Source: Lord Dunmore's Proclamation, Virginia,1775.
I do require every Person capable of bearing
Arms,to[resort] to His Majesty's Standard, or be looked upon as Traitors to his Majesty's Crown and Government... And i do
hereby further declare all indentured Servants, Negros, or others,([belonging] to Rebels,) free that are able and willing
to bear Arms, they joining His Majesty's Troops as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing this Colony to a proper
Sense of their Duty,...
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Dociments D, E & F
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Document D: Negro Methodist Meeting In Philadelphia,1790s
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Document E: there is much gratitude due
from our color toward the white people, very many of them are instruments in the hand of God for our good, even such as have
held us in captivity,are now pleading our cause with earnestness and zeal; much depends upon us for the help of our color
more than we are aware; if we are lazy and idle, the enemies of freedom plead it as a cause why we ought not to be free, and
say we are better in a state of servitude, and that giving us are liberty would be an injury to us, and by such conduct we
strengthen the bands of oppression, and keep many in bondage who are more worthy than ourselfs.
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Document F:
I asked my master one time if he would consent to have
me purchase my freedom. he replied that he would. I was then very happy, knowing that I was at that time buried.... What was
wanting in redeeming myself, my master agreed to wait on me for,until i could procure it for him.... there was continually
some interest accruing on my master's note to my friend,the free negro man above named,which i received,and with some besides,
which i got by fishing,i laid out in land adjoining my old master Stanton's.By Cultivating this land with the greatest diligence
and economy,at times when my master did not require my labor,in two years i had laid up ten pounds.
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Documanet G:
...Mr.Prosser's Gabriel wished to bring on the business
as soon as possible. Gilbert said the summer was almost over, and he wished them to enter upon the business before the weather
got too cold. Gabriel proposed that the subject should be referred to his brother Martin to decide upon. Martin
said there was this expression in the bible,delays breed danger; at this time,he said,the country was at peace, the soldiers
were discharged,and the arms all put away; there was no patrolling in the country, and that before he would any longer bear
what he had borne,he would turn out and fight with his stick... i read in my Bible were God says if we will worship Him we
should have peace in all our land; five of you shall conquer a hundred a thousand of our enemies...
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Doucment H:
The Managers of the Vermont Colonization Society...
proposed to the Inhabitants of this state,a general contribution [of]... one cent only,from each inhabitant of the state....
By promoting this contribution,you will give efficient aid to a society,whose benevolent object is, by establishing colonies
on the coast of Africa,to poen a door for the gradual emancipation of the slaves in our own country,to impose an effectual
barrier against the continuance of the slave trade,and ultimately to extend the blessings of civilization,and of the christian
religion,throughout the vast and hitherto benighted regions of Africa.
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Document I....
[(B)lacks must] bear up under the daily insults we meet
with in the streets of Boston,much more on public days of recreation. How st such times are we shamefully abused,and that
to such a degree,that we may trulybe said to carry our lives in our hands,and the arrows of death are flying about our heads.
Helpless woman have their clothes tron from their backs...[and] twenty of thirty cowards have fallen upon one man.
... cuts and placards descriptive of the negro deformity,are
every where displayed....Many of the popluar book stores,in commercial towns and cities,have thier show windows lined with
them. the bar-rooms of the most popluar public houses in the country, sometimes have their ceiling literally covered with
them. this display of American civility is under the daily observation of every class of society,even in New England.
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Document J:
For my own part,I glad Mr. Jefferson has
advanced his positions for your sake; for you will either have to contradic or confirm him by your own actions,and not by
what our friends have said or done for us; for those things are other men's labors,and do not satisfy the Americans,who are
waiting for us to prove to them ourselfs that we are MEN,before they will be willing to admit the fact; for I pledge you my
sacred word of honor,that Mr. Jefferson's remarks respecting us,have suk deep into the hearts of millions of the whites,and
never will be removed this side of eterinty-For how can they,when we are confirming him every day,by our groveling submissions
and treachery?
Remember Americans,that we must and shall be free and
enlighted as you are,will you wait until we shall,under God,obtain our liberty by the crushing arm of power? Will it not be
dreadful for you? I speak,Americans,for good.we must and shall be fre I say,in spite of you. You may do your best to keep
us in wretchedness and misery,to enrich you and your children;nut God will deliver us from you. And woe,woe will be to you
if we have to obtain our freedom by fighting.
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