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

pie who call every foreigner barbarian.
AS war became less common, and the
arts of peace were more cultivated, this
supply of slaves, of course decreased j;
and when the Roman Empire, tottering
under its own weight, could think of no.
thing less than new conquests, there ~ as
an end of importing slaves. According
" with the progress OF real civilization,
but still more with the diminu,ion OF
wars and conquests, was introduced a
mider system of domestic government,
a greater humanity towards the slaves,
and more careful attention 10 breeding,
when the stock could be neither kept
up nor increased by other means. The
laws added their sanctions TO this saluta-
ry change, which no laws could of them
selves have wrought. The rights oil
slaves came to be recognized, the con-
duct of the master TO be watched, and
the practice of emancipation to be en-
couraged. BY degrees, the slaves were
incorporated with their masters, and
formed part of the great free population,
which was rather mixed with than sub
dued by the Goths."
To the slavery of the ancienls, sue
ceeded the bondage and villanage oil
their Gothic conquerers. But the diff
ference between the two was marked
and important. The Greek and Ro.
man slaves were imported; the Gothic
slaves were the peasantry ofthe country,
and born on the spot, unless during the
wars which accompanied the first inroads
OF the northern tribes. Accordingly, we
find no parallel between the rigor of the
ancient, and of the modern slave system !;
and foundation was laid in this cssentia |!
difference, for much more rapid i'm
provement of the whole s9ciety, than
took place in Greece or Rome, notwith-
standing the superior refinement of the
classic times. The slave first became
attached to his master, not as his person.
al property, but as part of his stock,
and astricted to the soil, 10 us. the Ian
guage of The feudal ages. BY degrees,
the mutual interests OF the lord and his
Williams, in the progress of natio1a, i'm
provement, operated that important
change in the state of manners, at OF
which the modern division of rani $, and
the privileges of the lowest orders. have
arisen in the civilized quarters Of the
European community. First, the vii
lain obtained the use Of the land to which
he had been annexed, and of the stock
in which he had been comprehended, on
condition that certain proportion (gene-
rally one half Of the produce should
belong to the lord Of The land, and pro-
prietor of the stock. This great change,
one of the most signal of those eyents
which have laid the foundation of human
Improvement, by degrees 100 slow for
the observation OF historians, was owing
entirely TO The masters discovering, how
much his Interest was connected with
the comfort of his slaves; how necessary
1t was to treat we'll that race whose tolls
supported the community in ease, and
whose loss could not be repaired; how
much more profitable it was to divide
with the vassal the fruits of his free and
strenuous exertions, than to monopo-
lie the scanty produce of his compulso-
ry toll. As soon as the right of proper
y, and the secure enjoynen,s of the
ruits of labor, were extended TO the vas
sails, Tho progress of improvement, be-
came constan, and visible. The proper
ion Of the fruits paid to the lord, was
according to an indefinite
:, "A a ka,,
ni'ted 20 acquire property, provided his
'wn stock, and obtained The power OF
changing his residence, and committing
he nature of his service. By degrees
he rent came to be paid in money, ac-
;ording to the number of competitors
or a farm; and they who could no
arm land themselves, sold their iabo,
o others for certain price, or mainte.
rance. Lastly. the legislature secured
he lease OF the farmer with the same |
certainty with which i, secured the pro.
,erty of the landlord, and recognized
he one as well as the other for usefu
md independent subjects"
"A similar progress will most pro-
oAbly be the result of that abolition, the |
Of which we are indulging-I
he abolition of the slave trade. Tha,
his idea is not chimerical, the conside.
ration of few facts, very little known in
he history Of America will convince
lr."
"The peculiar circumstances in the
situation OF the Spanish and Portuguese
colonies Of South America, have already
partially operated some Of those happy
effects which we may expect from the
abolition of the slave-:rade. The high