1688 Protest Against Slavery
by German Mennonites and Quakers in Germantown, Pennsylvania
Background: "The petition, submitted to a subordinate Friends meeting in April 1688, eventually reached the Yearly Meeting in Burlington, New Jersey, where it was, in effect, tabled" (from Am I Not a Man and a Brother).
It is believed to be the first formal protest by white colonists against the practice of slavery in the Americas.
This is to ye Monthly Meeting held at Richard Worrell's.
These are the reasons why we are against the traffick of men-body, as followeth.
- Is there any that
would be done or handled at this manner? viz., to be sold or made a slave
for all the time of this life? How fearful and faint-hearted are many on
sea, when they see a strange vessel, -- being afraid it should be a Turk,
and they should be taken, and sold for slaves into Turkey. Now what is this
better done, as Turks doe? Yea, rather is it worse for them, which say they
are Christians; for we hear that ye most part of such negers are brought
hither against their will and consent, and that many of them are stolen.
- Now, tho they are black, we can not conceive there is
more liberty to have them slaves, as it is to have other white ones. There
is a saying, that we shall doe to all men like as will be done ourselves;
making no difference of what generation, descent or colour they are. And
those who steal or robb men, and those who buy or purchase them, are they
not all alike? Here is libety of conscience, wch is right and reasonable;
here ought to be likewise liberty of ye body, except of evil-doers, wch is
an other case. But to bring men hither, or to rob and sell them against their
will, we stand against. In Europe there are many oppressed for conscience
sake; and here there are those oppressed wh are of a black colour.
- And we
who know that men must not comitt adultery, -- some do committ adultery,
in others, separating wives from their husbands and giving them to others;
and some sell the children of these poor creatures to other men.
- Ah! doe
consider well this thing, you who doe it, if you would be done at this
manner? and if it is done according to Christianity? You surpass Holland
and Germany in this thing. This makes an ill report in all those countries
of Europe, where they hear off, that ye Quakers doe here handel men as they
handel there ye cattle. And for that reason some have no mind or inclination
to come hither. And who shall maintain this your cause, or pleid for it?
Truly we can not do so, except you shall inform us better hereof, viz, that
Christians have liberty to practise these things.
- Pray, what thing in the
world can be done worse towards us, than if men should rob or steal us
away, and sell us for slaves to strange countries; separating housbands from
their wives and children. Being now this is not done in the manner we would
be done at therefore we contradict and are against this traffic of men-body.
- And we who profess that it is not lawful to steal, must,
likewise, avoid to purchase such things as are stolen, but rather help to
stop this robbing and stealing if possible. And such men ought to be delivered
out of ye hands of ye robbers, and set free as well as in Europe. Then is
Pennsylvania to have a good report, instead it hath now a bad one for this
sake in other countries. Especially whereas ye Europeans are desirous to
know in what manner ye Quakers doe rule in their province; -- and most of
them doe look upon us with an envious eye. But if this is done well, what
shall we say is done evil?
- If once these slaves (wch they say are so wicked
and stubbern men) should joint themselves, -- fight for their freedom.
-- and handel their masters and mastrisses as they did handel them before;
will these masters and mastrisses take the sword at hand and warr against
these poor slaves, licke, we are able to believe, some will not refuse to
doe; or have these negers not as much right to fight for their freedom, as
you have to keep them slaves?
- Now consider well this thing, if it is good or bad? And in case you find it to be good to handel these blacks at that manner, we desire and require you hereby lovingly, that you may inform us herein, which at this time never was done, viz., that Christians have such a liberty to do so. To the end we shall be satisfied in this point, and satisfie likewise our good friends and acquaintances in our natif country, to whose it is a terror, or fairful thing, that men should be handeld so in Pennsylvania.
This is from our meeting at Germantown, held ye 18 of the 2 month, 1688, to be delivered to the Monthly Meeting at Richard Worrel's.
[Signed by:]
Garret henderich
derick u de graeff
Francis daniell Pastorius
Abraham up Den graef