Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-09-13

the purpose fqulckcln8,theln INDUSTRY oi
their vassals. The raster supplies the
slave daily witha cer,in quantity OF pro-
visions and tools, AM the slave is oblig-
ed to return certn quantity OF gold
or jewels, accordingto the nature of the
ground. Every thing that remains over
this ration, the regro keeps himself,
were the balanse to be millions. The
gold-minss of Porayan and Cboco, in
Spanish America are wrought in the
very sane way. The finest pearl fishe-
ries in Siuth America, those of Panama
for example, arc in the hands of negro
tenants, as it were. These are bound
to give acertain number Of pearls every
week. The negroes in the towns are
a!lowedo hire themselves out to servi-
ces of dferent kinds, on condition of re-
turning their masters certain portion
of their ages; the rest they may spend
or hoarhp for their own USE"
s. Ate slave has, in any of these va
rious wgs, acquired property, he en-
beavers 10 purchase his freedom. Il
| the msser is exorbitant in his demands
he may apply to magistrate, 10 appoint
sworn appraisers, 10 fix the price at which
the slave shaH be allowed to buy his
freedom. Even during bis slavery, the
behaviour OF the master towards him is
strictly watched; be may complain to
the magistrate andobtsin redress, which
generally consists n a decree, ebligiug
the master to sell him at certain rate.
The consequenoesof all these laws and
customs are extremely beneficial to the
Spanish and Portuguese power IN Anne
rica. Whit. The slves are faithful and
laborious, the free negroes are numerous,
and in general, mucl more quiet, useful,
and Industrious, ha in the other colo
MES. Most of the rti6cers are Of this
class; and some of tie best troops in tue
Ncw World are composed entirely of
negroes, VINO by their own labor and
frugaiity, have acquitted their liberty"
" II is hardly necessary to remark the
striking analogy belween the state OF the
Spanish and Port guese negroes, ana
that ofthe European hondsmen, at 3 GER
tain Period % th,ir progress towar.'s
of treatment, the same protection from
the laws, the same acknowledgement OF
rights, the same power of acquiring pro-
perry, granted to the American slave,
which prepared the complete emancipa
ton Of the European vassal. In some
particulars we observe another step OF
the same progress for in many parts
the negroes are precisely in the sltua-
ton of the colont fartiarii, Or metayers
Of the ieudal times. in one respect the
negro is even in a more favorable situa-
ton: bis reddendo on may use the ex-
pression) IS fixed and definite; all the
cyerpius OF his industry belongs to him
self. The metayer was bound to divide
every gam with his lord. The former,
then has a much stronger incentive to
industry than the latter had. As this
difference, however arises, not from the
progress of society, but from the nature
OF the returns themselves, easily con-
cealed, and with difficulty procured SO,
IN some other respects, the negro is not
IN SO favorable circumstances. Blu, the
great steps of the process Of improve
meut are materially the same in both
cases. Both in common have The great
points of a bargain between the master
and slave; privileges possessed by the
slave Independent Of, nay in opposition
to his master; the rights Of property en-
Joyed by the slave, and the power of pur-
chasing his freedom at just price. This
resem b!anco in circumstances so impor-
tant. may fairly be effected 10 render IT,
progress Of the two orders also similar.
In the negro, as in the ieudal system, we
may look Tor the consequences of those
great improvements in voluntary indus
,ry, more productive labor, and the mi
legation and final abolition of slavery,
when the slave shall have been gradually
preparedto become free subject"
" Some good effects that have flowed
from the national character, and pecu-
liar circumstances of the Spanish and
Portuguese, have been produced also
in Dutch America, by that great COM
petition OF capitals, and those complicat-
ed difficulties, which lay the Dutch CO.
lonies under the necessity of attending
to the smallest savings. If, from Ibis
source, combined with the facility if i'm
portatioD, has arisen cruelty unknown
mother colonies, it may be doubted whe-
Their compensation for the evil is no,
afforded by another effect of The sau.
circumstances :-the general introduce
lion OF task work, which the keen sight
cd spirit of nee cssary avarce has laugh,
the planer Of Dutch Guinea to view as
the most prof able Kramer of working
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