The Hillsborough recorder., 1858-11-17

the colonies engaged in the traffic, we must
be permitted to say. that il was England who
brought the temptation to the door OF her
coloniesg that England did it. not to serve
them but to enrich herself; and that it was
England's commercial regulations touching
the plantations, that made the American coll
onlsts the more ready, in the necessities of
their position, to yield to the temptation,
But England did more cruel wrong in
this matter than that merely Of tempting the
Anglo-Americans to buy. She placed before
them pernisious example, and thereby pro;
voked them to imitation. The chief part Of
the commerce of the colonies was in New
England; and II was not long before the ves-
self Of New England were on the coast Of
Africa, seeking their cargoes Of slaves. The
molasses of the West Indies was brought
home to the northern colonies, and converted
INTO rum this was employed in Africa, in the
purchase OF slaves, who were carried to The
West Indies and the continental plantations.
The trade, as compared with that Of Eng.
land, was, Of course, very sGall but still, it
was established, and contirued for long years,
even until II was prohibited BY ourselves, af.
ter we were free, and. we may add. before
England had abolished II. The coasting YES.
sells OF the northern colonies, too small to
undertake voyages TO Africa, occasionally
brought mo the country negroes from the
West 10 dies, as did also some OF the small
craft q the southern plantations; though the
num1er from this source was very small.
lie chief portion Of the traffic was in the
lands of the northern colonies, and so con-
tlnned as long as II was permitted in Amer
lea.
All, however. North and South, were slave.
holders all, TOO. were slave traders. The
northern colonists brought the negroes from
Africa; the southern coonists bought them,
and paid literally for the purchase. Ii the
South sinned in taxing the slave, the North
could not hare sinned less in taxing the mo-
ney. If reparation for the sin is to be made
by the one party, religion equally demands
il Of the other. II the South must emanci-
pate, the North should disgorge prime pal and
interest. In no other mode can both free
themselves from the guilt which the descend.
ant ui the northern salesman mputes to the
transaction. The Northman should there
fore preface his proposition TO his Southern
brother BY the offer, on bis part, himself 10
do that which he urges as duty on his fellow
criminal. Let him surrender the accumula-
ted wealth which has increased from the un-
lawfully acquired gains Of his slave selling
ancestor, and then may he, with something
like conscience and consistency, ask a sur.
render Of the profits derived from the pos.
session Of the bondmen by the descendant of
the slave buying ancestor. Either he should
do thi-, Or cease to reprosch his brother for
what he prOnonnces great sin, while he is
himself contentedy living on the profits of
that great sin he thus condemns. And be
should remember, too, that, 10 some instsn-
ces. the sin, on the part Of his ancestors. was
greatly aggravated. After acts Of emancipa-
tion in the northern colonies forbade the ex-
istence Of negro slavery in them. beyond a
future specified time, "there are living Wit
npsses," says motlern writer. whose piety
and ability are alike unquestionable, " who
saw the crowds Of negroes assembled along
the shores Of New England and the middle
states, to be shipped 10 attitudes where their
bondage could be perpetuated. Their pos.
terity toll to-day in the fields Of the southern
planter."+ The reader may now see whence
the negro slaves Of Carolina first came, and
who j; was that brought them. No North
Carolina vessel ever went 10 Africa for them.
Neither Virginia or South Carolina we're
ever deeply involved 10 the business or i'm
porting them from their native country. The
vessels Of old England aad New England dill
that work. b lIh records aud tradition have
preserved the names Of New England men
who amassed fortunes in the business. I.iy.
ing witnesses can lay their hands on the de.
sceHdants Of these men, now reyeling in the
enjoyment of the wealth that was thus ac.
quIred. They. indeed, are not answerabe
for the acts q their ioreiathers but they are
responsible lor their own sinful hypocrisy. il
they clanor for the slaves emancipation,
without being ready to surrender the money
thes are enjoying from bis sale.
But there WAS another class Of slaves EN-.
plnyed IN the agricultural labor of the pro.
vince. This va. composed Of the natives Of
the country sumo Of the unfortunate Indians
1ere slaves. Bot tbs species Of bondage
was not peculiar 10 the southern colonies.
Indeed the prevalent tane Df public seuti.
meni On the subject Of slavery, Vas a. hal
day very much the same 10 all parts Of the
continent inhabited BY Europeans. Even 10
Psnnsylsania, the law recognized the exist.
ence 81 negro slavery, thoggb II would allow
no importation II Indian slaves from the 9th.
e. Ameriran provinces. But 10 New Eng.
land, different doctrine prevailed a. TO
Indians. Massachusetts. in I64l, before
Carolina was settled, declared hy law. that,
a. 20 two classes of tie natives, T. bond slave.
~ might exist. These we're lawful cap.
tises taken 10 just wars" and such "as vii.
llngly sell themselves, or are s0ld TO U.s. RI.
e. By tier c.ptors But Mas.aehnselt.
vent between this. At the termination Of
the light between the PeqaOJs and the troops
Of Massachusetts, aud Connecticut, IN 1867,
many Indians we're captured. me were
made slaves 10 Connecticut, Others IN Massa.
aud TrumbaIl Informs ~ thar of
these latter, many women and buys we're
sen; 70 the West lndies aud sold into Save.
ry.S A Law of Connecticut, touching the
Indians, may still be read among her old
statutory provisions, 10 which she enscts
that, {" a. II will be chargeab.e 10 keen In