ADDRESS TO THE NON-SLAVEHOLDERS OF THE SOUTH, ON THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL EVILS OF SLAVERY.
New York: Am. & For. Anti-Slavery Society, William Harned, Agent, [@1849]. [2], 58pp. Stitched without wrappers, else Very Good.
Another edition of this work, printed by Benedict in New York in 1843, is signed 'Lewis Tappan' at the end. This one is unsigned, and its publication date is unstated. A couple of the sources suggest 1849 for publication date, but without supporting that conclusion. In any event, this is probably the second edition. The earliest publication date which I have located of an Anti-Slavery Society item bearing William Harned's name, as here, is 1846.
The Address seeks to exploit what seemed obvious to Abolitionists: "the injuries inflicted upon you and your children, by an institution which lives by your sufferance, and will die at your mandate. Slavery is maintained by you whom it impoverishes and degrades." Men like Tappan hoped that the vast number of non-slaveholders in the South would recognize that Slavery depresses wages, diminishes employment opportunities, discourages entrepreneurial pursuits, encourages a feudal and class-based society in which free labor is viewed with contempt, punishes free speech, and diverts capital to the purchase of slaves by the wealthiest Southerners.
Dumond 7. Sabin 81791. Not in LCP, Blockson. Item #27954
Price: $250.00