Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-06-28


not want sufficient evidence. Those
who have seen multitudes of poor limo
cent children driven to market, and solo
like beasts, have it demonstrated before
their eyes.
1t will be farther objected, that in our
situations, the abolition of slavery would
be bad policy because it would dis
courage emigraDts from the Eastward,
prevent the population of this country,
and consequently its opulence and
strength.
l doubt not but it would prevent a
number of slavehol ders from coming in
to this country, with their slaves. But
this would be far, very far from being
an evil. 1t would be a most desirable
event: it would be keeping out great
and inlolerable nuisance, the bane of
every country where it is admitted, the
cause of ignorance and vice, and of ma
tional poverty and weakness. On the
other hand, if mistake not, it would in
vite five useful citizens into our state,
where it would keep out one slave-hold-
Grand who would not rejoice in the
happy exchange ? Turnyour eyes to the
Observation-Disclosures numerous shoals of
slaves, moving towards US in thick sue
cession. Look to the Westward-see
large, vacant fertile country, lying near,
easy of accession, an asylum for the
miserable, land Of liberty. A man,
who has no slaves, cannot live easy and
contented in the midst of those, who pos
sess them in mum bers. He is treated
with neglect and often with contempt:
he is not a companion for his free neigh
bors, but only for their more reputable
slaves: his children are loo TX ed upon and
treated by theirs as underlings. These
things are not easy to bear; they render
bis mind uneasy and his situation un-
pleasant. When he sees an open way
10 remove from this situation, and finds
it may be done consistent with his inter-
csts, he will not long abide in it. When
he removes, his place is filled up with
slaves. Thus this country will spew
out its white nhabitants-and be peopled
with shareholders, their slaves, and few
in the highest posts OF poor free man,
l mean that of an overseer. When we
attentively view and consider our si'ua-
ton, with relation to the East and the
West, we may be assured that this event
will soon take place, that the progress
towards it will be exceedingly rapid,
and greatly accelerated by the fertility Of
our soil.
That this, on srpposition that slave
ry should continue, would soon be the
state of population in this country, is not
only possible but very probable; not
only probable but morally certain. But
is this desirable situation? Would it |
be safe and com Portable !? Would it be
30 even to masters themselves? pre-
sumo not-espeeially when l consider
that their near neighbors, beyond the
Ohio, sould not, consistent with their
assist them, in case of do
nestle insurrection. Suppose our in
habitants should be fewer; they would
be useful citizens, who could repose
mutual confidence in each other. To
increase the inhabitants of this state by
an enemy within our own
bowels; an enemy, with whom we are
At perpetual war, and can never make
peace is very Ear from being an object Of
desire especially if we consider, that
belief of the iniquity of this servitude is
FAST gaining ground. Should this senti-
nent obtain the general belief, what
might be the event What would be the
situation of a certain description Of
men! What the condition of this coun-
ry?
Another frightful objection, to my
doctrine is, that should we set our slaves
rec, it would lay foundation for inter-
marriages and an unnatural mixture of
blood, and our posteriy at length, would
all be mulattoes.
This effect, l grant, it would produce.
also grant, that this appears very un-
to persons laboring under our
oreiudices Of education. l acknowledge
my own pride demonstrates against it;
but i, does not influence my judgment,
Tor affect my conscience.
To plead this as reason for the con-
inuance of slavery, is to plead the fear
hat we should disgrace ourselves, as a
,eason why we should do injustice to
others: to plead that we may continue
IN guilt, for fear the features and COM
,lexion of our -posterity should be spoil
ID. We should recollect, that it is too
ate to prevent this great inn ginary evil
he matter is already gone beyond re-
for it may be proved, with ma
hematical certainty, that,if things 60 on