Short Observations on Slavery by Anthony Benezet, 1785

From Anthony Benezet. Short Observations on Slavery. Philadelphia: Enoch Story, 1785.

When the General Congress first assembled, they prefaced the reason of their separation from Great Britain, with the following sentence, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' And in the declaration on the 6th of July 1775, Congress have in very forcible language declared their opinion 'that it was contrary to the intent of the Divine Author of our existence, that a part of the human kind should hold an absolute property over others, marked out by infinite goodness and wisdom, as objects of a Legal Domination.----That reverence for our great Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates of common sense, must convince all those who reflect upon the subject, that Government was instituted to promote the welfare of mankind, and ought to be administered for the attainment of that end.' As these reflections apply however diversified by colour and other distinctions, how far the situation of the Negroes still kept in slavery, on this continent is consonant thereto, is a matter which calls for the most serious attention of all those who, indeed believe, in a general Providence, and that the good Author of our being multiplies his blessings in proportion as we render ourselves worthy by the practice of Justice and Love. Hence it becomes a matter of the utmost weight to Americans, in a peculiar manner, duly to consider how they can justify a conduct so abhorrent from these sacred truths as that of dragging these oppressed Strangers from their native land and all those tender connections which we hold so dear. . . .

How inconsistent is this abhorrent practice, with every idea of Liberty, every principle of humanity. Nay is it not of public notoriety that those masters or overseers who by ill usage or by an unrelenting scourge, have brought their Slaves to an untimely end, have scarce been called to any account, by those who ought not to bear the sword in vain: Scarce an instance can be mentioned even of any man's being capitally arraigned for the willful murder of a slave. Nay, dreadful to mention, do not the laws in some of the islands, and frequent advertisements in the Southern States, in effect encourage the murder of a Negroe who has absented himself for a certain time from his master's service, by giving a reward greater for the poor fugitive's head than for bringing him home alive.

When this unjust and cruel treatment of the Negroes is considered, and brought to the test of the above declarations, will it not appear wonderfully inconsistent and a matter of astonishment, to the whole world, that an alteration of conduct towards them, has not yet taken place, preparatory to a general abolition of Slavery on the continent; a step which every principle of honour, reason and humanity call for, and which may well be effected in such a manner as will conduce to the happiness of the master as well as the slave. . . .

To assist in eradicating the deep rooted prejudice which an education amongst Slaves has planted in many minds, let us attend to what the Abbe Raynal, that celebrated philosopher and friend to Mankind, has said on the subject of Slavery.

"I will not," says he, "disgrace myself by adding one to the list of venal writers who have prostituted their pens in defense of a trade so abhorrent from the laws of universal justice. No principles of policy can justify the breach of her Sacred Laws. In so enlightened as age, an age where so many errors are boldly laid open, it would be shameful to conceal any truth that is interesting to humanity. We will first prove that no reason of state can authorize Slavery. In doing this we shall not hesitate to arraign, before the Tribunal of Eternal Light and Justice, all those governments who tolerate the cruel practice, or are not ashamed to make it the basis of the basis of their power. The great Montesquieu could not prevail upon himself to treat the question concerning slavery, in a furious light. In reality it is degrading to reason to employ it. I will not say in defending, but even in refuting an abuse so repugnant to it; whoever justifies so odious a system deserves the utmost contempt. . . ."

The writer of the foregoing introductory observations, i.e. A. Benezet, teacher of a school established by private subscription, in Philadelphia, for the instruction of the Black Children and others of that people, has, for many years, had opportunity of knowing the temper and genius of the Africans; particularly of those under his tuition, who have been many, of different ages; and he can with Truth and Sincerity declare, that he has found amongst them as great variety of Talents, equally capable of improvements, as amongst a like number of Whites; and he is bold to assert, that the notion entertained by some, that the Blacks are inferior to the Whites in their capacities, is a vulgar prejudice, founded on the Pride or Ignorance of their lordly Masters, who have kept their Slaves at such a distance, as to be unable to form a right judgement of them.