Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-09-27

"
these details of Colonial Industry, be-
cause they prove 10 the inhabitants Of
Europe, what 10 the enlightened inhab-
tants OF The Colonies, has long ceased TO
be doubtful, that the Continent of Spa
nish America can produce Sugar and In
dlgo by free hands, and that the unhappy
slaves are capable OF becoming peasants,
farmers, and landholders." | would re-
Ter them TO the interesting and flourish
ing colony OF Sierra Leone, the morning
star OF Africa, which beams so brightly
on her sable brow. Or, lastly, would
refer them to dark page in your Colo
NAL history, where the retutatlon of their
opinion Is written IN characters OF fire.
Why, Then, would ask again, may
not the same glorious consequences
which followed The abolition oil slave
ry in Europe, follow its abolition in the
West? I" The aboli ion oil the slave
lrade," says Broughan, "assisted by
subordinate arrangements, similar to
those adopted in The ancient states, in The
feudak Kingdoms, and IN the american
Colonies, will most undoubtedly alter
The whole face OF things In the new world.
The negroes, placed IN almost the same
circumstances with The, bonamen of an
cient Europe, and the slaves Of the clas-
SIC times, will begin the same career OF
Improvement. The society Of the West
Indies VIII no longer be that anomalous,
defective, and disgusting monster OF po-
iltical existence, which we have SO often
been forced to contemplate in the course
OF this inquiry. The foundation of rapid
improvement will be securely laid, both
Tor the whites, The negroes and the mix
ed race. A strong and compact polIti-
cal structure will arse, under the intlu-
ence OF a mild, civilized, and enllgh,en-
ed system. The vast continent OF Airi-
Ca viii keep pace with the quick I'M
provement OF the world which she has
peopied; and Ill taose regions where, as
yet, only the war-huop, the lash, and The
crios Of misery, have divided with the
beass the silence OF the desert, cur chill
dren, and The children OF our slaves, may
tnJoy the delightful prospec, OF that be-
niBn and Splendid reign, whichis exercis-
Cd by the arts, he sciences, and the viz
tues Of modern Europe"
Sucn, Sir, Is ,oe animaiing picture of
The future fortunes OF the negro race. Ii
IS drawn, not by philanthropist in the
shades oi retirement, but by PuiucIan
VINO had meditated deeply on Colonial
Policy, who brought TO the consideration
OF this difficult Topic, mind second 10
few in capaci:y and vigor, and enrich
ed WIKI The most valuable Information,
Commercial, political, and moral, on ali
topics connected with the'inlerest of the
Colonies. 1t is sketch from the head
oi master, bu, OF master more emil
nent for the dis tinctness OF his concep-
tons, and the bold lineam enis OF his pro-
ninent figures, than for the establish
meats OF a luXuriant fancy, or the warm
coioring ofromanlic or impassloned feel
nS.
Nor was the expectation that the abo-
hilton OF slavery, with all its bene fetal
results, would follow the abolition OF
the siave-irade, confined to MIR. Brough-
am !" Not only" says Mir. Wilber-
force, but all the chief advocates of the
Abolition oil the Slave-trade-Mr. Pitt,
Mr.. Fox, Lord Grcnville, Lord Grey,
and every olher-scrupled not to de-
clare, from the very first, that their oh
Ject was, by amellorating regulations,
and more especially by stopping that in
tiux of unlnstruc,ed savages, which for
nishcd an excuse for continuing harsh
system OF management, and prevented
masters from looking to their actual stock
Of slaves for keeping up their nun Der,
to be surely though slowly advancing to-
wards the period when these unhappy
beings might change their degraded state
peasantry."
MIR. William Smith observes, "That
he scrupled NOT 10 avow and to maintain,
nor had be ever, al any period OF the
olave-trade controversy, scrupled to
avow and TO maintain, that the ultimate
object OF every friend of justice and hu-
mainly in this country, must and ought
to be, eventually to extend freedom to
every individual within the dominions of
Great Britain; that this freedom belong
cd to them of right and that to withhold
it beyond the necessity Of the case, and
especially TO withhold i, systematically,
and in intention, for ever, was the very
grossest injustice. He admitted, indeed,
that immediate emancipation might be
an injury, and not benefit, to the slaves
themselves: a period of preparation
seemed to be necessary. The ground