“Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping,” 1776
Lemuel Haynes Preaching (Rhode Island School of Design)
In this essay, Haynes argued that slavery was inherently wrong and that the freedom promised by the fight for independence should be offered to African Americans as well as to whites. The tumult of the war kept Haynes from publishing the manuscript, which did not appear in print until 1983.
Excerpts from Lemuel Haynes’s “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping,” 1776
We hold these truths to be self-Evident, that all men are created Equal, that they are Endowed By their Creator with Ceartain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happyness.
Congress.
I know that those that are concerned in the Slave-trade, Do pretend to Bring arguments in vindication of their practise; yet if we give them a candid Examination, we shall find them (Even those of the most cogent kind) to be Essencially Deficient. We live in a day wherein Liberty & freedom is the subject of many millions Concern; and the important Struggle hath alread caused great Effusion of Blood; men seem to manifest the most sanguine resolution not to Let their natural rights go without their Lives go with them; a resolution, one would think Every one that has the Least Love to his country, or futer posterity, would fully confide in, yet while we are so zelous to maintain, and foster our own invaded rights, it cannot be tho’t impertinent for us Candidly to reflect on our own conduct, and I doubt not But that we shall find that subsisting in the midst of us, that may with propriety be stiled Opression, nay, much greater opression, than that which Englishmen seem so much to spurn at. I mean an oppression which they, themselves, impose upon others.
It is not my Business to Enquire into Every particular practise, that is practised in this Land, that may come under this Odeus Character; But, what I have in view, is humbly to offer som free thoughts, on the practise of Slave-keeping. Opression, is not spoken of, nor ranked in the sacred oracles, among the Least of those sins, that are the procureing Caus of those signal Judgments, which god is pleas’d to bring upon the Children of men. Therefore let us attend. I mean to white with freedom, yet with the greatest Submission.
And the main proposition, which I intend for some Breif illustration is this, Namely, That an African, or, in other terms, that a Negro may Justly Chalenge, and has an undeniable right to his Liberty: Consequently, the practise of Slave-keeping, which so much abounds in this Land is illicit.
Every privilege that mankind Enjoy have their Origen from god; and whatever acts are passed in any Earthly Court, which are Derogatory to those Edicts that are passed in the Court of Heaven, the act is void. If I have a perticular previlede granted to me by god, and the act is not revoked nor the power that granted the benefit vacated, (as it is imposable but that god should Ever remain immutable) then he that would infringe upon my Benifit, assumes an unreasonable, and tyrannic power.
It hath pleased god to make of one Blood all nations of men, for to dwell upon the face of the Earth. Acts 17, 26. And as all are of one Species, so there are the same Laws, and aspiring principles placed in all nations; and the Effect that these Laws will produce, are Similar to Each other. Consequently we may suppose, that what is precious to one man, is precious to another, and what is irksom, or intolarable to one man, is so to another, consider’d in a Law of Nature. Therefore we may reasonably Conclude, that Liberty is Equally as pre[c]ious to a Black man, as it is to a white one, and Bondage Equally as intollarable to the one as it is to the other: Seeing it Effects the Laws of nature Equally as much in the one as it Does in the other. But, as I observed Before, those privileges that are granted to us By the Divine Being, no one has the Least right to take them from us without our consen[t] and there is Not the Least precept, or practise, in the Sacred Scriptures, that constitutes a Black man a Slave, any more than a white one. . . .
Source: Lemuel Haynes, “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping” (1776), printed in Ruth Bogin, “‘Liberty Further Extended’: A 1776 Antislavery Manuscript by Lemuel Haynes,” William and Mary Quarterly 40, no. 1 (Jan. 1983): 94, 95–96.
Lemuel Haynes’s “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping,” 1776
I know that those that are concerned in the Slave-trade, Do pretend to Bring arguments in vindication of their practice. We live in a day wherein Liberty & freedom is the subject of many millions Concern; and the important Struggle hath alread[y] caused great Effusion of Blood . . . But that we shall find that subsisting in the midst of us . . . greater op[p]ression, than that which Englishmen seem so much to spurn at. I mean an oppression which they, themselves, impose upon others.
But, what I have in view, is humbly to offer som[e] free thoughts, on the practise of Slave-keeping . . . That an African, or, in other terms, that a Negro may Justly Chal[l]enge, and has an undeniable right to his Liberty: Consequently, the practise of Slave-keeping, which so much abounds in this Land is illicit.
It hath pleased god to make of one Blood all nations of men, for to dwell upon the face of the Earth. Acts 17, 26. And as all are of one Species, so there are the same Laws; and the Effect that these Laws will produce, are Similar to Each other . . . Therefore we may reasonably Conclude, that Liberty is Equally as pre[c]ious to a Black man, as it is to a white one, and Bondage Equally as intol[e]rable to the one as it is to the other: But, as I observed Before, those privileges that are granted to us By the Divine Being, no one has the Least precept, or practise, in the Sacred Scriptures, that constitutes a Black man a Slave, any more than a white one.
Source: Lemuel Haynes, “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping” (1776), printed in Ruth Bogin, “‘Liberty Further Extended’: A 1776 Antislavery Manuscript by Lemuel Haynes,” William and Mary Quarterly 40, no. 1 (January 1983): 94, 95–96.
effusion - the escape of fluid
Lemuel Haynes’s “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping,” 1776
I know that those that are concerned in the Slave-trade, Do pretend to Bring arguments in vindication of their practice. We live in a day wherein Liberty & freedom is the subject of many millions Concern; and the important Struggle hath alread[y] caused great Effusion of Blood. . . .
It hath pleased god to make of one Blood all nations of men, for to dwell upon the face of the Earth. . . . Liberty is Equally as pre[c]ious to a Black man, as it is to a white one, and . . . in the Sacred Scriptures, that constitutes a Black man a Slave, any more than a white one.
Source: Lemuel Haynes, “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping” (1776), printed in Ruth Bogin, “‘Liberty Further Extended’: A 1776 Antislavery Manuscript by Lemuel Haynes,” William and Mary Quarterly 40, no. 1 (January 1983): 94, 95–96.
effusion - the escape of fluid
Background
In this essay, Haynes argued that slavery was inherently wrong and that the freedom promised by the fight for independence should be offered to African Americans as well as to whites. The tumult of the war kept Haynes from publishing the manuscript, which did not appear in print until 1983.
Transcript
Excerpts from Lemuel Haynes’s “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping,” 1776
We hold these truths to be self-Evident, that all men are created Equal, that they are Endowed By their Creator with Ceartain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happyness.
Congress.
I know that those that are concerned in the Slave-trade, Do pretend to Bring arguments in vindication of their practise; yet if we give them a candid Examination, we shall find them (Even those of the most cogent kind) to be Essencially Deficient. We live in a day wherein Liberty & freedom is the subject of many millions Concern; and the important Struggle hath alread caused great Effusion of Blood; men seem to manifest the most sanguine resolution not to Let their natural rights go without their Lives go with them; a resolution, one would think Every one that has the Least Love to his country, or futer posterity, would fully confide in, yet while we are so zelous to maintain, and foster our own invaded rights, it cannot be tho’t impertinent for us Candidly to reflect on our own conduct, and I doubt not But that we shall find that subsisting in the midst of us, that may with propriety be stiled Opression, nay, much greater opression, than that which Englishmen seem so much to spurn at. I mean an oppression which they, themselves, impose upon others.
It is not my Business to Enquire into Every particular practise, that is practised in this Land, that may come under this Odeus Character; But, what I have in view, is humbly to offer som free thoughts, on the practise of Slave-keeping. Opression, is not spoken of, nor ranked in the sacred oracles, among the Least of those sins, that are the procureing Caus of those signal Judgments, which god is pleas’d to bring upon the Children of men. Therefore let us attend. I mean to white with freedom, yet with the greatest Submission.
And the main proposition, which I intend for some Breif illustration is this, Namely, That an African, or, in other terms, that a Negro may Justly Chalenge, and has an undeniable right to his Liberty: Consequently, the practise of Slave-keeping, which so much abounds in this Land is illicit.
Every privilege that mankind Enjoy have their Origen from god; and whatever acts are passed in any Earthly Court, which are Derogatory to those Edicts that are passed in the Court of Heaven, the act is void. If I have a perticular previlede granted to me by god, and the act is not revoked nor the power that granted the benefit vacated, (as it is imposable but that god should Ever remain immutable) then he that would infringe upon my Benifit, assumes an unreasonable, and tyrannic power.
It hath pleased god to make of one Blood all nations of men, for to dwell upon the face of the Earth. Acts 17, 26. And as all are of one Species, so there are the same Laws, and aspiring principles placed in all nations; and the Effect that these Laws will produce, are Similar to Each other. Consequently we may suppose, that what is precious to one man, is precious to another, and what is irksom, or intolarable to one man, is so to another, consider’d in a Law of Nature. Therefore we may reasonably Conclude, that Liberty is Equally as pre[c]ious to a Black man, as it is to a white one, and Bondage Equally as intollarable to the one as it is to the other: Seeing it Effects the Laws of nature Equally as much in the one as it Does in the other. But, as I observed Before, those privileges that are granted to us By the Divine Being, no one has the Least right to take them from us without our consen[t] and there is Not the Least precept, or practise, in the Sacred Scriptures, that constitutes a Black man a Slave, any more than a white one. . . .
Source: Lemuel Haynes, “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping” (1776), printed in Ruth Bogin, “‘Liberty Further Extended’: A 1776 Antislavery Manuscript by Lemuel Haynes,” William and Mary Quarterly 40, no. 1 (Jan. 1983): 94, 95–96.
Excerpt
Lemuel Haynes’s “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping,” 1776
I know that those that are concerned in the Slave-trade, Do pretend to Bring arguments in vindication of their practice. We live in a day wherein Liberty & freedom is the subject of many millions Concern; and the important Struggle hath alread[y] caused great Effusion of Blood . . . But that we shall find that subsisting in the midst of us . . . greater op[p]ression, than that which Englishmen seem so much to spurn at. I mean an oppression which they, themselves, impose upon others.
But, what I have in view, is humbly to offer som[e] free thoughts, on the practise of Slave-keeping . . . That an African, or, in other terms, that a Negro may Justly Chal[l]enge, and has an undeniable right to his Liberty: Consequently, the practise of Slave-keeping, which so much abounds in this Land is illicit.
It hath pleased god to make of one Blood all nations of men, for to dwell upon the face of the Earth. Acts 17, 26. And as all are of one Species, so there are the same Laws; and the Effect that these Laws will produce, are Similar to Each other . . . Therefore we may reasonably Conclude, that Liberty is Equally as pre[c]ious to a Black man, as it is to a white one, and Bondage Equally as intol[e]rable to the one as it is to the other: But, as I observed Before, those privileges that are granted to us By the Divine Being, no one has the Least precept, or practise, in the Sacred Scriptures, that constitutes a Black man a Slave, any more than a white one.
Source: Lemuel Haynes, “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping” (1776), printed in Ruth Bogin, “‘Liberty Further Extended’: A 1776 Antislavery Manuscript by Lemuel Haynes,” William and Mary Quarterly 40, no. 1 (January 1983): 94, 95–96.
effusion - the escape of fluid
Excerpt 100
Lemuel Haynes’s “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping,” 1776
I know that those that are concerned in the Slave-trade, Do pretend to Bring arguments in vindication of their practice. We live in a day wherein Liberty & freedom is the subject of many millions Concern; and the important Struggle hath alread[y] caused great Effusion of Blood. . . .
It hath pleased god to make of one Blood all nations of men, for to dwell upon the face of the Earth. . . . Liberty is Equally as pre[c]ious to a Black man, as it is to a white one, and . . . in the Sacred Scriptures, that constitutes a Black man a Slave, any more than a white one.
Source: Lemuel Haynes, “Liberty Further Extended: Or Free Thoughts on the Illegality of Slave-Keeping” (1776), printed in Ruth Bogin, “‘Liberty Further Extended’: A 1776 Antislavery Manuscript by Lemuel Haynes,” William and Mary Quarterly 40, no. 1 (January 1983): 94, 95–96.
effusion - the escape of fluid
