North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-05-13

parcel of uadiag sdveniurrrs! IL this n
cviif Is this nothing 10 other nations
Is her gigantic monopoly in The Eas
nothing! IL is nothing that she has sp
probsied 10 her exclusive use q field 70
commercial and moral enterprise, which
the interests Of the world requires sboplg
be common 10 all nations?
refer Dot 10 British colonial govern,
meni because | think il marked by any sin.
collar atrocities. Great Britain is as gen.
te IN her ernelsies and mild in her dies.
position, as other nations. The colonial
system, every where, is a system Of flagi-
iIous wrong, originating 10 the same sor-
did motive 10 which the slave trade owes
IFS origin and continuance, and maintained
by the law of the sword, at the expense
Of the happiness Of the people who are its
victims, aud the interests OF the world.
The practice, by nations, Of a2propria-
ting a separate and distant people TO their
use, and, for this purpose, extending over
the latter an arbitrary authority, against,
equally, the will and interest, though hav-
ing the authority OF antiquity, finds no
sanction in the general principles, recog-
nized among civilized nations, as constiiu-l
ting international law. IL is in the Begin
ming, and in every stage OF il, rank inlus-
ilce to the people thus governed, and pre-
judicial to the commonwealth of nations.
No usage among nations, whicheis in it.
self wrong, can eve ripen into public
T; and the practice, therefore, can de-
rive no authority from its high authority.
In effecting that great object Of benevo-
the abolition Of The slave trade,
was no new principle introduced into
public law. Though the trade has exis-
ed for ages, and the solemn forms Of law
lad been added by The nations which prac-
iced il, to make it legitimate, il was, al
Ways, r%epugnant TO the well established, +,
nd universally acknowledged, the law Of
applicable 10 nations. And when, :
y defence TO the opinion Of the moral :
World, the principal governments in Eu- |
ope agreed among themselves to abolish !,
/, they did il, not on the ground of re- :,
nquish;ng a rigl.tul practice, 10 sub !
erve a purpose Of selfish policy, but on !,
he ground that it had always been wrong. !"
lmmemorial usage, and the convention
arrangements among nations, can no !,
render legitimate the colonial system :
T government, than the slave trade. :,
nd the interests Of humanity as much y
,manded that the attention OF the world
lould be awakened to the stupendous D
'is Of the foreign traffic in slaves. "a
Great Britain has the honor Of having
.torted, from unwilling nations, a recog- in
cation OF the unlawtulness OF the slave
ade. And an imperishable honor it is h
nd it shall sustain her claim to a glorious in
stinctiou, when the victories Of her hr
arlborough and her Wellington shall ar
arcely be remembered. Ia
her conduct, be il our ambi- &,
N TO entitIe ourselves to the homage of M
worlds gratitude, by bringing the ma cit
ms TO recognize a principle Of no less no
portance-viz: that the sovereignty of ST
lation over a distant people, is legitim- les
only when needed for protection and tic
It the period of tutelsge, as in the iami III,
constitution, righIfully ceases when the ne
beet of il becomes capable Of performing sht
functions Of self government. An
Gfeat Britain, in taking the lead in abol- ,
ing the slave trade, but obeyed a duty An
ich grew out Of her position among Sb,
nations. The
)ur position makes us the natural pro- air,
tor OF all North America and it be- hi,
hes the nation which Providence has 81 .
ed up, and destined 10 a higher moral 4
political elevation than the world has hon
seen, to effect by peaceahle, or by 9TH Son
means, the entire subversion of Europe nos,
sovereignty over the northern divisions, The
east, Of this continent. If Providence the
nds for US the destiny which every inlo
g indicates, it is hat we nay exercise re,
power, not merely for our own bene- Rrn
but for the good of mankind. This STA,
On is intended as the repository ofgreat n;ra
.rests-other nations shall be our cestui If !,
trusts. h.,
auses are not wanting TO Justify a re- 81
TO iorce, if necessary, whenever we Str
choose 10 apply to that ap- arm;
remedy. The possession, by The
II Britain, of her North American coll hv j
), is a continual violation Of the laws wa =
lture and of reason. She maiutains 4
by the terrors of the bavo- b.rs
Her colonies pant for freedom. ,eras
over the wretehed French rsms
the ~cruelest and odious despo-o -
They have no longer civil or polit- men,
Iberty. They are strangers and al a,;no
N The land which gave them birth. tenrs
da is but "thc empty skin of an i'm Terri,
ted VICTIM" And the c%ontiguity Of t;on :
British nossessions hoth andar