"The toleration of slavery is a national evil. It is the worst of robberies, sanctioned by law."

Alexander McLeod (1774-1833). Negro Slavery Unjustifiable. A Discourse. Glasgow, Scotland: Stephen Young, 1804. 8vo. Wrapper title, disbound. Period ink ownership inscriptions to title ("John Neely") and last page ("John Wroth(?) of Dumane"). First British edition. Howes O-35. 

Exceedingly scarce First British edition copy of the radical anti-slavery paphlet by Rev. Alexander McLeod, a prominent Reformed Presbyterian Church minister in New York, originally from Scotland. The author was angered when he discovered that some within his congregation owned slaves. Believing the practice to be inherently wicked, he argued a biblical basis for the abolition of slavery based primarily on Exodus 21:16: "Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death." McLeod's inflammatory 48-page work influenced the Reformed Presbyterian Church to condemn slavery, making it just the second organized religion to do so. McLeod later participated in drafting the constitution of the Church, which openly forbade members from owning slaves. 

Originally printed in 1802 in New York, the work was immediately noteworthy and controversial, seeing at least 10 printings in the same year. This copy was the first to be published internationally. It continued to be printed, with several editions issued throughout the Civil War era. 

VERY SCARCE. Only one copy of the 1802 edition has sold at auction in the last 100 years. OCLC locates only 7 copies of this edition, with only 3 American institutions. 

This is the earliest anti-slavery publication we have ever handled. 

WITH Andrew Jackson Hamilton. Henry O'Rielly, editor. Origin and Objects of the Slaveholders' Conspiracy against Democratic Principles as well as against the National Union. [New York: Baker & Godwin, 1862]. 8vo. Lacking wrappers. FIRST EDITION. Sabin 29996 & 57592. 

A collection of anti-slavery speeches made by Andrew Jackson Hamilton, a native Alabamian who moved to Texas and became an anti-slavery politician. His status as an outspoken Unionist during a period of "secessionitis" in the South made him a hero in the North, where he delivered bombastic speeches that attacked the so-called "slave power" in American politics. During the Civil War, Hamilton met with Lincoln and was appointed a Brigadier General of Volunteers; he spent most of his time in administrative roles in Texas and New Orleans and eventually became active in reconstruction efforts.

[Ephemera, Pamphlets, Publications, Booklets] [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Signatures, Autographs]

Disbound, minor toning and brown spotting. 

Andrew Jackson Hamilton pamphlet lacking wrappers.