This letter was printed in the year above
mentioned, and is in part as follows:--
As I lately passed through your provinces in my way hither, I
was sensibly touched with a fellow-feeling for the miseries of
the poor negroes. Whether it be lawful for Christians to buy
slaves, and thereby encourage the nations, from whom they are
bought, to be at perpetual war with each other, I shall not take
upon me to determine. Sure I am, it is sinful, when they have
bought them to use them as bad as though they were brutes, nay,
worse; and whatever particular exceptions there may be, (as I
would charitably hope there are some,) I fear the generality of
you who own negroes are liable to such a charge; for your
slaves, I believe, work as hard, if not harder, than the horses
whereon you ride. These, after they have done their work, are
fed and taken proper care of; but many negroes when wearied with
labour, in your plantations, have been obliged to grind their
corn after their return home: your dogs are caressed and fondled
at your table, but your slaves, who are frequently styled dogs
or beasts, have not an equal privilege; they are scarce
permitted to pick up the crumbs which fall from their master's
table: not to mention what numbers have been given up to the
inhuman usage of cruel taskmasters, who, by their unrelenting
scourges have ploughed their backs and made long furrows, and at
length brought them even unto death.
Pages:
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208