William
Lloyd Garrison justifies Organization Against Slavery,
1833
Whereas the Most High God "hath made of
one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth," and
hath commanded them to love their neighbors as themselves; and whereas, our
National Existence is based upon this principle, as recognized in the
Declaration of Independence, "that all mankind are created equal, and that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which
are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"; and whereas, after the
lapse of nearly sixty years, since the faith and honor of the American people
were pledged to this avowal, before Almighty God and the World, nearly
one-sixth part of the nation are held in bondage by their fellow-citizens; and
whereas, Slavery is contrary to the principles of natural justice, of our
republican form of government, and of the Christian religion, and is
destructive of the prosperity of the country, while it is endangering the
peace, union, and liberties of the States; and whereas, we believe it the duty
and interest of the masters immediately to emancipate their slaves, and that no
scheme of expatriation, either voluntary or by compulsion, can remove this
great and increasing evil; and whereas, we believe that it is practicable, by
appeals to the consciences, hearts, and interests of the people, to awaken a
public sentiment throughout the nation that will be opposed to the continuance
of Slavery in any part of the Republic, and by effecting the speedy abolition
of Slavery, prevent a general convulsion; and whereas, we believe we owe it to
the oppressed, to our fellow-citizens who hold slaves, to our whole country, to
posterity, and to God, to do all that is lawfully in our power to bring about
the extinction of Slavery, we do hereby agree, with a prayerful reliance on the
Divine aid, to form ourselves into a society, to be governed by the following
Constitution:
ART.