1833
Negro Slavery
| Tune: | Scots Wha Hae Wi’ Wallace Bled |
| Lyrics: | Unknown |
Now’s the time and now’s the hour,
To Parliament partitions pour,
Oh Britons pray exert your power,
To set the Negro free,
Who stood forth in time of need,
Who did so nobly for us plead,
Who wished the Negro slave was free,
’T’was Wilberforce ’t’was he.
He knew the poor Negro suffered great,
Upon the rich planters estate,
And pitied their lamented fate,
And tried to set them free,
They labour hard in heat of day,
For course provisions and no pay,
That we may all be free.
Am I not a man and brother,
And like you I have a mother,
But she’s a slave like many other,
And sighs for liberty,
Then Britons pray take no delay
Remember soon will come the day,
Before your Lords and Commons lay,
Prayer against slavery.
Who for paltry glittering gold
Was from his parents stole and sold,
To planters rich who’s blood is cold,
Poor Negro slave ‘tis he,
Then rouse ye Britons struggle hard,
Petition all with one accord,
And heaven will be your just reward,
For feasting of the free.
Innumerable political songs were set to the stirring tune of ‘Scots Wha Hae’. This London broadside uses it to add eloquence to its support of the Slavery Abolition Act, that would emancipate slaves across much, but by no means all, of the British Empire. It moves from eulogising William Wilberforce to inhabiting the perspective of a slave, and, most importantly, calls on its audience of ‘Britons’ to petition parliament.
| Cause: | Abolitionist | Equal Rights |
| Theme: | War and Peace | Political Process | Rights |
| Addressed to: | Britons | Men |
| Target of Protest: | Slave Owners |
| Proposal/Solution: | Ballot | Abolition |