Five hundred thousand strokes for freedom/Preface

Whilst millions of our oppressed and manacled fellow-creatures are still groaning under the cruelties of slavery, and panting for deliverance from thraldom, no apology is thought requisite in presenting anything calculated to increase a feeling of sympathy for that portion of suffering humanity whose own voice has but little chance of being heard, and when it has an opportunity of being raised in self-defence, is too often but little regarded.

lt must be evident to the most superficial observer, that recent events have excited an awakened interest universally in behalf of the down-trodden slave. It is exceedingly desirable that this feeling should not be allowed to pass hastily away, but that the public mind should be kept alive to the great subject of the negro's wrongs, till such time as they are effectually redressed.

It has been thought, that an extensive distribution of Anti-Slavery Tracts would be very opportune at the present moment, and assist more than any other means in maintaining this feeling; for, in the days in which we live, more is to be effected by public opinion, and by appeals to the great sympathies of mankind, than by force or by statute ​laws. The want of a cheap variety of well-written, judiciously-selected, and popular Anti-Slavery Tracts, has long been felt, for distribution after public meetings, lectures, and on all suitable occasions. We have abundance of Tracts on Peace and on Temperance, &c., in extensive circulation—Olive Leaves are scattered the wide world over. Why should we not have something equally available for diffusing information on the question of Slavery, when it is admitted to be one of the greatest calamities that afflict mankind? something calculated to excite an interest in a subject so intimately connected with the happiness or misery of a very large portion of the human family?

Thoughts like the above have long occurred to the writer, but the difficulties of effectually supplying the want have appeared considerable. The idea not being lost sight of, however, plans have become gradually developed for carrying out the design; and it has been eventually resolved to issue a series of half a million of Tracts. The subject was first communicated to a few well-known friends of the cause, who not only expressed approbation, but soon furnished a handsome nucleus of contributions for carrying out the design forthwith. Circulars were struck off and distributed, and although the undertaking was deemed by many to be somewhat Herculean, and by a few of the more timid, altogether Utopian, the call has been very generally responded to. Indeed the result has proved that the quantity originally contemplated, 500,000, is quite inadequate to the requirements of Anti-slavery friends; for whilst the first impression is passing through the printer’s hands, the demand for these Tracts has been so great, that a second Half Million are already in the press. Many contributions ​have been received for a gratuitous circulation, which alone will provide for the distribution of 300,000 Tracts.

By this means a scattering of Anti-slavery missiles will be effected to an extent not hitherto attempted, which cannot fail to assist in increasing the lively interest already excited on this question; and create among a large class who are still ignorant of the evils of Slavery a feeling for suffering humanity of which they are at present wholly unconscious.

The series prepared for the first half million, consists of eighty-two distinct Tracts, varying from 1 to 28 pages each, a list of which will be found at the end of this volume, which also contains one of each of the series in rotation. The compiler claims no merit for originality in these Tracts. Though many of them are expressly written for the occasion, they consist chiefly of reprints from American, or other publications adapted to the present purpose. They will be found admirably suited for general circulation; and those who employ themselves in the distribution of tracts, will find them an efficient means of maintaining a renewed interest in the oppressed. Without advocating any particular plan of emancipation, they point out the facts and iniquities of the foul system, in such a manner as cannot fail to arouse an Anti-slavery feeling—deep, strong, and practical—and assist in promoting the abolition of an "institution" involving such complicated distress.

It is an appalling fact, that all the efforts of philanthropists, to arrest the progress of slavery, have hitherto proved ineffectual. Still,—

​Not only so, but the accursed system of oppression has for some year's steadily advanced. There are now seven to eight millions of our fellow-creatures in servile bondage, nearly half of that number being held by professedly free and Christian America—a caricature to its institutions, and a fact palpably turning its boast of religion and liberty into a lie.

Thanks be to God, England hag freed herself from the taint of slavery. "On the page of history," says Hugh Stowell, "one deed shall stand out in bold relief—one consenting voice pronounce—that the greatest honour our country ever attained, was when, with her sovereign at her head, she proclaimed—The Slave is Free! In the pages of history this act will stand out the gem in our diadem." No more is heard within our borders the cracking of the torturing whip, the clanking of the accursed chain:—

But having rid ourselves of the sin, let us not think we are at liberty to rest. Whilst a single brother or sister continues to endure the chains of slavery, it is our duty to raise our voices to demand their release; and if we remain silent, our brother's blood will be upon us. Christian philanthropy and love know nothing of geographical limitations. We must not confine our sympathies within the narrow sphere of our own country, but extend them throughout the whole habitable globe. As children of Him who hath made of one blood all the nations of the earth, we must ​recognize in the human form, wheresoever it presents itself, a man and a brother, a woman and a sister, each and every one entitled to the blessed privilege of liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—

Seven to eight millions of our fellow-beings, deprived of this rightful liberty, demand our exertions for their emancipation from this unrighteous thraldom; our brother's blood crieth from the ground, craving our help and our protection.

Duties are ours—consequences are in the hands of the Omnipotent. Our duty is to sow the seed—the great Husbandman can alone give the increase. Though no immediate success may seem to crown our efforts, they may be as bread cast upon the waters, which shall one day return to yield a rich harvest.

Angelina J, Knox, in the Pennsylvania Freeman, Oct. 1852, relates the following circumstance, illustrating the beneficial results of Tract distribution:-—

"A slaveholder in Alabama, who had almost become a disbeliever in the Christian religion, had a little son who returned delighted from school, with a prize which his teacher had given him. The father called his happy child to his side to examine his gift. It was a tract. For a moment he looked at it, and then resolved he would read it. ​Its perusal led him to reflection, and then to his conversion to the religion of Jesus. In looking at his slaves, he felt that he had no right to retain them longer in bondage, and at once formed the noble resolution of liberating them. True to his principles, he faltered not; but, with trust in God for his future necessities, he removed with them to Kentucky (not being able to liberate them in Alabama), and there, after much instruction and kindest care over them, he made them free. His property, which wholly consisted in his slaves, was estimated at a hundred thousand dollars. At once he sacrificed it all, and became poor for conscience sake. For years he was ridiculed by the name of ‘abolitionist,’ but it moved him not from his purpose. He has been mobbed and insulted, even in the free states, yet never did he dodge a single missile hurled at him. The decided Christian, the great philanthropist, the uncompromising abolitionist, we now see in him all the fruits of that little tract! What a blessing followed that teacher's gift! Who can tell all the happy influences arising from that one Christian act? ‘In the morning, sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.’ ”

What abundance of good might be effected, if packages of Anti-slavery Tracts were distributed amongst emigrant ships, bound for foreign lands where slavery prevails, or is advocated! America should be deluged with these missiles. They should be wafted over the vast stronghold of slavery, like the leaves of autumn. Pamphlets, embodying facts, arguments, and appeals, calculated to arouse the reader to a sense of the sinfulness of slaveholding; exhibiting briefly, yet cogently, its enormous evils, its inherent cruelties, and ​its repugnance to Christianity; contrasting it with the benefits of emancipation, and showing that the holding of men in abject bondage, subjected every moment to all the liabilities attaching to any other description of property, is utterly opposed to those inalienable rights with which God has invested every human being——to all the principles of truth and justice—to the provisions of all righteous government—and to the laws of God; and that it therefore becomes our duty, as men and Christians, to seek its eternal overthrow.

If persons corresponding with, or sending goods to America, made a point of inclosing some of these tracts, it would be like scattering seed in the now-prepared soil. We ought, also, to endeavour to derive the full benefit from our cheap postage at home, by making up the weight prescribed with something likely to do good. Tracts might be inclosed in every letter, without increasing the postage. Let them be sent in faith, a blessing asked upon them, and we know not how many may take root, and what a fruitful harvest will result. We must not be silent or inactive so long as a single fellow-creature bleeds in chains. So long as one man holds property in another, an Anti-slavery feeling needs to be created and kept alive—society must be saturated with it; if must be preached everywhere, and to the great work of emancipation every assistance must be summoned.

Let us not then fear the voice of ridicule or censure, but follow the dictates of those sympathies which the God of nature hath implanted in our bosoms; defend the defenceless, succour the oppressed; plead the cause of the innocent; manifest our allegiance to Him, the distinctive badge ​of whose disciples is love—love to the whole human family; and prove that we joyfully exchange the admiration of the world for the blessing of the perishing. Then, in solemn anticipation of that day when the negro, his friends, and his foes, shall stand before the one Judge and Father of all, we may be found worthy to receive the approving sentence, “Ye have done what ye could.” “Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Leeds, 6th Month, 1853.