\nthe riches that have been thus scandalously amassed be squandered away,\nand they become as poor as these Negroes themselves, by selling of whom\nsuch unjust gain was made. But this is only one way out of thousands\nthat GOD chuses to afflict his enemies in this world. And,\n\nStill pursuing, that GOD will be revenged on those that punish\nwrongfully such poor Negroes, I shall insert what the above mentioned\nMr. _George Whitefield_ says in a letter to the inhabitants of\n_Virginia_, &c. \u201cWe have,\u201d says he, \u201ca remarkable instance of GOD\u2019s\ntaking cognizance of, and avenging the quarrel of poor Slaves, 2\n_Sam._ xxi. 1. There was a famine in the days of _David_, three years,\nyear after year, and _David_ enquired of the LORD, and the LORD\nanswered, it is for _Saul_, and his bloody house, because he slew\nthe _Gibeonites_. Two things are here very remarkable, 1st. These\n_Gibeonites_ were only hewers of wood and drawers of water; or in\nother words, Slaves like yours. 2d. That this plague was sent by GOD\n_many years after the injury_ (the cause of the plague) was committed.\nAnd for what end were this and such like examples recorded in holy\nScripture? Without doubt for our learning. For GOD is the same to-day\nas he was yesterday, and will continue the same for ever. He does not\nreject the prayer of the poor and destitute, nor disregard the cry of\nthe meanest Negro.\u201d When speaking of the oppression and unchristian\nusage these poor Negroes meet with from the Ship-masters in their\npassage, and from the Masters they are sold to in the south parts of\n_America_ and the _West-Indies_, he adds, \u201cThe blood of the Negroes\nspilt for these many years in your respective Provinces will rise up to\nHeaven against you,\u201d together with that lost in _Africa_, occasioned\nby the Traders that go thither. It may not be improper to observe\nhere, that this plague was sent by GOD on _Saul_ and his bloody house\n_many years after the slaughter of the_ Gibeonites; so may these men\nreasonably expect, that have occasioned and still continue to be the\ncause of spilling so much innocent blood in _Africa_ and the different\nProvinces, to have a plague or curse come upon them, _many years after\nthe perpetrating these wicked deeds_.\n\nI will insert a few questions, for which I am indebted to Mr.\n_Postlethwayt_, by way of argument or persuasion to give up this\nenslaving of Men to those people who will be ready to defend this\nscandalous Trade to _Africa_, and of keeping these people in ignorance,\nwho are brought into a country where the gospel is preached on all\nsides of them.\n\n1st. \u201cWhether the people of this country notwithstanding their colour,\nare not capable of being civilized and brought into the Christian\nreligion, as well as great numbers of the _Indians_ of _America_\nand _Asia_ have been; and whether the primitive inhabitants of all\ncountries so far as we have been able to trace them were not once as\nsavage and inhuman as the people in _Africa_, and whether the ancient\n_Britons_ themselves of our country were not once upon a level with the\n_Africans_?\n\n2d. \u201cWhether therefore, there is not a probability that those people\nmight in time, by proper management in the _Europeans_, become as wise,\nas industrious, as humane, and as good Christians, as the people of any\nother country?\n\n3d. \u201cWhether their rational faculties are not in general equal to those\nof any other of the human species; and whether they are not, from\nexperience, as capable for mechanical and manufactural arts and trades,\nas even the Bulk of the _Europeans_?\n\n4th. \u201cWhether it would not be more to the interest of all the\n_European_ Nations concerned in the Trade to _Africa_, rather to\nendeavour to cultivate a friendly and humane Commerce with these\npeople, into the very centure of their extended country, than to\ncontent themselves only with skimming a trifling portion of Trade upon\nthe Coast of _Africa_?\n\n5th. \u201cWhether the greatest hinderance and obstruction to the\n_European_\u2019s cultivating a Christian-like and humane Commerce with\nthose populous countries has not wholly proceeded from that unjust\nTraffick called the Slave Trade, which is carried on by the _Europeans_\n_Americans_, _&c._\n\n6th. \u201cWhether this Trade and this only was not the primary cause, and\nstill continues to be the chief cause of these eternal and incessant\nbroils, quarrels, and animosities which subsist between the Negro\nPrinces and Chiefs; and consequently of those endless wars which abide\namong them, and which they are induced to carry on in order to make\nprisoners of one another for the sake of the Slave Trade?\n\n7th. \u201cWhether, if trade was carried on with them for a series of years,\nas it has been with most other savage countries, and the _Europeans_\ngave no incouragement whatever to the Slave Trade, those cruel wars\namong the Blacks would not cease, and a fair and honourable Commerce in\ntime take place throughout the whole country?\n\n8th. \u201cWhether the example of the _Dutch_ in the _East-Indies_, who\nhave civilized innumerable of the natives, and brought them to the\n_European_ way of cloathing, _&c._ does not give reasonable hopes that\nthese suggestions are not visionary, but founded on experience as well\nas on humane and Christian principles?\n\n9th. \u201cWhether Commerce in general has not proved the great means of\ncivilizing all nations, even the most savage and brutal; and why not\nthe _Africans_?\n\n10th. \u201cWhether the territory of the _European_ nations who are\ninterested in the Colonies and Plantations in _America_, are not\npopulous enough, or may be rendered so, by proper encouragement given\nto matrimony and the breed of foundling infants, to supply their\nrespective Colonies with labourers in the place of Negro Slaves? And\n\nLastly. \u201cWhether the _British_ dominions in general have not an extent\nof territory sufficient to increase and multiply their inhabitants;\nand whether it is not their own faults that they do not increase them\nsufficiently to supply their Colonies and Plantations, with Whites\ninstead of Blacks?\u201d\n\nI make no doubt, but some persons who are concerned in the Slave Trade\nto _Africa_, will attempt making answer to some of these questions: But\nI presume there are others of them they will not venture upon, knowing\nthey are founded upon reason and truth, and I hope will have great\ninfluence on those this Treatise concern.\n\nI would add one necessary query more, to those who hold the sword of\njustice, and who must account to God for the use they make of it.\nSince the _English_ Law is so truly valuable for its justice, how can\nthey overlook the barbarous deaths and wrongful Slavery of the unhappy\n_Africans_, without trial or proof of being guilty of crimes adequate\nto their punishments? Why are those Masters of vessels (who are not\nthe most considerate of men) suffered to be sovereign arbiters of the\nlives of these miserable Negroes in their passage, and allowed with\nimpunity to destroy, may I not say murder their fellow creatures in\na manner so cruel as can never be related but with shame and horror?\nAnswer me this, ye pretended Judges and Governors in the different\nColonies where such practices are used, and not be shocked at the\nnegligence you have sleeped in. Since you are put in remembrance of it\nnow, I hope and sincerely wish, I, or any other person may not have\noccasion to remind you of the same again, but that you will punish\nwith equity all those who import Negroes; there being hundreds of\npoor _Europeans_ that would be glad to come and serve in any of the\n_British_ Plantations, and those that could not pay a passage doubtless\nwould sell part of their time for it; and this I make no doubt,\nconsidering they have not the charge of their funeral and death-bed\nexpences and sundry other things to pay, will come nigh if not full as\ncheap as buying and keeping Negroes; and it will be attended with this\nadvantage, that these White people when they have served some years in\nthe lowest capacities turn out upon the waste land, marry, and in a few\nyears we see a town well settled, and in less than fifty years there\nwill be an increase of fourfold; by this means the country will fill\nup and we become respectable and secure from an enemy, and furnished\nwith every conveniency of life. And you Governors, _&c._ who have the\nlegislative power in your hands will still further make Laws and put\nthem in execution, stopping any further importation of Slaves into the\nProvinces or Islands where you are the Representative head, so that in\nthat time they may furnish themselves with sufficient numbers, and by\nproper usage keep up that quantity which so much decrease by improper\nmanagement. Now give me leave to proceed\n\nIn a method to put this Trade to _Africa_ on a just and lawful\nfooting. First, in order to this, it is my humble opinion, if I may\nbe allowed to give it, that there be a number of men who may chuse\nto venture in this Trade, both in _Britain_ and the Colonies, that\nshall be incorporated into separate bodies by the name of _English_,\nor _British_; _American_, or _New-England African_ companies, or by\nthe denomination of other Provinces in _America_, or Plantations in\nthe _West-Indies_; and these companies shall equip and rig out as many\nvessels as they think proper, loading them with _British America_,\n_East_ and _West-India_ goods, and bring back in return, the rich and\nplentiful produce of _Africa_. But before I go any further into this\npoint it must be observed, there is one real hinderance in the way\nwhich must be removed, or else no man or company need ever think of\npenetrating into the heart of this country, but just content themselves\nwith taking the skim of this Trade, leting the body stand, and that is,\nthe Slave Trade; this must be entirely renounced and given up by the\n_Europeans_, particularly by _Britain_ and the Colonies; then we may\nwith a good face and conscience travel into the heart of _Africa_, and\nmeet with a friendly and hearty reception from the natives, who will\ntrade with us, and give in exchange their valuable productions for our\ngoods which are generally exported thither.\n\nWhen that great, that only chief obstacle, the Slave Trade is removed,\nthen _Britain_ and the Colonies will flourish by so great and\nprofitable a Commerce. Think what a great addition it will make to\ntheir traffick, the furnishing a hundred thousand people annually, more\nthan are at present with cloathing, powder, shot, and warlike arms,\nand many more things needless here to enumerate out of England; rum,\nand sundry other articles out of _America_ and the _West-Indies_. It\nis supposed that the above extraordinary number of Blacks are taken\nout of _Africa_ yearly, and either murdered or made Slaves of, by the\nships that go there out of _Boston_, _&c._ and what advantages may\narise to the inhabitants in peopling, and consequently of cultivating\nand manuring their ground, and of bringing their rich trade to the\nperfection it is capable of, with _Britain_, _&c._ is hard to say, when\nthe innermost parts of that great and fruitful country is settled,\nand a free and happy trade carried into the heart of it: But thus\nfar I will venture to say, as I have done already, that where twenty\nshillings worth of commodities is at present exported an hundred pound\nwill be, when a friendly Commerce is carried on with the natives.\n\nThese companies may say, that if once this trade is set on foot, other\n_European_ powers, who have Settlements in _Africa_ will invade them\nwhenever they begin to thrive by not having sufficient funds for the\nkeeping in good defence the forts, &c. on the Settlements. As to this I\nanswer, that those companies have a sum of ten thousand pounds sterling\nannually, from the Crown of _Britain_, for maintaining and upholding\nthe forts and castles that are built upon the _British_ Colonies, which\nwith the duties arising from the Trade will be sufficient to maintain,\nuphold, and defend them with strength superior to the strongest enemy.\n\nThus far I hope I have removed your fears of inability in supporting\nand continuing this Trade, and likewise have moved ways and means to\nput the same on a just and lawful footing. Now let me, patient Reader,\nconclude with a short Exhortation to the Ship-masters and Merchants\nconcerned in this Trade, in part of which I have had recourse again to\nmy good old Friend Mr. _Benezet_.\n\nI beg you all would fly from the oppression and Bondage to which the\npoor _Africans_ are subjected, loose the bonds from off their necks,\nand thereby extricate yourselves from a custom which is pernicious\nto your welfare here and hereafter; and as you are sensible most men\nhave objections to this base, unlawful Trade, you ought to vindicate\nyourselves to the world, upon principles of reason, honesty, and\nhumanity, and then you will not attack the persons, or invade the\nrights of these people. I believe those who are concerned in this\nTrade will be at a loss to make this justification but upon motives\nso weak and unreasonable, that I do not think any of them which have\nbeen advanced for their defence worthy of notice; and if they are\nundeserving of that, they certainly are below regard; therefore I\nthink _you should forever lay it aside_. This is the best and shortest\nway; for _there should be no trade carried on_, it being a national\nand provincial concern, _but such as is justifiable both to_ GOD\n_and man_, and this is in direct opposition to both. But laying man\u2019s\nresentment aside, which is of little moment in comparison with that of\nthe Almighty\u2019s, I counsel you once more to think of a future reckoning,\nconsider what reasons you will be able to produce at the great and last\nday. You now accumulate riches and live in pleasure; but what will\nyou do in the end, and that will be but short? What if you should be\ncalled hence and hurried out of this world under the vast load of blood\nguiltiness that is now lying on your souls? How many thousands have you\nbeen the instruments to, and primary cause of being killed in the wars\nand broils with the _African_ Chiefs, wanting to obtain your number to\nenslave; and how many have you killed in the passage, when these poor\nCreatures were trying to retrieve their Liberty which they had in their\nown country, and which you unjustly take from them, or rather chusing\nto die than take food to nourish and preserve themselves for being\nmancipated with their children after them?\n\nIt is declared in the most express terms in Scripture, that thieves and\nmurderers shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD. You who are in this\nTrade take warning by that, and if you have any thoughts or Christian\nfeeling you must certainly renounce it; for that you are thieves and\nmurderers (I hope after what has been said) will not be disputed; and\nyou should think that at the same time and by the same means you are\ntreasuring up worldly riches, you are treasuring up fountains of wrath\nagainst the day of anger and vengeance that shall come upon the workers\nof iniquity, unless timely repented of.\n\nWhat injustice is greater? What offence more heinous? Is there any\ncarries in it more consummate guilt than that in which you now live?\nHow can you lift your culpable eyes to Heaven? How can you pray for\nmercy, or hope for savour from him that made and formed you, while\nyou go on thus boldly and publickly dishonouring him, in degrading\nand destroying the noblest workmanship of his hands in this sublunary\nworld? Can you think that GOD will hear your prayers, receive your\nsupplications, or grant your desires, while you act thus grossly and\nopenly against his divine revealed will and pleasure? And do you\nsuppose that he who is the Parent of all nations, the Protector of all\npeople, and the Father of all men, will not revenge the mal-treatment\nof his offspring whom he once so loved as to give his only begotten\nSon, _that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have\neverlasting life_? This love of GOD to man, which is disclosed in\nScripture, adds double provocation to your crimes; for if GOD regards\nus with so much affection, we ought also to esteem one another.\n\nPermit yourselves for a moment to reflect equitably and deliberately\nupon the nature of this horrid, detestable, vile, and abominable Man\nTrade, and your hearts must certainly relent, if you have not lost all\nsense of benevolence, all sympathy and compassion towards those of your\nBrethren who have the same capacities, understandings and souls, and\nwho were born to inherit the same salvation with you; I say, if you\nare not callous to every Christian, humane, and manly sensibility, you\ncertainly must feel compassion for those extremely oppressed people,\nwhen you think what miseries, what devastations and massacres among\nthem you have been the author of, and all for filthy lucre\u2019s sake. The\nthoughts of this accursed Trade touches my very heart, and finding if\nI continue any longer I shall get out of the bounds of decency, must\ntherefore conclude. And if all you have read should have no weight upon\nyour hardened hearts, this remains for my consolation that I have done\nmy duty; and I pray! Fervently pray! That GOD would have mercy on your\nsinful souls; and that he of his infinite goodness would grant that you\nmay be made sensible of your guilt and repent of these your execrable\nand really detestable deeds.\n\n\n_FINIS._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\u261e _The Author makes no doubt but the Publick, after reading this\nPamphlet, will readily agree with him, that the words in the Dedication\nare verified, \u201cThat it was put together with more good intent than\nability,\u201d which he is very sensible of: But at the same time thinks all\ncriticism and scrutinizing should be laid aside, when they reflect_,\nthat the will to do good is next in order to the action itself.\n\n\nFOOTNOTES:\n\n[1] It is supposed eighty thousand Negroes, are upon the Island of\n_Barbadoes_, and yet through the hard labour they exact of these\npoor creatures, and what of them are killed through their barbarous\nchastisements, a decrease is made of five thousand Slaves yearly,\nwhich they are resupplied with from _Africa_; and it may be reasonably\nexpected, that the children eighty thousand Negroes would have, were\nthey worked in the same manner with the white people, and did not so\nmany of them die through hard labour, and from the treatment they\nsuffer: I say, it may be expected, there would be an increase of ten\nthousand at a moderate computation yearly, instead of five thousand\ndecreasing. One may form an idea from this, of what an additional\nsupply most of the _West-India_ Islands and Southern Provinces need,\nfor there is not one of them but what import a considerable number of\nSlaves annually, to keep up their common stock.\n\n\n\n\n  TRANSCRIBER\u2019S NOTE\n\n  Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been\n  corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within\n  the text and consultation of external sources.\n\n  Some hyphens in words have been silently removed, some added,\n  when a predominant preference was found in the original book.\n\n  Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,\n  and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.\n\n  Pg xvi: \u2018shonld have incurred\u2019 replaced by \u2018should have incurred\u2019.\n  Pg 17: \u2018base, unchristan\u2019 replaced by \u2018base, unchristian\u2019.\n  Pg 20: \u2018their opression\u2019 replaced by \u2018their oppression\u2019.\n  Pg 26: \u2018concerned ni the\u2019 replaced by \u2018concerned in the\u2019.\n  Pg 27: Quote marks have been removed from the paragraph \u2018As ... Trade.\u2019.\n  Pg 31: \u2018land of Egygt\u2019 replaced by \u2018land of Egypt\u2019.\n  Pg 34: \u2018out of Eygpt\u2019 replaced by \u2018out of Egypt\u2019.\n  Pg 40: \u2018and mark him\u2019 replaced by \u2018and marks him\u2019.\n  Pg 45: \u2018by the interposion\u2019 replaced by \u2018by the interposition\u2019.\n  Pg 52: \u2018and conton cloths\u2019 replaced by \u2018and cotton cloths\u2019.\n  Pg 56: \u2018and will coutinue\u2019 replaced by \u2018and will continue\u2019.\n  Pg 67: \u2018the istruments to\u2019 replaced by \u2018the instruments to\u2019.\n  Pg 69: \u2018the male-treatment of\u2019 replaced by \u2018the mal-treatment of\u2019.\n  Pg 70: \u2018your hardned hearts\u2019 replaced by \u2018your hardened hearts\u2019.","title":"A dissuasion to Great-Britain and the colonies, from the slave trade to Africa","tradition":"philosophy-ethics","translated_text":null,"word_count":12865}