The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-04
Earopsan Abuse or America.

d N
TO the Editors Of the Union:
The history of the African slave trade of the Euro.
pean nations, developing does the hdeous abuse OF
the power OF European knowledge and wealth over the
miserable African is yet to be told; and the man by
whom that tale Of aocy is written will bequeath the
most appalling lesson 70 the tardy wisdom Of nations
It Is not my purpose, Messrs Editors to attempt such
ings Of unqualified disgust and Indignation, engendeed
BY the supeTcousness nsolence, and mendacity Of the
European press generally, 10 treating Of slapery in Amer
they ceaseessy attempt to magn our free and glorious
institutons) the very existence Of which is their
domination, not ours, and thus covery attempting TO
''p0ison what the world admires."
The religion and OF the educated and rejecting
people OF Great Britain, France. Span and Portugal,
all Of which countries these preudices thus fostered
and encouraged should induce them TO pause and reflect
with remorse and shame, before casting reproach in
reference TO this subject upon the free republics OF the
New World. More particularly should England, where
has been accumulated or amassed the most prodgious
amount Of wealth in this commencement in the products
of the labor OF man, but in the himself the pros
ecution OF which they filed our country with slaves.
With what eyes Providence must have looked upon
this tremendous accumulation OF guilt, and with what
solemn justice may have answered the cry of blood
from the ground, leave the theoogian or morast to
might be productive d the tuest knowledge nor would
il be so dlfhcut when reflect that though the ven
geance of Heaven individuals is wisely, in most in
stances put beyond human discovery YET for nations there
make all straight and vndcate the ways OF God man
they must be punished here But as have said leave
Y to the Christians faith ia the ever-waking and resist
control OF Providence to trace the punishment of this
ENORMOUS crime in Europe
at fragment OF this history, however, teeming with
great lessons will glance and that is the state and cir
cumsaRces OF the colonies OF the four great European
slave traders, for whose peculiar support this dreadful
traffic was carried on-l mean France, SPAIN Portugal
and England
France has totally lost st. Domingo the finest colony
in the world, and her colonial trade is but a cipher.
Spain has lost nearly all Portugal has lost all Mexico,
South America, and the Brazis severed from their
old forever And TO England, the first great
disruption OF the British empire took place in America
on the very spot where the crime committed and il
is worthy OF special remembrance, that. while this alb
session OF empire fraught with the greatest benefit
10 the emancpated and TO mankind il entaed the great
est loss upon the slavetradng mother country, whom
circumstances from America could arrest in this infa
nous traffic.
Amongst others, the struggle to retain these States
fixed upon her a debt of l73 millions sterling, the i'm
mediate consequence and, BY lighting up the flames Of
in Europe to put down which has entaied upon England
her present enormous debt, which, like immense pes
Lentid fog, has covered the whole face OF the British
Isles, parayzing her peoples industry, and corrodng III
Another strange spectacle, as sequence to the first
presented OF the population Of England depending gea
extent for their OF exeron for subsistence and sup
port upon the product Of the very country upon which sh,
entaed African slavery and to such fearful extent tina
one OF her ar-seeng statesmen has said that next to
famine, the greatest calamity which could befa her PEG
pie the price OF that very product OF slave
labor.
Other objects and causes. Mesns Editors, may hav,
their share in these hings but the facts before man
kind and decent respect for them and their own chaac
ters and for the situation OF their respective people, SHOULD
deter the European press, and particularly the English
from INDUCING those fierce denunciaons OF our free in
lanhropc Plaos and Phocons they are ambitious Of be
ing thought, instead OF this nsolent Hmnng OF American
institutions and striking down the West India planter
the dust LET them direct public odum towards the prac
tees OF tyranny and wrong In their other and own pos
sessions, which the whole world and condemns an
TO come home still, let them show their sinesr
by directing the minds eye TO loer execution upon tn
possessors OF the wealth and power amassed in this YER
slave trade in Great Britain who are indirectly but Ger
tainy engaged in il in Brazil and elsewhere still dippn
their guilty gains in human misery. A.. so.