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247 aPPeNdIx e: Proclamation Concerning Slavery (Frankfurter Journal, No. 196, July 17, 1844, reproduced in SolmsBraunfels Archives (transcripts) V, 207, 208.) “The rejection by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of North America of the bill to annex Texas confers to the Society for the Protection of German Emigrants in Texas a greater hope for a favorable prospect . . . [discussion of England and France’s efforts to abolish slavery] . . . From this fact alone it is therefore no more than natural to expect complete support in every respect from the English as well as the French governments as the society undertakes to establish a colony of free German farmers in Texas with the complete exclusion of slavery, and we can document from authentic sources that we have received firm assurances in this matter. “If Texas remains an independent country, then the abolition of slavery depends solely on the prospect of large numbers of free citizens being settled therein, who in heart and soul are opposed to slavery and who through the nature of their obligations bind themselves to not tolerate slavery in their settlements. The exclusion of all forms of labor based on slavery will be the guiding principle of the society, which is well aware, that it would dishonor itself in the eyes 248 Appendix of all Europe if it were ever to consider sending over free Germans as slave overseers or in any way to tolerate slavery within its settlements . . . and we hope, moreover, that their project, with the full support of the German people, will soon become a national enterprise ; above all, however, that the irresponsible accusations on the side of one part of the German press against the founders of the society will not shake their noble and praiseworthy resolve in this human endeavor.” ...

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