The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-07-09
From the South Carolinian.
Governor HammOnd's Letter on
Southern Slavery!


Sir:-I received short time ago LETT
ter from the Rev Willougbby M. Dick
inson, dated at your residence, PIayford
Hall, near Ipswich. 26h Nov. 1874" in
which was enclosed copy Of your Circu-
lar letter addressed to protesting Chris
tians in our Northern States, having no
concern with Slavery, and 70 others there.
presume that Mr.. Dickinson's letter was
written with your know ledge, and the doc
ument inclosed with your consent and ap-
probation. / therefore feel that there is
no improperly 10 my addressing my reply
directly to yourself, especially as there is
nothing 10 Mr.. Dickinson's communication,
requiring serious notice. Having abunl-
ant leisure, il will be- a recreation TO me 70
devote q portion Of it 10 an examination
and free discussion Of the questian Of Sla-'
very as it exists in our Southern States:
and since you have thrown down the gaunt-
let to me, do not hesitate to take it up.
Familiar ss you have been with the dis
cussions of this subject in all its aspects,
and under all the excitement it has occa-
stoned for sixty years past, | may not be
able TO present much that will be new 70
you. Nor ought 10 indulge the hope Of
materially affecting the opinions you have
so long cherished, and so zealously promuI-
gated. Still, time and experience have de-
veloped facts, constantly furnishing fresh
tests to opinions formed sixty years since,
and continually placing this great question
| :. oc NH h al
cur TO the most consummate intellect even
quarter Of century ago. And which
may not have occurred yet to thOse whose
previous convictions, Preiudices habits Of
thought have thoroughly and permanently
biased them to one fixed way Of looking at
The matter: While there are pecuIiarltes
in the operation Of every social system, and
special local as we'll as moral causes mate.
rally affecting it, which no one, placed at
the distance you are from us, can full CON-
prehend or properly appreciate. Besides
il may be possibly novelty to you 10 en-
counter one who cOnscientiously believed
the Domestic Slavery ri these States 10 be
not only an memorable necessity for the
present, but moral and humane insiitu>
lion, productive Of the greatest political and
social advantages, and who iS disposed, as
am, to defend il on these grounds.
Go 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 its shocking
barbarities 10 the Middle Passage: and per
haps a less humane system Of slavery in
countries continually supplied with fresh
laborers at cheap rate. The evils Of it,
however, it may be fairly presumed, are
greatly exaggerated. And If ] might judge
Of the truth Of transactions stated as occurs
ring in this trade, by that Of those reported
as Transporting among US, should not hes"
itate 10 say, That large proportion Of the
.tories 10 circulation are unlounded, and
most Of the remainder highly colOred.
On the passage Of the Act Of Parliament
prohibiting this trade to British subjects
rests what you esteem the glory Of your
life. Il required twenty years Of arduOus
agitation, and The intervening extraordinary
political events, TO convince your countTy-
men, and among the rest your PiOus King,
Of the expedency Of The measure and il is
but Just 10 say, that no one individual rem
der more essential service TO the cause
than you did. In rejecting on the subject,
you must often ask yourself; What after
ell has been accomplished; how much hu-
man suffering has been aVeried; how
many human beings have been rescued
from Transatlantic slavery I And on the an.
swers you can lgivei these questions, must
in a great measure ] presume, depend the
happiness Of your life. Ia framing them,
how frequently must you be reminded Of
the remark Of Mr.. GFOsvenOr, in one Of
tie early debates upon the subject, which
believe you have yourself recorded,
that he bad twenty objections TO the
abolition Of the Slave Trade: the first was,
THAT IT WAS IlIPOssmLE-ihe rest be need
not eive.' Can you say to yourself, or 70
the world, that the FIRST objection Of Mr.
GrOsvenor has been yet cOniuteds i was
estimated at the commencement OF your
agitation ia 1857, that fOrtys6Ve thousand
Africans we're annually transported 70
America and The West Indies And the
mortality Of the Middle Passage, computed
BY some At 5, is now admitted DOT TO have
exceeded 8 per cent Notwithstanding your
Act Of PaTlIameni, iho previous abolition
lby the United States, and that ell The PoWs
ers in the world have subsequently, Prohi-
Cited this trade~some Of the greatest Of
-llhsm declaring i piracy, and covering ihe
African seas With aFmed vessels 70 prevent
lit-SiF Themes FoWsl Buxlon, q eoaiuiaT