Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
unjust ignorance, slavery and degradation, to them and their children, with a book
in his hand, will beat him nearly to death. I heard a wretch in the state of North
Carolina said, that if any man would teach a black person whom he held in slavery,
to spell, read or write, he would prosecute him to the very extent of the law.—Said
the ignorant wretch, “a Nigar, ought not to have any more sense than enough to
work for his master.” May I not ask to fatten the wretch and his family?—These and
similar cruelties these Christians have been for hundreds of years inicting on our
fathers and us in the dark, God has however, very recently published some of their
secret crimes on the house top, that the world may gaze on their Christianity and
see of what kind it is composed.—Georgia for instance, God has completely shown
to the world, the Christianity among its white inhabitants. A law has recently
passed the Legislature of this republican State (Georgia) prohibiting all free or
slave persons of colour, from learning to read or write; another law has passed
the republican House of Delegates, (but not the Senate) in Virginia, to prohibit all
persons of colour, (free and slave) from learning to read or write, and even to hinder
them from meeting together in order to worship our Maker!!!!!!—Now I solemly
appeal, to the most skilful historians in the world, and all those who are mostly
acquainted with the histories of the Antideluvians and of Sodom and Gomorrah,
to show me a parallel of barbarity. Christians!! Christians!!! I dare you to show me
a parallel of cruelties in the annals of Heathens or of Devils, with those of Ohio,
Virginia and of Georgia—know the world that these things were before done in
the dark, or in a corner under a garb of humanity and religion. God has however,
taken of the g-leaf covering, and made them expose themselves on the house top.
I tell you that God works in many ways his wonders to perform, he will unless they
repent, make them expose themselves enough more yet to the world.—See the acts
of the Christians in FLORIDA, SOUTH CAROLINA, and KENTUCKY—was it not
for the reputation of the house of my Lord and Master, I would mention here, an act
of cruelty inicted a few days since on a black man, by the white Christians in the
PARK STREET CHURCH, in this (CITY) which is almost enough to make Demons
themselves quake and tremble in their FIREY HABITATIONS.—Oh! my Lord how
rened in iniquity the whites have got to be in consequence of our blood—what
kind!! Oh! what kind!!! of Christianity can be found this day in all the earth!!!!!!
I write without the fear of man, I am writing for my God, and fear none but
himself; they may put me to death if they choose—(I fear and esteem a good man
however, let him be black or white.) I forbear to comment on the cruelties inicted
on this Black Man by the Whites, in the Park Street MEETING HOUSE, I will leave
it in the dark!!!!! But I declare that the atrocity is really to Heaven daring and
infernal, that I must say that God has commenced a course of exposition among
the Americans, and the glorious and heavenly work will continue to progress until
they learn to do justice.
Extract from the Speech of Mr. John Randolph, of Roanoke. Said he:—”It
had been properly observed by the Chairman, as well as by the gentleman from
this District (meaning Messrs. Clay and Caldwell) that there was nothing in the
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