The Hillsborough recorder., 1858-11-17
artrart from Hawkes. History, Vol. I'd.

As 60 the Agricultural las0rsrs--whc are
tAey
First, tbsrs we're negro slaves. 1t has un-
happily seemed meet to the lf-glorifying
humanits Of modern times. both in England
and in soms portions cf the United States, to
iift the hands and eyes to heaven in holy hor.
ss1r. and deseant with somewhat clamorous
Indignation, transmitted by sell. righteousness
into imaginary Christian zeal, upon the godi
ness which prompted il, upoG the one hand, to
free itself from all connection with slavery
and the atrocious and damnable guilt. on the
other hand, of all those who having in Gods
providence been entrusted with the protec-
sion and comfort Of the poor southern slave,
have not yet been able to see that immediate
and universal emancipation would either
discharge them from their solemn RESPONSE
biiities TO God, or fulfil the duty which they
owe 10 their country and their slaves. Now
we mean not, here at least, TO discuss in the
abstract the correctness of the one or the
other view Of the subject but in telling our
story, as truth requires of Us to saY our
foretathers had negro slaves, we would tain
tell the whole truth, and therefore we feel
obliged to offer picture Of past times, and
aion shall Be brief. We are not sure that
our picture viii reflect much credit on the
humanity Of our English foreiathers; and
il may. perhaps, even ruiiie the pious com
plaeency of some of our northern country.
men, who may possibly be led to suspect,
that after all, their own ancestors were not
isss wicked than those whom they now de-
nolnce as irreyocably damned; while they
themselves are "partakers Of other mems
sins by living without compunction, OF the
profits OF their fcreiathers' iniquity.
Who 6rst brought these negro slaves to
Americaf We answer, without hesitation,
Englishmen, under the couuteDanee of the
English government. A late british writer.
has, with great zeal. denied that England
/" forced the Americans to become sIayehold-
ers;" while, at the same time, he has admit
ted that Great Britain, Z" facilitated her colo
nial easpriag to become slave holders ]"
" encouraged their merchants in attempting
20 acquire slaves" and "excelled all her
competitors in slave-stealing." This is all
true; but there is also more truth that Eng
lads apolosist has left untold. The Eng.
iish people embarked in the Affitan slave
trade in 1862. and in that wear carried
cargo 10 Hspaniola. The success of the
speculation soon enlisted others in the bust.
ness; and private associations, embracing
some Of the most opulent and distinguished
nen Of the kingdom. were speedily formed.
Very soon the object was considered of na-
tional importance, - connected with the
commercial pursuits aud prosperity Of the
country. In the reign Of James |. tl6l9.) a
royal charter made joint stock company in
London. with the exclusive privilege of ta
king negroes from Africa. and carrying them
into slavery. Privste adyeaturers interfer-
ed 50 much with this trade, that the charter
was at las. abandoned. Charles !. granted
enother charter, which from the same cause
(prisate eapidlty and interference) shared
the f.te Of the former. When Charles III.
came 10 the throne 1861, Dayenant in
forms US that I" a representation being soon
made TO him that the British plantations in
America were, by degrees, advancing to
such condition as necessarily required a
greater yearly supply 0f servants aud labO.
rers than eOald vel be spared from Eng
land, without the danger Of depopulating his
rniesty's native domlnions, his majesty did
[upon account Of supplying these plantations
with negroes publicly invite all Ms subjects
20 the subscription oi new joint.stock, for
recovering and carrying on the trade to AZ
rica."t The subjects came IN crowds at
1he mOnareh's call, and the subscription lists
show the names 81 numbers of the first peo.
pie ID England. From this time the trade
10 Africa was considered and treated as Of
national concern: parliament, from time to
time, inierfered 10 sustain ard improve il,
- thar in 1892. no less than - .and.twents
acts might be counted on the English statute
book. directly sanetinning and encouraging
the African slave trsde.
THIS trade was deemed so important bs
England. tiat II involved her 10 war with
The Dutch: she sought a monopoly Of the /
traffic she bad two.th.ids II The whole slave
trade Of tie world she stipulated for i,s en-.
joyment il her treaties with foreign poaers
she k.pi constantly employed 10 i from one
hundred and fits 70 two hundred ships she
built forisin Africa 10 nafHtain IL; she voted
parliamentary gfauis oi eraeY 10 uphold it
and if We include tbe period OF time
in which she carried o. s business. under
legal sanction, she t0ok away more than six
millions n negroes from Africa; and caused
IN iwo centuries, the destruction Of a nun i
Der 0f these pa0r creatures. quite equal 70
two thirds j Tie whole u Tie present black
population u the tinted States II is not.
therefore. perfectly accurate IN Mr. Graham
20 assert, a. be does. that prior 70 the reign /
of Queen Anne. The slave trade was not
eomprehended within the scope and opera. /
,ion of the commercial policy u the British
government" Queen Anne came to the /
throne IN l-01: and we have seen, that. for
century before that time, the trade had
been ifested IL ,ery important feature Of
Englaul's commercial policy - sufficient.
~ so IL caB.e war with Holland. A. 10
his declaration hat bis mother country did
not force slaves On The American cola.
pies. il involves little more than dispute as
10 the meaning of the aord he has used. No
penal laws. indeed, we're made, Furnishing
the plantations fos not receiving slaves im.
ported from Africa; bur in 1862. counien.
anca "a. giyen ID their importation "upuB