Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: BroJoeK; x; HandyDandy; rockrr; DoodleDawg; DiogenesLamp
“In fact, there were no slave-revolts — zero, zip, nada slave revolts, at that time. But there were a good many “domestic Insurrections” excited by the Brits — American loyalists insurrections against patriots.
So that line in the Declaration of Independence does not refer to slavery. Nor does any other, making your claims here bogus.”

Comes now the Virginia Congress with the contemporaneous findings of slave insurrections that some claim do not exist.

Text of Virginia Congress Declaration

Virginia, Dec. 14, 1775.

By the Representatives of the People of the Colony and Dominion of VIRGINIA, assembled in GENERAL CONVENTION

A DECLARATION

WHEREAS lord Dunmore, by his proclamation, dated on board the ship William, off Norfolk, the 7th day of November 1775, hath offered freedom to such able-bodied slaves as are willing to join him, and take up arms, against the good people of this colony, giving thereby encouragement to a general insurrection, which may induce a necessity of inflicting the severest punishments upon those unhappy people, already deluded by his base and insidious arts; and whereas, by an act of the General Assembly now in force in this colony, it is enacted, that all negro or other slaves, conspiring to rebel or make insurrection, shall suffer death, and be excluded all benefit of clergy : We think it proper to declare, that all slaves who have been, or shall be seduced, by his lordship's proclamation, or other arts, to desert their masters’ service, and take up arms against the inhabitants of this colony, shall be liable to such punishment as shall hereafter be directed by the General Convention. And to that end all such, who have taken this unlawful and wicked step, may return in safety to their duty, and escape the punishment due to their crimes, we hereby promise pardon to them, they surrendering themselves to Col. William Woodford, or any other commander of our troops, and not appearing in arms after the publication hereof. And we do farther earnestly recommend it to all humane and benevolent persons in this colony to explain and make known this our offer of mercy to those unfortunate people.

EDMUND PENDLETON, president.

439 posted on 12/11/2017 2:28:19 PM PST by jeffersondem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 320 | View Replies ]


To: jeffersondem
Virginia, Dec. 14, 1775.

By the Representatives of the People of the Colony and Dominion of VIRGINIA, assembled in GENERAL CONVENTION

This all happened in Virginia. Thomas Jefferson was only a member of the House of Burgesses at the time. He probably didn't hear anything of it.

440 posted on 12/11/2017 2:41:59 PM PST by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 439 | View Replies ]

To: jeffersondem; BroJoeK; x; rockrr; DoodleDawg; DiogenesLamp

A bunch of clap-trap, posturing and saber rattling does not equate to action. Where were the slave insurrections? Where were masters being murdered? My decree is bigger than your decree. Anyway, it’s important to clarify that Jefferson did not add, to his draft, “excited domestic insurrection”. Though I will add that jeffersondem and DL seem very excited by the prospect that he did and that it was a euphemism for “slave insurrection”. That way they can claim that the “13 Slave States” complained that “Britain was interfering with slavery”! Ha ha ha. That’s a good one. You two deserve each other.


443 posted on 12/11/2017 3:45:25 PM PST by HandyDandy ("Do you think the rain will hurt the rhubarb?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 439 | View Replies ]

To: jeffersondem; x; rockrr; HandyDandy; DiogenesLamp
jeffersondem quoting VA Convention Declaration:

So, here we see one "general insurrection" and one "insurrection".
So tell us, how many times does VA mention "domestic insurrections"?

Go ahead, take your time, read VA's declaration carefully, I'll wait.
Let us know how may "domestic insurrections" you found there.

And while you're at it, why not look up how many slave revolts there really were in the months before July 4, 1776.

That could be important to defining just what "domestic insurrection" meant to those people.

449 posted on 12/12/2017 3:23:43 AM PST by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 439 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson