Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-08-16

must impose upon the dictates OF con-
science in his own breast, and the re-
voltings of every good man, by the spc-
cious guise of humanity.
Doubtless Las Casas was actuated by
real, though mistaken views of humani-
~. He painted to relieve the Indians
from their tolls, and fully expected tina,
his project would bring the degenerated
SONS of Africa TO the possession of in
valuable privileges. But subsequent
events have shown his mistake. The in
famous Hawkins cared nought for hu-
manity or justice, but it was necessary
TO impose upon the good nature of Eli
sabeth and the English nation. When
the subject of the abolition of the slave
trade was under discussion for twenty
years in the British parliament, humanity
was the constant plea for its continuance.
The arguments employed in Congress in
favor OF the Missouri question were a
reiteration Of the same plea, and now
humanity is the "burden of the song"
ofthe slave party in Illinois. From such
humanity may the world soon be deli
vcred
Negro slavery was introduced into
North America by the Dutch. In 1919
one OF their Guinea ships touched at
Jamestown, in Virginia, and part of the
unnatural cargo was purchased by the
settlers. From this time all the COM
mercial nations Of Europe eagerly pur-
sued the trade until 1907, when it was
abolished on the part ofth British, and
the following year (the constitutional Ii
imitation having expired) it was prohibit
cd by the United States. Now it has
become the execration of the civilized
world, as doubtless slavery itself will in
less than century from this time.
The Friends or Quakers appear to have
the honor of the first religious people
who stood forth in body to protest
against every species of cruelty and OPP
preston. They commenced this noble
career Of benevoIence from their firs,
existence rs a society, though multtudes
Of their members held slaves in Pennsyl-
vania, New-Iersey and other states, in
the FIRST part Of the eighteenth century,
but in 1888 the society came to a 6nal
resolution to expel from membership
such as should continue to hold their
fellow creatures in bondage after gospel
admonition against the unjust practice.
Had every religious society at that pc
Rod adopted and rigidly enforced the
came rule, slavery would have been ex-
tremely limited if not extinct in these
United States. About that time many
advocates for the oppressed slaves ap-
peared, whose pous endeavors for their
emancipation were blessed with con-
siderable success, but since the revolu-
tionary war the ardor for liberty which
characterises the age in which we live,
has spread with unexampled rapidly. |
Where solitary individuals once wept |
over the suffering negroes, numerous So
cieties are now established to befriend |
the enslaved and let the oppressed go !
|ree, land unless the clamors Of Sc f-interest /
md mistaken policy can silence the
Broans Of distress and oblterate the die
lstes OF humanity, decisive measures
must DO adopted to abolish a system of
cruelty and oppression, which has deep
y stained the annals Of three centuries
with robbery and murder. From this
brief sketch we may perceive that Afri.
can slavery commenced in a system Of
injustice, oppression and hypocrisy. Its
plea was mainly, but its motives were
he basest and most diabolical that ever
,wayed the heart Of man. Indeed the
whole civilized world now unite in exc.
rating a practice 50 direful as the slave |
,ftrade, for it is now pursued only by q set
If outlaws, who are about to be hunted
rom the ocean BY the combined fleets of
Europe and America
So abhorrent from the sentiments Of
,ur nature is the practice of stealing,
buying, selling, and enslaving immortal
creatures, that it is difficult to describe
md define this wretched degradation Of
n an.
A slave 10 rational, responsible being,
Nth an abject mind and broken heart-a
viH bound in feuers-one on whose sn-
'ersfanding the genial rays Of science
never pour their expansive infaence-a
moral osens, and yet prohibited in his
obedience to moral duties--a farenr,
brother, son, or hus6and, and yet the
les Of relationship he can never enjoy
is duties nc can never fulfil. He has
but its dictates he cannot fol-
ow-he is candidate for eternity, and
ret for that eternity he cannot prepare.
10 short he is possessed Of all the attire
las been informed, that real natives of Africa
re- evnoaoA for ale avarv ~a,oou ~ N.,,,