Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-03
IRON LONDON PAPERJ
ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE
BY THE KING OF SPAIN.

huHt0, DeCeMOcr, 1917.
The Introduction of negro slaves INTO
America, was one of the first measures
which my predecessors dictated for the
support and prosperity of those vast re-
glonS, soon after their discovery The i'm
possibility of inducing the Indians TO e,.-
gage Ill different useful though pain iu! "a.
bOrs, arising from their complete igno-
rance OF the conveniences Ofiife, and lire
very small progress they had made i'm the
arts OF social existence, required that the
working OF the mines, and the cultivation
OF the soil, should be committed TO hands
more robust and active Than theirs.
This measure, which did not create
slavery, but only tOOk advantage Of thai
which existed through the barbarity OF
the Africans, by saving from death their
prisoners, far srcsi being pres .sd ;ciaAty tl.c
negroes transported to America, CONFER,
upon them, not only The incompatible
blessing of being instructed in the know
ledge OF the true God, and of the only Re-
hgion IN which the Supreme Being desires
10 be adored by his creatures, tut like
wise all the advantages witch accompany
civilization, without subjeCting them I'm
their stale Of SerVitudc 10 a harder Cond,-
lion than that which they endured la free
dom, when free in their native country.
Nevertheless, the novelty of this system
demanded prudence in It's execution, and
thus II happened that the introduction of
Negro Slaves into America depended al
ways on particular licenses, which my
predecessors granted according 10 cir
cumsianceS Of places and times, ill the
era when unrestrained Slaves were gene
rally permitted both in rational and TO-
reign vessels, by the ROYAL ProcIamations
Ollhe 2oih oiSept. 1859, the 18th OF April.
1898, and the god of April, 1894, in each
OF wh.ch the different places for their in
PRODUCTION was determined
. As this clearly eVinCed that the Chris
tan wisdom OF nay predecessors consid-
cred always these provisions aseXceptions
to The law, and dependent on variable con-
ditlons although The license granted the
22d of April 1904, had not expired when
Divine Providence restored ne TO the
throne 10 which he had destined me, aud
OF which an unjust usurper had prrfid-
Ously attempted 10 deprive me, the .stur-
Dances and disseniions excited IN nv A.
merlcan doniiniOns during my absence,
Immediately fixed my sovereign attention:
and meduailng necessarily the most APP
proprlate means OF re-estahliShing good
order IN these remote possessions, and
giving them all the encouragement of
which they are capable, | was not slow i'm
had induced my predecessors 10 permit
the traffic IN slaves on Tie coast Of Africa,
and tnelr introduction into hOth Ameri-
cas-, had entirely changed. In these pro-
vinccs The number OF indigenous Negroes
has increased most prodigiously-
even That OF tree Negroes, under the fos-
terng care OF mild government and the
Christian humanity of the Spanish pro-
prelors the number Of the white inhab-
ilaUis has likewise been much augmented,
aud the climate Is not cow so preiudicial
| TO the latter rs it was before the soil was
| cleared of wood and subjected to culiiva-
| ton. The advantage, likewise, which re-
| suited TO the Inhabitants OF Africa from
| their transportation 10 civilized country.
| is not now so urgent or exclusive, since
an enlightened nation has undertaken the
| glorious task Of eIvllizlng them in their
own land. Az The same time the general
| progress OF improvement IN Europe, and
| the spirit OF humanity which lately direct
! cd itsiate transactions ~ restoring the DO
| litlcal edIlCe, which the wickedness Of a
uSurped government had shaken 10 It's
foundation, have excited among European
| SOVereIgDs desire To see this traffic abo-
llshed and at The Congress Of Vienna,
| agreeing OF the necessity of the abolition,
| they occupied themselves for facilitating
ITS execution by the most amicable nceo-
ciailOns with those Powers which had co.
ionles, meeting ~ me that disposition
which became so laudable an undertaking
Those considerations moved my roy.
al mind To- inform itself from enlightened
persons, jealous for the prosperity OF mS
states, on The effects which The abolition
] OF the traffic would produce on them