Antifederalist No. 27 The Use of Coercion by the New Government. (Part 2) |
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The humble address of the low-born of the United States of America, to their fellow
slaves scattered throughout the world-greeting:
Whereas it hath been represented unto us that a most dreadful disease hath for these five
years last past infected, preyed upon and almost ruined the government and people of this
our country; and of this malady we ourselves have had perfect demonstration, not mentally,
but bodily, through every one of the five senses. For although our sensations in regard to
the mind be not just so nice as those of the well born, yet our feeling, through the
medium of the plow, the hoe and the grubbing ax, is as acute as any nobleman's in the
world. And, whereas, a number of skillful physicians having met together at Philadelphia
last summer, for the purpose of exploring, and, if possible, removing the cause of this
direful disease, have, through the assistance of John Adams, Esq., in the profundity of
their great political knowledge, found out and discovered that nothing but a new
government, consisting of three different branches, namely, king, lords, and commons or,
in the American language, President, Senate and Representatives -- can save this, our
country, from inevitable destruction. And, whereas, it has been reported that several of
our low-born brethren have had the horrid audacity to think for themselves in regard to
this new system of government, and, dreadful thought! have wickedly begun to doubt
concerning the perfection of this evangelical constitution, which our political doctors
have declared to be a panacea, which (by inspiration) they know will infallibly heal every
distemper in the confederation, and finally terminate in the salvation of America.
Now we the low born, that is, all the people of the United States, except 600 thereabouts,
well born, do by this our humble address, declare and most solemnly engage, that we will
allow and admit the said 600 well born, immediately to establish and confirm this most
noble, most excellent and truly divine constitution. And we further declare that without
any equivocation or mental reservation whatever we will support and maintain the same
according to the best of our power, and after the manner and custom of all other slaves in
foreign countries, namely by the sweat and toil of our body. Nor will we at any future
period of time ever attempt to complain of this our royal government, let the consequences
be what they may.
And although it appears to us that a standing army, composed of the purgings of the jails
of Great Britain, Ireland and Germany, shall be employed in collecting the revenues of
this our king and government, yet, we again in the most solemn manner declare, that we
will abide by our present determination of non- resistance and passive obedience -- so
that we shall not dare to molest or disturb those military gentlemen in the service of our
royal government. And (which is not improbable) should any one of those soldiers when
employed on duty in collecting the taxes, strike off the arm (with his sword) of one of
our fellow slaves, we will conceive our case remarkably fortunate if he leaves the other
arm on. And moreover, because we are aware that many of our fellow slaves shall be unable
to pay their taxes, and this incapacity of theirs is a just cause of impeachment of
treason; wherefore in such cases we will use our utmost endeavors, in conjunction with the
standing army, to bring such atrocious offenders before our federal judges, who shall have
power, without jury or trial, to order the said miscreants for immediate execution; nor
will we think their sentence severe unless after being hanged they are also to be both
beheaded and quartered. And finally we shall henceforth and forever leave all power,
authority and dominion over our persons and properties in the hands of the well born, who
were designed by Providence to govern. And in regard to the liberty of the press, we
renounce all claim to it forever more, Amen; and we shall in future be perfectly contented
if our tongues be left us to lick the feet of our well born masters.
Done on behalf of three millions of low-born American slaves.
JOHN HUMBLE, Secretary
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