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THE

ANTI-SLAVERY CAUSE IN AMERICA

AND

ITS MARTYRS.

BY ELIZA WIG HA M.

"Pledging ourselves that, under the guidance and help of Almighty God, we
will do all that in us lies, consistently with this declaration of our principles, to
overthrow the most execrable system of slavery that has been ever witnessed
upon earth; to deliver our land from its deadliest curse; to wipe out the foulest
stain that rests upon our national escutcheon; and to secure to the coloured
population of the United States all the rights and privileges that belong to them
as men and as Americans-come what may to our persons, our interests, or our
reputation-whether we live to witness the triumph of Liberty, Justice, and
Humanity, or perish untimely as martyrs in this great, benevolent, and holy
Cause."-Declaration of Sentiments, signed and issued at the formation of the American
Anti-Slavery Society, Dec. 6, 1833.

LONDON:

A. W. BENNETT, 5 BISHOPSGATE STREET WITHOUT.

MDCCCLXIII.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

P.REFACE.

In presenting this little offering to the Anti-Slavery Cause, it is only necessary to say, that the incidents it contains have been carefully gathered from the most authentic sources, with an earnest desire to adhere strictly to truth in fact and inference, and to leave the narrative and the actors in it to speak for themselves.

It has been difficult, within prescribed limits, to make selections from the great mass of valuable Anti-Slavery literature of the last thirty years; but should any, from a perusal of these meager selections, wish to extend their information, the same deeply interesting sources from which they are taken are open to others also, and will amply repay the research by affording more intimate acquaintance with some of the finest sentiments, utterances, and actions, to be found in the history of men.

It is very important to bear in mind the character of Slavery, in order to estimate the urgency of the call which the Abolitionists felt bound to obey, "to cry aloud and spare not." It is also important to remember the intimate connexion of Slavery with the whole social, religious, and political organization of America, in order rightly to appreciate the courage of those who began to assail it-two or three against the millions.

"Then to side with Truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and 'tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses, while the coward stands aside-
Doubting in his abject spirit, till his Lord is crucified,
And the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied."

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