th a zeal
proportioned to its blessings, while they view the purest republic in
the world tolerating in its bosom a body of slaves? In vain has the
tyranny of kings been rejected, while we permit in our country a
domestic despotism which involves in its nature most of the vices and
miseries that we have endeavored to avoid. It is degrading to our rank
as men in the scale of being. Let us use our reason and social
affections for the purposes for which they were given, or cease to
boast a pre-eminence over animals that are unpolluted by our crimes.

"But higher motives to justice and humanity towards our
fellow-creatures, remain yet to be mentioned. Domestic slavery is
repugnant to the principles of Christianity. It prostrates every
benevolent and just principle of action in the human heart. It is
rebellion against the authority of a common Father. It is a practical
denial of the extent and efficacy of the death of a common Savior. It
is an usurpation of the prerogative of the Great Sovereign of the
universe, who has solemnly claimed an exclusive property in the souls
of men. But if this view of the enormity of the evil of domestic
slavery should not affect us, there is one consideration more, which
ought to alarm and impress us, especially at the present juncture. It
is a violation of a Divine precept of universal justice, which has in
no instance escaped with impunity. The crimes of nations, as well as
individuals, are often designated in their punishments; and we
conceive it to be no forced construction of some of the calamities
which now distress or impend over our country, to believe that they
are the measure of the evils which we have meted to others. The
ravages committed upon many of our fellow-citizens by the Indians, and
the depredations upon the liberty and commerce of others, of the
citizens of the United States by the Algerines, both unite in
proclaiming to us in the most forcible language, 'to loose the bands
of wickedness, to break every yoke, to undo the heavy burthens, and to
let the oppressed go free.'

"We shall conclude this address by recommending to you:

"_First._ To refrain immediately from that species of rapine and
murder which has improperly been softened by the name of the African
trade. It is Indian cruelty and Algerine piracy in another form.

"_Second._ To form Societies in every State, for the purpose of
promoting the abolition of the slave-trade, of domestic slavery, for
the relief of