CHAPTER IV.

Origin and Progress of Slavery in this Country.

SLAVERY has existed in this country from a very early period. It was introduced shortly after its settlement, contributed to its infant vigour, and has since grown with its growth and strengthened with its strength." It was at, and after, the time of its introduction, common to all the European colonies in America. Each of the Anglo-American provinces comprised, at different times, a greater or less number of slaves; and all were equally involved in the sanction of slave holding. It is true, that the North has never contained so large a number of slaves as the South. The climate of the southern provinces, the nature of their agricultural pursuits, and the necessities of their inhabitants, induced the extensive employment of slave labour. In the North, the negro would have been a burthen, not an aid. The hardy pilgrims of New England, so far from needing the labour of the African, could scarce have spared him the means of subsistence. Had the pilgrims fainted beneath the sultry sun of the South, had they been engaged in the same pursuits as their southern brethren, and felt the same necessity for aid, they would not now be enabled to boast their exemption from a slave population. The absence of slavery in the Northern states, is wholly to ascribed to the fact, that slaves have not been necessary nor even valuable to the inhabitants of that sec

tion of our country. It is true that they have always felt a repugnance to the introduction of Africans into the country, but that repugnance has not been more warmly cherished, or more forcibly manifested than by the people of the South; and those citizens of our Northern states who express such a holy abhorrence of slavery in other sections of our country, should be reminded that their exemption is wholly the result of the accidents of situation and climate; and that they would themselves be slave-holders, had it not been their interest, or the interest of their ancestors, to be otherwise.

The importation of slaves from Africa to the West India islands was commenced, and had attained a considerable height, before the enterprize of England, excited by the gallant Raleigh, had been turned to the settlement of North America. England had already engaged successfully in the slave trade. Hawkins, in 1562, entered into the commerce, and found its profits so great, that Queen Elizabeth herself did not scruple, not only to sanction its prosecution, but to share its responsibility and profits. This was the commencement of a pursuit which was afterwards followed by England with unequalled ardour and unequalled success. At a subsequent period, she almost monopolized the slave trade; and attained a degree of skill, hardihood and cruelty in its prosecution, which her rivals in the hateful traffic were never able to surpass. To England, that nation of philanthropists, whose people have taken so deep an interest in the subject of American slavery, is to be ascribed the importation of a majority of those wretched beings who were torn from their native country and sold into slavery. But of this hereafter.

African slaves were first introduced into the North American colonies, in 1620. A Dutch ship arrived

in Virginia, having on board twenty slaves, who were sold to individuals in the colony.-The trade thus commenced was continued, but, in consequence of the opposition of the colony, did not, for many years, become extensive. Thirty years after the first arrival of slaves in Virginia, that colony contained fifty whites to one negro. Even after seventy years had elapsed from the date of the foundation of the colony, it comprised, proportionally, much fewer slaves than several of the Northern states at the time of the war of independence. It was not until the slave trade fell into the hands of the British, and was prosecuted under the immediate smile of the English government, that the number of blacks in the North American colonies was greatly increased.

Under the auspices of the mother country, slavery was rapidly extended. The want of labourers in the Southern colonies enabled the traders, notwithstanding the opposition of the local legislatures, to throw large numbers of slaves into the country. Some years after, we find that the blacks outnumbered the whites in the South. In 1730, there were twentyeight thousand negroes in South Carolina. In 1740, the slaves in South Carolina were three times as

numerous as the whites. The blacks in Virginia were also, at that period, greatly superior in numbers to their masters. For a long time afterwards, the slaves continued to be a majority. In 1763, the black population of Virginia was one hundred thousand; and the white seventy thousand. In South Carolina the blacks were ninety thousand; and the whites only forty thousand.

The slave trade, notwithstanding the repugnance of the colonies, was prosecuted up to the era of the revolution. The number of slaves continued to increase accordingly up to that time. The number of slaves, and their proportion to the whites, from

1790 up to 1830, will appear by the following

The relative proportion of the free and slave population, may be better understood by the following:

In 1790, for every 100 free persons there were 21.59 slaves.

It is well known that the African, fresh from his savage wilds, is much more intractable than the negro born in this country. The genial influence of civilization, the advantages of christianity, and a sense of the kindness and protection of the master, render the American-born negro often a domestic friend, and attach him to the family of his master so fondly that he is prepared to defend them with his life rather than assail them. The early Africans

this country, though more gentle and voluptuous than those imported into the West Indies, were fiercer and more prone to insurrection than any of their descendants. Upon several different occasions they rose upon their masters; but notwithstanding their fearful superiority in numbers, were, without difficulty, quelled. In 1738, the blacks of South Carolina revolted, but were subdued. At an earlier period, in 1712, the negroes in New York rose, set fire to the city, and killed those who attempted to

stay the conflagration. They were, without serious difficulty quelled; and a large number were executed for their offences.

The rapid increase of the negro population of the south, until the time of the revolution, is tobe ascribed not merely to natural increase, the result of the kind treatment of the southern slave holder, the lightness of his work, and the abundance of his food, but to extensive and continued importation. The slave trade was prosecuted with energy until the declaration of independence enabled the Americans to suppress it. The privilege was embraced as soon as circumstances rendered it prudent. Virginia abolished the slave trade in 1778. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island suppressed it in 1780, 87, 88. The American continental congress passed a resolution against the purchase of imported slaves; and, not having power to suppress it, published an exhortation to the colonies to abandon the trade altogether.

In the formation of a constitution for the United States, in 1787, the following clauses in relation to slavery, were incorporated with the national charter.

"Representation and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other per

sons.

"The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight; but a tax, or duty, may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person."