Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-05-18

would impress upon you the absolute necessity that you
carefully observe the proceedings of the British Government
touching this important and delicate subject and that you
spar pains to inform yourself fully and accurately IN re-
gard 10 its objects and designs 1t highly desirable that
your communications this department should be as full
and frequent possible emitting nothing which 1t may be-
come this Government 10 consider with reference 10 Its own
measures and policy.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant
A. P. UPSHUR.
EDWARD EvEnErr, Esq, &c.
Mr.. Upshur 10 Mr. Everett.
lConddeEtal
DEPARTMENT STATE,
WAsHISGToN, SEPTEMBER %, lS43.
Sin My public despatch of this date calls your attention
to the subject Of the attempt which, have to
think the British Government is making procure the
abolition of slavery in Texas and the United States II did
not appear to proper to embody that despatch oil the
views of that which have been taken by this Govern
met In order, however, that you may understand wha,
degree OF Importance attached TO it, present you in
this private and semotcal FORM some OF the most mPor
ant points which we have considered it,
impossible to suppose that England is acuaed in this
matter by mere feeling of philanthropy We forced 10
believe that she is acting upon motives in the usual
course OF policy among great nations yet equally worthy Of
her wise and powerful country Her objects undoubt-
eddy TO revive the industry OF her East and West India
colonies to find new markets for her surplus manufactures
and TO Destroy far possible the rivalry and competition
OF the manufactures of the United States That the aboI
ton of African slavery throughout the Western world would
lead to these results is altogether probable At all events
the plan Is sufficiently promising to have engaged the anxious
attention OF British statesmen; and for that reason for
other, il is worthy OF careful examination by
II Is well known that the physical constitution Of the Arr
much better adapted tropical climates than that
The European Ind ed, in those regions of America which
best suited TO the production of sugar. cotton and rice
the labor of white be used any considerable
extent The soils and climates Of the East and West India
colonies Of Great Britain well adapted the production
Of all these articles; and 10 these may he added the finer
kinds OF tobacco England could produce these things,
instead Of being compelled purchase them, would be
lncacuable relief TO her people But this she cannot do
except at much greater cost than that at which they
now afforded by the labor Of slaves Hence, far the
industry OF her colonies concerned she has direct interest
to abolish slavery in those countries which the labor Of that
class superseies the labor Of her colonies.
The importance of markets for her surplus manulac
lures Is obvious enough Nations who free make their
contracts and able support their policy,
apt TO give advantages in trade, except for fair Equivalents
Texas not in that condition she must make the hest terms
she and he contented with the worst they be
the price OF her existence nation. There
to believe therefore, that the demands Of England upon that
country will he limited the simple abolition of slavery
She will expect in return for her nterposon and protec
ton, substantial advantage and that will be treaty
OF commerce. granting favorable terms TO her than to
other nations This is IN the usual OF her policy and
her position friendly mediator and protector will give
her fair preence for such acclaim. Texas will have al
Tentative but to allow it.
But the third object which she has in view is still more
interesting TO Even at this day the United States
manufacturing skill and industry and, if may judge from
our rapid advancement hitherto the time not distant when
shall surpass her in all these particulars Whatever i
calculated 10 embarrass movements impede our
gress positive advantage to her Let suppose, then,
that her present attempt upon Texas and through her.
the United States, will succeed We shall thus he the bet
able estimate Influence which that Of things
will upon the United States The question not
ona Although the first and most disastrous effects Of such
state Of things would be felt in the slaveholdng States
they would extend TO and embrace important interests
every other part Of the country We must contemplate it
therefore, national question: and endeayor to ascertain IL
bearing upon the United States such and upon the
raj portions Of the United States 1t is worthy, also, Of
sideraion Of humanity with reference to III
slaves themselves.
No man, who knows any thing OF his own nature, ca
snppnse to he possible that of Distinguish
by external and neiaceable marks obvious every wh
have held towards each other, from time mmemora the
aion of master and slave, could live together equals
in the same country and under the Government. II
therefore, slavery be abolished the the other of th
must leave the country be extemnated This choc
would be for the slaves because they the weaker party
Where should they fly To the neghborng free States 10
there would be other place of refuge Would those State
receive Them Let be remembered that they numbe
t,co and hay millions and the free negroes, who
share their fate number four hundred thousand more
and let also be remembered that neatly all Of them
would be paupes No State would willingly take upon
itself the burden of such population and, if s
them healthy abores the evil would scarcely be less
The white aborer would endure such competition he
would not agree work side by side with degraded
he would not submit have his industry, rendered less pro
htahe by The competition Of of strange and
dlshonofed race. This is sufficiently shown Ivy the well
known in of principal within
few years past The chances, then, are, that the African
would be prosecuted pouper free citizen Of free
State But even II he should be permitted TO share fairly in
the labor OF the country that labor would to bt
considered his appropriate sphere and unworthy Of III,
white is not the policy Of States Of Eng
land, thus to degrade labor To all this may be added Tho
certainty that the African race existing large numbers
eemen in countries whose Governments and laws recognise
difference Of color, would long be satisfied TO be
Guided from any political right civil privilege, soca
advantage, allowed the white The dscords and
CRY contests which would grow Of this of things
and the effect which they would have upon the tranquility
and prosperity of the country, may be easily Imagined
wise Government would avoid them by shutting thu
door against the emancipaIed slave. The only alternative
would be the determination Of his
So FAR them the slaves themselves concerned, thei
condition would be infinitely than it is Will
their influence freemen upon and social
d0n would not fail 10 be in the highest degree unayorae
But in another yiew the subject equally interesting
What effect would he produced upon the productive ndu
Of the South by withdrawing from it all the labor aorde
by two and half millions of its people! This nearl
one-half the entire population Of the savehodDg States
is not possible to suppose that their places would
supplied by white labor II there other difficult
in the way, the climate alone would oppose nsupeab
obstacle But, under the most favorable circumstances
large number of aborers not easily obtained Let
be borne in mind that these slaves perform nearly the Who'll
agricultural labor Of the South. II that labor should
withdrawn their fields lie unculvac their houses
other Improvements must to decay, and their lands
worth nothing The ruin of the whole country and
its creditors must be the consequence No influx OF new
settlers could prevent it, The rapid Of mmi
grafton which has yet been Witnessed would be too SLOW
TO arrest the overwhelming destruction.
But the evil would not be confined to the saveholdin