Arkansas weekly mansion., 1884-01-19
BENJAMIN BANNEk ER,
THE NEGRO ASTRONOMER.
gBv Rev. John r. Slattery. in the Catholic
World


of his peOpie; aud, though remarkable Tor
All habtual modesty, he solemnly claImed
that his work had earned respect Tor the
African race. In this spirit he wrote TO
Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary oil State
under Washington, transmitting manu-
script copy OF his almanac. The Letters
fcrvent appeal for the Gown-trOdGen negro,
and y protest against the injustice and in
consistency of his treatment by the ps ople
OF the u nted States-is herewith given en-
tire. l beg the reader as he peruses this
letter to weigh its pleadings well. putting
himself and our times in place OF Jefferson
and ninety years ago.
ssAAnYLAND, BALTIMORE Co.,
Eear Ellicott's Lower Mills,
"August 10, 1901. J
"Thomas Jefferson, Secretary OF STATE:
..sir: AN fully sensible of the greatness
of that freedom which I take with you on
the present occasiOn-a liberty which
seemed to me scarcely allowable when re-
dected On that distinguished aud dIgnihed
station in which you stand and the almost
gene' al prejudice and prepossession which
are prevalent in the world against those
of my complexion. I suppose it is truth
toe well attested to you to need proof
here that we are q race OF beings VINO nave
long labored under the abuse and censure
of the world, that we have long been con-
sidered rather as british than human, and
scarcely capable of mental endowment.
'!Sir, l hope l may safely admit, in conse-
quence of that report which hath reached
me, that you are q man far less infeIible in
sentiments of this nature than many others,
that you are measurably friendly and we'll
disposed towards us, and that you are ready
and willing to lend your aid and assistance
to our relief from those mary distressed
and numerous calamities to which we are
reduced.
.:Now, SIR if this is found in truth ap-
prehend you will readily embrace every
opportunity to eradicate that train of ab-
surd and false ideas and opinions which so
generally prevails with respect to us, aud
that your sentiments are concurrent with
mine, which are that an universal Father
hath given being to us all of one flesh, but
that he hath also without parti ality afforded
us all the same sensations and endowed us
all with the same faculties, and that how
ever variable we may be in society or relIS-
! ion, however diversified in situation or
! color. We are all of the same family and
! stand in the same relation to him.
! "Sir, il these are sentiments OF which you
are fully persuaded, hope you cannot but
, acknowledge that 1t is the indispensable
+ duty of those " ho maintain for themselves
. the rights Of human nature, and who pro-
! fes- the obligations of Christianity, to eX-
/ tend their power aud influence to the reief
J of every part of the human race from what
! ever burden Or oppression they may un-
justly labor under; and this, spprehsnd.
full conviction of the truth anu obligation
! of these principles should lead all to.
/ "Sir, | have long been convinced that II
your love for yourselves and Tor those ines
unable laws which preserve to you the
rights oil human was 1OuDueu ON
sincerity, you could not but he sOlicitOus
srary im.ijvi.lua!; of whateveI ranA uI
the blessings thereof; neither could you
rest satisfied short of the mos sctive dihu-
sion of our ex ertioEs in srder to their pre-
motion from auy state of degradation Ia
which the unj justiiilble cruelty and barhir-
ism of men may have reduced them.
"sir. freely and cheeriuiiy acknowledge
that am of The African race, and in III
I color which is natural to them, OF the deep
At IL I a . Il
profound gratitude to the supreme Ruler oi
the universe that now confess to you that
| am not under that State OF tyrannical
thraluom and lnbIiman captivity to which
too many of my brethren are doomed. hui
{ that have abIi.Idantly tasted OF the fruitiOn
of those blessings which proceed from tha!
free and unequalled liberty with which you
are favored, and which | bope YOU will vii.
, iingIy allow you have received from the
imme diate hand OF that Being from whom
proeeedeth every good and perfect gift.
''Sir. suffer Inc to recall to your mind thst
time in which the arms and tyranny OF the
: British crown were exeIted with every
powerful effort in order to reduce you 10 d
state of sefvitude. Look back. entries at
YOU. the variety OF dangers to which
you were exposed: reflect Oh that time IL
which every human aid appeared unavail
able, and in which even hope and fortituds
wore the aspect OF inability to the conflict
and YOU cannot but be led to Il serious anC
grateful sense of your miraculous and proHi
Dental preservation; you cannot but At
trar guilty which you enjoy you have mer
cifuiiy received and that it is the pecuiia'
blessing of Heaven.
''This, SIR, was a time in which you ciearl,
saw into the injustice of q state of slavery
and in which you had just apprehension .
the horrors OF its condition.
81: WAS now, sir, that your a5horrence
thereof was 30 excited that you publicly
held forth this true and invaluable doctrine
which is worthy to be recorded and rsmem
bered in all succeeding ages: we hole
these truths te be seif-evident: that all mol
are created equal, and that they are en-
dowed with certain inalienable rights; tha
among these are life, liberty, and the pur
suit Of happiness.'
"Here, sir, was u time in which your ten
der feelings for yourself had Engaged yo'
thus to declare you were then impressed
with proper ideas OF the great valuation o
liberty and the free possession Of thcs
blessings to which you were entitled b.
nature.
But, sir. how pitiable is 1t to reflect tha
although you were so fully convinced o
the b nevoience OF the Father OF mankind
And of his equal ana impartial distribution
OF these rights and privileges which he ha'
conferred upon them. that you should q
the same time cOunIeract his mercfes II
detaining by fraud and violence SO numer
Gus a part OF :ny brethren under groanlni
, captivity and cruel oppre ssion; that yo1
should at the same time be found guilty o
that most crimi nal act whi h you prOfeSsed
ly detested in others with respect to your
selves.
"Sir, suppose that your knowledge G
, the situation ui m} brethren is too exter
sive to need a recital here; neither shall
presume to prescribe methods by whlc
they NAV be relieved. otherwise than b
h recommending to you and all others to wea
yourselves from those narrow prejudice
which you have imbibcd with respect t
them. and, Job propose: to his friends
put your souls il their souls stead, Thu
, shall YOUR hearts be enlarged with KIND
meas and heGevolerce towards them, an
thus shall YOU Feed neither the direc 10
of myself nor others in what manner t
proceed herein.
land now. sir, although my sympath
and affection for my brethren hath cause
NV enlar. elnent thus far, | ardently hop
! that >o;:r caudnr aud generosity will plea
win YOU in my behalf when l make know
10 YOU that il was not or,c nally my desigl
but that having taken up my pen In Ordt
to direct to ;ou - a present copy OF q
g almanac which ! hav. calculated for In
succe eding year. | WAS unexpectedly an
e unavoiuably led thereto.
t "This calculation, sir. is the productio
of nv arduous study in this my advance
stage of life; for having long had unbolin
: ed desires to become acquainted with tt
secrets of nature. | have had to CRAFTY m
! curiosity herein through my own assiduo'
application to astrOnC mical study, in whlt
Ineed not to recount to you the many d
q ficulties aud disadvantages which l ha'
!, had to encounter. And although had :
{ most declined to make my calculation 4
j the ensuing year, in consequence OF tn
d time which I had allotted therefor bell