Digital
History>eXplorations>John
Brown: Hero or Terrorist?> Planning
the Raid>"A Declaration of Liberty by the Representatives of the
Slave Population of the United States of America
"A
DECLARATION OF LIBERTY BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SLAVE POPULATION
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"
Source:
Sanford, John Brown, 637-640, 642-643
When in the course of Human events, it becomes necessary for an
oppressed People to Rise, and assert their Natural Rights,as Human
Beings, as Native and Mutual Citizens of a free Republic, and
break that odious yoke of oppression, which is so unjustlylaid
upon them by their fellow countrymen, and to assume among the
powers of Earth the same equal privileges to which the Laws ofNature,
and nature's God entitle, them; A moderate respect for the opinions
of Mankind, requires that they should declare thecauses which
incite them to this just & worthy action.
We
hold these truths to be Self Evident; That all men are created
Equal; That they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable
rights. That among these are Life, Liberty; & pursuit of happiness...
The
history of Slavery in the United States, is a history of injustice
and cruelties inflicted upon the Slave in every conceivable way,and
in barbarity not surpassed by the most savage Tribes. It is the
embodiment of all that is Evil, and ruinous to a Nation; and subversive
of all Good. In proof of which; facts innumerable have been submitted
to the People, and have received the verdict and condemnation
of a candid and Impartial World.
Our
Servants; Members of Congress; and other servants of the People,
who receive exorbitant wages, from the People; in return for their
unjust Rule, have refused to pass laws for the accommodation of
large districts of People, unless that People, would relinquish
the right of representation in the Legislation, a right inestimable
of them, and formidable to tyrants only. Our President and other
Leeches have called together legislative, or treasonable Bodies,
at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository
of our public records; for the sole purpose of fatigueing us into
compliance with their measures: They have desolved Representative
houses, for opposing with manly firmness, their invasions of the
rights of the people.
They
have refused to grant Petitions presented by numerous and respectable
Citizens, asking redress of grivances imposed upon us,demanding
our Liberty and natural rights. With contempt they spurn our humble
petitions; and have failed to pass laws for our relief . . . .
They have abdicated government among us, by declaring us out of
their protection, and waging a worse than cruel war
upon us continually….
The
facts and full description of the enormous sin of Slavery, may
be found in the General History of American Slavery, which is
a history of repeated injuries, of base hypocracy; A cursed treasonable,
usurpation; The most abominable provoking atrocities; which are
but a mockery of all that is just, or worthy of any people. Such
cruelty, tyrany, and perfidy, has hardly a parallel, in the history
of the most barbarous ages.
Our
Servants, or Law makers; are totally unworthy the name of Half
Civilized Men. All their National acts, (which apply to slavery,)
are false, to the words Spirit, and intention, of the Constitution
of the United States, and the Declaration of Independence….
In
every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress
in the most humble terms, Our repeated petitions have been an
swered only by repeated Injury. A Class of oppressors, whose char¬acter
is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyranical Despotism,
is unfit to rule any People. Nor have we been wanting in attention,
to our oppressors; We have warned them from time to time, of attempts
(made by their headlong Blindness,) to perpetrate, extend, strengthen,
and revive the dieing eliments of this cursed Institution. We
have reminded them of our unhappy condition, and of their Cruelties.
We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, we have
conjured them by the ties of our common nature, our Brotherhood,
& common Parentage, to disavow these usurpations, which have
destroyed our Kindred friendship, and endangered their safety.
They have been Deaf to the voice of justice & Consanguinity.
We must therefore acquiece in the necessity, which denounces their
tyrany & unjust rule over us. Declaring that we will serve
them no longer as slaves, knowing that the "Laborer is worthy
of his hire." We therefore, the Representatives of the circumscribed
citizens of the United States, of America in General Congress
assembled, appealing to the supreme judge of the World, for the
rectitude of our intentions, Do in the name, & by authority
of the oppressed Citizens of the Slave States, Solemnly publish
and Declare; that the Slaves are, & of right ought to be as
free & and independent as the unchangable Law of God, requires
that All Men Shall be. That they are absolved from all allegiance
to those Tyrants, who still presist in forcibly subjecting them
to perpetual Bondage, and that all friendly connection between
them & such Tyrants, is, & ought to be totally desolved,
And that as free, & independent citizens of these states,
they have a perfect right, a sufficient & just cause, to defend
themselves against the tyrany of their oppressors. To solicit
aid from & ask the protection of all true friends of humanity
& reform, of whatever nation, & wherever found; A right
to contract Alliances, & to do all other acts & things
which free independent Citizens may of right do. And for the support
of Declaration; with a firm reliance on the protection of Devine
Providence; We mutually Pledge to each other, Our Lives, and Our
Sacred Honor. Indeed; I tremble for my Country, when I reflect;
that God is just; And that his justice; will not sleep forever
&c. &c. Nature is morning for its murdered, and Afflicted
Children. Hung be the Heavens in Scarlet.
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