American Slavery in America
Thomas Paine
[1775]
Editor's Note: Though Paine was not the first,
as some have said, to advocate the abolition of slavery in
America, he was certainly one of the earliest and most
influential. The essay was written in 1774 and published March
8, 1775 when it appeared in the Pennsylvania Journal and
the Weekly Advertiser. Just a few weeks later on april
14, 1775 the first anti-slavery society in America was formed in
Philadelphia. Paine was a member.
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That some desperate wretches should be willing to steal and
enslave men by violence and murder for gain, is rather lamentable
than strange. But that many civilized, nay, christianized people
should approve, and be concerned in the savage practice, is
surprising; and still persist, though it ha been so often proved
contrary to the light of nature, of every principle of Justice and
Humanity, and even good policy, by a succession of eminent men, and
several late publications. Our Traders in MEN ( an unnatural
commodity!) must know the wickedness of the SLAVE-TRADE, if they
attend to reasoning, or the dictates of their own hearts: and such
as shun and stiffle all these, wilfully sacrifice Conscience, and
the character of integrity to that golden idol.
The Managers the Trade themselves, and others testify, that many
of these African nations inhabit fertile countries, are industrious
farmers, enjoy plenty, and lived quietly, averse to war, before the
Europeans debauched them with liquors, and bribing them against one
another; and that these inoffensive people are brought into slavery,
by stealing them, tempting Kings to sell subjects, which they can
have to right to do, and hiring one tribe to war against another, in
order to catch prisoners. By such wicked and inhuman ways the
English are said to enslave towards one hundred thousand yearly; of
which thirty thousand are supposed to die by barbarous treatment in
the first year; besides all that are slain in the unnatural ways
excited to take them. So much innocent blood have the Managers and
Supports of this inhuman Trade to answer for to the common Lord of
all!
Many of these were not prisoners of war, and redeemed from savage
conquerors, as some plead: and they who were such prisoners, the
English, who promote the war for that very end, are the guilty
authors of their being so; and if they were redeemed, as is alleged,
they would owe nothing to the redeemer but what he paid for them.
They should as little Reason as Conscience who put the matter by
with saying -- Men, in some cases, are lawfully made Slaves, and why
not these? So men, in some cases, are lawfully put to death,
deprived of their goods, without their consent; may any man,
therefore, be treated so, without any conviction of desert? Nor is
this plea mended by adding -- They are set forth to us as slaves,
and we buy them without farther inquiry, let the sellers see to it.
Such man may as well join with a known band of robbers, buy their
ill-got goods, and help on the trade; ignorance is no more pleadable
in one case than the other; the sellers plainly own how they obtain
them. But none can lawfully buy without evidence that they are not
concurring with Men-Stealers; and as the true owner has a right to
reclaim his goods that were stolen, and sold; so the slave, who is
proper owner of his freedom, has a right to reclaim it, however
often sold.
Most shocking of all is all edging the Sacred Scriptures to favour
this wicked practice. One would have thought none but infidel
cavillers would endeavour to make them appear contrary to the plain
dictates of natural light, and the Conscience, in a matter of common
Justice and Humanity; which they cannot be. Such worthy men, as
referred to before, judged other ways; Mr. BAXTER declared, the
Slave-Traders should be called Devils, rather than Christian; and
that it is a heinous crime to buy them. But some say, the practice
was permitted to the Jews. To which may be replied,
- The example of the Jews, in many things, may not be imitated by
us; they had not only orders to cut off several nations
altogether, but if they were obliged to war with others, and
conquered them, to cut off every male; they were suffered to use
polygamy and divorces, and other things utterly unlawful to us
under clearer light.
- The plea is, in a great measure, false; they had no permission
to catch and enslave people who never injured them.
- Such arguments ill become us, since the time of reformation
came, under Gospel light. All distinctions of nations and
privileges of one above others, are ceased; Christians are taught
to account all men their neighbours; and love their neighbours as
themselves; and do to all men as they would be done by; to do good
to all men; and Man-stealing is ranked with enormous crimes. Is
the barbarous enslaving out inoffensive neighbours, and treating
them like wild beasts subdued by force, reconcilable with the
Divine precepts! Is this doing to them as we would desire they
should do to us? If they could carry off and enslave some
thousands of us, would we think it jut? One would almost wish they
could for once, it might convince more than Reason, or the Bible.
As much in vain, perhaps, will they search ancient history for
examples of the modern Slave-Trade. Too many nations enslaved the
prisoners they took in war. But to go to nations with whom there
is no war, who have no way provoked, without farther design of
conquest, purely to catch inoffensive people, like wild beasts,
for slaves, is an height of outrage against Humanity and Justice,
that seems left by Heathen nations to be practised by pretended
Christian. How shameful are all attempt to colour and excuse it!
As these people are not convicted of forfeiting freedom, they have
still a natural, perfect right to it; and the Governments whenever
they come should, in justice set them free, and punish those who
hold them in slavery. So monstrous in the making and keeping them
slaves at all, abstracted from the barbarous usage they suffer, and
the many evils attending the practice; as selling husbands away from
wives, children from parents, and from each other, in violation of
sacred and natural ties; and opening the way for adulteries,
incests, and many shocking consequences, for all of which the guilty
Masters must answer to the final Judge. If the slavery of the
parents be unjust, much more is their children's; if the parents
were justly slaves, yet the children are born free; this is the
natural, perfect right of all mankind; they are nothing but a just
recompense to those who bring them up: And as much less is commonly
spent on them than others, they have a right, in justice, to be
proportionably sooner free.
Certainly, one may, with as much reason and decency, plead for
murder, robbery, lewdness and barbarity, as for this practice: They
are not more contrary to the natural dictates of Conscience, and
feeling of Humanity; nay, they are all comprehended in it. But the
chief design of this paper is not to disprove it, which many have
sufficiently done; but to entreat Americans to consider:
- With what consistency, or decency they complain so loudly of
attempts to enslave the, while they hold so many hundred thousands
in slavery; and annually enslave many thousands more, without an
pretence of authority, or claim upon them?
- How just, how suitable to our crime is the punishment with
which Providence threatens us? We have enslaved multitudes, and
shed much innocent blood in doing it; and now are threatened with
the same. And while other evils are confessed, and bewailed, why
not this especially, and publicity; than which no other vice, if
all others, has brought so much guilt on the land?
- Whether, then, all ought not immediately to discontinue and
renounce it, with grief and abhorrence? Should not every society
bear testimony against it, and account obstinate persisters in it
bad men, enemies to their country, and exclude them from
fellowship; as they often do for much lesser faults?
- The great Question may be What should be done with those who
are enslaved already? To turn the old and infirm free, would be
injustice and cruelty; they who enjoyed the labours of the their
better days should keep, and treat them humanely. As to the rest,
let prudent men, with the assistance of legislatures, determine
what is practicable for masters, and best for them. Perhaps some
could give them lands upon reasonable rent, some, employing them
in their labour still, might give them some reasonable allowances
for it; so as all may have some property, and fruits of their
labours at the own disposal, and be encouraged to industry; the
family may live together, and enjoy the natural satisfaction of
exercising relative affections and duties, with civil protection,
and other advantages, like fellow men. Perhaps they might sometime
form useful barrier settlements on the frontiers. Thus they may
become interested in the public welfare, and assist in promoting
it; instead of being dangerous, as now they are, should any enemy
promise them a better condition.
- The past treatment of Africans must naturally fill them with
abhorrence of Christians; lead them to think our religion would
make them more inhuman savages, if they embraced it; thus the gain
of that trade has been pursued in oppositions of the redeemer's
cause, and the happiness of men: Are we not, therefore, bound in
duty to him and to them to repair these injuries, as far as
possible, by taking some proper measure to instruct, not only the
slaves here, but the Africans in their own countries? Primitive
Christians, laboured always to spread the Divine Religion; and
this is equally our duty while there is an Heather nation: But
what singular obligations are we under to these injured people!
These are the sentiments of JUSTICE AND HUMANITY.
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