John H. Hopkins, "On the Constitutional Rights and Duties of the American Citizen in Reference to Slavery," May 11, 1857

John H. Hopkins, "On the Constitutional Rights and Duties of the American Citizen in Reference to Slavery," May 11, 1857

The article published in the Fayetteville Observer, was an excerpt written by Bishop Hopkins from his book titled “The American Citizen: His Rights and Duties, According to the Spirit of the Constitution of the United States.” A bishop in Vermont, Hopkins's words traveled throughout the country and influenced many. Hopkins, in the excerpt shown, connected slavery to the Bible. His overall argument was that God allowed his followers/apostles to enslave others (under different circumstances), which ultimately allows American citizens to do so as well. Hopkins concluded that the legality of slavery was different than its desirability.

Hopkins, John H.

John H. Hopkins, “On the Constitutional Rights and Duties of the American Citizen in Reference to Slavery,” Fayetteville Observer, May 11, 1857.

1857-05-11

Ballentine, James

Document

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Cumberland County

Newspaper Article