THE IMPRACTICABILITY OF THE OBJECT OF ABOLITIONISTS DEMONSTRATED--AND
THE INEVITABLE AND INCALCULABLE EVILS WHICH THAT OBJECT, IF
ACCOMPLISHED, WOULD PRODUCE, &C.
The professed object of the Abolition Society is to procure the
_immediate_, _instantaneous_, and _unconditional_ emancipation of all
the slaves in America.--And the means adopted by this Society to
accomplish this object are the publication and circulation of vast
numbers of papers and pamphlets, by way of enlightening the slave, and
the slaveholder--but which consist, for the most part, of exhortations,
and encouragement, to the slave, to disobedience, insubordination, and
rebellion. This advice is coupled with the most galling denunciations
and threats towards the slaveholder. How very far, in the nature of
things, these means are from accomplishing the object, every man of
common reflection must perceive. Besides, it is an undeniable fact,
which might have been anticipated by every man, not a hater of "caution,
prudence, and judiciousness," that the condition of the slaves has,
since the origin of the Anti-Slavery Society, become much more severe.
Since that Society commenced its distribution of incendiary papers, and
pamphlets, many of the slave-holders have prevented their slaves
learning _to read_; so that if the slaves were before bound with fetters
of hemp, the Abolitionists have converted the hemp into fetters of
iron.--But who can blame the slave-holder for this? We, in the Northern
and Eastern States, in which the white population far exceeds that of
the coloured, cannot justly estimate, or form a correct opinion of the
merits of the case, unless we transport ourselves down to the
South.--Let us go there for a few moments and then consider the
case.--Here we are then in South Carolina, where the slaves are in vast
numbers: unaccustomed to guide, or take care of themselves, without
either "caution, prudence, or judiciousness"! We have got our wives, our
daughters, our sons, our property, all at their mercy--a quantity of
papers and pamphlets are circulated among them, in which the
slave-holder is portrayed as a monster of hell--a picture or plate of
some act of cruelty generally heads the production--individual acts of
cruelty and oppression are selected, and so related as if similar deeds
were daily committed by every slave-holder in the South! What must the
poor man of colour think upon reading, or seeing, this? Why he says
within himself, although my master is very good to me, and I have every
thing I want, yet as this paper says all masters treat their slaves in
this cruel way, the sooner I run off the better! And this paper tells me
there is something called _liberty_ which gives money, and houses, and
pleasure in abundance; the sooner I get these good things the better!
Moreover this good paper also tells me that my master has no right to
keep me--that my master's property is _not_ his, but it belongs to his
slaves, for they have earned it--and that if I run away the white man
will immediately receive, protect, and give me plenty of money, plenty
of fine clothes, plenty of pleasure, _plenty_ of no work! I will tell
all these good things to all my black brethren--if _I_ have a right to
go, so have THEY--if my master's property is _mine_, so is it _theirs_
also.--The poor deluded slave is thus set on fire, and thus he inflames
the minds of all he knows.--They talk and converse, and dream of these
good things--but they cannot easily run off--they become
discontented--surly--unruly--idle--disobedient--and he who feeds,
clothes, and takes care of them, can get little from them! Who can blame
the slave-holder under such circumstances adopting every means in his
power to check this spirit of rebellion, to prevent the possibility of
such doctrines being inculcated amongst his slaves, which every man,
except a hater of "caution, prudence, and judiciousness," must be fully
aware, would, if left unchecked, sooner or later break out into open
rebellion, and place himself and his children at the mercy of ignorant
men, inflamed by the hope of gain and the stimulus of lust! One or the
other party would conquer.--If the coloured population became the
victors (to grant the wish of the Abolitionists) awful would be the
condition of both whites and blacks--the male whites would be exposed
to all the consequences of revenge and malice, for the victory could not
be achieved without some resistance, and that very resistance on the
part of the whites would be deemed by the blacks, a sufficient cause for
retaliation; the wives and daughters of the white population would then
be subjected to consequences of unbridled, and unrestrained lust, to
deeds too shocking to think of, and too brutal to relate.--Think, oh
think, on this, ye virtuous females, who innocently aid, and
incautiously lend your voices and influence to the promotion of a cause,
which, if successful, would inevitably produce these consequences.--Turn,
oh turn, from such a course, and lend your powerful aid to emancipate
the _mind_ of both slave and slave-holder.
But setting aside all these consequences to the white, and admitting,
for the sake of every possible latitude to the Abolitionist, that the
white population richly deserve such results, what would be the
condition of the coloured population after such a victory? Let us
suppose that after a month's hard fighting, in which the soil of the
south would be drenched with the blood of white and black, that the
_white_ population became annihilated, and not one left south of the
Potomac. Behold the black placed in immediate, full, and unrestrained
possession of the whole South--What think you would be the result ere
one year could elapse? Does it require much penetration, or much acumen,
to foresee that it would be far better for them, had they, to a man,
fallen in the contest? Ignorant--unaccustomed to liberty--unacquainted
with the principles of government, or the means of producing order, or
of providing for futurity,--his blood still under the stimulus of
success--his actions now unrestrained--all the brutal passions of man
at their highest pitch of excitement, indulging in all the luxuries of
their late Master's house--what would be the inevitable consequences?
First, black would fight with black, till the land would now become
drenched with _black_ blood--parties and associations of blacks would be
formed, according to the dispositions, desires, views, temperaments, and
morals of each party. Ignorant, dissipated, idle, and ambitious for
superiority, party would fight with party, till scarcely a party would
be left. During the scenes of blood, of carnage, of idleness, of
devastation, and of debauchery, the soil becomes uncultivated, the seed
not sown, if in spring,--the earth's produce not gathered, if in
harvest! The stores of the former years become consumed--each man,
thinks that each man, but himself, ought to work; and each man thinks
that he _himself_ ought now to enjoy _liberty_. The very attempt
of any, to induce any to work, would be a sufficient provocation
for mortal combat! Wants would now begin--still appetites must be
gratified--"Caution, prudence, and judiciousness" they have either never
learned, or have been taught by the great Champion of Abolitionism, _to
hate_! Each day diminishes the stores, and increases the demands--and
each day, fresh indications of _abolition-liberty_, manifest themselves
in blood and outrage! At length, and that not many weeks after their
victory, famine, with all her horrors, stares them in the face--children
and infants, and mothers cry in vain for help--for nourishment.--Her
ever constant companion, _Pestilence_, now attends, and thousands and
thousands die of want and disease, calling down from heaven eternal
curses on the heads of those who excited them to rebellion--the authors
of all their sufferings--the ABOLITIONISTS!
On the other hand, suppose that, in such a rebellion throughout the
South, the _whites_ were to conquer--this could not be accomplished
without the destruction of vast numbers of the people of colour--nor
without the loss of the lives of many whites. What then would be the
condition of the surviving blacks? Common justice, and prudence, would
oblige the white population to deprive the slaves of many of those
privileges which they _now_ enjoy, and to rivet their fetters more
securely--whom would they have to thank for all this? ABOLITIONISTS!
Whom have they even _now_ to thank for the loss of many indulgences? The
ABOLITIONISTS! And whom have thousands _now_ to thank for being still in
slavery? ABOLITIONISTS!
Take a view of the subject in any possible way, let the black conquer,
or let him be conquered, ruination to him is the inevitable result,
totally independent of the awful calamities to which the white
population would be subjected. Here is a two-horned dilemma: let the
Abolitionist sit upon either horn so long as he can, consistently with
his profession of charity--of philanthropy, of christianity!
Leaving this part of our subject for the present, I will ask any man of
common sense, and of the least reflection, whether the means adopted by
Abolitionists to enlighten the slave-holder, so as to make him
emancipate his slaves, are the most judicious, or the most likely to
accomplish that end? I will venture to aver, without fear of
contradiction, that they are so far--very far, from being likely, in the
very nature of things, to accomplish the _professed_ object (the
emancipation of the slaves,) that no surer method could possibly be used
more calculated to _increase_ their sufferings, and to rivet their
chains! And so convinced am I of this, that I cannot conceive how any
man of _intellect_, who has a _single eye_ to this object, would for a
moment sanction such means! Let us place ourselves in the situation of
slave-holders, and then see the effect such conduct would have upon
_ourselves_; recollecting that _by nature_ all men are alike, for, "as
in water face answereth to face, so doth the heart of man to man": so
says the Bible at all events, no matter what _you_ may think to the
contrary! Here we are then, a pair of slave-holders (not slave-traders).
Our parents left slaves to us, as "_our inheritance_" (Lev. xxv. 44,
46). We are surrounded by them. The subsistence of our wives, and of our
little ones, depends on their labour and exertion. We treat them kindly,
and they have abundance of food and raiment. We instruct them--and pay a
physician to attend them when ill.[30:A] A party has got up in the
North, whose professed object is to enlighten _us_ slave-holders.
Pamphlets and Papers in abundance are sent down to us. We read
them--when lo! we find ourselves portrayed as Monsters! Our characters
slandered. Our _legal_ rights denied. Our heads branded with the
epithet--"Men stealers"--"Tyrants"--"Devils incarnate"--"Objects
_peculiarly_ deserving the eternal wrath and vengeance of Heaven"--the
world called upon to abhor and detest us, and we held up to public and
everlasting infamy! But this is not all. The very persons whom the
providence of God gave us--whom we feed, clothe, instruct, attend in
sickness and in health, and who thus enjoy more comfort and happiness,
than nine-tenths of the labouring class of white free persons in any
part of Europe!--these very persons are, in said pamphlets, taught and
encouraged to look upon us as their oppressors, as the only barriers to
their wealth and happiness--as having no lawful right to possess
them--and that all our substance--all our property--is in fact, not
_ours_, but _theirs_! Moreover, that the Law of God authorises them to
run off as quick as they can, and, if practicable, with as much of _our_
property as they can convey away!
What think you would be _our_ feelings--_our_ conduct on perusing such
productions? Would they be calculated to make us listen, and give a
ready ear to their authors? Unquestionably not--but the very reverse!
Such is the nature of man, that, however well disposed he may be to
listen to instruction, and to take advice, the moment he is assailed
with harsh words, with opprobrious epithets, with threats of vengeance,
and particularly, with what he deems likely to affect his _purse_, he
shuts his ears, hardens his heart, and shuns you. The proceedings of
Abolitionists, may be compared to stopping a man's ears, and then
punishing him for not hearing; or knocking out his eyes, and then
calling upon him to read; or lastly, like attempting to separate a block
of wood, by applying to the crevice, the _base_, instead of the apex, of
the wedge; against which you may strike in vain, till either you break
the wedge, or spend your strength, without ever even once _entering_ the
crevice!
If then such would be the effect upon _us_, placed in the circumstances
of the Southerner, is it right or judicious, or prudent, to assail him
with abuse, accuse him of conduct to which Abolitionists have driven
him, or continue to encourage and pursue a system which, so far from
accomplishing the desired object, tends only to augment the sufferings
of the slave, and to produce consequences the most awful and calamitous
to all concerned, both to whites and to blacks!
Again, the slave is taught, in those Abolition productions, to consider
all slave-holders, _cruel tyrants_! This statement, no man, with any
regard for truth, or possessing the least information or reflection,
will venture to affirm. How galling, therefore, must it be, for those
conscious of rectitude, to have the crimes of others attributed to them!
How would the Abolitionists of this City, or of Boston, like to have it
proclaimed to the world, that _all_ the married men in these two cities
are _cruel_ and _unnatural_, husbands, masters, and parents; because
there are some persons in those places, who richly deserve to be so
designated? Moreover, I am convinced that there are in these, our
cities, _ten_ cruel and unnatural (white) parents, husbands, and
masters, to _one_ cruel and unnatural slave-holder in the South! What
think you of that, Mr. Abolitionist? I would recommend you to "cast the
_beam_ out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see _clearly_ to cast
the _mote_ out of thy brother's eye;" and to recollect the admonition of
the sacred writer, "Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, _whosoever_
thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest
thyself; _for thou that judgest, doest the same things_. And thinkest
thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the
same, that _thou shalt escape the judgment of God_!" (Rom. ii. 1-3.)
Let us now contrast the advice and commands of Christ and of his
Apostles, with the advice and doctrines of Abolitionists--
The Bible teaches--
Abolitionism teaches--
1. "Having food and raiment be therewith content."
1. Be not content with food and raiment unless you get free!
2. "Let _every_ man abide in the same calling wherein he was called."--1
Cor. vii. 20.
2. Let no slave abide for one moment as such, if he can get
off!
3. "Art thou called being a _slave_,[33:A] care not for it."--1 Cor.
vii. 21.
3. If you are a slave _never cease_ caring for it!
4. "If thou mayest (can _lawfully_) be _made_ free, use it rather."--1
Cor. vii. 21.
4. Whether thou mayest or mayest not (lawfully or unlawfully)
get free!
5. "Slaves, be obedient to them that are your masters, _according to the
flesh_."--Eph. vi. 5.
5. Slaves, be not obedient to your masters; but leave them as
quick as you can!
6. "Slaves, obey _in all things_ your masters."--Col. iii. 22.
6. Obey your masters as little as possible, that they may be
compelled to cast you off!
7. "Let as many slaves, _as are under the yoke_, count their own masters
worthy of all honour."--1 Tim. vi. 1.
7. Masters are worthy of no honour or respect, but contempt
and infamy!
8. "Let those who have _believing_ masters, not despise them."--1 Tim.
vi. 2.
8. There are no slave-holders _believers_:--despise them all!
9. "Love them that hate you, and do good to them that despitefully use
you."--Matt. v. 44.
9. _Hate_ your masters, for they oppress you: and do _evil_ to
them, for they despitefully use you!
10. "Love your enemies."--Matt. v. 44.
10. Your masters are your enemies, _therefore_ despise them.
These few instances will show how different is the spirit which guided
the sacred penmen, and that which now actuates the Abolitionists.--If
there were no other evidences that Abolitionism _is not_ the cause of
God, the foregoing ought to be sufficient to convince every man who
believes in the divine origin of the Sacred Scriptures, and who is
willing to submit his judgment to the authority of HIM, "whose ways are
not as our ways, and whose thoughts are not as our thoughts."
I think I have now fully proved my propositions, viz., "that the
principles of Abolitionism are injurious to the slaves themselves, and
are contrary to the express commands of God."
We shall now accomplish to the fullest extent the professed wish of
Abolitionists, and see what would be the probable result! Suppose I
possessed the power of granting, at the stroke of my pen, instantaneous
emancipation to all the slaves in America, and were this moment to issue
the following proclamation: "To all whom it may concern, greeting! I do
hereby command and order, that all slaves throughout the Union be
instantly set free, and they are now free accordingly!" Let us now
ascend in a balloon and take a view of TWO MILLIONS AND A HALF, of poor,
ignorant, pennyless, men, women, and children, cast abroad on the world,
without a home--without a guide--without "caution, prudence, or
judiciousness!" Is not this exactly what you want, Mr. Abolitionist?
What awful consequences must ensue! Not so much to the whites, but more
particularly to the poor ignorant people of colour! Can that be called
friendship, or charity, or philanthropy, which would lead to such a
result? Those ignorant, poor, unprotected, people have now _liberty_!
Will _liberty_ cover them--feed them--protect them--stop the crying of
the hungry child--or the cravings of the famished mother? What have they
given for this liberty; and what have they got by it? They have given
up, _peace_, _plenty_, _protection_, and _contentedness_! And they have
got _liberty_, with starvation, anxiety, and want! What a glorious
exchange! What a profitable bargain! How thankful they ought to be, to
their pseudo-friends, the ABOLITIONISTS!
But come out now, Abolitionists, like men, and answer this question,
"Are the slaves in the South, _now_ in a proper condition for immediate
emancipation?" Are they, or are they not? Reflect upon the above
picture, and then answer like men.--Do you reply, that you think they
ought to have _first_ some education--some provision made for them--some
arrangements to guard against possible consequences?--If this be your
answer, I congratulate you on the first symptoms of restoration to sound
mental health: I now entertain hopes of your speedy recovery, and ere
you have read the last page of this humble treatise, I doubt not, but
you and I will perfectly agree, and I will give you a certificate of
health!
There will nevertheless remain some stubborn Abolitionists, even all who
"hate prudence, caution, and judiciousness," who will still exclaim "the
slaves are now fit for _instantaneous_ and unconditional emancipation!"
A word or two with such characters before I close this chapter. Pray
from what premises do you draw your conclusions? Is it from the present
condition of those already made free, or from the emancipation of slaves
in other countries. I shall examine both of these grounds. First then as
to the condition of those already emancipated, which condition if it
even favoured the views of Abolitionists, would not be a justifiable or
parallel case, forasmuch as the free people of colour amongst us now
were not suddenly, but _gradually_ emancipated--and were not totally
ignorant, for many of them knew how both to read and to write. Therefore
with all these points strong in favour of every thing the Abolitionist
could possibly desire, we shall fearlessly investigate the result.
In the facts I am about adducing, I wish it to be clearly understood,
that I do not attribute them to any natural peculiarity, or natural
inferiority of coloured persons, but distinctly to the want of
education, and to the peculiar and trying circumstances in which these
persons are placed. If even the free persons of colour, turned out good
and worthy citizens to the utmost wish of every benevolent man, it would
not, as I have just stated, prove any thing in favour of Abolition; but
so far from this being the case--so far, notwithstanding all the
advantages of _gradual_ emancipation, and a preparatory course of
instruction, from the result substantiating the opinion of
Abolitionists, viz. "that the slaves may, with safety to themselves, and
to others, be instantaneously emancipated;" it stands an
incontrovertible evidence against them--a warning that it is difficult
to conceive how any man in his senses, would not be admonished by; if he
be one who regards the welfare and happiness of this country, and the
real good of the black! The following paragraph is taken from "the Plea
for Africa," p. 179.
"It has been asserted that, of free blacks collected in our
cities and large towns, a great portion are found in abodes of
wretchedness and vice, and become tenants of poor-houses and
prisons. As a proof of the tendency of their condition, the
following striking facts among others, ascertained a year or
two since, have been mentioned: In Massachusetts, where the
coloured population is small, being less than 7,000 souls,
(only 1-74th part of the whole population,) --> about
1-6th part of the whole number of convicts in the state-prison
are blacks. In Connecticut, 1-34th part of the population is
coloured, and --> 1-3d part of the convicts. In New-York,
1-35th part are blacks; --> 1-4th part of the convicts
in the city state-prison are blacks. In New-Jersey, the
proportion is 1-13th coloured; and of the convicts 1-3d. In
Pennsylvania, 1-34th part of a population of more than a
million of souls, is coloured; and more than one-third part of
the convicts are black.
"I need not pursue these illustrations of the degradation of
the free blacks in the non-slave-holding States. It appears
from these statements, which I find in the First Annual Report
of the Prison Discipline Society, that about _one quarter_
part of all the expense incurred by these States for the
support of their institutions for criminals is for _coloured_
convicts. The bill of expense in three of these States stands
thus: that is, the expense for the support of coloured
convicts for the specified number of years preceding the
report from which this schedule is made, is in
Massachusetts, 10 years, $17,734
Connecticut, 15 years, 37,166
New-York, 27 years, 109,166 in one prison.
--------
$164,066
--> This sum was expended in an average of less than
eighteen years, on convicts from among a population of only
54,000 coloured persons.
"Illustrations, borrowed from the criminal statistics of the
South, would place this matter in a far more unfavourable
light. References to the expenses for the maintenance of
paupers, would give a similar result."
According to the above statement, it appears, that in Massachusetts,
there are (in proportion to the whole population) TWELVE coloured
persons to _one_ white, in poor-houses and prisons!
In _Connecticut_, ELEVEN Coloured, to _one_ White, in Do.!
In _New-York_, EIGHT Coloured, to _one_ White, in Do.!
In _New-Jersey_, FOUR Coloured, to _one_ White, in Do.!
In _Pennsylvania_, ELEVEN Coloured, to _one_ White, in Do.!
If the trial of 300,000 Coloured free persons, (the number now in the
States,) emancipated _gradually_, and under the most favourable
circumstances possible, be not sufficient to open the eyes of the
Abolitionists to the recklessness of their course, I know not what
could. Can this result afford any encouragement or satisfaction? And if
not, why persevere in attempting to bring about what cannot take place;
and which if it could, would produce incalculable misfortunes throughout
the States?
We shall now investigate the other appeal, viz., that no evils arose
from the _immediate_ emancipation of the slaves in Mexico--the British
slaves in the West Indies, those in Chili, Buenos Ayres, Colombia, and
New York. In the first place, then, give me leave to remark that as to
Mexico, the slaves there were only comparatively a handful, about
20,000. Secondly, they were incorporated into the Army, as the
_condition_ of emancipation; so that they actually only changed from
civil to martial law! And thirdly, so far from the slaves in Mexico
having been set free in one day, it took them TWELVE YEARS to buy their
freedom! The law, granting them this privilege, was, it is true, made in
one day; but the accomplishment of it, took TWELVE YEARS! See Dr.
Reese's Letters to the Hon. William Jay, p. 104. As to the English
slaves in the West Indies, every one knows their emancipation was not
immediate, for in fact they are not as yet literally emancipated!
Besides, the British found it necessary not only to pay handsomely for
them; but they find it indispensably necessary still to maintain there a
considerable standing Army! And the venerable Mr. Clarkson, writing on
the subject, said, "I never stated that our West Indian slaves were to
be emancipated _suddenly_, but by degrees. I always, _on the other
hand_, took it for granted, that they were to have a _preparatory
school_, also." Lastly, as to the four other places, it is notorious,
that the slaves were not in one single instance, immediately and
unconditionally emancipated. Here are the cases so frequently referred
to by Abolitionists, as a ground of justification for their project, and
yet we perceive there is not one of them a case, parallel, to the
condition of the Southern States; moreover, where any of them, have any
resemblance to the circumstances of our country, the result shows the
madness of the Abolition Scheme! There is one more _fatal_ objection to
the Abolition system, viz., that its whole aim is the removal of the
effect, and not the cause! Now the first principle in philosophy, indeed
in common sense, is, "_to remove the cause_:" and every system built
upon any other principle is absurd, and must turn out useless.
Abolitionism is therefore unphilosophical, absurd, fallacious, and
inefficacious! That slavery is the cause of much evil, I do not pretend
to deny; but then slavery itself is only an _effect_. For example, a
person gets a splinter of wood into his finger--the finger inflames--the
arm inflames--the whole body (as it were) inflames--delirium or lockjaw
supervenes, and death closes the scene! Now the inflamed finger is the
cause of the inflamed arm; and that the cause of the general fever; and
that the cause of the delirium; and that the cause of death![39:A] What
kind of empirical practice would every attempt be to remove the
inflammation of the finger, of the arm, or of the body, while the cause
(the splinter) still remained in the finger? The very first thing any
man of science would, under such circumstances, do, would be to extract
the splinter--the original cause of all--when once the cause had been
removed, then, but not till then, would he attempt to remove the
effects.
The attention of Abolitionists is directed solely to the removal of the
effect--for slavery is only the effect of the African _Slave-trade_. Now
if there never had been _slave-trade_, there would be now no _slavery_:
and this cause--the slave-trade, still exists. ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
Africans are annually torn away by the hand of violence from their
native land; and of this number, ere they reach their destination, SIXTY
THOUSAND die of hard and cruel treatment. Yet to all this Abolitionists
pay no attention,--they weep and wail over, and preach and brawl about,
the people of colour in these States, nine-tenths of whom are slaves
only in _name_, and who are far better off, far happier, far more
contented--far better provided for, than nine-tenths of the white
labouring population of civilized Europe.
The ingenuity of Abolitionists, I am aware, will readily find for them a
plausible answer to this charge: they will reply, oh if we stop slavery
here--if we break up the system in our States, if there be no market to
which the slave-trader can bring his slaves, the African traffic will
soon cease. Admitted, if the little "IF," which always professes to
accomplish great things, could work miracles. But pray, would breaking
up the slave-trade in these States, break up the market elsewhere?
Certainly not! For those 100,000 slaves now annually exported from
Africa, are not brought here; but to the Brazils, Havanna, &c. &c.
A short quotation from "the Plea for Africa" will furnish the reader
with still more extensive views of the horrors of the SLAVE-TRADE, to
which Abolitionists, with all their philanthropy, pay no attention.
"Mr. Clarkson divides the slaves into seven classes. The most
considerable class consists of kidnapped, or stolen Africans.
In obtaining these, every species of injustice, treachery and
cruelty are resorted to. This class, Mr. C. supposes, embraces
one half of the whole number transported from Africa. The
second class consists of those whose villages are set on fire
and depopulated in the darkness of night, for the purpose of
obtaining a portion of their inhabitants. The third class
consists of those who have been convicted of crimes. The
fourth, of prisoners in wars that originate from common
causes, or in wars made solely for the purpose of procuring
captives for slaves. The fifth, such as are slaves by birth.
The sixth and seventh, such as have surrendered their liberty
by reason of debt, or by other imprudences, which last,
however, are comparatively few in number.
"They are sometimes brought a distance _of a thousand miles;
marched over land in droves, or caufles as they are called,
secured from running away, by pieces of wood which yoke them
together by the neck, two and two, or by other pieces fastened
with staples to their arms_.
"Some are carried to what are called slave-factories; others
immediately to the shore, and conveyed in boats to the
different ships whose captains have captured or purchased
them. The men are confined on board the ship, two and two
together, either by the neck, leg, or arm, with fetters of
iron; and are put into apartments, the men occupying the
forepart, the women the afterpart, and the children the
middle. The tops of these apartments are grated for the
admission of light and for ventilation when the weather is
suitable for the grates to be uncovered, and are about three
feet three inches in height, just sufficient space being
allotted to each individual to sit in one posture, the whole
stowed away like so much lumber.
"It is said that many of them whilst the ships are waiting for
their full lading, and whilst they are near their native shore
which they are no more to set foot upon for ever, have been so
depressed, and overwhelmed with such unsupportable distress,
that they have been induced to die by their own hands. _Others
have become deranged and perfect maniacs, or have pined away
and died with despairing, broken hearts._
"In the day-time, in fair weather, they are sometimes brought
on deck. They are then placed in long rows on each side of the
ship, two and two together. As they are brought up from their
apartments, a long chain is passed through the shackles of
each couple, successively, and thus the whole row is fastened
down to the deck. In this situation, they receive their food.
After their coarse and meagre meal, a drum is beaten by one of
the sailors, and at its sound the Negroes are all required to
exercise, for their health, jumping in their chains as high as
their fetters will let them; and if any refuse to exercise in
this way, they are whipped until they comply. This jumping,
the slave-merchants call "_dancing_."
"The middle passage is the whole from the time the ship weighs
anchor until she arrives at her destined port. On the passage,
the situation of the slaves is, indeed, doubly deplorable,
especially if the ship have a long passage, and is very full.
A full-grown person is allowed, in the most commodious
slave-ships, but sixteen inches in width, three feet three
inches in height, and five feet eight inches in length. _They
lie in one crowded mass on the bare planks, and by the
constant motion of the ship, are often chafed until their
bones are almost bare, and their limbs covered with bruises
and sores._ The heat is often so great, and the air they
breathe so poisoned with pestilence by the feverish
exhalations of the suffering multitude, that nature can no
longer sustain itself. It is no uncommon occurrence, to find,
on each successive morning, some who have died during the
night, in consequence of their suffering and confined
situation. A large proportion of those who are shipped, die
before they have crossed the ocean. Many also die soon after
completing the voyage, from what is called "the seasoning;"
that is, in becoming acclimated in the country to which they
are carried.
"It is said that when the slave-holders first visited the
western coast of Africa, the country was most delightful. The
coast was covered with villages, or thickly settled towns,
which swarmed with inhabitants. Simple in their manners,
amiable in their dispositions, in quiet enjoyment of the
profuse bounties of nature, they are represented as exceeding
happy.
"They were a comparatively innocent, unoffending, contented,
happy race. It was not until slave-dealers introduced among
them every thing that could please the fancy and awaken the
cupidity of uncivilized men, that they were at all prone to
interfere with each other's happiness. By the more than brutal
cruelty of white men, quarrels were fomented, tribe was set
against tribe, and each supplied with the means of mutual
destruction."
"Then what is man? And what man, seeing this,
And having human feelings, does not blush,
And hang his head, to think himself a man?"
Besides all this, recollect that there are about FIFTY MILLIONS of
Africans left exposed to the debasing influence of this hellish
practice. And if the Colonization Society did nothing more than stop or
check this torrent of infernal iniquity, it ought to render its friends
and advocates immortal, and make those blush (_if blush they could_) who
vilify and slander them.