Source
2a
And, let it
not be forgotten, that Slavery is itself not merely the effect, but it
is also the very cause, of the Slave Trade – of that system of fraud
and violence by which Slaves are procured. If Slavery were extinct, the
Slave Trade must cease. But while it is suffered to exist, that murderous
traffic will still find a fatal incentive in the solicitude of the Slaveholder
to supply the waste of life which his cupidity and cruelty have occasioned.
Thus, in every point of view, is Slavery productive of the worst consequences
to all the parties concerned. Besides all the direct and wide-wasting
injuries which it inflicts on its immediate victims, it substitutes for
the otherwise peaceful merchant a blood thirsty pirate trading in human
flesh; and, by ministering to pride, avarice, and sensuality, by exciting
the angry passions, and hardening the heart against the best feelings
of our nature, it tends to convert the owner of Slaves into a merciless
tyrant.
Simplified
version
Remember that
slavery is not just the effect but also the very cause of the Slave Trade
- of that system of fraud and violence by which slaves are obtained. If
slavery did not exist, the Slave Trade would stop. But
while slavery is allowed to exist, the Slave Trade will still allow the
slaveholder to replace the slaves which have died as a result of his cruelty.
In every point of view, slavery produces the worst consequences for everyone
involved. As well as the injuries it inflicts on the slaves, it changes
a peaceful merchant into a blood-thirsty pirate trading in human flesh,
and by encouraging pride, greed and anger, it hardens the human heart
and turns slave-owners into merciless tyrants.
Source
2b
Yet, when we consider the crime, the punishment cannot be considered severe;
for what can be more abominable than seizing, selling and transporting
human beings, without any crime against God or man being imputed to them?
Our conduct on life is directed by three laws – the law of opinion,
the law of the land, and the law of God. You have violated them all; and
the slave trader is execrated in society, and the law of opinion, would
condemn you to solitude; the verdict of the Jury, under which you now
wait the sentence of the Court, is declaratory of your violation of the
law of the land, and your conscience must convict you of despising the
law of God; think of the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal;”
it is neither money nor fame, but liberty of which you have robbed your
fellow creatures. Human beings, created and made after God’s image,
you have stolen; you have loaded them with irons, plunged them into slavery,
and bartered them for the wretched gratification of appetite and avarice;
you have not, perhaps, seized on the person yourself, but you have received
and sold the stolen body, and that is worse. Consider another great commandment
of the Almighty, “Thou shalt do no murder.” How many innocent
victims have expired at your threshold; how many torn from their country,
parents or children, have you condemned to disease, to decrepitude, to
slavery, and to death?-
Simplified
version
Yet, when we look at the crime, it cannot be said that the punishment
is severe; for what crime can be worse than seizing, selling and transporting
human beings? Our conduct should be governed by three laws - the law of
opinion, the law of the land and the law of God. You have broken them
all. The slave trader is hated by society and the law of opinion would
sentence you to solitude; the verdict of the Jury shows that you have
broken the law of the land; and your conscience must tell you that you
have broken the law of God. Think of the commandment, "Thou shalt
not steal". It is not money or fame that you have stolen but the
freedom of your fellow creatures. You have stolen human beings, created
and made after God's image, you have put them in irons, cast them into
slavery; and sold them for greed. You have not, perhaps, captured the
person yourself but you have received and sold the stolen body and that
is worse. Think about another of the commandments "Thou shalt not
murder". How many innocent victims have died, how many have been
torn away from their country, their parents, their children and condemned
to disease, decrepitude, slavery and death?
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