The writer of the foregoing Discourse was formerly a Slave; his forefathers, stolen from Africa, lived and died in Slavery; he himself was born a Slave, and would have remained in that condition until the present time, had he not been so fortunate as to escape from the galling yoke of fetters and chains. Such an example of elevated humanity as he affords, compels the conviction, that out of the countless millions now doomed to perpetual bondage, many of them, though forcibly degraded to a level with the brute, are qualified to become ornaments, not only to their race but to humanity.
The contents of these pages demonstrate the Negro race to be possessed of intelligent and reflecting minds, capable of occupying a very different station in life to that which has been generally assigned to them, and which they now mostly occupy. Although their sufferings in Slavery have long excited the interest and sympathy of the benevolent, little has been done to advance their position in society. Almost insurmountable obstacles exist, tending to counteract that improvement and elevation of character, to which, under more favourable circumstances, they are capable of attaining.
It may, perhaps, be fairly questioned, whether any other people could have endured the privations or the sufferings to which they have been subjected, without becoming stillmoredegraded in the scale of humanity. Nothing has been left undone, to cripple their intellects, to darken their minds, to debase their moral nature, and to obliterate all traces of their relationshipto mankind; yet, how wonderfully they have sustained the mighty load of oppression, under which they have been groaning for centuries!
The supporters and advocates of Slavery, in order to justify their oppressive conduct, allege, either in ignorance or from an affected philosophy, an inherent defect in the mental constitution of the Negro race, sufficient to exclude them from the enjoyment of the blessings of freedom, or the exercise of those rights which are equally bestowed by a beneficent Creator upon all his rational creatures.
Prejudice and misinformation have, for a long series of years, been fostered with unremitting assiduity by those interested in upholding the Slave system, and their corrupt influence has enabled them to gain possession of the public ear, and to abuse public credulity to an extent not generally appreciated. They strenuously maintain that the Negro is only fitted and designed for a servile condition. The contents of these pages prove to the contrary, and will surely stop the mouths of those who, from ignorance or something worse, affirm an absolute difference in specific character between the two races, and hence, justify the consignment of the Black to a fate which only proves the fingering barbarism of the White.
But, should the cases here recorded be considered of too isolated a nature to elucidate a theory of general equality of races, it may be observed, that they are only a very fractional part of what might have been adduced. A mass of facts is still in reserve, teeming with unequivocal evidence, that the Almighty has notleft the Negro destitute or deficient of those talents and capabilities which he has bestowed upon all his rational creatures, and which, however modified by circumstances in various cases, leave no section of the human family a right to boast that it inherits by birth a superiority, which might not, in the course of events, be manifested and claimed, with equal justice, by those whom they most despise.
In order more fully to demonstrate the capabilities of the Black races of Africa, the writer has selected a mass of facts illustrative of the subject, which he has recently published, entitled "A Tribute for the Negro," in which their moral, intellectual, and religious capabilities are fully established. This Volume, including many engravings and portraits of eminent Negroes, embraces upwards of one hundred biographical sketches and anecdotes of this calumniated race, many of them not before published, which afford striking evidence that inferior abilities are not the necessary accompaniment of a Coloured skin, but demonstrating, on the contrary, that the Negro race are endowed with every characteristic constituting an identity with the great family of man, and consequently entitled to those inalienable rights which have been denied them, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," any infringement on which is a daring usurpation of the prerogative of the Most High!
ANTHONY PICKARD, PRINTER, TOP OF BRIGGATE, LEEDS.
FOOTNOTES:[1]America.[2]"Truth is powerful, and will ultimately prevail."[3]Gen. ii. 8, 9, 15.[4]Prov. xiv. 34.[5]Exod. xv. 1, 10.[6]Acts vii. 22.[7]The number of Slaves in the French colonies was almost 300,000.
[1]America.
[1]America.
[2]"Truth is powerful, and will ultimately prevail."
[2]"Truth is powerful, and will ultimately prevail."
[3]Gen. ii. 8, 9, 15.
[3]Gen. ii. 8, 9, 15.
[4]Prov. xiv. 34.
[4]Prov. xiv. 34.
[5]Exod. xv. 1, 10.
[5]Exod. xv. 1, 10.
[6]Acts vii. 22.
[6]Acts vii. 22.
[7]The number of Slaves in the French colonies was almost 300,000.
[7]The number of Slaves in the French colonies was almost 300,000.
A TRIBUTE FOR THE NEGRO,
BEING
A VINDICATION
OF THE
MORAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND RELIGIOUS CAPABILITIES
OF THE
COLOURED PORTION OF MANKIND,
WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE AFRICAN RACE
BY
WILSON ARMISTEAD,
LEEDS.
LONDON:CHARLES GILPIN, 5, BISHOPSGATE WITHOUT;AND WILLIAM IRWIN, 39, OLDHAM-STREET, MANCHESTER;G. W. TAYLOR, PHILADELPHIA;WILLIAM HARNED, ANTI-SLAVERY OFFICE, NEW YORK.
REMARKS OF THE PRESS,
Respecting "A Tribute for the Negro."
"We are gratified to announce the publication of a Volume under this designation; and, especially, that it will emanate from the pen—we may add, also, from the heart—of a gentleman whose feelings and sympathies, no less than mental powers, so well fit him for the task of preparing it. It will be embellished with ten engravings, enriched by an Introductory Poem by Mr. Bernard Barton, and the profits devoted to the Anti-Slavery cause."—The Universe.
"It is scarcely needful to do more than read the Prospectus, to be convinced that the Volume is likely to be one of nocommon interest, both to the Christian and to the Philanthropist. Indeed, it seems to promise a high treat to the Anti-Slavery public in particular; and, from the great labour and cost the author has bestowed on it, we trust an extensive sale awaits it."—British Friend.
"From our acquaintance with the author of the 'Tribute for the Negro,' we feel no hesitation in saying that it will be one of deep research, as well as of intense interest, being on a subject most intimately connected with the happiness or misery of a large portion of the human family."—The Citizen.
"It is with sincere pleasure we announce the appearance of this interesting publication. It includes upwards of one hundred biographical sketches of Africans, or their descendants, besides facts and anecdotes, testimonies of travellers, missionaries, &c., exhibiting an undoubted refutation of the unfounded calumnies which have been heaped on the unfortunate race of Africa. In addition to illustrative engravings, it will contain the portraits of several distinguished men of Colour. From the character of the gentleman who has undertaken the pleasing, though arduous, task, and who contemplates no other reward but that of service to the deeply-oppressed race of Africa, we may with confidence recommend his production to the early and earnest attention of our readers, feeling assured that they will be both cheered and profited by its perusal. We are glad to perceive that, in addition to the names of many friends of the Negro, the subscription list is headed by the Queen."—Anti-Slavery Reporter.
The Volume contains upwards of 550 Pages, Demy 8vo., and Ten superior Portraits and Engravings, Price 16s.
May also be had in Morocco, gilt edges, and Proof Plates, at 25s.; the Morocco Copies include Two additional Engravings.
N.B.—All profits arising from the Sale of "A Tribute for the Negro" will be devoted on behalf of the oppressed.