1844 ANTI-SLAVERY. 26pp Unpublished MSs Abolitionist Sermon Preached on Eve of Annexation of Texas.

122 pages of superb quality sermon material from an as yet unknown revivalist-evangelically oriented pastor holding positions at churches in both Concord, Massachusetts [beginning in 1839] and Marlboro Massachusetts.

Concord and Marlboro were hotbeds of the abolitionist movement at the time. William Llloyd-Garrison and his Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society often met in Marlboro [Marlborough] and two of the early Secretaries of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society were from Concord. The famed Anti-Slavery Fairs held by the Women's auxiliary of the Anti-Slavery Society were held here as well, drawing huge crowds from across New England. 

The content is superb. 

The final sermons [it is separated into two distinct addresses on the same text and theme] are of significant historical import. Preached on April 4, 1844, the two address the national iniquity of slavery and in particular the upcoming signing of the Tyler-Texas Treaty on April 12, 1844 as a near guarantee of slavery's perpetuity. The treaty, otherwise known simply as the annexation of Texas, was a piece of transparently pro-slavery legislation. As a result of the Treaty, Texas would become a territory of the United States, ceding all its lands to America. In return, America would take on Texas' not insignificant debt. 

For abolitionists, this was an outrage. Texas was set up to be divvied up into at least four states, three of which would certainly be slave states [our author suggests 6 or 7], thus making the passage of any abolitionist reforms a numerical impossibility legislatively. This was a transparent move by the pro-slavers to concretize their political abilty to ensure the preservation of slavery in the South. 

On this day of fasting for the occasion, our author spares not the sword nor wastes time in getting to his subject, 

In casting my eye around the horizon I see no cloud so dark & threatening as that which hangs upon our southern border. I see no event which is so much to be desired, none which promises so great a brightening of our national prospects as the removal of servitude & oppression from the midst of us. I shall therefore, on this day consecrated to a sorrowing & repentant view of our sins & woes, ask your attention prominently to this topic . . . 

. . . And I tremble for my country when I look within & see her sins - when especially I see millions of our brethren, & fellow-beings, held in an unrighteous bondage - when I see a real danger of increasing rather than diminishing the number of slaves by an unhallowed act - I say I can but tremble lest G shd give us up to the destruction wh we seem to court . . . 

. . . The African or his descendants have the claim of brethren upon all other persons. The poor negro is as good by birth & natural inheritance as the proud white man . . . 

. . . Slavery is an outrage upon the rights of man wh is enough to provoke the vengeance of heaven. I shd not have time as I have no need to specify minutely the injuries wh are done to humanity in our land. It is a monstrous evil; it can be defended by no argument, an unmitigated evil. No right or claim wh will bear the test of a moment's examination can be set up in its defence - all wrong, wrong, wrong from beginning to end. And then under this wrong, how much of cruelty is contained no tongue can tell. Could the sounds of the whole world be stilled for a half hour now & our sense of hearing quickened sufficiently, what noise shd we hear from the Slave States of this Union? We shd hear the sharp crack of the lash as it cuts deep into the back of the poor victim. We shd hear his stifled cry, or groan - We shd hear the wail of families forced assunder forever, by merciless buyers and sellers of human flesh & blood. We shd hear the husband calling for his wife, wife her husband - parents, children, & children, parents. We shd hear the clanking of the degrading chain. And every sound of woe wh wretched slavery could send up . . . slavery must answer for millions of victims treated thus . . . 

. . . the selfish & proud & unscrupulous spirit of the slaver holding part of the country may suddenly bring down on us the vengeance of God . . . nothing wh stands in the way of its abomination or lust for power will be an obstacle to the action of the South. And for a particular illustration of this I call your attention to the project of Annexing Texas to this **** treaty. The alarm was sounded upon this subject, but almost no one heeded it. Mr. Adams (J.Q.) made a particular representation to the public upon the point - declaring that such a project was entertained seriously by Southern men and arrangements had been made for consummation of it. The motives appear to have been two-fold.

Sales of Texas scrip had been made and large sums invested in that territory of rogues & runaways, and in order to give them a value the Country was to be annexed to the U.S. Another motive was the extension of slavery. While the North slept upon the subject of slavery, the South was able to accomplish all her purposes & virtually to rule the nation by adroit management. But when the North began to reflect upon the inconsistency of slavery with a free constitution, and to perceive what a detriment it was to the national prosperity and to watch the movement of the South, then it became necessary to extend slavery - For the free States can out vote the slave states & always will be - unless some design shall be accomplished to give greater political power to the South - Thereupon the annexation of Texas was conceived of - This wd give a large accession of territory, enough for 6 or 7 states of large size, wh in all probability wd be slave states. There was a further motive for this in the apprehension th Texas sought to become a free country thru the intervention of Great Britain and thus afford unspeakable trouble to those states wh border upon it by giving an asylum to their slaves wh cd easily cross over the boundary & be safe. Thus the project was secretly matured - yet few heeded it. . . 

. . . there can be no reasonable doubt that the President of the U.S. and several of his cabinet advisers & many members of Congress & nearly the whole Southern Country are both in favor of Annexation & determined to come pass it if possible. It is said that the outlines of such a plan are not only drawn up but virtually agreed to by the executive offices respectively of the U.S. & Texas. It is to be accomplished by Treaty - The sudden & dreadful death of several members of the Cabinet and some other considerations checked the proceedings. But it wd be no surprise to me any day to hear that such a Treaty had been laid before the Senate for ratification. Nothing I think bu the knowledge of the unwillingness of that body to confirm such an instrument can hinder or deter the President from proceeding in the business. It is said however that at present the Senate of the U.S. wd not ratify such a treaty. . . . 

What wd be the harm in receiving Texas to the Union? It is a question wh shd be answered . . . 

. . . if our Territory were to be enlarged we shd desire to receive a virtuous population & not a vicious one to a share in our Govt. Texas is proverbial as the refuge of vice & crime. Much of the discontented, the criminal, the debauched, the wicked portion of our population for South & West went to Texas. And tho there might be much hope th they wd thus reform & become good citizens, yet such a hope is no reason why we shd have 50 or 60,000 of such people thrown into our Union. Indeed, it is a most pressing & imperative reason why we shd not receive Texas to ourselves. . . 

. . . Party success is placed in the estimation of many above principle - every thing is made to kneel to it. There are some honourable exceptions. But the unfaithfulness of Northern politicians is sufficient to encourage the South in such a project as this. 

. . . This might lead to a disastrous war. Mexico has already intimated th she shd have no alternative but to declare war against the U.S. Possibly Grt Britain might feel called upon to join with her or in some way to mingle in the gravel. . . 

. . . If a majority of the nation is opposed to annexation & yet it can be accomplished through some circumstances which prevent their opinion being properly represented in Congress - the most obvious course to be pursued wd be to chosen at next succeeding election such a Congress as wd break the unconstitutional treaty by an act of legislation. Then Texas might go to war if she pleased & the South might nullify if she pleased, but neither of these wd be evils very likely to happen or very alarming . . . 

Etc. etc. 

The 26pp manuscript accompanied by a further 96pp of sermons, including:

Sermon IV. Preached on Psalm 126.6 He that goeth forth & weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Preached in Nashua, Townsend, North Andover, Lowell, Natick, Pepperell, Stonington, Concord, etc., between 1838 and 1840. 24pp.

A superb sermon on being emotionally engaged with the mission of God, including biographical incidents involving David Brainerd, Henry Martyn, Edward Payson, Harlan Page, etc.

Sermon XIII. Preached on I Thessalonians 2.4. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. Preached in Concord, 1840. 20pp.

Sermon XVI. Preached on Matthew 12.7. But if ye had known what this meaneth, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice," ye wd not have condemned the guiltless. Preached in Concord, 1840, and Marlboro, 1845. 19pp.

Sermon LXX. Preached on Isaiah 53.1. Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Preached in Concord, 1841 and again in 1844. 16pp.

Sermon CLI. Preached on Genesis 18.19. For I know him, that he will command his children & his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice & judgment. Preached in Concord, 1844 and Marlborough in 1844. 17pp. 

And our sermons on slavery and annexation described above, 

Sermon CLII [Two Sermons]. Both preached on Jeremiah 34.17. Therefore thus saith the Lord, Ye have not hearkened unto me in proclaiming liberty every one to his brother & ever man to his neighbor: Behold I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine: And I will make you to be removed into all the Kingdoms of the earth. Preached in Concord, April 4, 1844. 10pp + 16pp.