The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1868-11-25
GRADUAL EXTINCTION or ANsANCIENr
IS AA EVIL.

EF* #A t1ftklas N4T 10y 49,
The Madrid Gazette. OF October 10th,
contains decree Of the Spanish Junta.
giving representation in the constituent
Cortes to the Spanish colonies, and declarS
ing free all children Of female slaves born
subsequently to the 18th Of September,
1868. These important measures will Of
course have. 10 he ratified by the rational
assembly. itispfobabtc that some gradual
plan OF emancipation, as indicated in the
decree. viii recommended itselfto the Spanish
Legislature. The public sentiment of
Europe, which has been against slavery
ever sineeiit ceased ID have any pecuniary
interest, in ii, was long agoresponded 20 by
somulofthe leading minds OF Spain, nots
wilns,anding the heavy stake which that
country continued 10 have in slavery ana
the slave trade More than qaaner OF a
century agn. Balmes. the most eminent
winter ana theologian of Spain. eontended
in mlelaborate essay that Christianity con-
tanned the germ OF final euancipatinn,ofa all
men, but that necessarily, as slavery was
rsdicaily interviewed with the whale iIame.
work ntsociety, its W function must be BY
a gradual process. In conforming to the
emancipa,lng spirit OF the age, Spain will
no doubt keep ln view the danger 10 her
Iowninterestsf from an abrupt transition from
slavery TO freedom, or instead Of the twelve
or ilteen millions which she annually re-
ceives from Cuba she will receive nothing.
and the island become as Improbable as
Jamaica or st. Domingo. The slave popa-
latlon of Cuba is in character far below the
plane OF the slaves ofihe United States, AID
their mediate emancipation would probably
inhict blow upon the industry and pro-
auction OF the island which would greasy
diminish. if not destroy its commercial
] prominence and value. Probably the junta
has had these contingencies in view IN the
indication whichit has given ofprogressise
sbolition, which will leave time for the
substitution of other labor in case that Of
the classes 10 become free should prove
unavailable.
We seem indeed approaching an epoch
when one Of the oldest and most nnIversal
OF human institutions appears about 10 come
TO an end. In all nations OF the earth,
ancient and modern. slavery has existed IN
some form. lis origin is hid in the twilight
OF the most remote antiquity, for the very
dawn Of the earliest historical light which
has came down To Us reveals Us existence
The Jews from the time OF Abraham held
slaves; The PhGnicians were great slave
TRADERS 5000 years ago; among Assyrians
| Baby lOnisns, Persians, slavery. existed
in the Carihsgenian empire in Greece iron
Us earliest age. and outnumberIng the Ire
three or tour TO one; in Rome to such Al
extent that some Romans owned 90, 0Ol
slaves each. The institution continued q
prevail in the countries which were lorme,
! IRON the fragments of Rome and down {
late period existed IN the nations Of Ia
rope, and ALWAYS in Africa, amongst th
! negroes themselves, though il was not I'll
! the fifteenth century. The great era Of mara
{ time discovery and commerce. that black
I formed the great mass Of The slaves. Surel
E those who live TO see so venerable az ey
as slavery near is dissolution may regat
themselves without nufh vanity as IN 4
9 era Of extraordinary changes, and not !
without hope that other evils Of a. Ion
5 continuance. such as war. which perhaI
: FIRST led to slavery, and which ii the crowr
b ling curse Of all the siflictions Of humanit
, may ere long come TO an end. A..
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