 | Freedom's Offering, |  |
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Injustice—not Law.
I said that it would be very bad for the free colored people, and
through them for their race if they hate us. They are already
jealous of us—we are already useless to them; and we shall become
more and more so, until they shall see us taking the open, and decided,
and honest ground, that slavery, whether it be for blacks or
whites, cannot take shelter in law—cannot be clothed with the dignity
and power of law.”
—Gerrit Smith's speech, at Pittsburgh Convention, August, 1852.
Ye hypocrites! whose fathers scorned
To bear the menace of a chain,
Stand forth unvarnished, unadorned,
Your boasted love of right is vain.
When George the Fourth, by legal right,
O'erran your land with martial band,
Ye dared to meet them in the fight,
And scattered them like ropes of sand.
Your vaunted freedom we despise,
Whilst trampling on our injured race—
A sepulchre of whited lies,
We throw your parchment in your face.
“Our Father's compact;” how dare they
To barter off their brother men;
By what great charter tell us pray;
The manner given, how and when?
Methinks an edict, turning loose
Foul man-hunters, your babes the game,
Claiming obedience, ye would choose,
To trample on in heaven's name.
We hold that life, and liberty,
The right our fortune's to persue;
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No argument can make more true;
No sophistry can contravene,
No constitution take away,
No “father's compact” go between,
They are as plain as light of day.
Then how can we believe your true,
When freedom's champion's ye proclaim,
While millions of your bondmen sue
For freedom to your country's shame?
And ye abuse, proscribe and hate,
Your brother of a darker hue;—
Tho' raised above a slave's estate—
False friends of freedom, he scornes you.
| Freedom's Offering, | |