Hypatia Bradlaugh

“ The young man, then a lawyer in New York, had business in Savannah, and was there pointed out by a slave catcher—for the unhappy condition of affairs had even produced men who made the hunting of their fellow-men a profession—and while quietly supping at his hotel, John Hopper's room was broken into by a gang of violent men, who struck and spat upon him. ”

“ In framing the Articles of Confederation, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina urged that their slaves were property, and if that were debated there was an end to confederation. The States were, therefore, left free to import whatever they liked, thus vetoing the decisions of the earlier congresses. Thus early did the Slave States make their influence felt by their threats of "no Union." The confederation secured to the citizens of all the States the right of inter-citizenship. ”

“ Citizenship was denied to free colored men. In 1851, if emancipated slaves remained in the State more than twelve months, they were liable to forfeit their freedom. The legislature could not emancipate any slave or the descendant of any slave, but it might impose conditions on the power of slaveholders to emancipate their slaves, and also pass laws to relieve the State of its free negro population by removal or otherwise, and a tax was imposed upon free male negroes between twenty-one and forty-five to defray the expenses of the Colonisation Board established for their removal. ”

“ Long before the establishment of the Society, Dr. Hopkins and others had proposed plans for taking all colored people from America to Africa and settling them there, and this was supported by those who were against emancipation and yet wished to get rid of the free negroes. In 1806, Virginia decreed that emancipated slaves should leave the state within a year, or be again reduced to slavery. Prominent men, like Henry Clay, said the colonisationists, were working in a noble cause, they would "rid our country of a useless and pernicious, if not a dangerous portion of the population." ”

“ In 1859 it was the turn of the pro-slavery men to quail, and it was one man alone—John Brown, of Osawatomie—who spread the direst terror and confusion all through the Slave States. John Brown was a Puritan, descended in a straight line from Peter Brown, one of the Pilgrims who landed on Plymouth Rock on December 22nd, 1620. He was born in Connecticut in 1800, and taken at the age of five to Hudson, Ohio. As became his ancestry, he grew up into a sternly conscientious man: the great object of his life was to relieve the suffering and advocate the rights of the injured and oppressed. ”

“ Through all the weary marches, with an army often destitute of food and clothing, Washington was ever beloved by his men. Himself untiring, he was always thoughtful about subjecting his men to unnecessary fatigue. ”

“ Slavery carried the day in the Senate, but wanted a vote in the House. Now the slavery advocates had two immediate objects, one, to call a Convention; two, to send a pro-slavery man to the United States Senate. As it happened there was a vacant seat in the House, for which there were two candidates; one in favor of a pro-slavery Senator and against the Convention, the other in favor of the Convention, and against the pro-slavery man. It is not easy to imagine the trickery resorted to by the slaveholders to meet this dilemma. ”

“ The native Indians were free men, and never—like the Africans—aided the slave-merchant, but always resisted him. It is the Dutch who may claim the questionable honor of being the first to introduce negro slavery into the English colonies. In August, 1620, a Dutch man-of-war entered James River, and landed twenty negroes for sale. The first time the colonists took part in the slave trade was when a ship belonging to James Smith, a member of a Boston church, and another, sailed for Guinea to trade in negroes. ”

“ Persons bringing free negroes into the State were liable to fine, and negroes found without a certificate of freedom might be sold into slavery for one year. Free negroes had to give sureties, and when convicted of any petty offence were punished with the lash.
When Missouri was admitted, Illinois landowners grew jealous at the number of wealthy men who passed through Illinois with their "droves" of negroes to settle in the new State, and they then turned their energies to making Illinois into a Slave State also. ”

“ His articles against the domestic slave trade so exasperated the Baltimore slave-dealers, that he was brutally assaulted in the streets, and at last compelled to leave the city. In 1826 there were 140 anti-slavery societies, 106 of which were in the Southern States. Speaking approvingly of a resolution of an Ohio anti-slavery society, that it would support no persons for office who were not opposed to slavery, Benjamin Lundy urged that it was a great mistake to think that the Free States had nothing to do with slavery—they guaranteed the oppression of the colored man. ”

“ The city was intensely excited—vile epithets, fierce invective, and abuse of all kinds were freely indulged in, and the arrival of another press was a signal for turning violent words into violent deeds. The press, on its arrival, was safely stored, and about twelve friends remained with it to protect it. Before long the building was attacked, stones were thrown, windows broken, and shots fired. Cries of "Burn them out," "Fire the building, and shoot every cursed Abolitionist," were heard, and ladders being brought the roof of the building was fired. ”

“ In South Carolina slaves were so rapidly imported that in a few years there were nearly twice as many blacks as whites. The Dutch planters of New York, while very desirous of holding slaves, found the climate unsuitable. In proportion to population New York imported as many Africans as Virginia; and European Amsterdam itself owned shares in a slave ship, advanced money for its outfit, and shared in its profit. Stuyvesant, governor of the New Netherlands, was instructed to use every exertion to promote the sale of negroes. ”

“ Maryland forbade colored persons the right to testify against whites, although slaves might against negroes. The legislature was forbidden to enact any law abolishing the relations between master and slave. Delaware forbade the emancipation of free negroes to any State save Maryland. Free negroes might not attend camp-meetings or political gatherings. Missouri forbade the immigration of free colored persons. Schools for the instruction of negroes in reading and writing, religious meetings of negroes, were prohibited unless a justice of the peace or constable were present. ”

“ New England, by Puritans flying from their oppressors; New York, the Jerseys, and Pennsylvania, by men of many nationalities, absorbed, but not annihilated, by their English conquerors; Maryland, by loyalist Catholic noblemen and their followers; Georgia, soon to become the great slave-state, by men claiming to civilise and convert.
Europeans had in Europe bought and sold their fellow-men long before their discovery of America, and when this vast continent was discovered they stole men from it and enslaved them—Columbus himself enslaved 500 and sent them to Spain to be sold. ”

“ Rhode Island, in 1652, enacted that no man, black or white, should be forced to serve more than ten years, or after the age of twenty-four. A system of indenture of white men had, indeed, existed from the first in Virginia, making the condition of the public mind there not altogether unfavorable to the idea of perpetual slavery. ”

“ Later a memorial, signed by Benjamin Franklin, was presented, in which it was urged "that mankind are all formed by the same Almighty Being, alike objects of his care, and equally designed for the enjoyment of happiness." The representative of South Carolina replied that the Southern clergy did not condemn either slavery or the slave trade. Georgia boasted that religion was not only not against it, but that "from Genesis to Revelation the current was set strong the other way." In 1792 the Southern representatives demanded that an anti-slavery petition should be sent back to the petitioners. ”

“ The right to trade in men England henceforth jealously kept for herself, as far as possible preventing foreigners from sharing in the profits of this honorable traffic. Queen Anne ordered the governors of New York and New Jersey to give "due encouragement to merchants, and in particular to the Royal African Company of England," and similar instructions seem to have been given to the other settlements. When Virginia, attempting to check the traffic, imposed a tax on the importation of negroes, the Royal African Company obtained from the English Home Government the annulment of the law. ”

“ He urged that in Maryland and Virginia—both, but Virginia especially, fast gaining the horrible name of "Slave-breeding States"—it was cheaper to raise than import slaves; but in the sickly rice swamps foreign importation was necessary, and it would be unjust to South Carolina and Georgia to prohibit their importation. He added: "Let us not intermeddle; as population increases, poor laborers will be so plenty as to render slaves useless." ”

“ South Carolina demanded that fugitive slaves and servants should be delivered up like criminals, and an article was inserted enabling masters to recover their slaves escaping into other States.
The first Congress which met under the constitution had to discuss the tax upon imported slaves. A tax of ten dollars was proposed, and then withdrawn under great pressure. Before long came memorials lamenting the evils of slavery, and praying for their immediate abatement. But the slave-power in Congress was very strong, and these memorials gave rise to the most excited discussion. ”

“ The efforts of the friends of freedom seemed only to incite their adversaries to more united and determined action. The struggles in Kentucky are illustrations of the conflict through all the Border States. ”

“ When Texas belonged to Mexico, slaveholders cast hungry eyes upon her fertile soil, and in defiance of the decree abolishing slavery throughout the Mexican Republic, adventurers from the Southern States migrated thither, carrying slaves with them. ”

“ Dissensions arose between East New Jersey and West New Jersey, and between them and New York, which ended in the government being resumed by the Crown.
Pennsylvania was also originally settled by Dutch and Swedes, but it became the property of William Penn in 1681, whence its name. Penn at once invited emigration to the province, and Dr. Story says that "under his enlightened policy a foundation was early laid for the establishment of a government and laws which were justly celebrated for their moderation, wisdom, and just protection of the rights and liberties of the people." ”

“ The king then appointed a governor and twelve councillors, who had the entire direction of the affairs of the colony. From that moment until the War of Independence Virginia was a royal province. In 1671 Sir Wm. Berkeley, in answer to the Lords Commissioners, stated that the population was about 40,000. As to instruction, he said: "I thank God there are no free schools nor printing; and I hope we shall not have them these hundred years, for learning has brought disobedience, and heresy, and sects into the world; and printing has divulged them and libels against the best government. ”

“ But if the Bill found people to resist it, it also found people ready to carry it out. Slave-catching had become a profession, and dogs were trained to hunt negroes. Colored men were shot down remorselessly in attempting to escape, and white people convicted of aiding such escapes were imprisoned for years, and fined so heavily that sometimes, unable to pay such fines, they lingered in jail until they died. ”

“ Many Abolitionists disapproved of women publicly advocating abolition, and a still larger number seemed to object to women holding any official position in the society. In consequence of this and other causes of dissension a great number of members left the original society and formed a new one, called the Foreign and American Anti-Slavery Society. ”

“ The memorialists urged that, under the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Act, free colored persons were always liable to be seized and carried into bondage. To avoid this they had to flee from their country and separate from those nearest and dearest to them. This petition was presented by the representative of Pennsylvania, who spoke with horror of a reward offered for one of the petitioners, "ten dollars if taken alive, fifty dollars if found dead, and no questions asked." ”

“ Stronger far in its effects than this rash attempt at freeing the bondmen of America was the nobility and grandeur of the mind that planned it. His life, his death made him a hero, and the "John Brown Song" was sung by many a regiment, when a year or two afterwards they fought against their own countrymen for freedom.
In 1859 the air was rife with sedition. South Carolina gave voice to the cry of "Slavery and Secession." Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, took up the note. In Congress the representative of Virginia bade the Northern members go home and repress the Abolition spirit. ”

“ The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead!" It is not wonderful that his enemies trembled beneath the lash of his tongue; his pen, we are told, was, "if possible, more severe, caustic, and exasperating than his speech." While friends generally doubted and questioned, the slaveholders were stung to madness. In South Carolina a reward of 1,500 dollars was offered for the apprehension and conviction of anyone circulating the Liberator. ”