Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-09-24
GOVERNOR HAMMOND'S LETTERS
ON SLAVERY.

The length Of Gov. Hammond's let.ol
onSlayery has p reverted US from publish
Ing them entire, and we had intended t
have made synopsis OF them for on
renders; we have, however, been save
that labor BY The editor of the New Yorl
Courier and Enquirer, TO whose paper VI
are indebted for the following abridgment
Gov. HAMMOND, Of South Carolina, has
addressed to Thomas Clarkson, The vel
known English Aboliiionist, a very lone
and able letter on the subject of Shaver,
in the Southern States. Ii is exceedingl,
well written, is far less violent and severe
than most Of the Abolition TRADES which
il is meant to rehuke, and though many OIL
its positions will of course be very widely
disputed, it presents facts and considera.
tons well worthy Of general attention.
Leaving all controversy as 10 slavery in
the abstract, as likely to be vague and Ut
terly useless, Gov. Hammond examines il
as il is, commencing his remarks by some
allusinn TO the well known labors Of Mr..
Clarkson towards The suppression of the
trade, and avowing his belief that the at.
tempts TO prevent it by force have had no
good result. In 1887, he says, when the
agitation was begun, 1000 Africans were
transported annually 10 America and the
West Indies; and the mortality OF the
"middle passage" is acknowledged not TO
have exceeded nine per cent. Notwilh-
standing all the steps that have been taken
10 suppress il, by armed force and other.
wise, il was conceded by Mr.. Buxton in
1910, that the number of Africans annu.
ally Transported beyond the sea, amounts
to 10000, and that, in consequence OF
the greater severity made necessary by
these laws, the mortality of the middle
passage has increased to 25 or 80 Der
cent. And Of The 10000 slaves who
have been captured by British cruisers, it
Is stated by Judge Jny that 100000 have
peflshed between their capture and their
liberation. Thus It is shown, urges the
Governor, that all The lavish expenditure
Of labor and money 10 which the several
nations OF the world have resorted 10 sun.
press this trade, have only increased The
traffic tlfeeold, and caused more than
lhreelold increase Of its horrors. Time
Mving thus shown that the trade cannot
be suppressed by force, Gov. Hammond
urges thatit would be Gar less cruel 10 free
Il from all restrictions, and leave it 10 the
mitigation and decay which time and com.
petition would surely bring about. II, says
he
/" kidnapping, both secretly and by war,
made Tor the purpose, could be BY any
means prevented in Africa, the next great
est blessing you could bestow upon That
country would be 10 transport lis actual
slaves in comfortable vessels across the
Atlantic. Though they might be perpctn.
a bondsmen, still, they would emerge from
Darkness into lght--lrom barborism to
civlllzation--from idolatry to Chrisliant,
In short from death 10 life."
Ina Governor next adyerts to Slavery
ilseli, against which, be says, crusade
y directed as enthusiastic md ferocious,
ana destined to be about as successful, MS
mat Of Peter the Hermit. That rights
nay be established by prescripiive uses,
however lorturous they may have heeD 10
'nelr origin, he says no sane man win de-
ny No Engiishnan would yield his right
\ Y ms land because il came 10 him from
saxon Or . Norman conqueror, no would {
my New England Abollionist surrender s
y. " iarm 10 the descendants Of the In :
', 1,aus from whom It was wresled. Gov. :
\ lhen discusses the subject under Inc fol- .
owing heads: ID
!, tie FIRST seeks to show Tint Slavery
~ neen expressly sanctioned BY The writ I
W Revelation OF God, ia passages which }
Y quotes, and which, be insists, are emit Y
w 'sa y moro respect Than ihai iranscendcn.
n religion Which seems coming ino Q
,ogac.a religion too pure and elevated lor Y
" biole, which seems 10 erect nm ~ =
WIZ = higher standard Of morals ihan lie y
''mlgaly has revealed Or our Saviour \
and which Il probably distinea| r
" more 70 impede The extension ofl y
's Y, = kingdom on earth ihan all thc i'm Y
VI who have ever lived.s "a
n ~ next examines The influence Of Y