November 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, November 8th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/8/2018
Very moving handwritten essay, circa 1796, entitled ''Against the Slave Trade'' where a student presents his arguments against the ''abominable & detestable'' practice of slavery. Essay originates from the estate of William Elijah Green, born in 1777 in Green Hill, Rhode Island, who graduated from Rhode Island College (Brown University) in 1798. Handwritten manuscript spanning five pages reads in part, ''The very pious & humane practice of enslaveing the poor innocent African has often been vindicated by various persons. To those who are not accustomed to the practise it must certainly appear shocking. Not only on account of the inhumanity of the custom but moreover, the part of the vindicator of so abominable & detestable a practice. It has been said that the only argument that has ever been brought by the opposers of this custom is that we should do to others as we should wish others to do to us & it was said by a certain person who wrote in favour of the practice that this was no argument at all against it...Does not our hearts abhor the idea of a master in any shape! Does not our anger rouse itself in an instant, at the name of servitude! Does not the hand grasp the dagger & endeavour to thrust it at the blackened heart of the Enslaver. Does not revenge in a moment dictate the punishment that is due to the aggressor?...For only by reversing the scale we should be happy to serve our negroes as it has been asserted they are happy in serving us...will any one waver to assent that the enslaveing of a free born African is not worse than murder. Parting father from his beloved wife & children...where he was bred & born. Where the fertility of the earth offered everything that was necessary to the subsistence of man. How takeing him in a deceitfull manner under the cloak of friendship & confineing him in chains with hundreds of his unfortunate countrymen, where through the stench which arises from the close confinement the unhappy number...to take part of the authority of the almighty out of his hands...For he made man dependant but on one & you have made him dependant on two...Let your conscious guilt shame the crimson blush on your cheeks...'' Essay runs five pages, with title on sixth page, measuring 6.25'' x 7.5'' on a full sheet measuring 12.5'' x 15''. Light toning and folds, otherwise near fine condition.
Moving Anti-Slavery Essay Circa 1796, Entitled ''Against the Slave Trade'' -- ''...How takeing him in a deceitfull manner under the cloak of friendship & confineing him in chains...''
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