亨利‧海蘭德‧加尼特
(HENRY HIGHLAND GARNET)

對美利堅合眾國黑奴們的演說
An Address to the Slaves of the United States of America

Harriet Tubman (最左邊)與其救出 300 名奴隸中的部分黑奴

你們的信條是抵抗！抵抗! 抵抗！

亨利‧海蘭德‧加尼特(1815－1882)出生在馬里蘭州一個奴隸種植園裏。他九歲時，與父親一起在公誼會教友的幫助下逃往紐約市。他在紐約烏提卡附近的奧奈達神學院為將來的牧師生涯接受教育。加尼特是美國最知名的廢奴主義者之一，常到英格蘭和蘇格蘭發表演說。

1843年在紐約的布法羅召開了全國黑人大會。會上他作了他最著名的演講《造反呼籲》。他號召非洲血統的美國人，無論是奴隸還是自由人，將抵抗作為和奴隸制鬥爭的座右銘，必要的話應舉行武裝暴動。演說使當時保守的黑人領袖大為震驚，大會以一票之差沒有將加尼特的呼籲通過作為正式決議。但是黑人的鬥志由此高揚起來。四年之後，另一次全國大會在紐約的特洛伊召開，通過了加尼特類似的號召。

1865年，加尼特成了第一位在眾議院講道的黑人牧師。他去世前在利比裡亞傳教。

你們在北部、東部和西部的同胞們常常舉行全國大會表達對彼此的同情之心，為你們的不幸處境哭泣流淚。在這些大會上，我們向所有自由的階級發出了呼籲，但還從未對你們說過一句慰問和建議之詞。我們迄今只停留在按兵不動地對你們的苦難表示哀痛，誠心希望神聖的自由早該回到你們身邊但是，我們的希望落空了。時光已經流逝，成千上萬的人們在血流沖刷著的永恆的海灘上降生。你們所經歷的壓迫我們願同身受；只要你們還是奴隸，我們就談不上自由。因此，正因為我們彼此命運相連，我們就向你們寫下這番話。

你們之中許多人和我們命運相連，不僅是由於我們之間有人性的共同紐帶，而且還因為我們之間存有父母、妻子、丈夫、姐妹和朋友的更具親情的關係。因此，我們滿腔摯愛地向你們說話。

奴隸制在你們和我們之間挖下了一條深溝，它使你們受不到你們的朋友們樂意給予的同情和撫慰，更使你們遭受到在魔鬼橫行的地獄裏都罕見的磨難和迫害。但是，仁慈、萬能的天父還是留給了我們一線希望之光，在陰雲密佈的空中閃耀著孤星似的微亮。人類正在變得愈來愈聰慧、善良──壓迫者的勢力正在消弱，你們也一天天耳目靈通，力量日益壯大。兄弟姐妹們，你們有許許多多的哀怨；在這篇短短的發言裏，我們不能期望向這個世界列數這個國家裏出現的所有罪惡，而這也實在沒有必要，因為這是你們每天都感受到的；這個世界全體文明的人們也驚愕不已地目睹了這些罪惡。

二百二十七年前，我們飽受傷害的民族首次被帶到美洲的海灘上來。他們並非是心懷喜悅地來這個新世界裏建立家園的。他們也並非是心甘情願地來這裏接受這片豐饒的土地給予他們天倫享樂之祝福的。他們與那些自稱基督徒的人第一次打交道，就感受到了腐敗、齷齪透頂的人心種種。他們也因此確認，在貪慾的驅使下，那怕在文明人的眼裏，任何殘忍、任何邪惡、任何劫掠都是不足為過的。他們也不是乘著自由的雙翼來到一片自由的樂土上來的。相反，他們懷著一顆顆破碎的心遠離親愛的故土來到這裏，辛勤勞作，毫無報償。淪落在悲慘的深淵。即便是死亡都不能解脫他們身上的枷鎖，因為枷鎖一代又一代地相傳下去。成百上千萬的人們從混沌降生於世，再回到魂靈的世界，一輩子受美國奴隸制度的詛咒和摧殘。

奴隸制的繁衍者和他們的接班人們很快就發現了這個制度愈發膨脹的邪惡，也私下許諾說要將其摧毀。現在擁有奴隸的民族自己原來是為了自由才「漂洋來此」的，他們嚴重的自相矛盾如此顯而易見，不容全然忽視。自由之聲吶喊道：「解放你們的奴隸」；人們熱淚盈眶地哀告釋放來自非洲的子孫們；智慧女神莊重地提出她的懇求；流血的囚徒們喊冤叫屈，面向對著十字架痛哭流涕的基督教義；耶和華向這個惡毒的制度緊皺雙眉；上蒼電閃雷鳴，復仇的火焰呼之即出，欲劈死維護奴隸制罪惡的卑鄙之徒。然而，所有這一切都徒然無功。奴隸制還是展開了它漆黑的死亡翅膀，在這塊土地上遮天蓋日。教會在袖手旁觀──教士發出虛假的預言，而人們又情願如此。奴隸制的王權業已建立，它統治在握，得意非常。

法律和輿論(在這個國家它比法律還強大)禁止近三百萬你們的公民同胞讀《生命之書》。你們的智慧盡其可能地被摧殘。他們企圖掐滅你們心存的一絲火花。壓迫者們自己在此企圖中也身陷囹圄。他們變得軟弱無能、荒淫無恥、貪得無厭──他們詛咒了你們，他們也詛咒了自己，他們還詛咒了他們踐踏在腳下的大地。

奴隸制！這三個字包藏了多少災難！哪一顆心不會在這令人毛骨悚然的三個字前抽搐痙攣?人人珍藏熱愛自由之心，除非上帝的形象已在人的靈魂中抹去。一個在剛果的野地裏漫跑、未開化的非洲人，對自由權利的熱愛絲毫不亞於一個目光炯炯的政治經濟學家；每個人同其他任何人一樣都有充分享受自由的權利。自由的種子孕育在每個人的心田裏。誰將他的同胞貶置於對奴隸制心滿意足的境地，誰就對上帝和人類犯下了滔天罪行。

弟兄們時機已到，你們該為自己行動起來了。老話說得對：「世代奴隸要想自由，就該打出自己的拳頭。」你們能夠為自己的事業搖旗吶喊，能夠比其他任何人更能為自己贏得解放……想想非洲這個古老的名字所 蘊含著的不朽的光輝吧，──也別忘了自己是土生土長的美國公民。既然如此，你們理應享受賦予最自由的人們的所有權利。想想看你們含辛茹苦卻一無所得；用自己的鮮血養肥的這塊土地上你們揮灑了多少的淚水！然後，找到趾高氣揚的奴隸主們，直截了當地說你們決心已定：要自由。喚醒他們的正義感，對他們說他們沒有權利壓迫你們，正如你們沒有權利奴役他們一樣。要求他們卸掉強加在你們身上的重負。賦予你們的勞動以報償。答應他們說如果你們的勞動得到了應有的報償，你們是會重新在土地上辛勤耕耘的。告訴他們，《解放法案》在英屬西印度群島公佈後，給當地帶來了更多的快樂和繁榮。明確無誤地對他們說奴隸制罪惡滔天，將受到末日審判，受到憤怒的上帝給予的應得報應。告訴他們你們要求的是自由，其他任何東西都不足使你們滿意。就這樣做吧，再也不要為那些鞭 笞辱罵你們、讓你們一無所有的惡霸賣命了。要是他們為此想置你們於死地，那麼，應承當後果的不是你們，而是他們。如果你們想繼續生為奴隸、讓你們的後代繼續遭受你們的苦難，那你們最好一死了事──現在就死吧。

同胞們！默默的受難者們！請注意，你們最寶貴的權利正慘遭作賤；你們的兒女們正受到殺戮；你們的妻子、母親和姐妹正淪為娼妓。以上帝的名義，為了珍貴的生命，讓我們再也不要爭論選擇自由還是死亡孰好孰壞了。

1822年，南卡羅來納州的登馬克‧維希為解放他的同胞訂立了一個計劃。在整個人類歷史上還從未有人為推翻奴隸制的統治而制訂出比這更詳盡、更宏偉的計劃了。然而，他自己的同胞背信棄義告發了他。維希死為自由的烈士。許多勇敢的英雄們倒下了，但歷史信守她的職責，將他們的英名攜刻在摩西、漢普登、退爾、布魯斯、華萊士、圖森一路維杜爾、拉菲特、華盛頓等人的同一座紀念碑上。

納撒尼爾‧特納是登馬克‧維希的追隨者。邪惡和不公把他逼得走投無路。專制暴政將他的名字釘在恥辱柱上，而人民卻世代景仰他，將他視為高尚、無畏的人。接下來是不朽的約瑟夫‧辛克，阿密斯達的勇士。他在非洲土生土長。在上帝的護佑下，他在公海解救了整整一艘船的同胞弟兄。此時，在非洲陽光鋪灑的山峰上，在故鄉的棕桐樹下，高歌歡唱自由，聆聽雄獅的吼叫，感到自己與森林之王一樣自由自在。

還有麥迪遜‧華盛頓，那顆自由的明星，在真正英雄主義的星座上佔有一席之地。他與一百零四名其他黑奴一起關在裏士滿的「克裏奧」號雙桅帆船上，運往奴隸大市場新奧爾良州。他們十九個人拚死為自由而搏鬥，結果死了一人，而全體其他人都得到了解放。帆船最後駛住新普羅維登斯的拿騷。

高尚的人們！些為自由而獻身者，真誠而敬畏上帝的子孫後代會永世銘記著他們的。那些活著的人們，他們的名字環繞著榮譽的祥光。

弟兄們，站起來，站起來吧！為你們的生命和自由戰鬥吧!時機巳來臨，讓這塊土地上的每一個奴隸都起身戰鬥，奴隸制滅亡之日不會久遠了。你們已受盡了壓迫，你們已受盡了殘暴，寧可死為自由人，不可生為奴隸。記住，你們有四百萬人！

你們的信條是抵抗!抵抗！抵抗！受壓迫者沒有不經抵抗而獲得自由的。採取什麼方式來抵抗，則要根據你們所處的具體情況而定，也要見機行事。弟兄們，再見吧！望你們堅信無所不在的上帝，望你們為人類的和平而努力。記住，你們有四百萬人！

An Address to the Slaves of the United States of America

Your brethren of the North, East, and West have been accustomed to meet together in National Conventions, to sympathize with each other, and to weep over your unhappy condition. In these meetings we have addressed all classes of the free, but we have never, until this time, sent a word of consolation and advice to you. We have been contented in sitting still and mourning over your sorrows, earnestly hoping that before this day your sacred liberties would have been restored. But, we have hoped in vain. Years have rolled on, and tens of thousands have been borne on streams of blood and tears to the shores of eternity. While you have been oppressed, we have also been partakers with you; nor can we be free while you are enslaved. We, therefore, write to you as being bound with you.

    Many of you are bound to us, not only by the ties of a common humanity, but we are connected by the more tender relations of parents, wives, husbands, and sisters, and friends. As such we most affectionately address you.

   Slavery has fixed a deep gulf between you and us, and while it shuts out from you the relief and consolation which your friends would willingly render, it afflicts and persecutes you with a fierceness which we might not expect to see in fiends of hell. But still the Almighty Father of mercies has left to us a glimmering ray of hope, which shines out like a lone star in a cloudy sky. Mankind are becoming wiser, and better--the oppressor's power is fading, and you, every day, are becoming better informed, and more numerous. Your grievances, brethren, are many. We shall not attempt, in this short address, to present to the world all the dark catalogue of the nation's sins, which have been committed upon an innocent people. Nor is it indeed necessary, for you feel them from day to day, and all the civilized world looks upon them with amazement.

   Two hundred and twenty-seven years ago the first of our injured race were brought to the shores of America. They came not with glad spirits to select their homes in the New World. They came not with their own consent, to find an unmolested enjoyment of the blessings of this fruitful soil. The first dealings they had with men calling themselves Christians exhibited to them the worst features of corrupt and sordid hearts: and convinced them that no cruelty is too great, no villainy and no robbery too abhorrent for even enlightened men to perform, when influenced by avarice and lust. Neither did they come flying upon the wings of Liberty to a land of freedom. But they came with broken hearts, from their beloved native land, and were doomed to unrequited toil and deep degradation. Nor did the evil of their bondage end at their emancipation by death. Succeeding generations inherited their chains, and millions have come from eternity into time, and have returned again to the world of spirits, cursed and ruined by American slavery.

    The propagators of the system, or their immediate successors, very soon discovered its growing evil, and its tremendous wickedness, and secret promises were made to destroy it. The gross inconsistency of a people holding slaves, who had themselves "ferried o'er the wave" for freedom's sake, was too apparent to be entirely overlooked. The voice of Freedom cried, "Emancipate your slaves." Humanity supplicated with tears for the deliverance of the children of Africa. Wisdom urged her solemn plea. The bleeding captive plead his innocence, and pointed to Christianity who stood weeping at the cross. Jehovah frowned upon the nefarious institution, and thunderbolts, red with vengeance, struggled to leap forth to blast the guilty wretches who maintained it. But all was vain. Slavery had stretched its dark wings of death over the land, the Church stood silently by--the priests prophesied falsely, and the people loved to have it so. Its throne is established, and now it reigns triumphant.

    Nearly three millions of your fellow-citizens are prohibited by law and public opinion (which in this country is stronger than law) from reading the Book of Life. Your intellect has been destroyed as much as possible, and every ray of light they have attempted to shut out from your minds. The oppressors themselves have become involved in the ruin. They have become weak, sensual, and rapacious--they have cursed you--they have cursed themselves--they have cursed the earth which they have trod. . . .

    SIAVERY! How much misery is comprehended in that single word. What mind is there that does not shrink from its direful effects? Unless the image of God be obliterated from the soul, all men cherish the love of liberty. The nice discerning political economist does not regard the sacred right more than the untutored African who roams in the wilds of Congo. Nor has the one more right to the full enjoyment of his freedom than the other. In every man's mind the good seeds of liberty are planted, and he who brings his fellow down so low, as to make him contented with a condition of slavery, commits the highest crime against God and man. . . .

    Brethren, the time has come when you must act for yourselves. It is an old and true saying that, "if hereditary bondmen would be free, they must themselves strike the blow." You can plead your own cause, and do the work of emancipation better than any others. . . . Think of the undying glory that hangs around the ancient name  of Africa--and forget not that you are native-born American citizens, and as such you are justly entitled to all the rights that are granted to the freest. Think how many tears you have poured out upon the soil which you have cultivated with unrequited toil and enriched with your blood; and then go to your lordly enslavers and tell them plainly, that you are determined to be free. Appeal to their sense of justice, and tell them that they have no more right to oppress you than you have to enslave them. Entreat them to remove the grievous burdens which they have imposed upon you, and to remunerate you for your labor. Promise them renewed diligence in the cultivation of the soil, if they will render to you an equivalent for your services. Point them to the increase of happiness and prosperity in the British West Indies since the Act of Emancipation. Tell them in language which they cannot misunderstand of the exceeding sinfulness of slavery, and of a future judgment, and of the righteous retributions of an indignant God. Inform them that all you desire is FREEDOM, and that nothing else will suffice. Do this, and forever after cease to toil for the heartless tyrants, who give you no other reward but stripes and abuse. If they then commence work of death, they, and not you, will be responsible for the consequences. You had far better all die--die immediately, than live slaves, and entail your wretchedness upon your posterity....

    Fellowmen! patient sufferers! behold your dearest rights crushed to the earth! See your sons murdered, and your wives, mothers and sisters doomed to prostitution. In the name of the merciful God, and by all that life is worth. let it no longer be a debatable question, whether it is better to choose liberty or death.

    In 1822, Denmark Veazie, of South Carolina, formed a plan for the liberation of his fellowmen. In the whole history of human efforts to overthrow slavery, a more complicated and tremendous plan was never formed. He was betrayed by the treachery of his own people, and died a martyr to freedom. Many a brave hero fell, but history, faithful to her high trust, will transcribe his name on the same monument with Moses, Hampden, Tell, Bruce, and Wallace. Toussaint L'Ouverture, Lafayette, and Washington. ...

    The patriotic Nathaniel Turner followed Denmark Veazie. He was goaded to desperation by wrong and injustice. By despotism, his name has been recorded on the list of infamy, and future generations will remember him among the noble and brave.

     Next arose the immortal Joseph Cinque, the hero of the Amistad. He was a native African, and by the help of God he emancipated a whole ship-load of his fellowmen on the high seas. And he now sings of liberty on the sunny hills of Africa and beneath his native palm-trees, where he hears the lion roar and feels himself as free as the king of the forest.

     Next arose Madison Washington, that bright star of freedom, and took his station in the constellation of true heroism. He was a slave on board the brig Creole, of Richmond, bound to New Orleans, that great slave mart, with a hundred and four others. Nineteen struck for liberty or death. But one life was taken, and the whole were emancipated, and the vessel was carried into Nassau, New Providence.

    Noble men! Those who have fallen in freedom's conflict, their memories will be cherished by the true-hearted and the God-fearing in all future generations; those who are living, their names are surrounded by a halo of glory.

    Brethren, arise, arise! Strike for your lives and liberties. Now is the day and the hour. Let every slave throughout the land do this, and the days of slavery are numbered. You cannot be more oppressed than you have been--you cannot suffer greater cruelties than you have already. Rather die freemen than live to be slaves. Remember that you are FOUR MILLIONS! . . .

    Let your motto be resistance! resistance! RESISTANCE! No oppressed people have ever secured their liberty without resistance. What kind of resistance you had better make you must decide by the circumstances that surround you, and according to the suggestion of expediency. Brethren, adieu! Trust in the living God. Labor for the peace of the human race, and remember that you are FOUR MILLIONS!