The 1688 Germantown Quaker Meeting Minute Against Slavery: The Earliest English Language Abolitionist Document in America

It is significant that the earliest known document against slavery in English, in North America was written by people who spoke very little English.   They were Germans who had originally been Mennonites but who converted to Quakerism, that accounts for some of the obscurity of the document but which might, also account for why those people and not people whose native language was English have the honor of having been the first.  Though, I will point out, the writing of Bartolomeo de las Casas and the various encyclicals and theologians I've mentioned in this series of posts were far earlier.   The English abolitionists, though there are those who seem to think they are the only ones who matter, came relatively late to the cause.   
Garret henderich, derick up de graeff, Francis daniell Pastorius, and Abraham up Den graef.
A Minute Against Slavery, Addressed to Germantown Monthly Meeting, 1688.
This is to ye Monthly Meeting held at Richard Worrell's.

These are the reasons why we are against the traffick of men-body, as foloweth. Is there any that would be done or handled at this manner? viz., to be sold or made a slave for all the time of his life? How fearful and faint-hearted are many on sea, when they see a strange vessel, - being afraid it should be a Turk, and they should be taken, and sold for slaves into Turkey. Now what is this better done, as Turks doe? Yea, rather it is worse for them, which say they are Christians; for we hear that ^yemost part of such negers are brought hither against their will and consent,and that many of them are stolen. Now, ^tho they are black, we can not conceive there is more liberty to have them slaves, as it is to have other white ones. There is a saying that we shall doe to all men like as we will be done ourselves; making no difference of what generation, descent or colour they are. And those who steal or robb men, and those who buy or purchase them, are they not all alike? Here is liberty of conscience ^wch is right and reasonable; here ought to be liberty of ^ye body, except of evil-doers,^wch is an other case. But to bring men hither, or to rob and sell them against their will, we stand against. In Europe there are many oppressed for conscience sake; and here there are those oppressed ^wh are of a black colour. And we who know than men must not comitt adultery, - some do committ adultery, in separating wives from their husbands and giving them to others; and some sell the children of these poor creatures to other men. Ah! doe consider will this thing, you who doe it, if you would be done at this manner? And if it is done according to Christianity? You surpass Holland and Germany in this thing. This makes an ill report in all those countries of Europe, where they hear of, that ^ye Quakers doe here handel men as they handel there ^ye cattle. And for that reason some have no mind or inclination to come hither. And who shall maintain this your cause, or pleid for it. Truly we can not do so, except you shall inform us better hereof, viz., that Christians have liberty to practise these things. Pray, what thing in the world can be done worse towards us, than if men should rob or steal us away, and sell us for slaves to strange countries; separating husbands from their wives and children. Being now that this is not done in the manner we would be done at therefore we contradict and are against this traffic of men-body. And we who profess that is is not lawful to steal, must, likewise, avoid to purchase such things as are stolen, but rather help to stop this robbing and stealing if possible. And such men ought to be delivered out of ^ye hands of ^ye robbers,and set free as well as in Europe. Then is Pennsylvania to have a good report, instead it hath now a bad one for this sake in other countries. Especially whereas ^ye Europeans are desirous to know in what manner ^ye Quakers doe rule in their province; - and most of them doe look upon us with an envious eye. But if this is done well, what shall we say is done evil?

If once these slaves (^wch they say are so wicked and stubbern men) should join themselves, - fight for their freedom, - and handel their masters and mastrisses as they did handel them before; will these masters and mastrisses take the sword at hand and warr against these poor slaves, licke, we are able to believe, some will not refuse to doe; or have these negers not as much right to fight for their freedom, as you have to keep them slaves?

Now consider will this thing, if it is good or bad? And in case you find it to be good to handle these blacks at that manner, we desire and require you hereby lovingly, that you may inform us herein, which at this time never was done, viz., that Christians have such a liberty to do so. To the end we shall be be satisfied in this point, and satisfie likewise our good friends and acquaintances in our natif country, to whose it is a terror, or fairful thing, that men should be handeld so in Pennsylvania.

This is from our meeting at Germantown, held ^ye18 of the 2 month, 1688, to be delivered to the Monthly Meeting at Richard Worrell's.

Garret henderichderick up de graeff
Francis daniell Pastorius
Abraham up Den graef. 

Though the various meetings the document was sent to didn't do much to address it, much to the disappointment of the authors, its place in the eventual decision by Quakers to forbid slavery is probably more significant than we can know about.  The act, itself, is worth noting, as the arguments it used are, clearly based on the moral reciprocity of the commandments, to do unto others as you would have done unto you and to love your neighbor as yourself.   Also significant is the prediction that holding black people in slavery would eventually lead to significant bloodshed, of the violence of slavery leading to violence.  Something that so many of the racists then and now can't conceive of happening, something that still blights and confuses Americans in dealing with "the other" in other places as well as here.