Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-01

ed more attention than NF. -ha4ihus
Essay on the Principle of Populations
Some of the doctrines therein advanced
have been ably controeerted by subsequent
writers: although Mr.. Nautilus asserts
that they do not either understand. or
wilfully misrepresent. the leading features
of his work. II certainly does contain
manv singular positions but il IS worthy
Of pe,.nsai from the ample and interesting
view taken Of the manners of mankind In
the different ages and nations OF the world.
Mr.. NaIt.lu. overturns the wild notions
of Condorcet and Goodwin respecting the
future pert cti5ility ofman: treating them'
81 the same time. with more respect than
such visionary theorists deserve.
From the Essay above mentioned, e1-
tract the following Remarks on the Slave
Trade that abominable traffic. which
the general government OF the Ihileu
States have 50 happily abolished an e2-
ample which it is to be hoped Will be imi-
tated by all other nations.
SLAVE TRADE.
The abolition Of the Slave Trade is
defended principally by the two following
arguments:
list. That the Trade TO the coast of A.
fr.ica for slaves, together with their sub
sequent treatment in the Nest-Indies, is
productive of 50 much human misery. that
IT'S continuance is disgraceful tous as men
nd as Christians.
I'd. That the culture Of the West India
Islands could so On with equal advantage.
and much greater security. if 10 further
importation Of slaves were TO take place.
With regard to the first argument, ii
appears. ia the Essa. on the Principle Of
Population. that so great Is the tendency
Of mankind TO increase. that nothing but
some physical OF moral check operating in
IN ercessire and unusual degree. can per-
manently keep the population Of coun-
try below the average means OF suhsist-
ence. In the West-Inaia Islands con-
slant recruit of laboring negroes is neces-
sary; aud consequently the immediate
checks TO population must operate with
ercessire and unusual force. All the
checks 10 population were found resolva-
bic into moral restraint, vice and misery.
Tn state OF slavery. moral restraint can
not have much influence Tor In any state
will it ever continue permanently TO dIml-
nish the population. The whole effect.
therefore. is 10 be attributed TO the er-
eessirc and unusual action Of vice and MI
sery and reference TO the facts con-
tanned in tie Essay incontroYertibl! proves
that the condition Of the slaves in the
West-indies, taken altogether. is most
wretciied. and that the representations OF
the friends Of the abolition cannot easily
be exass rated.
1t vii, be said that the principal reason
WHY the slaves in the West-indics constant
" diminish. is, that the sexes are not in
equal numbers. considerable majority
of males being always imported but this
very circumstance decides at once Oh the
cruelty OF their situation, and must ne
cessarily be one powerful cause of their
degraded moral condition.
1t may be said also. that many towns do
not keep up their numbers, and Yet the
same objection is not made TO them on that
account. But the cases will admit Of no
comparison. Ii. for the sake of better
society or higher wages, people are vii
ling TO expose themselves TO less pure
air. and greater temptations TO vice. no
hardship is suffered that can be reasonably
complained of. The superior mortality
of towns falls principally upon children,
and is scarcely noticed by people Of ma
ture age. The sexesar in equal numbers
and every man after few years of in.
dustEy may look forward TO the haFpines:
of domestic life. If during the time thai
Sold at Cotton and Sterart's book
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