The slave petition to the Massachusetts legislature states: "your petitioners understand that they have in common with all other men a natural and inalienable right to this liberty which the great parent of the Universe granted equally to all humanity and which they never renounced by any contract or agreement, but... were unjustly snatched away by the hand of a cruel power from their dearest friends and some of them have even been torn from the embraces of their loving parents, coming from a populous, pleasant and abundant country and in violation of the laws of nature and nations and in contempt of all feelings tenders of humanity brought here either to be sold like beasts of burden and condemned like them to slavery for life, among one of the people professing the sweet religion of Jesus, a people who are not insensitive to the secrets of 'to be rational or devoid of spirit to resent the unjust efforts of others to reduce them to a state of slavery and subjection. ("Voices of Freedom" 115) The petitioners continue to state that they urgently await consideration of their petition "by which they may regain the enjoyment of that which is the natural right of all men - and of their children born in this land of freedom cannot be held as slaves after their arrival at the age of twenty-one. ("Voices of Freedom" 116) Besides the fact that economies and politicians profit from the unjust servitude of Africans, they also acquired power by taking advantage of the colonists, who love power.