Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-06-12

rejecting mind that slaves will be con-
tinually introduced into this country from
Africa, SO long as they command high
price. Still more certain is it that slaves
will increase in proportion to the extent
of territory they occupy. Permit me
here to avail myself of the language OF
an opponent. " 1t is of the nature OF
g man, (says Hampden, in his 9TH essay
6 that, pent up in narrow compass, and
q" confined to poor soil, the species is
" propagated but slowly. Spread over
" a large expanse of fertile country, it
increases like the leaves of the forest"
If the restriction proposed by the house
OF Representatives shall be finally carried
into effect, the slaves will be " pent up
in the narrow compass, and confined to
the poor soil'' of the present slave states; ;
and of course they will propagate but
slowly :" but if that restriction is aban.
doned, they will be spread over large
eXpanse of fertile country" and, accord
ing to Hampden, they will g increase
like the leaves Of the Forest" The ne
cessary consequence of the proposed
restriction will be, by reducing the num-
Der of slave markets, to lessen the price
of slaves. twill, therefore, be the most
effectual measure which can be taken to
destroy the FOREIGN slave trade for no.
thing but the prospect of making i'm
mense profits, can tempt any person 20
engage in that most infamous traffic. 1t
will also prove an efectual check to the
domestic SiaUe trade--a traffic almost as
Infamous as the former. Deprived of a
slave market west of the Mississippi,
the dealers in human flesh must coniine
their trade to the more southern states,
which are already SO well supplied that
| the price of slaves has been much re-
| duced, and is continually decreasing.
The slave trade will therefore become
unhroftodie, and but little will then be
wanting to render it diSrehutqbie. Pru-
dence will compel shareholders to re-
duce the number of their slaves by eman-
| cipation, when they can no longer send
| them to profitable market. thus the
american Colonization Society will be
enabled to carry on their operations upon
scale more propqrtionate to the patriot
ism, wealth, and standing of its distin-
gulshed members and thus the country
will get rid of population which cannot
be retained without the certainty of pro-
ducing innumerable evils, and cndanger-
ing the lives of the citizens.
This result, l am sensible, will not be
very pleasing to the slave-mongers in
Virginia and Kentucky. The members
of Congress from those states appear to
have been fully aware OF the consequent
ces OF the proposed restriction. How
eager were they, at the late session, to
prohibit the foreign slave trade The
whole navy of the United States must
be put in requisition, and the national
treasure dispensed with liberal hand,
for this purpose, But as soon as it was
proposed to curtail the domestic slave
trade, all the nice sensibilties of these
worthy gentlemen were excited; dis
solution OF the union was threatened, and
civil war and bloodshed menaced This
conduct, SO irreconcilable on the score OF
| hrincihle, is easily accounted for on the
score Of interest. They wish to annihi-
late the foreign slave trade, that they
may have no rival III the Louisiana mar
ket: they wish to keep the Missouri
slave market open, that they may obtain
a higher price for their slaves.
Mr.. Walker asserts that the prohibi-
ton of slavery in Missouri and Arkan-
sas would deprive the citizens of the
southern section Of the union ".from
having either part or lot, or any inheri-
lance, on the west side of the Missis
sippi." And Hampdcnhas labored with
great assiduity to prove that all who are
opposed to slavery are " in the northern
interest,"" No arguments are necessary
to show the folly Of such assertions
Many Of you, fellow citizens, have emf
grated from the very state which Mr..
Walker represents, for the express pur-
pose of avoiding the evils of slavery.
Others among you are natives of Ten
nessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Ken
lucky, Virginia, and Maryland. Among
the emigrants from those states behold
many Of the most decided enemies OF
slavery. They have Witnessed its bane-
full effects in their native land, and have no
desire to extend its destructive influence.
And although iampden has said that
g southern emigrants could not aGord to
emancipate their slaves" yet can point
QUITO HIM several gentlemen, who, rising
superior to selfish and avaricious views,
have done honor to the birthplace OF
Washington, of Jefferson, of Patrick