The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-01-11 00:00:00, page 2

The Introduction of Negroes into America. Taken from
the History of America, by William Robert-
SON, D. D. Principal of the Univerfity'of Edin
burgh.
C'hRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, by
birto a G noe'e, a great navigator tor his times, hav
ing, in attempting to find a passage westward to the Eafi-
Indies, difeovered America, firfl landed on the island of
Efifpmiola, on t.e6th of December, 1492. The inhabi
tants, a Very gentle and timid people, fled into the woods
at his approach ; but were eafi!y enticed toan intercourse
with the Spaniards, whom they considered from their
guns, fliips, and other contrivances, as superior beings,
had treated with great hospitality. At his departure, Co
lumbus, with the consent of one of the Caziques or Petty
Princes, left 38 men in a fort, under pretence of defend
ing the natives against the Charaibs, a fierce people, who
Sometimes invaded the island. Next year the discoverer
returned from Europe with fettlers,but found the garrison
allkilled. He understood from the Chief of the diftriX,
that the Spaniards, disregarding all his inftruXions, had
ranged the island in search of gold, behaving with infuf
ferable insolence and brutality ; and that other Princes
provoked by their excesses towards women, and their out
rages on the men, bad watched the opportunity of their
Draggling, to cut them off. Columbus, suspicious there
was too much truth in the relation, without taking far
ther notice of the tragedy, proceeded to lay out a town,
and form a settlement ; but his people being all fpldiers,
seamen, or disorderly adventurers, indisposed to steady
industry, and having no other objeX but gold, were utter
ly at a loss for kufbindmen and labourers, to perform the
moR necessary services. Finding no reward would induce
the natives to go to work for them, they layed violent
hands on these unhappy people, whole mode of life was
inactive, and who, uwufed to laborious exertions, in a
climate, the warmth of which was enervating, and under
the practice of a very sparing diet, were of a very delicate
confutation, became greatly distressed by this drudgery.
Provoked by this reduction to servitude, which Ameri
cans feel above all other people,# notwithstanding the na
tural gentleness ami pagivenefs of the inhabitants of Hi
spaniola, and the nei. hbouring islands, different from the
fierce and warlike tribes of the Continent, these injured
people flew to arms, and aimed at expelling the invaders.
Baffled in this unequal contest, and generally brought un
der a grievous tax of gold-duff, to be collected in the beds
of rivers and torrents, they had recourse to another expe
dient. They tried to starve the Spaniards, who chiefly
depended on them for food, by retiring to the mountains;
but this plan, by reason of fortunate supplies from Europe,
and the Rerility of the places to which the Indians retreat
ed, fell heavy on themfclves. In short, after losing great
numbers of their own people by famine, they submitted to
toe y®ke, and became the slaves of the Colonies, vrfho d:f
tributed the unhappy wretches among them. Spanish Hi
storians of credit agree, that his island abounded with in
habitants at the time it was discovered, and fay, they ex
ceeded a million in number ; but the low Rate of society
in which these people were found, renders this computati
on incredible. IVorking in the mines and other labours
exkled of them, were, fays this H ftorian, " services so
disproportioned td their Rreugth and former habits of Ire,
that they wafted that feeble race of men with such a rapid
corfumphon, as must have soon terminated in the utter
extinction of the ancient inhabitants of the island." Upon
this fom? regulations were attempted for their relief, but
avarice and cruelty rendered them abortive, and the na
tives melted away so rapidly, as to threaten the Colony
with the loss of all its labourers. " The Missionaries,"
we are tod, " in conform! y to the mild spirit of that re
ligi n, which they were employed to publish, early re
monßrareJ against the maxims of their countrymen, f
with refpea to the Americans and condemned the repar
timierros, or the distributions, by which they were giv
en up as flavesto their conquerors, as no less contrary to
natural jufbce, and t'he precepts of chriftianity, than to
found policy " It appears, that in the year 1508, on tak
ing an exrd account of die Indians on the island they a
mounted to 6o 000 only ; and in 1517, they were reduced
to 14,000; which is the more lamentable, as we are told,
the Spaniards, in the mean time had wheedled 40,000 of
the people of neighbouring islands, to remove to Hispani
ola, to keepup the.r Rock' of slaves. The Dominican fa
thers, whose business chiefly it was to convert the Indians,
after remunerating in vain to the Court of Spain, pro
ceeded to deny the sacraments to their countrymen, and
u^d every method to restrain and foften the horrid abuse.
And wiec at length they found their endeavours to inftrud
the poor wretches baffled by this course of barbarity and
murder, several of them “requested permission of their
foperior to remove to the Continent, and to parfue the
object )f their miffing among such of the nations, as
were not bitnerto corrupted by the Spaniards, or alienat
ed by their cruelty from the chriftian faith. Such as
rem dned in Hispaniola, continued to remonstrate with de
cent firmnefs, against the servitude of the Indians." But
one o' these Ecclefia fiicks behaved with so much activity
and perseverance, as to render himfelf very conspicuous,
but at the fame time very odious to the planters.
The violent operations of Albuquerque, the new distri
butor of Indians, revived the zeal of the' Dominicans a
gamft the re^artimientos, and called forth an advocate for
that oppressed people, who patf.ffed all the courage, the
talents, and activity requisite is supporting such a despe
rate caute. This was Bortholomew de las Cafas, a
native ; ofSeville, and one of the clergyman lent out with
Columbus in h'is second voyage to Hilpaniola, in order
* The native Americans are all freemen ; all feel them
felvesto be such, and assert with firmnefs the rights which
belong to that condition. This sentiment of independence
is to imprinted in their nature, that no change of conditi
on can eradicate it, or bend their minds to servitude. Ac
cuflomed to be abfo'ute masters of tiieir own conduct, they
disdain to execute the orders of another, and having ne
ver known control, will not submit to correction Many of
them, wnen they round they were treated as slaves, by
the Spaniards, died of grief; many destroyed themselves
in despair. Hißory ot America, Vol. If, page 93.
t Some of the Spaniards would not allow the natives
to be perfect men, but supposed them to be an inferior
species.
For the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
to Settle in that island. He early adopted the opinion
prevalent among ecclesiastics, with refpe& to the unlaw
fulnefs of reducing the natives to servitude ; and that he
might demon ftrate the sincerity of his conviction, he re
linquished all the Indians who had fallen to his own share
in the division of the inhabitants among their conquerors,
declaring that he should ever bewail his own misfortune
and guilt, in having exercised for a moment this impious
dominion over his fellow-creatures ^. From that time, he
was thisavowed patron of the Indians; and by his bold
interpositions in their behalt, as well as by the refped due
to his abilities and character, he had often the merit of
setting some bounds to the excesses of his countrymen.
He did not fail to remonfirate warmly against the procee
dings of Albuquerque; and, though he soon found that
attention to his own interest rendered him deaf to admo
nition, he did not abandon the wretched people whole
cause he had espoused. He instantly set out for Spain,
with themoft (anguine hop-s of opening the eyes and foft
ening the heart if Ferdinand, by that Rriking picture of
the oppression of his new fubjeffs, which he would exhi
bit to his view J.
It appears, that Las Cafas found Ferdinand, his Prince,
in a very declining Rate of health ; that he boldly char
ged upon the King, the guilt of these impious measures,
which had brought misery and deßruClion on a numerous
and innocent race es men ; as being done by his authority ;
thatthe impression made by this charge of impiety, was
great; and redress prom,fed; but Ferdinand soon after
died, and was preceeded in his dominions by Charles the
sth, Emperor of Germany and King of Spain,then in the
low countries. Cardinal Ximenes, however, who was
prime Mioifterin Spain, undertook to hear Las Cafas.
This bold Ratefman, now about fourfcore, considering the
matter, as important, fell upon a plan to enquire into the
case, the boldntf of which astonished the ministers form
ed under the cautious administration of Ferdinand. He
chose three monks of the order of Saint Jerora, and sent
them to America with full powers. These men we are
told, difeovered in their cond^a such knowledge and pru
dence, as juftified the choice which the Cardinal had made
of them. It appeared, that such was the Rate of the Colo
ny, it must be abandoned, if the Indians were set at liber
ty. They therefore tolerated the distribution of the na
tives, and left them in fubjeßion to their makers; endea
vouring at the fame time, to feture to the fufferers the best
treatment, compatible with their servitude.
Las Cafas alone was diffatisfied. The prudential consi
derations which influenced the superintendents, made no
impression upon him. He regarded their idea of accom
modating their condud to the Rate of the colony, as the
maxim of an unhallowed timid policy,which tolerated what
was unjust, becauk it was beneficial, He contended, that
the Indians were by nature free, and, as their protector,
he required the superintendents not to bereave them 01 the
common privilege of humanity. They received his most
virulent remonftranos without emotion, but adhered
firmly to their own system. The Spanish planters did not
bear with him so patiently, and were ready ts tear him in
pieces for infilling in a requisition so odious to them. L^s
Cafas, in order to screen himfelt from their rage, found it
necetiary to take shelter in a convent; and perceiving that
all his efforts in America were iruitlefs, he loon set cut for
Europe, with a fixed resolution not to abandon the pro
te^ion of a people whom he deemed to be cruelly oppress
ed §.
Had Ximenes retained that vigor of mind with which
he ufuahy applied to business, Las Cafas must have met
with no very gracious reception upon his return to Spain.
But he found thecardiaal languishing under a mortal dis
temper, and preparing to resign his authority to the young
king, who was daily expelled from the Low Countries.
Charles arrived, took possession of the Government, and,
by the death of Ximenes,loft a minifies whole abilities and
integrity intitled himti direct his affairs. Many of the
Fiemifh nobility had accompanied their Sovereign to Spain.
From that warm predilection to his countymen, whicn was
natural at his age, he consulted them with refpeft to all
the tranfaftionsin his new kingdom, and they, with an in
di'c eet eagerness, intruded themselves into every business,
and seized almost every department of adminiftratien so
The direction of American affairs was an object too allu
ring to escape their a.tention. Las Cafas observed their
growing influence, and though projectors are usually too
sanguine, to conduct the r lexemes with much dexterity,
he possessed a bulling indefatigable activity, which some
times accompliflies its purposes with greater success,
than the mofi exquisite dis ernment and adcrefs. He
courted the Flemilh ministers with assiduity. He
represented to them the absurdity of all the max
ims hitherto adopted with refped to the government of
America; and particularly the defers of that arrange
ment which Ximenes had introduced. The memory of
Ferdinand was odious to the Flemings. The superior vir
tue and abilities ofXimenes had long been the objed of
their envy. They fondly wished to have a plausible pre
text for condemning .the measures, both of the monarch
and of the minister, and of reflecting some drfcredit on
their political wisdom. The friends of Don Diego Co
lumbus, as well as the Spanish courtiers, who had been
diffatisfied with the Cardinal's administration, joined Las
Cafas in censuring the scheme of fending fuperintendants
to America. This union of so many interests and passions
was irresistible; and, in ccnlequence of it, the fathers of
St. Jerome, and their associate Zuazo, were recalled.
Roderigo de Figueroa, a lawyer of some eminence, was
appointed Chief Judge of the island, and received iuftruc
tions, ill compliance with the request of Las Cafas, to ex
amine once more, w th the utmost attention, the point in
controversy between him and the people of the colony,
with refpe& to the treatment of the natives; and in the
mean time to do every thing in his power to alleviate their
fufferings, and prevent the extinction of the race ||.
This was all that the zeal of Las Cafas could procure,
at that juncture, in favour of the Indians. The impossibi
lity of carrying on any improvement in America, unless
* Fr. Aug. Davila Padilla Hist. de la Fundacion de la
Provincia de St. Jago de Mexico, p. 303,304, Herrera,
dec. i. lib. x. c. 12.
J Herrera, dec. 1. lib. x. c. 12. Dec, 2. lib. i. c. 11,
Davila Padilla Hist. p. 304.
§ Herrera, dec. 2. lib. 11. c. 16.
4 Hist. ot Charles V. vol. ii. p. 43.
U Herrera, dec. 2. lib. ii. c. 16, 19, 21. lib. iii. c.
7, 8.
the Spanish planters could conmand the labour of the
natives, was an insuperable objection to his plan of
treating them as free fubjecls. In order to provide some
remedy for this, without which he found it was vain te
mention his f-heme, Las Cafas proposed to purchase a fuf
ficient number of negroes from the Portuguese fettle^
ments, on the coast. of Africa, and to transport
them to America, iu order that they might be em
ployed as Haves in working the mines aad cultivating
the ground. One of the fird advantages which the Portu
guese had derived from th^r difeoverits in Africa, arose
from the trade in slaves. Various circumflancts concur
red in reviving this odious commerce, which had been
long abolished in Europe, and which is no less repugnant
to the feelings of humanity, than to the principles of reli
gion. As early as the year one thousand five hundred and
three, a few negro slaves had been sent into the New-
World *. In the year one thousand five hundred and
eleven, Ferdinand permitted the importation of them in
greater numbers §. They were found to be a more ro
bust and hardy race than the natives of America. They
were more capable of enduring fatigue, more patient un
der servitude, and the labour of one negro was computed
to be equal to that of four Indians |. Cardinal Ximenes,
however, when Solicited to encourage this commerce, pe
remptorily rejeßed the proportion, because he percei
ved the iniquity of reducing one race of men to slavery,
while he was confuting about the means of reßoring li
berty to another f. But Las Cafas, from the inconsi
stency natural to men who hurry with headlong im
petuosity towards a favourite point, was incapable of ma
king this diflindion. While he contended earuefily for the
liberty of the people born in one quarter of the globe, he
laboured to enflavethe inhabitants of another region ; and
in the warmth of his zeal to save the Americans from the
yoke, pronounced it to be lawful and expedient to impose
one Rill heavier upon the Africans. Unfortunately for
the latter, Las Cafas's plan was adopted. Charles gran
ted a patent to one of his Flemish favourites, containing
an exclusive right of importing four thousand negroes into
America. He fold his patent to some Genoefe mer bants
for twenty five thousand ducats, and they were the firft
who brought into a regular form that commerce for slaves
between Africa and America, which has since been carried
on to such an amazing extent [|
THE Duke of Castro Senaro and Prince de Montefu
erto are arrived at Malaga from Naples on their
way to thecamp at S'. Roch, where they will serve as vo
lunteers. The three Spanish vessels which failed from Cadiz
in pursuit of two English privateers, are returned, not be
ing of fufficient force to attack them.
The corporation and gentlemen of the town cf Limerick
have ereßed a temporary battery on the river Shannon,
to protest the eight East Indiamen which are in their ri
ver at present. Indeed the navigation of that river, which
is about sixty miles from the sea, mufl be in itfelf danger
ous to any enemy that may attempt capturing them, >ut
the present battery, it is thought, will effedually secure
them till a convoy from England arrives
Advice is received from the Cove,of Corke, that an en
gagement had, happened in bad weather within a few
leagues of the Old Head of Kinfale, between one ®f his
Majesty's frigates and an American privateer, which had
taken a number of Irifli vessels, when the latter was funk,
and her crew perished.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at St Chriflopher's
to his friend in London, dated July 17, brought by
the Ariadne.
“ The loss of die Windward Islands will affeß the pro
prietors, and their connexions in Great-Britain, exceed
ingly; and it may cause great furprize and uneasiness in
general ; but it would have been well for all. if we had ne
ver meddled with them. They have cost individuals an
immense sum, and in general have been ungrateful and
unkind. The chain which they were a part of, was too
long for our fleet to proteX fully, and their vicinity ren
dered them an easy prey. Their loss, I think, may add
to our security ; and although we have not a fleet and ar
my fufficient for conquests here, or even is)recover what
we have loft, yet we have enough to proteX and secure
what is left, unless, while eur fleet is fitting here, the
French should seize on Barbadoes : Then farewell to our
May fleet 1 Its loss will be severely felt, indeed, and espe
cially by some on this island. The navy too in these Las
would want much, for their provisions are scanty ; a
few days probably will determine. In the mean
time I Rr.il as usual hope for the best. The Au
gust (hips will not be loaded : and many fegars will be
left behind; some of yours amongst the number; the
droghers being all pressed to supply the men of war with
wood and water.'
Extract of a letter from Paris, by way of Holland,
dated Sept. 3.
“ The English are told here, that two of their coun
trymen were brought from Brest to this city, on thei,
inst. under confinement, and are lodged in prison ;; h " r
crime is Did to be holding a correspondence with England,
and giving an account of what was going forward at that
port, with such other intelligence as c^e to their know
ledge." .
Extras of a letter from Exeter, Sept. 12.
" The fubfeription for railing 24 companies of volun
teers goes on with great success, and the corporation con
tinues to pay a bounty to seamen to enter into the navy.
A Hoop of v ar is ordered to be Rationed off our harbour to
protect the trade; and to man her the more speedily, we
have offered (even guineas bounty to seamen who enter on
board her." r
Yesterday Mr. Jenkinfon laid before his Majefly -
ral papers relative to the army ; after which Lord Sand
wich had a private audience with hisMajefty till after three
o'clock, when his Majesty returned to Kew,
* Herrera, dec. 1. lib. v. c. 12.
§ Ibid. lib. viii. c. 9.
J Ibid. lib. ix, c. 5.
f Ibid. dec. 2. lib. ii. c. 8.
II Ibid, lib.ii. C. 20.
LONDO N, Sept. 18.
M A D R I D, Aug. 20.