The year of jubilee; but not to Africans

In this stirring 19th‑century sermon, a New York pastor uses the Fourth of July to turn the nation’s celebration inward, questioning the lofty ideals of liberty proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. He confronts the glaring contradiction between “all men are created equal” and the reality of American slavery, urging listeners to see the moral cost of a system that denies basic human rights to an entire people.

Delivered before a respectful congregation, the address weaves biblical reasoning with political critique, calling for public worship to include honest reflection on the nation’s conscience. It also introduces the controversial American Colonization Society, presenting its mission as a possible remedy to the nation’s “evil” and inviting listeners to support its cause. The sermon captures the urgency of an early abolitionist voice, offering a glimpse into the heated debates that shaped America’s early moral landscape.