By 1860, African Americans had limited social and political rights compared to white men because of the laws they enforced. In Document 4: Charles Mackay, Life and Liberty in America: or Sketches of a Tour in the United States and Canada in 1857-1858, London, 1859 by Charles Mackay, a British visitor has this to say about the treatment of the free African Americans in the north, that is, not free to represent in the legislature” (1). Charles Mackay's depiction of the North shows that free African Americans in the North couldn't serve in the legislature, which reflects how white people restricted their rights in public places, leading to unequal treatment. Henry Highland Garnet, Excerpt adapted from speech, “An Address To The Slaves Of The United States” by Henry Highland Garnet, a free African American once remarked, "Better to die as a free man, live as slaves.” (2). This statement emphasizes the real difference between the idea of freedom and the reality of oppression, illustrating the inequality faced by African Americans due to overall restrictions on their rights by white individuals in public