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------------The Abolitionist Review----------__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Abolitionist Review was established in 1689 with one goal in mind, to
tell others about the injustices slaves faced on a daily basis. The paper was first published
in Boston Massachusetts. The Abolitionist Review is consists of articles written by anti
slavery activists and even some runaway slaves. The newspaper was started with the
purpose of informing others unaware of what slaves faced day after day. The paper was
originally aimed at middle class Northerners, but now is read by people of all classes in
the North and is starting to spread out in the new colonies in the Northwest Territories.
Since our creation in 1689 to present day 1865 we have become one of the most widely
read abolitionist papers.
Two slaves declared free!
citizens,
historical event that we
because they are upset in
have to think about. Why
African
which way the government
did
American slaves will be
had handled this conflict
conspiracy?
declared free and sent home
and with which power they
to Africa by government
could
order. However, this was
citizens had to pay for the
relentless
not enough; the citizens of
transportation. This returns
uprisings. However, there
the
November 4, 1646
Two
Bay
rights
of
the
decide
that
the
slaves
have
a
was
in
There
colonial
Virginia
fear
of
a
slave
Colony
in
the question about to high
was no organized slave
have
to
taxes in the mind of the
uprising
answer for their transport
people and starts also a
conspiracy of slaves and
back. In addition this is the
movement
indentured servants planned
first time in the History of
governor.
Massachusetts
against
the
in
Virginia.
A
“to destroy their masters
this puritan’s colony that
This decision of the
and afterwards to set up for
the government declared
government, to send the
themselves.” Many slaves
slaves free and orders their
slaves back, will have a lot
in Virginia started to rebel
backhaul. The citizens were
more consequences than the
their masters. By 1625,
even upset that the slaves
government expects. Due to
there were only twenty-four
were freed after passing the
this the government has to
African serving in Virginia.
law that make slavery legal,
handle again with upset
After 25 years, there were
but even more when they
citizens in their colony.
300, or 2 percent of the
have
-By Felix Magold
population.
to
pay
for
their
Rebellious
transport. This is a big
The First Slave
indentured servants, black
scandal for the people in
Conspiracy in America in
and white, posed a threat.
Virginia!
However, bad behavior and
the Colony.
During
the
September 13, 1663
running
transport to the harbor from
away
do
not
constitute a conspiracy. By
where they should be send
We
found
the
first
the 1660s, African servants
back, the crowd was yelling
slave conspiracy in VA in
had
and screaming to the slaves.
the United States. This was
permanent servitude based
Everybody was upset and
on September 13, 1663 in
on skin color.
short-temperedly. However
Gloucester
planters
the situation remained calm
Many slaves in VA tried to
slaves in Virginia.
and no excesses happened.
get rid of their masters,
What were the problems
As a result of this event the
such as tobacco planters.
with slaves and planters?
people are demanding for
Also, some of them tried to
We should think about that.
more and stricter slave’s
run
their
Do you think planters only
laws but also for basics
masters.
the
think about themselves? Or
country,
away
from
It
was
VA.
hardened
wanted
into
Tobacco
more
do you think slaves just
problem.
Christians
the
end slavery. As a drop of
want to kill them? I think
northern part of the colony
rain can make an ocean,
they had to find some kind
believe
a
one step toward for equality
of solutions to figure out
Christians
is
south
and freedom in slavery
these problems.
disagree.
The
slavery
is
the
issue
of
societies
more
move
in
toward
-By Chris Hong
slavery is really big right
communities
February 18, 1688
now and has become more
peace and prosperity.
Germantown and the first
intensified because of the
Abolitionist Review
northern opposition. There
is
Today,
a
great
deal
disagreement. People have
amazing scene is taking
various opinions according
place in the Germantown,
as black and white or
Western Hemisphere. The
owners and slaves and so
leader among the settlers of
on. Many people wonder
Germantown's,
Francis
about the result of the
has
protest which has shocked
document
is
people here. Moreover, this
slavery
in
protest will be here a great
Also,
act on the colonies and this
Quakers and Mennonites
problem will be embossed
are
against
slavery
owners
slavery. Many people in the
South.
Some
town are so afraid and
believe
that
nervous about this because
movement will be more
and they do not want to be
confront and of will be
dispossessed of their slaves.
difficult to work out a
Pastorius
his
compromise because of this
Germantowners
are
protest.
appalled
the
Whatever the result, future
incompatibility of slavery.
citizens of the United States
In the tendency of the first
will
antislavery
proud
Pastorius,
written
a
protest
of
colonial
America.
protesters
and
by
movement
in
the
historians
anti-slavery
remember
of
the
and
be
1688
Germantown
other south states as well.
against Slavery and their
Why
This
sacrifice. I wish I was there
occurred
when the people of the
religious
United States will accept
protest
because
protest?
has
of
a
Slaves Captured, Then
Executed
Early this morning, a fire
broke out in New York and
while colonists set out to
extinguish the blaze. At this
time, 21 from the New
York
area
planning
had
to
attack
been
the
firemen and other white
colonists.
They
hammers,
gathered
hatches,
and
other weapons that they
could find and attacked the
white
colonists in their
area. Once they attacked,
nine colonists were dead
and militia units from New
getting more spread out
the
April 6, 1712
of
an
Daniel
-Eunice Kwag
Declaration
York and the Westchester
area were called in to
capture
the
slaves
and
execute them. Later this
morning, I witnessed the
capture of about 27 slaves
and the execution of 21
slaves. The 21 slaves that
were executed were hung
and burned alive. The six
Massachusetts,
Crispus
received at the time of his
slaves
not
Attucks, a 27 year old
return to Deacon William
executed, have committed
mulatto slave, escaped from
Brown.
suicide so that they could
his master, Deacon William
through these signs and
not be executed by the
Brown.
who
reward advertisements, that
white militia who support
had been working diligently
Crispus is only viewed as
slavery.
for Brown since age 16,
property to his master and
took
to the free people that will
who
were
Attucks,
a
job
as
a
It
is
clear,
The purpose of this
harpoonist on a whaling
search
news article is to inform
ship this morning, leaving
should be commended for
white
his
his
colonists what is
position
of
nearly
for
him.
bravery,
skill,
He
and
happening in our world
11 years. Crispus, who had
planning and we hope that
today and to describe what
been described as a “strong-
many slaves will be as
I
willed
thoughtful in their plans
witnessed
early
this
and
morning. As a result of
independent
slavery
secretly applied for the job
their escapes as Crispus
mistreatment of slaves, nine
as
Attucks has been. It needs
white colonists are dead
for months his escape to
to
today because of the global
freedom. He left his cruel
cruel, unfair, and unwilling
slave trade. Whites treat the
and
slavery
black slaves as if they are
a slave, and stands as
animals by hitting them,
inspiration to the many
-By Stephanie Pajak
giving them small portions
people who are in positions
Northwest Ordinance
of food, and forcing them to
similar to his own previous
July 13, 1787
d massive amounts of labor
lifestyle. It is unsure which
each day. Our world would
boat
escaped
The Northwest Ordinance,
be a better place if we just
onto, or his exact time of
adopted July 13, 1787, by
stopped
departure, however, Brown
the
from happening because I
reports
Congress,
witnessed slaves tortured
before he woke up. Attucks
government
by being burned alive.
had clearly been planning
Northwest
his
provided
and
these
the
tragedies
-By Markus Lauria
September 30, 1750
“Crispus Attucks
Escapes!”
Earlier
Framingham,
today
in
a
individual”
whaler,
unfair
plotting
position
he
that
escape
it
and
as
was
knew
and
as
successful
be
recognized
is
wrong,
in
that
and
should be abolished.
Second
Continental
chartered
for
a
the
Territory,
a
method
for
exactly what he was doing.
admitting new states to the
“Wanted” signs have been
Union from the territory,
placed
throughout
and listed a bill of rights
Framingham, and there is a
guaranteed in the territory.
reward for the recovery of
Following
the
principles
Crispus,
outlined
by
Thomas
to
be
Jefferson in the Ordinance
other individual rights. In
rights
of 1784, the authors of the
addition
ordinance
property, but to announce
Northwest
encouraged education and
that a slave is barely half of
forbade slavery.
any other person is horrid
Ordinance
(probably Nathan Dane and
the
and
regarded
as
Rufus King) spelled out a
-By Henry Lee
and wrong. It is wrong to
plan that was subsequently
August 28, 1787
mindlessly judge that a kind
Constitutional
and innocent slave is less
Convention
than the most rude and
used
as
the
country
expanded to the Pacific.
There were three things
guilty white person.
ordained : (1) a division of
Yesterday, on a rather
Just this afternoon, the men
hot August morning, the
began to debate the laws for
into "not less than three nor
members
fugitive
more than five States"; (2) a
Constitutional Convention
slaves are runaway slaves
three-stage
met to debate several parts
often living in a free state.
admitting a new state to the
of
Because each state has its
Union
including
the
Northwest
Territory
method
with
congressionally
for
a
the
the
Constitution
the
Fugitive
own
slaves.
rules
Fugitive
and
views
Slave Clause. The men also
regarding runaway slaves, it
discussed a few other topics
is
three judges to rule in the
regarding
accurately
first
governor,
appointed
of
secretary,
phase;
and
slavery.
The
nearly
impossible
to
gauge
an
elected
reason for the meeting was
appropriate actions against
and
one
to amend certain articles of
found
to
the Constitution. Yesterday
Slave states believe that it
Congress to be elected in
they were able to determine
is their right to persecute
the second phase, when the
a
slaves
population of the territory
documentation
slaves
plantations by their rules no
reached "five thousand free
regarding population. This
matter where the runaway
male inhabitants of full
counting
for
slave is found. However,
age";
consensus
record
most free states think that it
constitution to be drafted
keeping. It was decided that
is unjust to enter an anti-
and membership to the
a slave would count as
slavery state and use slave
Union to be requested in
“three- fifths” of a person
state laws against fugitive
the third phase when the
when
for
slaves in otherwise free
population reached 60,000;
population. The fact that a
zones. Pierce Butler and
and (3) a bill of rights
slave is compared to only
Charles
protecting
three-fifths
white
from South Carolina, have
assembly
nonvoting
and
delegate
a
state
religious
resolution
is
to
of
mainly
and
calculating
of
a
from
Pinckney,
slaves.
their
both
freedom, the right to a writ
person
unbelievably
proposed that a clause be
of
the
absurd. It is bad enough
added to precisely rule that
benefit of trial by jury, and
that they are stripped of all
fugitive
habeas
corpus,
is
the
fugitive
slaves
be
transported from free states
they were faced with
School is open to the
for justice. On the other
racism,
public.
hand, Pennsylvanian, James
and
Wilson,
community
demanded
that
discrimination,
inequality,
the
stuck
Butler and Pinckney take
together and founded a
their proposal off the table.
school in the home of
He thought that it was
Primus Hall in 1798.
immoral and uncalled for. It
Although
is predicted that a decision
Constitution states that
will be made within the
all people are created
next few days as to whether
equal, there are obviously
or
be
better schools for whites
included, and if it is, how it
including more teachers,
will be worded.
more supplies, and safer
not
this
should
-Kayla Peloquin
October 17, 1787
Blacks Petition for Equal
the
buildings
for
the
students.
The
black
community
wanted
to
improve their schools, so
Schools
everything was fair. “In
October 17, 1787 - The
1808, the African School,
blacks
as it was called, moved to
petitioned
for
equal schools in Boston
larger
after fighting for many
in the basement of the
years for the education of
African Meeting House
their children. One of the
where it remained until
schools that they were
1835.” (Gov). In 1855,
petitioning for was The
almost all of Boston’s
Abiel Smith School.
public
It
accommodations
schools
were
was constructed in 1834
“desegregated.”
and in 1835. It became
result of the integration,
the first schoolhouse in
the Smith School lost
America that was built
many of its students and
was forced to be closed
for
educating
black
As a
school children. “… the
down.
African-American
reopened in 1887 as a
community
tirelessly
fought
for
the
headquarter
education
of
children.”
(Gov).
their
As
Eventually
for
it
black
veterans of the Civil
War. Today The Abiel
-By Matthew McCarthy
October 15, 1793
Fugative Slave Law
Enables the Legal
Capture of Free Slaves
This past year on
February
12,
1793
congress of our
the
United
States of America passed
the Fugitive Slave Law,
which allows for the return
of escaped slaves to their
former masters. Now, even
in Free States, a black man
or woman who has escaped
from the bondage of slavery
can be taken back to their
masters and once again be
put under the heavy chains
of oppression. Our own
Congress
D.C.
in
passed
Washington
this
bill
overwhelmingly, and on the
12 our dearly beloved, hero
of
the
Revolution,
President
Mr.
George
Washington himself sign it
into law. The man who
stands
for
liberty
and
freedom in our country just
ensured
the
unjustifiable
enslavement of hundreds of
free African Americans. It
even allows for the arrest of
any of those who aid in the
justice to the slaves of
achieving this by requiring
escape of a runaway slave
America.
is
any person importing slaves
who is only seeking what is
ringing off the banks of the
to Georgia from the West
rightfully
Mississippi
the
Indies or East or West
Because of this law a vile
Appalachian Mountains, it
Florida to pay the state a
and unholy trade has arisen
is
fee of 65 dollars for each
that is made legal by it, that
conductors on its sacred
slave.
of the slave-catcher, a man
rout:
Underground
different opinions in this
who bases his occupation
Railroad.
This
widely discussed topic.
on
and
institution has been erected
kidnapping of free slaves.
to topple the old one, to
decade abolitionists have
So now even slaves who
finally bring the 'liberty and
discussed
have been living in the
justice for all' to America.
whether the constitution is
northern states and who
Because
who
anti slavery or pro slavery.
have dwelt off the sweet
would wish to stop this
Some opponents of slavery
drink of freedom for years
march toward freedom and
attacked the constitution as
can be taken back to their
liberty
be
a proslavery document that
masters.
the
mentioned
how
this
denies congress the right to
do
not
righteous
organization
interfere with African slave
They
will
works, but for those who
trade, for not counting free
kidnap even those African
firmly believe in justice and
blacks as citizens, and for
Americans who never have
the destruction of slavery:
counting blacks as three-
been, and never should be,
"Go down, Moses, way
fifths the value of a white
slaves. This new breed of
down in Egypt land Tell old
person. Other abolitionists
crooks, masquerading with
Pharaoh, let my people go."
argue that the constitution
his,
the
freedom.
capture
However,
slave-catchers
discriminate.
the law as their mask, will
Its
being
name
and
sung
the
of
it
by
the
new
those
will
not
-By Sarah Lyons
There are many
Over
the
and
past
disputed
gave congress the power to
capture any black man,
Georgia Prohibits the
prohibit the movement of
woman, or child be they a
Importation of Slaves
slaves into United States
free slave, a descendent of
December 19, 1793
territories.
free slaves, or have not a
drop
of
accursed
Today is December
people about what they
Institution in their veins,
19, 1793 and we are yet
thought about this issue and
and
another step closer to the
they had very
oppression. As a reaction to
abolishment
things to say about it. Mr.
this poisonous law, over the
Gov. Mathews has just
Oliver
past months an organization
signed
to
says to let the states import
has been forming that is
discourage
slave
as they please. The morality
bringing
trade in Georgia.
He is
and ethics of slavery are
bring
that
I talked to many
them
freedom
into
and
a
of
slavery.
legislation
foreign
from
different
Connecticut
different between each state
ideas on the topic and helps
religious groups, like the
which will effect how much
you to form a decision of
Quakers had a very large
they import and we have no
your own.
objection to slavery, they
right to stop them.
Col.
-By Nicole Grenier
felt that it was completely
George Mason agreed with
Freedom
unrealistic for us African
the decision to stop the
July 4, 1799
Americans to be held to our
importation of slaves. Col.
Mason
says
that
ancestry and thought of as
this
Freedom is a word that
only someone else property
decision is not only about
now can be used by blacks
or slaves. Everyone was
the slaves but about the
all through out the north. It
getting tired of hearing
Union
is the year 1799, and we are
about how some day we
and
finally free, we are now
would be free, free to be
North Carolina had already
able to make our own
just like everyone else, to
prohibited the importation
choices and live our own
be
of slaves and it would be
lives. It has taken a while
appreciated like every other
wrong to let Georgia import
for us to get here though.
person. That day has finally
as
Maryland
a
whole.
Virginia,
salves as they wished. Col.
Mason
says
slavery
We have struggled
to
and
arrived, all the work that
people from all over the
discourages manufacturing
prejudice; we had no voice
United States, people of
and arts and is a cruel way
at all for the longest time. I
different race, ethnicity and
of labor.
can still remember reading
culture have come together
Once again as of
the paper and seeing what
to fight along with us for
today slaves are no longer
politicians John Jay and
our freedom. It is the year
able to be imported into
Alexander Hamilton had to
1799 and my fair city of
Georgia.
say.
New
is
racism
up
and
Georgia
through
looked
Those
men
we
York
has
just
fallowing in the footsteps of
fighting for our rights, they
Maryland
had helped with spreading
-Rachel Leibowitz
North Carolina who have
“The
Free Blacks in
already passed this law.
Movement,” it moved into
Philadelphia Petition To
This is still a heated topic
the north and stretched out
Congress
that
people
like wild fire. The north
January 2, 1800
disputing whether it was the
was soon to become the
right decision or not.
I
leader in fighting for the
On January 2, 1800, a
personally think that it was
right of African Americans.
group of 71 freed blacks in
a great decision because I
This then leaked out to the
Philadelphia submitted a
think slavery is morally
East Coast in involving
petition to Congress to end
wrong and cruel.
Philadelphia
and
slavery in the United States.
Some
Entitled “The Petition of
has
Virginia,
many
and
I hope
this article expresses all
Pennsylvania.
Abolitionist
abolished slavery.
the
People
of
Colour,
much
debate
over
the
coincided,
with
the
Freemen Within the City,
petition in the House, but it
political realities of New
and
of
was eventually rejected by
England federalism. King
Philadelphia,” the petition
a vote of eighty five to one.
first
requests of congress the
This is an example of the
extension of slavery into
freedom of their fellow
government’s
the
blackmen
attitude.
Suburbs
enslaved
throughout the country. The
pro-slavery
opposes
the
Northwest
Territories, although he
Although
this
was willing "to suffer the
group of freemen, led by
attempt of ending slavery
continuance
Reverend Absalom Jones,
proves to have failed, it is a
until
state
big step in the road to
gradually emancipated in
“…while we feel impressed
freedom
states
with grateful sensations for
people, a large spark in the
with them." He does not
the Providential favours we
antislavery movement. It is
press the issue very hard
ourselves enjoy, we cannot
petitions
at this time, however. At
be
the
requests like these that are
the
conditions of our afflicted
going to one day set the
Convention he indicates
Brethren, suffering tinder
slaves free. It is understood
his opposition to slavery
curious circumstances in
this
was
different
parts
process,
States;
but
in
the
petition,
insensible
of
for
all
and
continuous
can
already
be
overrun
Constitutional
based
upon
the
gradual
but
the
political and economic
perseverance shown by so
advantages it gave to the
sympathizing with them.”
many
South, and he is willing
There is obviously a sense
women cannot be given up.
to
of brotherhood between all
If we don’t give up, perhaps
political reasons.
of the slaves and ex-slaves
one day a petition will be
He
within this country, and
passed, and all living in the
action seeking abolition
these
United States will have
of the slave trade, and he
found freedom.
later speaks strongly for
free
these
deep
men
in,
are
recognizing the struggle of
be
they
slaves
a
of
will
black
of
black
men
and
their brothers. The petition
-Alessandra Mele
also asks for the elimination
Rufus King opposes
of the slave trade and the
Slavery
Fugitive Slave Law. The
Petition was submitted to
King has had a lot o
compromise
supports
the
for
Senate
antislavery
amendment
in
the
Missouri statehood bill.
Rufus arguments are
political, economic, and
‘history of opposition to
humanitarian;
Robert
the expansion of slavery
extension
Waln, who introduced it to
and the slave trade. This
would adversely affect
the
stand was a product of
moral conviction, which
the security of the
principles of freedom and
congressional
Representative
House
of
Representatives. There was
of
the
slavery
liberty.
After
the
the impact of King’s
de
Missouri Compromise he
declaration was such that
Angola’s
continues
Douglass
Dorothy and her husband
to
support
R.
Angola;
to
Paolo
his
D’
widow
gradual emancipation in
Egerton even suggests a
Manuel
various ways. [Arbena
possible
Congo’s to himself; Pieter
1965]
inspiration
One of King’s most
King’s
link
of
between
Pieters;
Santome’s
to
Simon
his
sons
declaration
in
Lucas and Salomon; Little
and
the
Anthony, senior’s to Little
Denmark
Anthony, junior; and Gratia
consequential
Congress
interventions in Congress
controversial
is in regards to the 1820
Vesey slave uprising of
Angola’s
Tallmadge debate, which
1822.
Maria
to
and
his
widow
herhusband
sought to limit slavery
-By Jermaine Boswell
in Missouri, as it became
11 Blacks Successfully
a state. King appeals to
Petition for their
happened in this moment,
Freedom
and the first example is
the
now
fading
Revolutionary sense of
Today in North America,
He declares that all legal
the first group of eleven of
and otherwise attempts to
blacks successful petitions
uphold
the government of New
were
“absolutely void, because
Amsterdam
[they are] contrary to the
freedom. Ten years ago,
law of nature, which is
most of the black people
the law of God.” Though
had been concerned with
the
failed
either the morality or the
and Missouri became a
economics of slaveholding,
slave state. King reflects
and working hard for their
the gradual ideological
own freedom. Finally their
evolution of the Atlantic
voice can be heard today.
Abolitionist
movement.
Manuel Trompeter’s was
According
to
David
confirmed to his children
Biron Davis, this may
have been the first time
Bernard and Christina, and
anywhere in the world
was confirmed to her and
that a political leader
her
openly attacked slavery’s
.Angola. Of the patents to
perceived legality in such
a radical manner. In fact,
the eleven, Big Manuel’s
amendment
slaving
issue
is
still
setting up this term. There
equality to attack slavery.
slavery
Christoffel Santomes. The
for
their
Maycke’s of the same time
husband
Domingo
went to his widow Christina
might be more and more in
the future.
-By Roy Yeh
A Cry for Freedom
Brothers and sisters, it is time to
fight for black slaves’ freedom. In
March 1775, radical patriot Patrick
Henry cried, “Give me liberty, or give
me death,” in front of the Virginia House
of Burgesses. When patriots were
gathering their army, blacks were not
included to have right to fight for the
freedom. Yet on November 7, 1775, the
time comes when the blacks need to rise
up and fight for their liberty. Lord
Dunmore, John Murray, is Virginia’s
royal governor, and he issues the Martial
Law in response to inform the colonists
who have begun forming armies and
attacking British troops.
Lord Dunmore offers freedom to
slaves who fight for the King.
“And I do hereby further declare all
indented Servants Negroes, or others,
free that are able and willing to bear
Arms, they joining His Majesty’s Troops
as soon as may be, foe the more speedily
reducing this Colony to a proper Sense
of their Duty, to His Majesty’s Crown
and Dignity.”
Virginia has far more black
slaves than patriots. More than one-third
of the population of Virginia is slaves. If
blacks gather the power together against
patriots for their freedom, blacks have
opportunity to finally gain their freedom.
Do we, black slaves, remember the
Somerset Case in 1772, when a slave,
purchased in Virginia, became a free
man when transported to England?
England will give freedom to blacks. It
is time for blacks to fight for liberty.
Jackie Yang
Phillis Wheatley and Child
Perish
December 5, 1784. Phillis
Wheatley and her third child tragicaly
perished today. Wheatley’s family has
long been financially struggling, and she
died improverished at age 31. Wheatley
had written over hundred poems during
her lifetime, however, about thirty of
them are missing from her collection.
Wheatley was born in Senegal, and was
captured by slave traders at a young age.
She was sold upon her arrival to the
Colonies to a tailor, John Wheatley of
Boston, when she was only 7. Mary
Wheatley, daughter of John, taught
Phillis how to read and write. Phillis
learned the English language quickly,
and by the time she was 16, she was able
to read passages in the Bible. Phillis was
sent to England in 1771 with Nathaniel
Wheatley, son of John Wheatley,
however, she returned to Boston after
the death of Mary. She was freed after
her owner’s death, and married John
Peters, a freed black grocer. They lived
their lives in poverty. Her death is tragic
as she is the first African American to
publish a book. Today, not many African
Americans are educated, but she broke
the color barrier and made a great
accomplishment, which was publishing a
book of her greatest works of poetry.
She leaves two children and her
husband.
Praow Ishihara
The Freedom of Caesar Tarrant
Today, November 14, 1786, the
Virginia legislature emancipated the
former slave and Tidewater area river
pilot, Caesar Tarrant. “It was a
wonderful day for all of us who know
Caesar.” one of Caesar’s neighbours
said. Almost the whole town came to
this special event just to see their friend
Caesar receive his freedom. It was an
amazing crowd of people who located
themselves just in front of the House of
Parliament to wait for Caesar to come
out of the building as a free Human.
Caesar Tarrant was born a slave
in 1740 and grew up without parents. In
his adulthood Caesar was sold to Carter
Tarrant. Caesar’s special skills as a river
pilot were found early on in his life. He
married the slave of his neighbour, Lucy,
and longed for freedom. The only way
he could have secured his freedom was
to become a river pilot which he became
in the end. Caesar Tarrant became a
member of the Virginia Navy and had a
very important role in many war
manoeuvres. Unfortunately, Tarrant was
captured by the British navy and
returned to slave status soon after his
return. Carter Tarrant, Caesar’s owner,
died two years ago and Caesar then was
put in the custody of Mary, Carter
Tarrant’s wife. But now with the help of
the Virginia General Assembly, Caesar
Tarrant became free. All of us, and
especially Caesar himself, can thank this
great assembly for the freedom he fought
for his entire life and finally, in the end,
received.
We all whish you a good and
enjoyable time the next years.
Clemens Grave
Delaware Outlaws the Slave
Trade!
Yesterday, February fourth 1789,
at the Capital building in Dover,
Governor Richard Basset signed a bill
that outlawed the trading of Slavery in
the state of Delaware. Delaware joins
Massachusetts and six other states by
signing this bill. If somebody were to
break this law they would face a lengthy
prison stay and possibly a heavy fine to
accompany it. The signing of the bill
angered most southern states and will
have an unfortunate affect their
economy.
The main reason Governor
Basset signed the bill was because of the
growing pressure to end slavery in
Delaware. He was also feeling stress
from such newspapers as the Liberator.
William Lloyd Garrison, the editor, was
criticizing Governor Basset in past
issues of the Liberator. The signing of
this bill will make Governor Basset a
popular Governor once again.
The bill goes into effect at noon
today. The bill prohibits any Delaware
resident in engaging in the act of buying
or trading Slaves. It also prohibits any
Slave trading from entering any port in
Delaware. Many of the other Governors
in the South voiced their feelings in local
newspapers by saying this bill is going
to affect the economy and relations
between Delaware and the South.
Governor Basset signed the bill to the
crowd’s applause. He responded by
saying this is a giant step forward for
Delaware and the ending of Slavery.
Wesley Slobody
Obituaries
Benjamin Lundy: died August
22, 1839, was an abolitionist who
published his articles in his newspaper
“The Genius of Emancipation”. He was
fifty years old.
Lundy was born on January 4,
1789 in Hardwick, New Jersey to
Quaker parents, Joseph and Eliza Lundy.
He was raised with Quaker beliefs that
violence and enslavement of human
beings was immoral.
Lundy first came into contact
with slavery in 1808 after moving to
Wheeling, Virginia to pursue a career in
saddle making. Soon after, he decided
to devote his life to fighting slavery.
Lundy established the Union
Humane Society in 1816. With his
encouragement the group grew from a
mere six to over five hundred members.
Lundy also began to write articles for
Charles Osborn’s newspaper, “The
Philanthropist” the same year.
In 1821, Lundy published his
first of twelve total issues of “The
Genius of Universal Emancipation.”
The newspaper was distributed to 21
states and contained the writings of
many abolitionists.
In 1822, Lundy published a
second newspaper, “The American
Economist and Weekly Political
Recorder.” This newspaper included
poetry as well as politics and economics.
He devised a plan in 1825 to end
slavery, which he called the “Gradual
Abolition of Slavery in the United States
without danger or Loss to the South.”
He later traveled to Haiti, Canada, and
the Texas republic in search for a
suitable colony for freed slaves.
Benjamin Lundy, husband of the
late Esther Lewis, is survived by his five
children. Funeral services will be held
in McNabb, Illinois.
Ariel Landers
Pennsylvania Abolition Society
Founded Today
Today, April 14, 1775, at the Rising Sun
Tavern in Philadelphia, the society
“Relief for Free Negroes Unlawfully
held in Bondage” a.k.a. Pennsylvania
Abolition Society (PAS) was
established. This is the first abolition
society ever created. PAS is working to
assist enslaved persons and continue to
promote an end to slavery. It also works
to encourage education, employment of
liberated blacks, and assistance to the
free African American community in
Philadelphia. Four German Quakers
created the Society. The president is
activist James Baldwin. Twenty-four
men attended the meeting today,
seventeen of which were Quakers.
Artisans and Shopkeepers seemed to be
the main attendees. This group is so
powerful and moving, figures such as
Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush
came to observe. They have even
agreed to write up a constitution! The
society is currently working on the ban
of international slave trade, which
consists of a petition to the
Constitutional Convention. They have so
far
successfully
petitioned
the
Pennsylvania legislature and as a result,
the legislature has prohibited the
transportation of slave children or
pregnant women from Pennsylvania.
This act has also imposed heavier fines
for slave kidnapping and made it illegal
to separate slave families by more than
10 miles. This organization is helping
the racism in our country decline one
more step. Let’s hope other states take
this step and we can stop racism all
together!
Abbigail Flagg
Free African Society Founded in
Philadelphia
The free African Society was
founded on April 2nd, 1787 in
Philadelphia by Richard Allen and
Absalom Jones for the purpose of
freeing Africans. The free African
Society operated as a church, local
government and charity. The high
quantity of Africans living in
Pennsylvania was the result of numerous
waves of European immigrants who
possessed great wealth over the past
three centuries. Unlike European
immigrants, Africans arrived in the
colonies against their will as slaves. As
the state’s fifth largest ethnic group,
African Americans had a significant
impact in the history of Pennsylvania.
At the end of the 18th century,
Philadelphia was a city of hope for
African
Americans
because
Pennsylvania had passed the first
abolition act, and Philadelphia was home
by 1790 to over 2,000 free blacks. Some
had bought their freedom after working
during the Revolutionary War, or had
been freed because many slaveholders
moved away from pre-revolutionary
ideals. Africans in the United States had
high hopes for the future in the new
country built on the ideas of
independence, but they also had doubts
whether the declarations of liberty
equality would apply to them. “While
the story of African Americans in
Pennsylvania is one of struggle for
human rights and identity, it is a story
also of achievement and the assertion of
ethnic pride.” (www. Free African
Society in Philadelphia)
In my opinion, I believe
Africans should fight for their basic civil
rights. Regardless of ethnicity or skin
color, all should have rights for freedom
at the very least. Let us hope and assist
the Africans in this country find their
freedom. I urge all to write their
representatives on Capitol Hill and take
action to end the oppression against the
Negro.
Frank Meng
Continental Congress Suspends
Slave Trade
I strongly claim that the slave
trade must be ended! The issue of racism
is one of the big reasons of slave trade.
Although some escape or are set free,
Negroes are being oppressed and denied
their basic corporal and god given rights.
They are continuing to be sold in Britain
and the colonies of the Caribbean. Also
with the rise of industry, the slave trade
must be ceased immediately. Even after
the Constitutional Convention of 1787,
during which protesters in Philadelphia
constantly reminded the delegates of
their discontent of the slave trade, no
legislation against this atrocious practice
was enacted.
Beginning in the 1840’s Negro
abolitionist Frederick Douglass has
become the voice of oppressed Negro
slaves in the United States.
“Those who profess to favor
freedom and yet depreciate agitation are
people who want crops without plowing
the ground; they want rain without
thunder and lightning; they want the
ocean without the roar of its many
waters. The struggle may be a moral
one, or it may be a physical one, or it
may be both. But it must be a struggle.
Power concedes nothing without a
demand; it never has and it never will.”
Negroes including myself are
struggling with the sorrow of being
enslaved for so long. It is time the slave
trade along with slavery be brought to an
end.
Kaitlyn Lee
Congress Adopts Northwest
Ordinance
The Congress of the United
States adopts the Northwest Ordinance,
which states that congress would create
three to five states in the Northwest
Territory, which would be equal with
older states. This measure also bars
slavery from any of the new territories in
the Northwest Territories.
Following the Treaty of Paris, the
Ohio Country was closed for white
settlement by the Proclamation of 1763.
After 1783 the United States claimed
this area, and in 1784 Delegate, Thomas
Jefferson recommended that the United
States should seize the land west of the
Appalachians and should be divided into
new states of the Union. The suggested
names for those states were Chersoneus,
Sylvania, Assenisipia, Metropotamia,
Polypotamia,
Pelisipa,
Saratoga,
Washington, Michigan and Illinoia. This
was the basis for the Northwest
Ordinance.
The Northwest Ordinance (also
known as “An Ordinance for the
Government of the territory of the
United States, North West of the River
Ohio” or “Freedom Ordinance”) was
passed on July 13, 1787 under the
Articles of Confederation by the
Continental Congress of the United
States. The most important effect will be
that the area south of the great Lakes
north and west of the Ohio River and
east of the Mississippi River will be the
first organized territory of the United
Sates. The States which would become
admitted into the Union are Ohio in
1803, Indiana in 1816, Illinois in 1818,
Michigan in 1837, Wisconsin in 1848,
and Minnesota in 1858. The area
covered by those new states is more than
260,000 square miles, which adds over a
million people into the United States.
Christian Naber
An End to Slavery in the United
States?
Following the Revolutionary
War, many legislators had discussed
creating laws regarding banning slavery
in the newly founded United States. It
was not until Aaron Burr demanded
immediate abolishment on the floor of
the Senate, but never received enough
support to create a bill. Not until he had
the idea of a gradual emancipation that a
abolition law was even considered.
However due to the lack of support from
his constituents, his pleas were once
again left unheard.
On January 25, 1785 Jon Jay created the
Manumission Society with few members
first joining with most consisting of
Quakers. This organization was to secure
legislation to end slavery, monitor new
laws in Southern states, and educate
blacks. Members also would regularly
speak out against advertisement of slave
sales, apply pressure on auction houses
and ship owners, and gave free legal
consul to slaves. Members went so far
as to boycott New York merchants and
newspaper owners. They even had
militants visit those newspaper offices
and warn them against publishing
advertisements for selling slaves.
The Manumission society had
many things changed in the state of New
York in terms of slavery, by working
diligently to get new laws passed both
federally and statewide to abolish
slavery Without organizations such as
this, northern states would still have
supported slavery, and perhaps never
have fought to abolish it.
Trevor Young