Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-05
COM MUNICATION MS.
For the National Era
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.


therefore propose to rciatc The following ex-
tract from that speech is what a'ude to;
at is historical fact and worthy OF note,
that the first Abolition'st was the frst person
who introduced African Slavery upon the
shores of America. Las Casas, the Bishop Of
Chiapas, after Cortsz conquered Mexico, felt
the deepest compassion for the Indians who
were allotted as slaves to his Spanish adventur.
ers. He petiiioned the King Of Spain that
these Indian slaves should be enfranohised, and
that the more robust and hardy negroes Of the
African coast should be imported He prayer
was granted and it is to him the thraldOm Of
the African IN America is to be attributed.
The mistortunes Of Mexico at this hour are in
my opinion, attributable in great measure TO
the indisareet philanthropy Of Les Casss"
Robertson, in his History of America, has
given pretext for such stat sment, Just as
Macaulay did for the gross espersion contained
in his book upon the character of VIM. Penn
The Able Gregoirc pull lished, some years
ago, defence Of Las Casas against the degre-
ding impntati0n "a Oxen cast upon him The
following are some If bis argument The
slave trade between As.ica and the West In
dies commenced according 10 Herrera himsele
1.-THE first, and, indeed, the only accnser Of Las
Casas,) before the epoch OF kisIntended project.
Herrera from whom other authors have negli-
gently taken the fact, upon his bare word) docs
not quote q single authority in support of rs
assertion that Las Cssas recommended the i'm
portation Of negroes into Hispaniola. The
charge itself YVES first published thirsy-five
years after the death OF Lei Casas. All writer's
antecedent to Herrera and contemporary with
him, are silent on that subject although sew
eral Of these were the avowed cnemi;s of Las
Casas. Herrera's vcracity on these points is
much disputed, and he displays violent prejn-
dice against the man he accuses IL may be
added that be was greatly indebted, rs his
torian of the West Ind;ep, 10 Las Cesas. In
the numerous writings Of Las Cases himself.
still extanf there liz not ono word in favor Of
slavery Of any kind but they abound with
reasoning and invectivo against it in every
shape; and amongst his eli quent appeals and
comprehensive plans on behalf of the oppress-
ed Indians, there in not solitary hint in favor
OF the African slave trade. He only twice
mentions the negroes through his multifarious
writings In one instance he merely names
them, as living in the islands, lin manuscript
in the National Library at Paris) and in the
same work he proposes no other remedy for
the miseries Of the aboriginal inhabitants than
the suppression Of the rtparffmenfos, or divi-
sions of the cople with the sol on which thew
are born. In another memorial, after detail
ing at great length the measures which ought
to be pursued for the redress Of tho Indians,
the proper opportunity, certainly, to advocate
the negro slave trade, if he approved it, he
adds, The Indians are not more tornented
by their masters and the different public tfii-
cers, than by their servants and by the me-
~ - ~ Ii %.
language did not justify that of Robertson, the
historian Of America, Herrera merely stating
that he suggested the procuring OF q cargo Of
negroes, 10 relieve the Indians ia the culture
of the earth and the labor Of the mines also
70 procure great number Of working moo
from Eurnpc, who should pass over into these
regions with certain privileges, and on certain
conditions, which he detailed. The Able fur
Their says: The crime Of having fist recon-
mende0 tho importation Of African slaves into
the islands, is attributed by three prlfers Of the
Life OF Cardinal Ximenes, (sho rendered him
self lllnstrous ky bis opposition TO the trade in
its infancy to Che evus, and by two others TO
the Flemish nobility themselves, who obtained
Q monopoly Of the traden A translation OF
Gregoirc's Defence OF Las Casas was published
in 1903, by H. D Syinonds, Paternoster Row
by way Of confirming the Able Gregoire's
argument insert a translation of an original
Latin bull issued az early ~ 1887, by Pope
Paul Ill, and which found many years ago,
inserted in motto to Cavigeros History Of
Mexico. IL shows that the church y Of that
day gave no countenance to the enelavement
OF those who we're considered heather.
Pope Paul III, 10 all the faithful IN Chria
10 iohom these letters shall come, health and
apostolic bsncdicfion
The truth itself which neither deceyes nor
can be deceived, when confirming the print.
tive preachers in their apostolic Cfiice thus en-
joins 60 ye, teach all nations This in
slodes NJ without distinction, seeing ali are
capable &C the discipline OF faith, which the
enemy Of all good beholding and envying tho
human race. and continually endeavoring 10
destroy every spark Of virtue hath devised n
plan, bither,o unknown, whereby the Gentiles
may be prevcn'c l from receiving the word of
God and thereby attaining salvation, hy means
whereof he hath stirred up some Of re sstel
lites 10 I'LL up the measure Of thor covetous-
ness. These satellites, under pretence that the
natives Of the Eastern and Western Indies were
incapable Of receiving the Christian faith, bold.
y Assert that they are TO DO treated a. beasts
and 10 DO reduced 10 state OF abject submis
mon to their wills and such are the dreadful
Affections which they impcso ON them In servi-
fSde, that they would blush 70 inAict equally
severe on tho boasts which are subject to their
nee.
We therefore A. Vicar &c our Lord, (though
unworthy Of - great mn honor by virtne Of our
pastoral aathority on tho earth, over tho sheep
Of tho flock committed to our trust as we'll a.
over tho sheep Who arc not OF this fold, ardent
y desirous - bring all within the sacred en-
closure, regarding these Indians "a true men
NOS only capable Of receiving the Christian
faith, but 70 run thereto, IL therefore seemed
good 20 us 70 provide an especial remedy. by
declaring that the Indians and all other nations
ssAo sAaH al any fims be brought under The no
ficS of Chrisf,ans although such Gensiles NAV
DO void Of the Christian faith, yet NEVERTHELESS
they fhslI ure and enjoy their o~n liberty and
freq will, and rejoice in uuiimitsd freedom,
nsither shall they - aoy tioe be reduced to
slavery md whstsoevor hath been done con-
tparv "a thjo Ii wicksd and vain and wa