Slaves vs. Slave-Owners - Assignment Example

DETAILED OUTLINE Focus Question: According to Thomas Jefferson, the rhetoric of justice and self-preservation dominated the arguments for and againstabolition in the revolutionary and post-revolutionary period. What evidence and arguments of justice and self-preservation do we see in slave petitions for freedom and slave-owner petitions against manumission in the period 1773-1785?   Thesis: Slaves who petitioned for their freedom during and after the American Revolution made three arguments in favour of their liberation: freedom of rights, freedom of religion and freedom of justice; slave-owners in Virginia after the Revolution made three arguments against manumission of slaves: prevention of free Negroes or mulattoes trading with or for slaves, Act of the Legislature for a general emancipation and ruin to the once happy, free and flourishing country. Their arguments illustrate Thomas Jefferson’s observation that the abolition of slaves exposed two overriding concerns: Justice is on one side and Self-preservation on the other.   I.     Arguments in favour of justice were put forward by various groups of slaves in their petitions in favour of slavery abolition. A.   The slaves felt that they were born with the divine right to live freely in this free country of God. Just like their other fellow human beings, they too had the natural right to freedom. 1.    “by divine permission are held in a state of Slavery within the bowels of a free and Christian Country” 2. “have in common with all other men a natural right to … freedoms without being deprived of them by … fellow men” B.   Some petitions have expressed the slaves’ claim for freedom of religion by highlighting the fact that all humans, being the creations of the Almighty, must be treated equally and given the freedom to choose their own religion. 1.    “detained in a State of Slavery in the Bowels of a free & Christian Country” 2. “the Great Parent of the Universe hath bestowed equally on all mankind” C.   Another aspect that dominated the call for abolition was the cry for right to justice. 1.    “mere custom is the tyrant that keeps us in bondage” 2. “deserving like other men, of some compensation for all our toils and sufferings” II. Arguments in favour of self-preservation were presented by the slave-owners who opposed the abolition. A.   Abolition raised the potential risk of proliferation of slave trade by the free Negroes. 1.    “many Evils have Arisen from a Partial emancipation of Slaves” 2. “to prevent free Negroes or mulattoes trading with or For slaves” B.   Some slave owners even felt that the Act of the Legislature for a General Emancipation was “a flagrant Contempt of the constituent Powers of the Commonwealth” as well as “a daring attack on that sacred Constitution”. 1.    “a flagrant Contempt of the constituent Powers of the Commonwealth” 2. “a daring attack on that sacred Constitution” C.   However the issue that breathed through almost all such petitions was the irreparable damage caused to the economy and the perpetual loss of the country’s freedom and happiness. 1.    “Want, Poverty, Distress, and Ruin…Breach of public Faith and Loss of Credit” 2. “final Ruin to this now flourishing free and happy Country” Conclusion Evaluation Rubric References Slaves Vs. Slave-owners Thomas Jefferson was a steady opponent of slavery throughout his political life. According to Jefferson, the rhetoric of justice and self-preservation dominated the arguments for and against abolition in the revolutionary and post-revolutionary period. The same is evident in the arguments of justice and self-preservation in the slave petitions for freedom and slave-owner petitions against manumission in the period 1773-1785. Slaves who petitioned for their freedom during and after the American Revolution made three arguments in favour of their liberation: freedom of rights, freedom of religion and freedom of justice. The slave-owners in Virginia after the Revolution made three arguments against manumission of slaves: prevention of slave trade by the free Negroes or mulattoes, Act of the Legislature for a general emancipation and ruin to the once happy and flourishing country. Their arguments illustrate Thomas Jefferson’s observation that the abolition of slaves exposed two overriding concerns: Justice is on one side and Self-preservation on the other. Jefferson’s views were radical in a realm where slave trade and forced labour was the tradition. He believed that slavery posed a paramount threat to the existence of the new American nation. He also was of the view that the notion of slavery was conflicting with the laws of nature, which declared that every human has a right to freedom. He had sensed that while on one hand mass emancipation of slaves may lead to deadly slave revolts, on the other hand letting slavery thrive in the nation will also lead to the risk of a civil war. In both the cases, there were reasons for the cherished and newly crafted federal government to suffer irreparable damages. Arguments in favour of justice were put forward by various groups of slaves in their petitions in favour of slavery abolition. At the time of the American Revolution, Jefferson was working on a legislation directed towards the abolition of slavery. He drafted law in 1778 that outlawed the importation of African slaves in Virginia. In 1784, he suggested a writ for banning slavery in the Northwest regions. But he always upheld that abolition would be meaningful only if all slave-owners agreed to liberate their slaves together in an all-encompassing act of emancipation. He felt that the resolution to liberate the slaves should be sanctioned by a democratic process. To him, it was antagonistic to the ideals of the American Revolution for the central government to decree abolition and highly anti-democratic for only a few owners to free their slaves. The slaves felt that they were born with the divine right to live freely in this free country of God. Just like their other fellow human beings, they too had the natural right to freedom, a right which they had never given up by virtue of any bond or contract. So they stood equally worthy of enjoying the benefits of the laws of the land that condemned slavery. And if not they, at least their children should be allowed to exercise their right to freedom. The same view is expressed in the petition of a slave for his freedom to Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson, His Majesty’s Council, and the House of Representatives, June 1773 which says that they “have in common with all other men a natural right to … freedoms without being deprived of them by … fellow men”. Some petitions have expressed the slaves’ claim for freedom of religion by highlighting the fact that all humans, being the creations of the Almighty, must be treated equally and given the freedom to choose their own religion. For example, a group of African-American slaves petitioned the Honourable Counsel & House of Representatives for the State of Massachusetts Bay in General Court assembled Jan 13, 1777 that they were “detained in a State of Slavery in the Bowels of a free & Christian Country” despite the fact that “the Great Parent of the Universe hath bestowed equally on all mankind” the right to live freely. They asserted that slavery was a “Violation of the Laws of Nature and of Nations”. Another aspect that dominated the call for abolition was the cry for right to justice. In June 1774, for instance, a group of slaves petitioned his Excellency Thomas Gage Governor claiming their democratic rights as citizens of the land. They requested the government to recognise their right to remuneration for work. They stated in their petition that: “mere custom is the tyrant that keeps (them) in bondage” and that they were “deserving like other men, of some compensation for all (their) toils and sufferings”. They requested for enactment of manumission or the legal deed of freeing a slave. It is a very old tradition that has its roots in the Roman Empire. This was usually accompanied with a bond that was to warrant that the former slave could be provided with food and shelter, in case of unemployment or sickness. But the upkeep and maintenance of former slaves soon became a prime cause of concern for colonial citizens, especially for economic reasons. As a result the law soon became redundant after it had continued to be in effect for a year. Arguments in favour of self-preservation were presented by the slave-owners who opposed the abolition. They believed that the slaves formed the core of the economic functions. They not only served as cheap source of labour, but also were an integral part of the land’s long-nurtured tradition and status quo. Prohibiting slavery would lead to a setback of the economy as well as deprive them of their human property. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the African slaves worked primarily on the tobacco, rice and indigo plantations of the southern coast of America. Subsequent to the American Revolution (1775-83) many colonial settlers, particularly in the North, began to call for the abolition of slavery after realising the fact of the oppression of African slaves. Moreover, in these regions, slavery was fairly insignificant to the functioning of the economy. After the end of the war, however, the newly formed Constitution of the US implicitly recognized the institution of slavery, including each slave as three-fifths of a person for the government’s tasks of taxation and representation in the Congress. It also guaranteed the right to the citizens to reclaim any of their slaves. Abolition raised the potential risk of proliferation of slave trade by the free Negroes. Many slave owners believed that the partial emancipation of the slaves due to the acts of manumission had led to a potent evil consequence. Many of the newly freed slaves were now living as freemen within the territory and acting as agents for slave trade. Thus, abolition would in a way help in further spread of slavery, though through newer channels now. A petition to the Honourable General Assembly by the Hanover County, dated November 16, 1784 states similar concern on the “many Evils (that) have Arisen from a Partial emancipation of Slaves” and asking for suggestions “to prevent free Negroes or mulattoes trading with or For slaves”. Some slave owners even felt that the Act of the Legislature for a General Emancipation was “a flagrant Contempt of the constituent Powers of the Commonwealth” as well as “a daring attack on that sacred Constitution”. Such views are inherent in the Remonstrance and Petition of the free Inhabitants of the County of Lunenberg, November 29, 1785. They felt that such an act would dispossess them of a very important part of their property and serve as an aid to the “Enemies of (their) Country”. However the issue that breathed through almost all such petitions was the irreparable damage caused to the economy and the perpetual loss of the country’s freedom and happiness. For example, the petitions of the Free Inhabitants of Amelia County, Mecklenberg County and Pittsylvania County in 1785 supported the view that such legislation was “unsupported by Scripture or sound Policy”. It underscored the threat of slave revolts across the nation which may lead to “Want, Poverty, Distress, and Ruin” for the natives, coupled with “Breach of public Faith and Loss of Credit” and all these factors ultimately leading to the “final Ruin to this now flourishing free and happy Country”. The conflicting evidences and arguments put forward by the slaves and their masters for and against the abolition of slavery in America clearly reflect the intricate issues associated with passing the legislation. As rightly assessed by Jefferson, it was indeed a tough choice to be made between Justice and Self-preservation. The abolition was, in a way, a double edged sword. On one hand it could bring a sense of equality and justice to the slaves. But simultaneously it could damage the smooth functioning of the plantations and leave an indelible grey mark on the pages of American history. Jefferson wrote in his Notes on Virginia (1955) that propagating slavery in America was similar to “holding a wolf by the ear, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go. Justice is in one scale and self-preservation in the other”. Evaluation Rubric Criteria Descriptor Evaluation Thesis 1.    The thesis is blueprinted and contains three good concepts each for justice and self-preservation. The key concepts of justice and self-preservation have been sub-divided into three concepts/topics each to cater a comprehensive definition of the thesis. Topic Sentences/ Concepts 1.    Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence. 2.    Each topic sentence refers to the concepts under justice and self-preservation. 3.    The topic sentences have good transitions. Each of the six topic sentences (three each under the two key concepts) has been woven into a well-explained and elucidated paragraph. Each paragraph smoothly transitions into its succeeding paragraph, thus ensuring a coherent flow of ideas. Body Sentences/ Evidence 1.    There are at least two evidence sentences in the body of each paragraph (not including the topic sentence). 2.    Evidence in the body sentences prove or further illuminate the topic sentence. Each of the topics sentences has been amply elaborated and justified by means of suitable evidences. Each piece of evidence consists of a rightful blend of direct quotations, paraphrases and explanations from authentic literary sources. Detailed Outline 1.    The draft follows the detailed outline closely. SOURCES CITED: Slave Petitions   Document A: Petition of a slave for his freedom to Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson, His Majesty’s Council, and the House of Representatives, June 1773.  The Petition of a Great Number of Blacks of this Province who by divine permission are held in a state of Slavery within the bowels of a free and Christian Country Humbly Showing That your Petitioners apprehend we have in common With all other men a natural right to our freedoms without Being deprived of them by our fellow men as we are a freeborn People and have never forfeited this Blessing by any compact or agreement whatever…. … Neither can we reap an equal benefit from the laws of the Land which doth not justify but condemns Slavery or if there had been any Law to hold us in Bondage we are Humbly of the opinion there never was any to enslave our children for life when Born in a free Country.... Document B: Group of slaves petition his Excellency Thomas Gage Governor: “To the Honorable, His Majesty’s Council, and the Honorable House of Representatives of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in General Court assembled; June 1774." We are informed , there is no law of this Province, whereby our masters can claim our Services; mere custom is the tyrant that keeps us in bondage, and deprives us of that use of the Law, which our fellow men, who we hope believe under God are no better than us, are entitled to, & do enjoy. We do not claim rigid justice; but as we are deserving like other men, of some compensation for all our toils and sufferings; we would therefore in addition to our prayer, that all of us, excepting such as are now infirm through age, or other ways unable to support themselves, may be liberated and made free men of this community, and be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of its free and natural born subjects.... , Document C: A group of African Americans slaves petition the Honorable Counsel & House of Representatives for the State of Massachusetts Bay in General Court assembled, Jan 13, 1777. The petition of A Great Number of Blacks detained in a State of Slavery in the Bowels of a free & Christian Country Humbly show that your Petitioners Apprehend that They have in Common with all other men a Natural and Inalienable Right to that freedom which the Great Parent of the Universe hath Bestowed equally on all mankind and which they have Never forfeited by Any Compact or Agreement whatever. But they were Unjustly Dragged by the hand of cruel Power from their Dearest friends and the sum of them Even torn from the Embraces of their tender Parents—from a populous, pleasant, and plentiful country in Violation of the Laws of Nature and of Nations….     Slaveowner Petitions   Document D: To the Honorable General Assembly, Hanover County, November 16, 1784, two identical petitions with 92 and 50 signatures. And another submitted by Henrico County, November 16, 1784, with 106 signatures. The Petition of diverse Freeholders and inhabitants of Hanover County Humbly Represents, that many Evils have Arisen from a Partial emancipation of Slaves under the Act entitled an Act Authorizing the manumission of Slaves. Your Petitioners are well Convinced many of the said Free Negroes are Agents, Factors, and Carriers to the neighboring Towns, For Slaves of Property by them Stolen From their masters and Others. Your Petitioners have reason to believe A Great number of slaves taken by the British army are now passing in this Country as Freemen. Therefore to Remedy the Above Evils and prevent their becoming more General as Well as to Guard Against fraud of the owners of Slaves who may be indebted, as much as their worth are, your petitioners Humbly pray the Above Recited Act may be repealed, and that no free negro or mulatto shall Be permitted to pass a Freeman Unless he shall produce from under the hand of the Clerk of the Court of some County within this state Testifying his right to freedom and that some mode may be Adopted which the wisdom of the Honorable Assembly may suggest to prevent free Negroes or mulattoes trading with or For slaves. Document E: To the honorable the General Assembly of Virginia, the Remonstrance and Petition of the Free Inhabitants of Amelia County, November 10, 1785, petition with 22 signatures. Another submitted by Mecklenberg County, November 8, 1785, with 223 signatures. Another submitted by Pittsylvania County, November 10, 1785, with 54 signatures. When the British Parliament usurped a Right to dispose of our Property without our Consent, we dissolved the Union with our Parent Country, and established a Constitution and Form of Government of our own, that our Property might be secure, in Future. In Order to effect this we risked our Lives and Fortunes, and waded through seas of Blood. By the favorable Interposition of Providence our Attempt was crowned with Success. We were put in the Possession of our Rights of Liberty and Property: And these Rights as well secured, as they can be by any human Constitution or Form of Government. But not withstanding this, we understand a very subtle and daring Attempt is made to dispossess us of a very important Part of our Property. An Attempt set on Foot, we are informed, by the Enemies of our Country, Tools of the British Administration, and supported by certain Men among us of considerable Weight, to wrest from us our Slaves, by an Act of the Legislature for a general Emancipation of them, an Attempt unsupported by Scripture or sound Policy. It is also exceedingly impolitic. For it involves in it, and is productive of Want, Poverty, Distress, and Ruin to the Free Citizen; Neglect, Famine and Death to the black Infant and superannuated Parent; The Horrors of all the Rapes, Murders, and Outrages, which a vast Multitude of unprincipled, unpropertied, revengeful, and remorseless Banditti (Bandits) are capable of perpetrating: inevitable Bankruptcy to the Revenue, and consequently Breach of public Faith, and Loss of Credit with foreign Nations: and, lastly, sure and final Ruin to this now flourishing free and happy Country. Document F: To the Honorable the General Assembly of Virginia, The Remonstrance and Petition of the free Inhabitants of the County of Lunenberg, November 29, 1785, with 161 signatures. To this free, and we trust, inoffensive, as well as necessary Communication of our Sentiments, on the most important Subject that ever arrested the attention of a free People, we are enforced by a daring attempt now on foot in several Counties in this State by Petitions warmly advocated by some Men of considerable weight to wrest from us, by an Act of the Legislature, the most valuable and indispensable Article of our Property, our Slaves, by a general Emancipation of them: An Attempt that involves in it not only a flagrant Contempt of the constituent Powers of the Commonwealth, in which it’s Majesty resides and which we are sorry to have occasion to observe seem to be forgotten by too many, and a daring attack on that sacred Constitution thereby established but also, Want Poverty, Distress and ruin to the free Citizen; the Horrors of a Host of unprincipled, unpropertied, vindictive, and remorseless Banditti (Bandits) are capable of perpetrating; Neglect, famine and Death to the abandoned black Infant, and superannuated Parent; inevitable Bankruptcy to the revenue; Desperation and revolt to the disappointed, oppressed Citizen; and sure and final ruin to this once happy, free and flourishing country. 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