Shall Freemen Foster Slavery?

Alas! the bondmen's story,
With cruel injuries fraught,
Has trac'd our nation's glory,
With deep damnation's blot!
His tears have stain'd our banner,
Made dim our early fame,
And on our nation's honor
Stamp'd infamy and shame.

And shall this freeborn nation
Still trade in human souls?
While men of ev'ry station
The lust of gold controls?
Shall freemen foster slavery,
And wield oppression's rod,
And ruin by their knavery
" The noblest work of God? "

Shall man, in worth outshining
Peruvian gems and gold,
In slavery's chains be pining, —
Like brutes be bought and sold?
Shall he be taught by scourges,
Be driven by the blow,
Who, through eternal ages,
In intellect shall grow?

Ah! no; this freeborn spirit
Above its chains shall rise,
And after death inherit
A crown beyond the skies:
'Tis free as ours forever,
It cannot be confin'd;
E'en Slavery's fetters never
Can wholly crush the mind.
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