Antifederalist No. 27

THE USE OF COERCION BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT
                                 (PART 2)



"JOHN HUMBLE's," following piece was published in the Independent 
Gazetteer, October 29, 1787. 



         The humble address of the low-born of the United States 
of America, to their fellow slaves scattered throughout the 
world-greeting: 
         Whereas it hath been represented unto us that a most 
dreadful disease hath for these five years last past infected, 
preyed upon and almost ruined the government and people of this 
our country; and of this malady we ourselves have had perfect 
demonstration, not mentally, but bodily, through every one of the 
five senses.  For although our sensations in regard to the mind 
be not just so nice as those of the well born, yet our feeling, 
through the medium of the plow, the hoe and the grubbing ax, is 
as acute as any nobleman's in the world.  And, whereas, a number 
of skillful physicians having met together at Philadelphia last 
summer, for the purpose of exploring, and, if possible, removing 
the cause of this direful disease, have, through the assistance 
of John Adams, Esq., in the profundity of their great political 
knowledge, found out and discovered that nothing but a new 
government, consisting of three different branches, namely, king, 
lords, and commons or, in the American language, President, 
Senate and Representatives-can save this, our country, from 
inevitable destruction. And, whereas, it has been reported that 
several of our low-born brethren have had the horrid audacity to 
think for themselves in regard to this new system of government, 
and, dreadful thought! have wickedly begun to doubt concerning 
the perfection of this evangelical constitution, which our 
political doctors have declared to be a panacea, which (by 
inspiration) they know will infallibly heal every distemper in 
the confederation, and finally terminate in the salvation of 
America. 
     Now we the low born, that is, all the people of the United 
States, except 600 thereabouts, well born, do by this our humble 
address, declare and most solemnly engage, that we will allow and 
admit the said 600 well born, immediately to establish and 
confirm this most noble, most excellent and truly divine 
constitution.  And we further declare that without any 
equivocation or mental reservation whatever we will support and 
maintain the same according to the best of our power, and after 
the manner and custom of all other slaves in foreign countries, 
namely by the sweat and toil of our body.  Nor will we at any 
future period of time ever attempt to complain of this our royal 
government, let the consequences be what they may. 
     And although it appears to us that a standing army, composed 
of the purgings of the jails of Great Britain, Ireland and 
Germany, shall be employed in collecting the revenues of this our 
king and government, yet, we again in the most solemn manner 
declare, that we will abide by our present determination of non-
resistance and passive obedience-so that we shall not dare to 
molest or disturb those military gentlemen in the service of our 
royal government.  And (which is not improbable) should any one 
of those soldiers when employed on duty in collecting the taxes, 
strike off the arm (with his sword) of one of our fellow slaves, 
we will conceive our case remarkably fortunate if he leaves the 
other arm on.  And moreover, because we are aware that many of 
our fellow slaves shall be unable to pay their taxes, and this 
incapacity of theirs is a just cause of impeachment of treason; 
wherefore in such cases we will use our utmost endeavors, in 
conjunction with the standing army, to bring such atrocious 
offenders before our federal judges, who shall have power, 
without jury or trial, to order the said miscreants for immediate 
execution; nor will we think their sentence severe unless after 
being hanged they are also to be both beheaded and quartered. And 
finally we shall henceforth and forever leave all power, 
authority and dominion over our persons and properties in the 
hands of the well born, who were designed by Providence to 
govern.  And in regard to the liberty of the press, we renounce 
all claim to it forever more, Amen; and we shall in future be 
perfectly contented if our tongues be left us to lick the feet of 
our well born masters. 
     Done on behalf of three millions of low-born American 
slaves. 
         JOHN HUMBLE, Secretary