quaker petition against slavery 1790

The petition is written on the front and back of two pages. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77; vols. He thought the object well worthy of consideration.2, Cong. from Great Debates in American History, by United States Congress, Great Britain Parliament, Marion Mills Miller, published 1913, Current Literature Publishing Company: . Another consideration, why we should commit the petition is, that we may give no ground of alarm by a serious opposition, as if we were about to take measures that were unconstitutional. these petitions argued the slave trade violated the sanctity of the social contract and … Laurance presented one from the New York Quakers. The Congressional The entry said 6 p. M247, r 57, I 43, p. 337. A memorial from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, signed by Benjamin Franklin and calling upon Congress to give its “serious attention to the subject of slavery” and to “step to the very verge” of its powers to discourage the slave trade, was read. Beginning in 1791, the newly formed Virginia Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, organized petition drives against the international slave trade. the United States, and research and development projects to bring historical records to the Register; or, History of the Proceedings and Debates of the First House of Although some Quakers held slaves, no religious group was more outspoken against slavery from the seventeenth century until slavery's demise. On 16 March 1790, the committee made its report to the House, and members from the Deep South were ready to give the greatest pro-slavery argument yet, with Jackson alone speaking for two hours. If the Southern states had thought the … Stone, Burke, Jackson, and Smith (South Carolina) opposed a commitment of the petitions. On 8 March 1790, the House committee that dealt with the petitions prepared to submit its report, which guaranteed the debate would see the light of day. The report of this speech in the Gazette of the U.S., 17 Feb. 1790, reads: “Mr. It may be, that foreigners take the advantage of the liberty afforded them by the American trade, to employ our shipping in the slave trade between Africa and the West-Indies, when they are restrained from employing their own by restrictive laws of their nation. description ends , III, 312–13. Records Commission (NHPRC) is part of the National description ends , XII, 30 and n. 2, 91–92. FitzSimons presented an address of the fall 1789 meeting of the Quakers of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the western parts of Maryland and Virginia. Register description begins Thomas Lloyd, comp., The Congressional It argues that every human, regardless of belief, color, or ethnicity, has rights that should not be violated. The First Congress:The 1790 Slavery Debate (part 3)Mr. Hartley & Mr. Jackson. The petition that the Yearly Meeting sent to Parliament is transcribed in both the Yearly Meeting minutes (Volume 17/298 - 307) and Meeting for Sufferings minutes (Volume 36/ 408 - 413). Pleasants asked James Madison, then serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, to present the petition to his fellow congressmen. Did they permit the commitment of the memorial, as a matter of course, no notice would be taken of it out of doors; it could never be blown up into a decision of the question respecting the discouragement of the African slave-trade, nor alarm the owners with an apprehension that the general government were about to abolish slavery in all the states; such things are not contemplated by any gentleman; but, to appearance, they decide the question more against themselves than would be the case if it was determined on its real merits, because gentlemen may be disposed to vote for the commitment of a petition, without any intention of supporting the prayer of it. The petition prayed, in general terms, for the interference of congress, so far as they were constitutionally authorised; but even if its prayer was, in some degree, unconstitutional, it might be committed, as was the case on Mr. Churchman’s petition,1 one part of which was supposed to apply for an unconstitutional interference by the general government. Representatives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-13-02-0031, National Historical Publications and Although the Con-stitution referred to slavery obliquely when it explained procedures having to do with representation, commercial powers, and inter- Slave Trade Petitions. Papers of James Madison (vols. There was a counter image of Quakers as fanatics, even held by some Friends. Go to main content. modern editorial content, are copyright © The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. Marietta describes the revitalization of the society which made possible the Quakers' campaign against slavery, thus distinguishing them as the first group of people in history to espouse abolition. The petition was introduced to the House of Representatives on February 12 and to the Senate on February 15, 1790 while they were assembled in New York City. PETITIONS AGAINST SLAVERY. The 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery Historical Background Pennsylvania was founded in 1682 by William Penn as an English colony where people from any country and faith could settle, free from religious persecution. This action, although seemingly overlooked at the time, ushered in almost a century of active debate among Pennsylvanian Quakers about the morality of slavery which saw energetic anti-slavery writing and LESSON 2: ANTISLAVERY PETITION, 1790 Student Handout 4: Arguments House members from the South made the following arguments against the petition: 1. Register description begins Thomas Lloyd, comp., The Congressional The Congressional The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzsimons) has put this question on its proper ground; if gentlemen do not mean to oppose the commitment tomorrow, they may as well acquiesce in it to-day; and, I apprehend, gentlemen need not be alarmed at any measure it is likely congress should take; because they will recollect, that the constitution secures to the individual states, the right of admitting, if they think proper, the importation of slaves into their own territory, for eighteen years yet unexpired; subject, however, to a tax, if congress are disposed to impose it, of not more than ten dollars on each person. of 1790, the first congress meeting in their second session engaged in a debate about slavery and race while considering a number of anti-slavery petitions they had received. 1. See PJM description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The The emancipation advocates were led by Quakers who starting in early February 1790 “way-laid” and “assailed” Senators and Congressmen with pamphlets and diagrams of overcrowded slaves ships while urging support of anti-slavery petitions. ; New York, 1789–90; Evans 22203–4, 22973–4). In 1790 during the First Congress, after a Quaker petition against slavery was introduced, Congressman Smith of South Carolina recalled the compromises of the Constitutional Convention: "We took each other with our mutual bad habits and respective evils, for better, for worse. Register; or, History of the Proceedings and Debates of the First House of Mr. Madison. Records Commission. That the questions connected with slavery had not been settled by the compromises on the subject in the Constitution was shown by a petition presented to Congress in its first session, praying for the … It was written in iron gall ink and has substantially faded. It is in Quaker records that we have some of the earliest manifestations of anti-slavery sentiment, dating from the 1600s. quakers were the leading religious group opposed to slavery. The National Historical Publications and Mr. Madison Thought the question before the committee was no otherwise important than as gentlemen made it so by their serious opposition. The 1688 Germantown Quaker petition against slavery. The National Historical Publications and It was immediately denounced by pro-slavery congressmen and sparked a heated debate in both the House and the Senate. Photos taken by conservators of the original document for Germantown Meeting and found on commons.wikimedia.org. All rights reserved. Archives. Slave Trade Petitions, [12 February] 1790. description ends , III, 337. However, in February 1790 Quakers from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and western New England petitioned Congress, calling on it to regulate the slave trade. Note: The annotations to this document, and any other All rights reserved. 11—, Charlottesville, lobbying against the slave trade and slavery in the first federal Con-gress.' This transcript is from the Yearly Meeting minutes. Laurance presented one from the New York Quakers. [Below a transcription of the 1802 Quaker petition against slavery presented to the Virginia legislature. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY 11, 1790. Register; or, History of the Proceedings and Debates of the First House of Quaker petitions on behalf of the emancipation of African Americans flowed into colonial legislatures and later to the United States Congress. A debate arose over a motion to refer the petitions to a committee. Cong. [11 February 1790] FitzSimons presented an address of the fall 1789 meeting of the Quakers of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the western parts of Maryland and Virginia. In that year, four German settlers (the Lutheran Francis Daniel Pastorius and three Quakers) issued a protest from Germantown, close to Philadelphia in the newly founded American colony of Pennsylvania. It was immediately denounced by pro-slavery congressmen and sparked a heated debate in both the House and the Senate. At the same time Congress received a petition from the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, signed by its president, Benjamin Franklin. Register; or, History of the Proceedings and Debates of the First House of description ends , III, 318. preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources, relating to the history of public. Records Commission. In 1790 during the First Congress, after a Quaker petition against slavery was introduced, Congressman Smith of South Carolina recalled the compromises of the Constitutional Convention: "We took each other with our … The original is held by Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections and can be viewed in high resolution on the Tricollege Libraries website. Archives. Representatives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-13-02-0029, National Historical Publications and In Chapter Three, Ellis discusses the long-standing silence that the government observed over the slavery question. The Quakers sent a petition to the House of Representatives in 1790 to end the African slave trade. Note: The annotations to this document, and any other Quaker colonists began questioning slavery in Barbados in the 1670s, but first openly denounced it in 1688. Cong. There, in April 1688, four Dutch Quakers sent a short petition “against the traffick of men-body” to their meeting in Germantown, PA: The two sides of the 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery. The petition was introduced to the House on February 12 and to the Senate on February 15, 1790. Signed by Benjamin Franklin, President of the Pennsylvania Society, February 3, 1790 To the Senate & House of Representatives of the United States, The Memorial of the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the Abolition of Slavery, the relief of free Negroes unlawfully held in bondage, & the Improvement of the Condition of the African Races. In 1790, after the new Constitution went into effect, the Quakers again petitioned Congress to end the slave trade. 2. By a vote of 43 to 11 the various petitions relating to the slave trade were referred to a committee of seven. The Society petitioned the First Congress (1789-1791) to end slavery, calling the institution an … The issue of slavery was already settled in the Constitution. There are 534 signatures in all. This was closely followed by another petition from the … modern editorial content, are copyright © The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery The 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition against slavery was the first protest against African American slavery made by … The 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slaverywas the first protest against African American enslavement made by a religious body in the English colonies. Petition from the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, February 3, 1790 The Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery was founded largely by Quakers in 1775. Representatives … (4 vols. These petitions urged Congress to consider measures leading to the abolition of the slave trade. These petitions urged Congress to consider measures leading to the abolition of the slave trade. Click on a column and a list of the signatories will popup. preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources, relating to the history of The 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition against slavery was the first protest against African American slavery made by a religious body in the English colonies. If this is the case, is there any person of humanity that would not wish to prevent them? MR. HARTLEY thought the memorialists did not deserve to be aspersed for their conduct if influenced by motives of benignity. Madison observed, that it was his opinion yesterday, that the best way to proceed in the business was to commit the memorial without any debate on the subject, from what has taken place he was more convinced of the propriety of the idea—but as the business has engaged the attention of many members, and much has been said by gentlemen, he would offer a few observations for the consideration of the House—he then entered into a critical review of the circumstances respecting the adoption of the constitution, the ideas upon the limitation of the powers of Congress to interfere in the regulation of the commerce in slaves—and shewed that they undoubtedly were not precluded from interposing in their importation—and generally to regulate the mode in which every species of business shall be transacted—He adverted to the western country—and the cession of Georgia in which Congress have certainly the power to regulate the subject of slavery, which shews that the gentlemen are mistaken in supposing that Congress cannot constitutionally interfere in the business in any degree whatever—He was in favor of committing the petition, and justified the measure by repeated precedents in the proceedings of the House.”. Summary. The petition, if I mistake not, speaks of artifices used by self-interested persons to carry on this trade; and the petition from New-York states a case, that may require the consideration of congress.1 If any thing is within the federal authority to restrain such violation of the rights of nations, and of mankind, as is supposed to be practised in some part of the United States, it will certainly tend to the interest and honor of the community to attempt a remedy, and is a proper subject for our discussion. Representatives from South Carolina and Georgia denounced the petition as containing an unconstitutional request. Through its grants program, the NHPRC supports a wide range of activities to Skip navigation. the United States, and research and development projects to bring historical records to the 1. The New York petition spoke of vessels engaged in the African trade, fitting and clearing from that state’s ports and thus evading the laws of neighboring states that prohibited such traffic (DNA: RG 46, Senate Records, Petitions and Memorials: Various Subjects). The protest Pastorius authored was forgotten, then rediscovered by a Philadelphia antiquarian during the rising abolitionist movement of … The debate has taken a serious turn, and it will be owing to this alone if an alarm is created; for had the memorial been treated in the usual way, it would have been considered as a matter of course, and a report might have been made, so as to have given general satisfaction. Register; or, History of the Proceedings and Debates of the First House of Register description begins Thomas Lloyd, comp., The Congressional After further debate the memorials were tabled. Among those signing this petition are Samuel Parsons (the father of Samuel Pleasants Parsons, whose house survives at 601 Spring Street in Oregon Hill) and James Ladd (the uncle of Elizabeth Ladd, who married Samuel Pleasants Parsons).] If there was the slightest tendency by the commitment to break in upon the constitution, he would object to it; but he did not see upon what ground such an event was to be apprehended. Debate resumed on a motion to commit the Quaker petition that had been presented the previous day and read a second time on this day. 1790 during the First Congress, after a Quaker petition against slavery was introduced, Congressman Smith of South Carolina recalled the compromises of the Constitutional Convention: “We took each other with our mutual bad habits and respective evils, for Records Commission (NHPRC) is part of the National Through its grants program, the NHPRC supports a wide range of activities to Representatives … (4 vols. Va., 1977—). The 1688 Germantown Protest against Slavery April 18, 1688, a group of Quakers in the new settlement of Germantown authored a petition "against the traffik of men body.1 This protest against slavery was the first of its kind on the American continent and preceded the official Quaker abolition of slavery by ninety-two years. This was the first petition made to Parliament and was signed by 273 Quaker members. After the 1750s, Quakers actively engaged in attempting to sway public opinion in Britain and America against the slave trade and slavery in general. He admitted, that congress were restricted by the constitution from taking measures to abolish the slave-trade; yet there were a variety of ways by which they could countenance the abolition, and they might make some regulations, respecting the introduction of them into the new states, to be formed out of the Western Territory, different from what they could in the old settled states. Mr. Madison. ; New York, 1789–90; Evans 22203–4, 22973–4). In payment of a debt to Penn's The Senate took no action on the petition, and the House referred it to a select committee for further consideration. But the Germantowners' condemnation of slavery continued, and their moral leadership on the issue influenced Quaker abolitionists and Philadelphia society. Almost three decades passed before another Quaker petition against slavery was written with sophistication comparable to the Germantown 1688 petition. public. 1783 Quaker Anti-Slavery Petition Carol Landon Gaiser of Bellevue, Washington found this document after noticing the name of Gabriel WILLSON in the index to the Papers of the Continental Congress. Shortly before his death in 1790, Franklin would author the petition the group sent to the first Congress, asking it to abolish slavery and act to end the transatlantic slave trade. Shortly after Jefferson’s dinner party was held on February 11, 1790, some Quaker delegations from Philadelphia and New York presented petitions to the House of Representatives. Representatives … (4 vols. ; New York, 1789–90; Evans 22203–4, 22973–4). These Petitions Use Popup Lists. on february 11, 1790, one month into the second session of the first congress, representative thomas spitzer the month -- fitzsimmons and john lawrence presented anti-slave trade petitions from their quaker yearly meetings. ... PDF Time Line of Quaker Anti-Slavery Activity.

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