Here he found oppression assuming another, and hardly less bitter, form; of that very handicraft which the greed of slavery had taught him, his half-freedom denied him the exercise for an honest living; he found himself one of a class--free colored men--whose position he has described in the following words: "Aliens are we in our native land.

The fundamental principles of the republic, to which the humblest white man, whether born here or elsewhere, may appeal with confidence, in the hope of awakening a favorable response, are held to be inapplicable to us.

The glorious doctrines of your revolutionary fathers, and the more glorious teachings of the Son of God, are construed and applied against us.

We are literally scourged beyond the beneficent range of both authorities, human and divine.

* * * * American humanity hates us, scorns us, disowns and denies, in a thousand ways, our very personality.