The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-07

| ABOLITION IN FRANcE.-The following is
summary of the Report of NJ. Tocqueville, in the
name OF the commission charged with examining
the question OF the abolition of slavery.
The Report passes lightly and contemptuousy
over the arguments in favor of slavery, and takes
for granted the conviction in every mind that il
ought TO be done away with. 1t passes immedi
ately to the question Gifts being necessary to pre-
pare the slave for emancip ation, previously to lib.
Grating him. nj. Tocqueville, in the name of the
commission, asserts that all attempts to improve
enlighen, and prepare the slave. so long as he is
a slave, are impossible. The slave not only is ig-
norant of marriage, of the sacredness and morali-
ty Of that tie, but incapable of being made to ap-
preciate it, as long as he is slave. There is an
tipathy between marriage and slavery-between
slavery and the paternity which accompanies mar
riage the slaves children are his equals-are
Independent: of him, and excite 10 interest None
OF the prudence and paternity accompanies it in
the slave. Christianity is equally incompatible
with slovery-equalIy unintelligible. The mir
lister ofrelgion appears either as support of the
masters rule, and is thus abhorred or he preach
es the doctrine of Christian freedom, dangerous to
the master. The commission therefore abandons
the idea Of preparing the slave for freedom by
any regulations for his treatment whilst slave
prospect ofit the idea of its arrival at no distant
time, render the slave incapable of tranquil obedi-
ence and good conduct as a slave. He is in a
false position. The master can no longer restrain
him, especially at night. The colonists,' writes
the Governor of Martinique in the present year,
dare not rear catle-such is the fear and preva-
lence OF poison. The slaves use poison as a
means OF vengeance when restrained; and no
vigilance can guard against it, The necessity of
emancipation being established, there are two
modes of decreeing tit may be either gradual
or immediate The commission is of opinion
that the simultaneous or immediate emancipation
has less Inconvenience than the gradual 1t thinks
that the English Government was wrong in pay
ing at once the whole Of the indemnify to the col
onists, instead of advancing portions and retain
ing'some check upon them In admitting that some
of the censure passed on the apprenticeship is
well founded, nevertheless the commission thinks
that apprenticeship must be employed and that
for some time the negroes, however possessed of
the essential qualities of freedom, must be forced
TO work. But it is not the master who can pre-
serve or exercise the right to force the emancipa-
ed negroe to work it must be the state or, in
its name, the magistrate. This Intermediate
state ought to be applied to the education Of the
young, as well as to tina labor of the midde-aged.
Inns labor is not to be gratuitous. OF the $780,
Uoo slaves IN the colonies, but twothirds are from
IA to oo years oiage, and capable of work. Cal
culatlons would lead us to believe that in de-
handing moderate salary for these 10000, the
state might not only cover the expense of the in
demnity, and create fund for sinking the capital,
but devote each day aportiOn Of his salary to the
negroe.'
The latter would have Saturday TO himself
& spot ofground. The proprietor would take the !