In his book Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes, John
Woolman contended that no one had the right to own another human
being. In 1758 the Philadelphia yearly meeting said that slavery was
inconsistent with Christianity, and in 1775 Quakers played a dominant
role in the formation of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of
Slavery, the first antislavery society in America.
As the colonists began to agitate for their own freedom, many of
them became increasingly aware of the contradiction involved in
slaveholders fighting for their own freedom. "To contend for
liberty," John Jay wrote, "and to deny that blessing to others
involves an inconsistency not to be excused." James Otis maintained
that the same arguments which were used to defend the rights of the
colonists against Britain could be used with at least equal force
against the colonists by their slaves. "It is a clear truth," he
said, "that those who every day barter away other men's liberty will
soon care little for their own."
In the same vein, Abigail Adams wrote her husband: "It always
appeared a most iniquitous scheme to me to fight ourselves for what we
are daily robbing and plundering from those who have as good a right
to freedom as we have.
Pages:
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109