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amount of 1000 or perhaps 2000 millions of thalers. And yet it. is very probable that the slaveholders themselves will be driven by degrees to a point where this bugbear will lose the greater part of its terrors, and where their interests will coincide for the most part with the wishes of their opponents.

When in several of the European states, and especially in Prussia, an alteration was discussed in many of the relations and burdens of serfs, tenants, vassals, and the like, a party advocated the retention of the existing state of things without alteration, on the ground of the immensity of the loss and the impossibility of raising the emancipation or indemnification money. still the thing was accomplished, to the satisfaction of all parties. Might not the same or at least something similar be possible in America?

And

An important question which here arises, is that respecting the relative cost and value of the labor of blacks and whites. Statistical writers have calculated the time when the latter, in consequence of the increasing population and competition, must become cheaper than the former; and have joyfully predicted that then will slavery be wholly and easily abolished. To me, on the contrary, it seems that the difficult problem would by no means be fully solved with the occurrence of that event. For though I willingly allow that the free white man labors, produces, and accumulates more than the slave; and though for the present I lay aside the important question, as to whether white men are able to perform every kind of work in all climates; their successful introduction into the slave states would leave nothing decided respecting the future fate of the two millions of blacks. If these do not work more than before, the slaveholders will be ruined; if the masters diminish their reward and maintenance, the slaves will find themselves worse off than before. If they let them go free as soon as they change from a valuable property into an expensive burden, the so-called freedmen will stand in a deplorable position towards the shrewder and more dexterous whites.

As soon as the slaveholder, in consequence of an increasing white population, reckons and must reckon among his outlays the capital and interest of the purchase money, the cost of food, lodging, and clothing, the care of the infirm and aged, the absconding of the refractory, the value of slave as compared with that of free labor, &c., the holding of slaves will no longer appear so cheap and advantageous as it is usually assumed to be.Very gradual was the enlightenment of European masters in similar circumstances; those, however, who first became aware of the truth managed by far the best, and served to the rest as an example.

The experiments made in the Antilles, where, it is said, real

estate rose greatly in value on the abolition of slavery, and the indemnification seemed almost a gift ;* the vast progress made by the free states of the West; the far slower development noticed for some years in many of the slaveholding states; these and the like facts, will have the effect of directing a constantly increasing attention to the subject, and of suggesting ameliorations, which should be at the same time reasonable and beneficial.

As in the abolition of the internal slave-trade I behold the first great means towards an essential improvement of the existing state of things; so too I regard as the second, not by any means a sudden, forcible, and in fact impossible equalization of blacks and whites, but, what is already in many places begun, a gradual and voluntary grant of property in the soil. Offensive as it may sound, the introduction of a sort of serfdom, or glebæ adscriptio, appears to me a measure which, while it avoids sudden social and political leaps, includes in itself a better condition, and prepares for one better yet. The former slave is then no longer a mere chattel, without any recognition of or regard for his personal rights, but stands on solid ground; he is no longer a piece of moveable property to be sold at pleasure like a brute, but there is opened to him the possibility of acquiring something for himself: in fact, a man bound to the soil is in many respects better off than he who is bound to a machine.

The objection, that by this means a feudal system, a feudal nobility, a new sort of property, would be established, seems to me of no great weight. For there is here no question of the oppressive prerogatives of great feudal barons, but only of the salutary and useful relations of patron, and client; and if our feelings are opposed to institutions of this sort, still more are they to that of slavery properly so called.

In conformity with these views are both the means and the objects proposed in a law of Kentucky, which says: Every proprietor is at liberty to determine, that his slaves and their posterity shall descend to his heirs and their posterity, as a part of his freehold estate.

Another improvement connected herewith, and of the highest importance, has already been adopted in several cities, amongst others in Charleston. The masters namely allow many of their negroes to seek free employment for themselves, and to pay them out of their earnings a certain monthly sum. This forms the transition to emancipation connected with the obligation to pay tribute, and forms a counterpart to rural settlement. It is certainly not necessary that the boasted patriarchal relation should be put

Gurney, p. 54. Madison Papers, iii. 1263.

† M'Gregor's America, i. 423. Martel's Briefe, p. 64. Statutes, p. 1478.

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er teachers of law and philanthropists are accustomed to snail North America is the property of the Indians, from hey have been driven by force and fraud. It is true that es to possession often set up by the whites-to wit, the eng and discovering of a country, the erecting of a flag,

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g in newspapers, and the like-are of very slight import...ave always lost their efficacy when opposed by a better stronger power. But in fact it is difficult to perceive da itle should be regarded as better founded; why vent should be and become the property of a few Cause hey have perchance hunted, and perchance not, caseridie tracts! In such wise, by such a distant and na. g 2 possession, a single man might have conto his pretended property, and thus have and progress impossible. Wild men and ereat before civilized man; and the former y numbers a limitless space, on which dustrious men could dwell and supSo say some semi-theologians, has given as to which it may be replied in like staway from them. The land in truth », inasmuch as it was by no means dustry and labor are found in the long s of founding and retaining property. and excesses of European civilization, orth animated eulogies on the South as taken in the outward fate of the ras produced a like effect. Praises scommand, their hospitality, their dily endowments they have been the whites, and as almost equal to them

in mental capacity.* Others say more truly, that the germs of human capabilities are found equally amongst the whites and the Indians; but their smaller quantity among the latter is shown not only in individuals, it springs from their entire organization, and is characteristic of the whole race. More general and louder are the accusations of others, that the self-control of the Indian arises chiefly from insensibility; and that a deep and durable feeling is exhibited only in the forms of hatred, revenge, and savage ferocity. And not only are these feelings entertained towards the whites who may have injured and defrauded them; but their devouring and destroying fury is directed still more strongly if possible against their fellow-tribes. To scalp men and steal horses, is considered among them the greatest glory of a man, or Indian brave.§

It is an unjust reproach, to affirm that the whites are chiefly answerable for the degeneration of the Indians. The latter have learnt a great deal from the former; and if they have not profited more, it is owing to their constant aversion to the use of foresight and regular industry, to settling down on the land, to cultivating the earth, and to social connections. No where else is there so clearly exhibited the truth of the proverb, that Idleness is the mother of want, vice, and misery.|| One may, and with justice, censure the whites for defrauding the ignorant Indians, and selling them (in spite of severe prohibitions) ardent spirits, which moreover are often mingled with unwholesome ingredients; but their unbridled passion for drink is their own fault, and if the whites on the contrary were to suffer themselves to be seduced into vicious practices by Indian productions, they could by no means be held guiltless on that account. Unhappily the laws against the traffic in ardent spirits are often but a dead letter: since there are no means for putting them into execution and seizing the spirits; while to have recourse to the law is usually without effect, on account of the distance at which the courts of justice are situated, and the difficulty of procuring witnesses and proofs. A shirt received from the government and which costs three dollars, is often bartered away by the Indians for a bottle of brandy!

One may extol the Indians' love of independence and the cir

* Reise des Prinzen von Neuwied, ii. 134.

† Bancroft, iii. 302.

Buckingham's Slave States, i. 253, 525. Murray's Account, i. 408. Schoolcraft, p. 98. Cox's Columbia River, ii. 382. Townsend's Sporting Excursions, ii. 14. Long's Rocky Mountains.

The Indians of Mexico, who are altogether of a higher grade, are far more industrious than those of North America. Mühlenpfordt, i. 238.

In many states there are strict and excellent laws for protecting the Indians against frauds of every kind; yet they have not proved sufficient.

an end to by the establishment of a better social condition for the slaves. Perhaps along with the grounds of discontent, the difficulty of supervision and the danger of a revolt will also be diminished. With mild and humane treatment, the present and future condition of the slaves can never be as dangerous to the United States as many imagine. From exorbitant demands and selfish refusals, men will fall back to a middle, practicable course. The dissolution of this great Union on the score of the slave question would certainly be the grossest folly and the bitterest of misfortunes; for both parties mutually need assistance from, and protect each other.

It is certainly true, as I have already remarked, that the European abolition of the dependent relations between men of one and the same race was an easy matter, in comparison with the task which the Americans have to perform. But if, on the one hand, this task carries with it many cares, pains and sufferings; on the other hand the necessary instruction and guardianship of the blacks, and their final reconciliation with the whites, offer an employment so noble, influential, and sublime, that the Americans should testify with awe and humility their gratitude to Providence for intrusting them with this duty also, in addition to the many others of the greatest importance to the progress of the human race. Were its performance really impossible, it would never have been imposed by an all-wise and all-gracious Creator upon his too feeble creatures.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE INDIANS.

Nature and Origin--Property of the Indians--Indian Characteristics-Whites and Indians-Indolence of the Indians-Cherokees-Future Prospects.

SEVERAL questions which we have already touched upon with regard to the negroes, recur on directing our attention to the North American Indians.* Whether we assume that all mankind are descended from one or from several pairs, it is certain that the

*We do not speak here of the civilized Indians in Mexico and Peru, who mostly practise agriculture. Kennedy's Texas, i. 249. The monuments of Copan and other cities of Central America testify to the existence and industry of a race who far surpassed the savages of North America. These monuments, however, should not be over-rated: they are mostly without variety, tasteless, hideous, and superstitious.

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