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Literary
July 29, 1842
The Liberator
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
Letter from William Bassett to Brother Garrison, dated Lynn, July 18, 1842, introducing an anti-slavery pledge modeled on temperance pledges and an accompanying parody song to promote immediate abolition, refusing support for pro-slavery politicians, ministers, or churches.
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POETRY.
A New Movement,
Bro. Garrison:
You are aware that we have set a-going an Anti-Slavery Pledge. I think great good may be done by it, for I believe it expresses the true anti-slavery doctrine. We are taking vigorous measures for circulating it, and have already obtained signatures. We shall probably hold weekly meetings at one another's houses for conversation, singing, &c. in the manner practised by the Washingtonians with so much success. Please give the Pledge a place in the Liberator, with the accompanying song, which is a parody on one of our best Washingtonian songs.
Yours affectionately,
WM. BASSETT.
Lynn, July 18, 1842.
TEE-TOTAL ANTI-SLAVERY PLEDGE.
Believing Slavery to be a heinous sin and crime—a curse to the master, and a grievous wrong to the slave—we hereby pledge ourselves, that we will never again vote for any candidate for civil officer, nor countenance any man as a christian minister, nor hold connexion with any organization as a christian church, except such as are practically pledged to labor with us for its immediate and entire extinction from our country. And we further engage never to aid nor countenance any forcible resistance to the slaves, should they attempt to regain their liberty by a resort to arms.
THE PLEDGE.
Tune—'What fairy-like music steals over the sea.'
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if it will not remain
Through hours of temptation—thro' torments and pain?
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if it will not endure,
Keep us free from oppression, from temptation secure?
Then awake! bondman, awake! I am toiling for thee;
This night and forever, thy friend I will be.
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if it will not defend
Keep safely through life, and make happy the end?
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if we may not extend
The hand of true friendship—be the sufferer's friend?
Then awake! &c.
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if it will not protect,
Be the friend of all freed men, the standard erect?
Oh, what's the pledge good for, which God has so blessed,
But to save the poor bondman, and relieve the oppressed?
Then awake! &c.
Oh, what's the pledge good for, but to spread through the land
The manifold blessings that fall from her hand?
Then take the pledge, freemen, and bless'd be the day,
When you cast so far from you, sect's thraldom away.
Then awake! &c.
Oh, what's the pledge good for, that is freeing our land
From the scourge of oppression, by the aid of God's hand?
Oh, what's the pledge good for, but to brighten our days!
Let us joy in her freedom, as we pass o'er her ways.
Then awake! &c.
How glorious the spark that enkindled the flame!
How happy the thousands that rejoice in its fame!
How glorious the breeze that so caused it to glow!
How happy the freed-man relieved from his woe!
Then awake! &c.
Oh, blessed be the day when was first heard the word,
In numbers, sweet numbers, its echoes were heard;
Oh, hail it with pleasure, rejoice every man—
For the slaveholder's days are reduced to a span!
Then awake! bondman, awake! I am toiling for thee;
This night and forever, thy friend I will be.
A New Movement,
Bro. Garrison:
You are aware that we have set a-going an Anti-Slavery Pledge. I think great good may be done by it, for I believe it expresses the true anti-slavery doctrine. We are taking vigorous measures for circulating it, and have already obtained signatures. We shall probably hold weekly meetings at one another's houses for conversation, singing, &c. in the manner practised by the Washingtonians with so much success. Please give the Pledge a place in the Liberator, with the accompanying song, which is a parody on one of our best Washingtonian songs.
Yours affectionately,
WM. BASSETT.
Lynn, July 18, 1842.
TEE-TOTAL ANTI-SLAVERY PLEDGE.
Believing Slavery to be a heinous sin and crime—a curse to the master, and a grievous wrong to the slave—we hereby pledge ourselves, that we will never again vote for any candidate for civil officer, nor countenance any man as a christian minister, nor hold connexion with any organization as a christian church, except such as are practically pledged to labor with us for its immediate and entire extinction from our country. And we further engage never to aid nor countenance any forcible resistance to the slaves, should they attempt to regain their liberty by a resort to arms.
THE PLEDGE.
Tune—'What fairy-like music steals over the sea.'
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if it will not remain
Through hours of temptation—thro' torments and pain?
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if it will not endure,
Keep us free from oppression, from temptation secure?
Then awake! bondman, awake! I am toiling for thee;
This night and forever, thy friend I will be.
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if it will not defend
Keep safely through life, and make happy the end?
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if we may not extend
The hand of true friendship—be the sufferer's friend?
Then awake! &c.
Oh, what's the pledge good for, if it will not protect,
Be the friend of all freed men, the standard erect?
Oh, what's the pledge good for, which God has so blessed,
But to save the poor bondman, and relieve the oppressed?
Then awake! &c.
Oh, what's the pledge good for, but to spread through the land
The manifold blessings that fall from her hand?
Then take the pledge, freemen, and bless'd be the day,
When you cast so far from you, sect's thraldom away.
Then awake! &c.
Oh, what's the pledge good for, that is freeing our land
From the scourge of oppression, by the aid of God's hand?
Oh, what's the pledge good for, but to brighten our days!
Let us joy in her freedom, as we pass o'er her ways.
Then awake! &c.
How glorious the spark that enkindled the flame!
How happy the thousands that rejoice in its fame!
How glorious the breeze that so caused it to glow!
How happy the freed-man relieved from his woe!
Then awake! &c.
Oh, blessed be the day when was first heard the word,
In numbers, sweet numbers, its echoes were heard;
Oh, hail it with pleasure, rejoice every man—
For the slaveholder's days are reduced to a span!
Then awake! bondman, awake! I am toiling for thee;
This night and forever, thy friend I will be.
What sub-type of article is it?
Epistolary
Poem
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Slavery Abolition
Liberty Freedom
Political
What keywords are associated?
Anti Slavery Pledge
Parody Song
Washingtonian
Garrison
Abolition
Bondman
Oppression
Liberty
What entities or persons were involved?
Wm. Bassett
Literary Details
Title
A New Movement
Author
Wm. Bassett
Subject
Anti Slavery Pledge And Parody Song
Form / Style
Letter Introducing A Pledge And Parody Song In Verse
Key Lines
Oh, What's The Pledge Good For, If It Will Not Remain
Through Hours Of Temptation—Thro' Torments And Pain?
Oh, What's The Pledge Good For, If It Will Not Endure,
Keep Us Free From Oppression, From Temptation Secure?
Then Awake! Bondman, Awake! I Am Toiling For Thee;
This Night And Forever, Thy Friend I Will Be.
Believing Slavery To Be A Heinous Sin And Crime—A Curse To The Master, And A Grievous Wrong To The Slave—We Hereby Pledge Ourselves, That We Will Never Again Vote For Any Candidate For Civil Officer, Nor Countenance Any Man As A Christian Minister, Nor Hold Connexion With Any Organization As A Christian Church, Except Such As Are Practically Pledged To Labor With Us For Its Immediate And Entire Extinction From Our Country.
Oh, Blessed Be The Day When Was First Heard The Word,
In Numbers, Sweet Numbers, Its Echoes Were Heard;
Oh, Hail It With Pleasure, Rejoice Every Man—
For The Slaveholder's Days Are Reduced To A Span!
Then Awake! Bondman, Awake! I Am Toiling For Thee;
This Night And Forever, Thy Friend I Will Be.