PRESENT DAY

Walt Whitman's "I Sing the Body Electric" from Leaves of Grass
Verses 7 & 8


7


A man's body at auction,


(For before the war I often go to the slave-mart and watch the sale,)


I help the auctioneer, the sloven does not half know his business. Gentlemen look on this wonder,


Whatever the bids of the bidders they cannot be high enough for it, For it the globe lay preparing quintillions of years without one


animal or plant, For it the revolving cycles truly and steadily roll'd.


In this head the all-baffling brain,


In it and below it the makings of heroes.


Examine these limbs, red, black, or white, they are cunning in


tendon and nerve, They shall be stript that you may see them.


Exquisite senses, life-lit eyes, pluck, volition,


Flakes of breast-muscle, pliant backbone and neck, flesh not


flabby, good-sized arms and legs, And wonders within there yet.


Within there runs blood,


The same old blood ! the same red-running blood! There swells and jets a heart, there all passions, desires, reachings, aspirations,


(Do you think they are not there because they are not express'd in parlors and lecture-rooms?)


This is not only one man, this the father of those who shall be


fathers in their turns, In him the start of populous states and rich republics, Of him countless immortal lives with countless embodiments and


enjoyments.


How do you know who shall come from the offspring of his offspring through the centuries?


(Who might you find you have come from yourself, if you could trace back through the centuries ?)


8


A woman's body at auction,


She too is not only herself, she is the teeming mother of mothers, She is the bearer of them that shall grow and be mates to the mothers.


Have you ever loved the body of a woman?


Have you ever loved the body of a man ?


Do you not see that these are exactly the same to all in all nations and times all over the earth ?


If any thing is sacred the human body is sacred, And the glory and sweet of a man is the token of manhood untainted,


And in man or woman a clean, strong, firm-fibred body, is more beautiful than the most beautiful face.


Have you seen the fool that corrupted his own live body? or the


fool that corrupted her own live body? For they do not conceal themselves, and cannot conceal themselves.

When we analyze the transcript of the Ripley Anti-Slavery society meetings, we see that this abolitionist group has many elements that make it a prime example of anti slavery groups from this time. We know that many of the anti slavery groups were supported by those who attended church, and used the Bible as a piece that condemns the act of slavery. We see the faithfulness reflected in how the meetings in this group begin with a prayer, and how they incorporate the bible into their anti slavery politics. What's also interesting about this piece is how we see foreshadowing for the years to come and the eventual secession of the southern states, despite the anti slavery group's attempts to avoid such an event.

The Fallacy of the Bible Argument:
Christianity forbids Slavery

• There is no rule of conscience or revealed law of God which can condemn us.
  
• Society would stand guilty of a high offense in the sight of both god and man, if we rashly end slavery.
  
• The Original sin of introduction of slavery does not rest on our heads. The world will not end, if slavery continues.
  
• Yes, we admit that slavery is goes against the spirit of Christianity:

o But, there is nothing in the Old or New Testament that which would go to show that slavery, when once introduced, ought to all events to be abrogated, or that the master commits any offense in holding slaves.

o But, the children of Israel themselves were slave holders , and were nver condemned for it

• Christ came to save a fallen world, and not to excite black passions of men and array them in deadly hostility against each other.
  
• Christ was born in a world, in which the most galling slavery existed, 1000x more cruel than today. Yet, he no where encourages insurrection - he nowhere fosters discontent, - but exhorts always to implicit obedience and fidelity

• The Master is kind and indulgent to his slaves. (i.e. slave girl narrative)
• He metes out to them, for faithful service, the reward of his cordial approbation
• The relationships between the slave and his master is a good way to teach children how to treat others.
• The slaveholders are characterized by noble and elevated sentiment, by humane and virtuous feelings. We cannot find ones that are: cold, contracted, and/or selfish.
• The most cruel masters are those who are unaccustomed to slavery.
• Northern gentlemen, who marry southern southern mistress, are much severer masters than southern gentlemen
• Being a master and wielding authority, humanizes and softens the heart
• Yes, there are cruel masters, but there are also cruel fathers. Both make people around them shudder with horror.
• The relationship of master & slave is more close than any other.
• The slaves of a good master, are his warmest, most constant and most devoted friends; they have been accustomed to look up to him as their supporter, director, and defender
• A slave rejoices rejoices in the elevation and prosperity of his master
• Judge Smith, in an emergency he would rely upon his own slaves for his defense - he put arms into their hands, and he had no doubt they would defend him faithfully
• In the Southampton insurrection, many masters armed their slaves to quell the insurrection
• A slave is happy where he/she is, the idea of liberty would just dry up the very sources of his happiness

• The ancient republics of Greece and Rome, where spirit of liberty glowed with most intensity, the slaves were numerous than freemen
• Liberty has always been more ardently desired by slave holding communities
• The man to the north will not shake hands familiar with his servant, and converse, and laugh, and dine with him. But go to the south, and you will find that no white man feels such inferiority of rank as to be unworthy of association with those around him.

• This evil has been most strangely and causelessly exaggerated
• The slave loves his mater and his family
• Blacks are as much civilized as they are in the United States
• If the salve revolts, the slave risks his education, happiness, and life
• If slaves do revolt, the revolt would be unorganized and easy to quell. (i.e Nat Turner's Rebellion)

During the 1830’s abolitionists strived to influence all Americans into ending slavery. A large part of their influence was gained through propaganda, which was visible throughout the country. The South Carolina Resolutions on Abolitionist Propaganda was written December 16, 1835 and it lists the various acts and resolutions established in the state of South Carolina to eliminate the abolitionist’s propaganda. “…most of the states south of Virginia provided severe penalties for printing or speaking anything that might incite insurrection among the slaves, or even for arguing against the institution of slavery.” (280)

The first resolution states that any formation of abolition societies, and acts and doings by abolitionists are “in direct violation of the obligations of the compact of the union”.

The second resolution asserts that a country with true concern for its peace and security will not accept abolition societies without either protesting, surrendering or compromising its rights.

The third resolution requests that the Legislature of South Caroline will suppress all abolition associations and neighboring abolitionist states by penalizing them when propaganda is printed, published, or distributed to newspapers, in order to “excite the slaves of the southern states to insurrection and revolt.”

The fourth resolution emphasizes that each southern state has exclusive control over domestic slavery, and thus no state should interfere by creating propaganda.

The fifth resolution reasserts that “non-slaveholding states are requested to disclaim by legislative declaration, to interfere in any manner with domestic slavery, either in the states, or in territories where it exists.”

The sixth resolution solicits abolition of slavery in the District of Colombia as “a violation of the rights of the citizens in that District”. This resolution invites the citizens of South Caroline to be careful with its government leaders in order for their rights to not be violated.

The last resolution affirms that the legislature of South Carolina has increased its measures of security in the Post Office Department of the United States in order to prevent the United States mail to become a “vehicle for the transmission of the mischievous documents [propaganda]” If this resolution is not fulfilled, Chief Magistrate of the state affirms measures will be taken to “prevent [propaganda] traversing the territory”

"(Because you are greasy or pimpled, or were once drunk, or a thief, Or that you are diseas'd, or rheumatic, or a prostitute, Or from frivolity or impotence, or that you are no scholar and never saw your name in print, Do you give in that you are any less immortal?)"

This Letter was included in a magazine called The Lowell Offering, written by working women. In it Elizabeth E. Turner discusses her outlook on factory life. She says that she doesnt like the term "factory girl" because it is so degrading, and she doesnt feel as if her life should be looked down upon. She has lost her family to death and says that she has no home and now the factory serves that purpose for her. Turner sympathizes with other women in her situation who are unhappy with their lives but she chooses not to be gloomy. Although she does miss her family and childhood dearly, as oppose to complaining or feeling sorry for herself, she does her best to make a living and be independent. She continues to improve herself by educating herself by reading books and staying positive.

Orestes Brownson was a man who always stated his opinion in a radical and liberal way. To be specific he had a lot to say during the time of the Industrial Revolution in America. He complained that the rich becomes richer at little expense while the working class, the proletariat, is being screwed over. He also adds that the slaves, who do not have to work for wages, has it easier than the laboring class because the slaveholders puts more money into dressing, feeding, and keeping the slave than into the people that work for him. They are just left with daily exhaustion, bad working conditions and a couple of cents to last an hour. He can be compared to Karl Marx because they both address the same issues that wages has brought to the working class.

Walt Whitman's "Song of Occupations" from the first edition of Leaves of Grass, 1855.

1. "A gentleman may receive a thousand dollars per annum, and have half a dozen daughters, who all think they should dress in a style superior to that of the factory girl, who receives one or two hundred dollars per year."

From the perspective of the factory, women factory workers were ideal because they received lower wages than male laborers.

2. "We are fatherless and motherless: we are alone and surrounded by temptation. Let us caution each other; let us watch over and endeavor to improve each other; and both at our boarding-houses and in the mill, let us strive to promote each other's comfort and happiness."

The quote implies that the factory girls probably weren't married until after they were finished working in factories. They also were responsible of earning their own income and gained independence from their parents.

3. "I pity the girl who cannot take pleasure in wearing the new and beautiful bonnet which her father has presented her, because for sooth, she sees that some factory girl has, with her hard-won earnings, procured one just like it."

Since the lower-class women had the freedom of having their own money they were able to spend it on anything they wanted.

Tabitha "A New Society" (1841) is a dream vision about all the equal rights and freedom, such as wages for laborers, equal pay, equality between men and women, eight- hour workday, equal educational opportunities, etc.

"2. Resolved, That no member of this society shall exact more than eight hours of labour, out of every twenty-four, of any person in his or her employment."

"4. Resolved, That the wages of females shall be equal to the wages of males, that they may be enabled to maintain proper independence of character, and virtuous deportment."

"…I ran up stairs to ascertain if any of our girls would become subscribers; but before reaching the chambers, I stumbled, and awoke."