The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-28
issued from Spain or Portugal in the fifteenth

issued from Spain or Portugal in the fifteenth
century.
But it viii be said, we have supposed what
could not exist Not at all. We have only
supposed q state of things which must exist
when the slave trade and Slavery are abolished
throughout the world. When nations become
too enlightened too just, and too humane, to
tolerate these evils, then the benignsnt infiu-
encss of Christianity will go forth with hum
dred times their present force; and the spread
of the Gospel and of civilization will seem to
make almost miraculous progress over the
earth
There can be no doubt that Slavery in the
United States is now the greatest clog upon
the progress of Christianity, with all it's health
full and renovating influences. But for this
giant wrong in this powerful Republic, the
evil could not last five years in any part of the
Western hemisphere. Our example of repub-
lican institutions would have tenfOld moro in
fuence and our Protestant Christianity, CO.
operating with that of England, the other
great commercial nation, would diffuse its
influence over the remotest corners of the
world.
The following extract will show the latent
wish of Mr.. Wises heart; and no one can
doubt, after reading it that he regards Slavery
as q grievous burden to Virginia, however
highly its blessings should be esteemed by the
slaves! q.
Choking to the ends of ultimate colonial
ton, and to the true policy of the States at
home, Dould especially prohibit BY Law the
future emigration Of the free colored population
from our SldUe to our free States DR.. Drake
was right in his views of our laws driving away
the free negroes to the free States. IL has been
one Of the most banefuL causes Of GbOlitiOnism in
the North.
81 agree they cannot remain very long in
the slave States. The end will be, that they
must accept the terms of colonization, and go
on the mission designed for them in Africa or
| elsewhere. Where else can they go? What
else could have been done?
This question brings me to call your atten-
ton to one golden opportunity which was lost
by that very blindness of fanaticism which al
ways betrsys itself and defeats its own ends.
California soas the theatre for grand develop
ment Of this subject. To have allowed her gold
duced a marked revolution. Every corn. field
in Virginia, and North Carolina, in Maryland,
Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky would have
been emptied Of black laborors, and | doubt
whether many slaves would have been left to
work the cotton and sugar estates of the other
Southern plantations. This would not haze
added single SLAVE to the number n0tO IN being
1t would not haze dlfuSed stdUe polOer, but
would rather haze concentrated the SLAVES all
comparatively an one State, and thus hare Dedk.
ened its federal strength an the Union ., and FIVE
gears Of their labor in the gold mines tUould
haze enriched masters so thar then could more
ably emanclpate them at the end of that time,
than they could noW sell them for full market
price and when emancipated, there was all
Polynesia-all the isles'of the Paofc-before
them for colonization in the pleasantest places
for them on earth Oh what mighty OPP
portunity was there lost for the workings of
great philanthropy, for a humanity without
harm! And what was gained? Why, the
decentralization of hundreds of thousands Of
whites by the accursed thirst and hunt for
gold, such as threatens to bring down ashes
from Heaven TO mingle with the dust of Nam
mon But |, too, perhaps, am impious in thus
repining. Such an opportunity, so palpably
lost, only proves, doubtless, how weak is mans
wisdom-God works in His own way. He
meant, may be, that the African should not be
demoralized by the duSt-hunt, but should still
be taught to SOW and plant, and plough and
reap, the crops of mother earth, and be trained
to the mechanic arts, and be prepared to peo-
pie AfricG-Africs, not the isles of the Asiat-
ics-tor the African [ console myself with
that, and that is the best solace-looking to
God always, and especially to correct and pre-
vent the mischief of many wrongs done by the
violent Californian outrage Slavery out of the
question, our Constitution and form of Govern-
ment were stricken the most fatal stab ever
yet felt in our history, by the military induc-
ton into the Union of that Mammon State.
The severest blow at Slavery in the United
States which abolitionists could have given,
would have been to offer bounties even to mas
ters to taks their slaves to the gold mines"