In visiting the United States, the objects which preferred the chief
claim to my attention were the _universal abolition of slavery_, and
_the promotion of permanent international peace_. Deeply impressed with
the conviction that the advancement of these is intimately connected
with the progress of right views among professing Christians in that
country, it was my desire not only to inform myself of the actual state
of feeling and opinion among this important class, but if possible, to
contribute my mite of encouragement and aid to those who are bearing the
burden and heat of the day, in an arduous contest, on whose issue the
alternative of a vast amount of human happiness or misery depends. This
general outline of my motives included several specific, practical
objects, which will be found detailed in the ensuing pages.
For obvious reasons, _the abolition of slavery in the United States_ is
the most prominent topic in my narrative; but I have freely interspersed
observations on other subjects of interest and importance, as they came
under consideration. Short notices are introduced of some of the
prominent abolitionists of America; and, though sensible how imperfectly
I have done justice to exertions, which, either in degree or kind, have
scarcely a parallel in the annals of self-denying benevolence, I fear I
shall occasionally have hurt the feelings of the individuals referred
to, by what they may deem undeserved or unseasonable praise; yet I trust
they will pardon the act for the sake of the motive, which is to
introduce the English anti-slavery reader to a better acquaintance with
his fellow laborers in the United States. My short stay, and the limited
extent of my visit, prevented my becoming acquainted with many who are
equally deserving of notice.
Less than twelve months have elapsed since I embarked on this "visit;"
and though, with the help of steam by sea and land, an extensive journey
may now be performed in a comparatively short time, yet, during this
brief interval, my own engagements would have prevented my placing the
following narrative so early before the public without assistance. It is
right to state that a large portion of the work has been prepared for
the press from a rough transcript of my journal, from my correspondence,
and other documents, by the friend who accompanied me on a former
journey to the West Indies, and who then compiled the account of our
joint labors.
Nearly the whole of the narrative portion of this publication has been
sent to America, to different individuals who were concerned in, or
present at the transactions related, and has been returned to me with
their verification of the facts; so that the reader has the strongest
guaranty for their accuracy. The inferences and comments I am solely
responsible for, and I leave them to rest on their own merits.
In undertaking this journey, I was careful not to shackle my individual
liberty by appearing as the representative of any society, whether
religious or benevolent; and, on the other hand, none of those friends,
who kindly furnished me with letters of introduction, are in any way
responsible for my proceedings in the United States, or for any thing
which this volume contains.
In conclusion,--should these pages come under the notice of any, who,
though well wishers to their species, are not yet identified with
anti-slavery effort, I would entreat such to "come over and help us." If
they are ambitious of a large and quick return for their outlay of
money, of time, of labor,--for their painful sympathies and self-denying
prayers,--where will they find a cause where help is more needed, or
where it would be rewarded more surely and abundantly? Let them reflect
on what has been effected, within a few short years, in the British West
Indies, so recently numbered among "the dark places of the earth, full
of the habitations of cruelty,"--but now scenes of light, gladness, and
prosperity, temporal and spiritual. To show what remains to be
accomplished for the universal abolition of slavery--a field in which
the laborers are few indeed, in proportion to its extent--I may be
allowed to quote the following comprehensive statement, from the preface
to one of the most important volumes that ever issued from the press on
the subject of slavery:[A]
[Footnote A: "Proceedings of the London Anti-Slavery Convention."]
"The extent of these giant evils may be gathered from a brief
statement of facts. In the United States of America, the slave
population is estimated to be 2,750,000; in Brazil, 2,500,000;
in the Spanish Colonies, 600,000; in the French Colonies,
265,000; in the Dutch Colonies, 70,000; in the Danish and
Swedish Colonies, 30,000; and in Texas, 25,000; besides those
held in bondage by Great Britain, in the East Indies, and the
British Settlements of Ceylon, Malacca, and Penang; and by
France, Holland, and Portugal, in various parts of Asia and
Africa; amounting in all to several millions more; and exclusive
also of those held in bondage by the native powers of the East,
and other parts of the world, of whose number it is impossible
to form a correct estimate.
"To supply the slave-markets of the Western world, 120,000
native Africans are, on the most moderate calculation, annually
required; whilst the slave-markets of the East require 50,000
more. In procuring these victims of a guilty traffic, to be
devoted to the rigors of perpetual slavery, it is computed that
280,000 perish in addition, and under circumstances the most
revolting and afflicting.
"But this is not all. In the Southern section of the United
States, and in British India, a vast internal slave-trade is
carried on, second only in horror and extent to that which has
so long desolated and degraded Africa.
"These facts exhibit, also, the magnitude of the responsibility
which devolves upon abolitionists; in view of it they may well
be allowed to disclaim, as they do, all sectarian motive, all
party feeling: 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace,
good will to man,' is their aim: consistently with the blessed
character of this gospel anthem, they recognize no means as
allowable for them, in the prosecution of their holy enterprise,
than those which are of a moral, religious, and pacific nature;
in the diligent use of these means, and trusting in God, they
cherish the hope that, under His blessing, they may be permitted
to accomplish the great work to which they are devoted; and thus
be made instrumental in advancing the sacred cause of freedom,
and its attendant blessings, civilization and religion,
throughout the earth."