New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-23

their Creator with certain inalienable rights (;
that among these are life, liberty, aud the pur
suit Of happiness.
Here, sir. was time in which your tender
feelings for yourselves had engaged you thus to
declare you were then impressed with proper
ideas Of the great valuation Of liberty and the
free possession of those blessings to which you
were entitled by nature: but, sir how pitiable
is it to reflect that although you were so fully
convinced of the benevolence of the Father Of
mankind, and OF his equal and impartial distri-
button of those rights and privileges which he
had conferred upon them, that you should at
the same time counterfeit his mercies In detain-
ing by fraud and violence so numerous part
of nv brethren under groanlng captivity and
cruel oppression, that you should at the same
time be found guilty OF the most criminal act,
which you professedly detested in others with
respect to yourselves
Sir, | suppose that your knowledge of the
situation of my brethren is too extensive to need
Q recital here neither shall presume to pre-
scribe methods by which they may be relieved
otherwise than by recommending to you aud to
all others to wean yourselves from those mar
row prejudces which you have imbibed with
respect TO them and as job proposed TO his
friends put your souls in their sonls' stead
thus shall your hearts be enlarged with kind
ness and benevolence towards them, aud thus
shall you need neither the direction of myself
nor others in what manner to proceed herein.
Aud now, sir, although my sympathy and
affection for my brethren has caused nay enlarge
ment thus far, | ardently hope that your can.
dor and generosity will plead with you in my
behalf when L make known TO you that it was
not originally my design, but that having
taken up my pen in order to direct to you a.
present copy of my almanac which have
calculated fer the succeeding year, ives unex
peotedly and unavoidably led thereto.
This calculation, sir, is the production Of my
ardu0us study IN this my advanced srage of
life i; for having long had unbounded desires to
become acquainted with the secrets Of nature
have bad to CRAFTY my curiosity herein
through my own asiduOus application TO as.
| Economical study, in which l need not recount
to you the many difficulties and disadvantages
which have had to encounter.
And although had almost declined to make
my calculations for the ensuing year in conse-
quence OF that time which had allotted there
for be ny taken up at the Federal Territory, by
| the request of Dir. Andrew Elhcott yet finding
myself under several engagements to printers
of this State, TO whom had communicated my
desg u on my return TO my place of residence,
l lndustriOusy applied myself thereto which |
hope have accomplished with correctness and
accuracy, copy OF which ! have taken the
ipo'ty W uiecS W you, anu WHICH mummy
| request you will favorably receive, aud although
you may have the opportunity of perusing il
after It's publication, yet | chose to send II TO
you in manuscript previous thereto, that thereby
you might not only have an earlier inspection,
but that you might also view 1t in my own
hat d-writing.
Aud now, sir, shall conclude and subscribe
myself, with the most profound respect, your
most obedient, humble servant,
b. BANNEKER.
THOMAS JEPFERsoN,
Secretary IF State, Phtla.
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