Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-06-18
MISC ELLANEOUS.
From the Soulh CaroEnian.
EXTRACT
OF Governor Hanlnnomd's
Letters ON Southern.
slavery.
SILVER BLUFF. S. c.,
January %. IS45.

letter from the Rev. Willopghby NJ. Dick,
inson, dated at your residence, "Playford
lall near Ipswich, 26th Nov, 1874" in
which was inclosed a copy of your Circu-
lar Letter addressed to protesting Chris
tians in our Northern States, having no
concern with Slavery, and to others here.
I presume that Mr.. Dickinsun's letter vas
written with your knowledge, and the
document inclosed with your conseu: and
appreciation. therefore feel that there is
no improperly in my addressing my reply
directly To yourself, especially as there is
no,hing in Mr. Dickinson's cemmunca-
lion, requiring serious notice. Having
abundant leisure, it will be recreation 10
me to devole portion of il TO an exami-
nation and free discussion Of the question
of Slavery as it exists in our Southern
States aud since you have thrown down
the gauntlet to me, do not hesitate 10
take it up.
I do not propose, however. 10 defend
the African Slave Trade. That is no
longer question. Doubtless great evils
arise from it as it has been, and is now
conducted; unnecessary wars and cruel
kidnapping in Africa: the most shocking
barbarities in the Middle Passage: aud
perhaps less humane system of slavery
in countries continually supplied with
fresh Iaborers al cheap rate. The evils
of il, however. it may be fairly presumed,
are greatly exaggerated. Aud if | might
judge Of the truth of transactions stated
as occurring in this trade, by that Of those
reported as transpirirs among US, should
moi hesitate 10 say, that large proportion
of the stories in circulation are unlounded,
aud most Of the remainder highly coloTed.
On the passage of the Act Of Parlia-
meut prohibiting this trade TO British SUBJ
jects rests what y"u esteem the glory Of
your life. II required twenty years of
arduous agitation, and the intervening ex.
traordinary political events, 10 convince
your countrymen, and among the rest your
pious King, Of the expediency Of this mea.
sure; and il is but just 10 say. that no one
Individual rendered more essential service
to the cause than You did In reheciing
on tie subject. you must often ask your
self: What after all has been accomplish
cd !; how much human suffering has been
averted; how many human heiugs have
been rescued from transatlantic slavery?
And on The answers yon can give these
questions, must in great measure | pre-
sumo, depend the happiness your life.
I'm framing them, how frequently must
you be reminded of The remark Of Mr..
Grosven0r, in one of the early debates
upon the subject, which believe you have
yourself recorded. "lhat he had twenty
objections TO The abolition Of the Slave
Trade: the first was, that il tcas imPoSSi-
6te-lhe rest he need moi give" Can you
say 10 yourself, or to The world, that This
first objection Of Mir. IGrns Nennr ho-l'.1.-- -
vet c0nlutcd Il was estimated at The
commencement of your agitation 1884,
that forty five thousand Africans were
annually transported 10 America and The
West Indies. And The mortality OF the
Middle Passage, computed by some al
5, is now admitted not 10 have exceeded y
per cent. Notwithstanding your Act of
Parliament, the previous abolition by the
United States, and that all the powers in
the world have subsequently prohibited
this lrade-sone OF the greatest Of them
declaring it piracy. aud covering The Afrl
can seas with armed vessels 10 preven, it
Sir Thomas Fowel Buxton, coadjutor
of yours. declared in lS40, that The mum
her of Africans now annually sold into
slavery beyond the sea, amounts, a: the
very least, 10 one hundred and fifty thou
sand souls; while he mortality of the
Middle Passage has increased, in conse.
uuence Of the measures taken TO suppress
the trade, 10 25 or 30 per cent. And of
the one hundred and City thousand slaves
who have been captured aud liberated by
British Men of War since The passage of
your Act, Judge Jay, aa American Abo-
iiliouist, asserts that one huhdred thou
sand. or Two thirds, have persisted between
their capture and libcraion. Does il not
really seem that Mr.. Grosvenor was a
Prophe, ? That though nearly all the
/" impossibili,ies" of 1857 have vanished,
and become as familiar facts as our house
hold customs, under The magic i"fiuence
of Steam, Cotton and universal peace, yet
this wonderful prophecy sill stands, defy
ing time and The energy aud genius OF
mankind Thousands Of valuable lives
and Gfiy millions of pounds sterling have
been given away by your Government in
iruitIess attempts to everturn. | hope
YOU have mol lived too long for your own
happiness, though you have been spared
10 see that in spite of all your tolls and
those of your fellew laporers, and the ac-
compIishmeut of all thai human agency
could do, the African Slave Trade has in
creased three fold under your own eyes
more rapidly, perhaps, Than any other
ancient branch Of commerce-and that
your efforts 10 suppress it have ELECTED
nothtng more than rhree-lold increase OF
lis horrors. There is God who rules
:, this world-All powcrlul-Farseeing =
He does not permit His creatures to foil
His designs. Itis He who, for His all
wise, though TO us often inscrulable pur-
poses, throws mpossibili,ies" in the way
of our foudes, hopes and most strenuous
eyertrons. eau you doubt this :!
Experience having settled the point
that this Trade cannot be abolished by tht