From all that has been said, as well as from many other particulars, unnecessary to be repeated here, as they are already laid before the publick, it is evident, that the slave trade is aCommerce, carried to the highest pitch of human depravity, and it is to be feared that its total suppression by all the Europeans nations is a thing more to be wished for than expected at once, unless some of the civilized nations were to unite in establishing colonies on the coast of Guinea. May therefore every nation, seriously engaged in the cause of liberty, consider this efficacious remedy with the strictest attention, and reap the great advantage to be derived from the fruitful soil of this vast part of the globe, by the effectual means already pointed out,namely, that of Cultivation[12]. But, as the settling of new colonies, and the gradual abolition of this trade, require the most scrupulous attention, I venture to flatter myself, that from some experience and application to this matter, I shall be able to excite every feeling and disinterested mind, to view this grand object in a proper point of light: I consider it therefore as a duty to lay before them the following reflections.
Though it be usual to compare nations andtheir colonies to parents and their children, yet in reality the comparison is not just, as things are circumstanced at present.
In every individual family, what is so highly regarded, or esteemed so highly interesting, so useful, directing the attention to sound policy, as the human production or propagation of mankind? Where is that parent, who not only strives to give his children as good an education as he himself has received, but impelled by affection even endeavours to elevate them into a superior state? Acting thus, has he any other end than that of introducing them as active, zealous, and laborious citizens, from a principle of usefulness, as reasonable, beneficent, and religious fathers of future families, into that society, of which he himself forms a part?
From what has been said it follows, that children, when they arrive at the age of maturity, although they have been useful to their parents during their minority; yet it is not to be inferred, that from a principle ofobligation or false gratitude, they ought inseparably to abide by their parents throughout life. No! in a more advanced age, nature and reason combine to emancipate and justify them, even though opposed by their parents; when in their turn they independently establish themselves, and lay a foundation for new families, which augmenting the prosperity, and strength of the community, necessarily promotes those of their parents. How could any society whatever otherwise continue to exist? In a word, a child is fruit hanging on the tree;—man, arrived to full growth, is separated therefrom, which, under the direction of Providence, reproduces in its turn, a new tree that may do honour to the forest.
The gratitude and filial attachment which a child constantly preserves for those who gave him being, is always proportioned to the education he has received from them, and to the tie which has been mutually formed on both sides, during the state of non-age.
Societies at large ought to act precisely on the same principle in forming colonies, since these are nothing else but their own children, or the superfluity of their population.
When therefore a large Society thus gives birth to a small one, in the establishing thereof, can it possess a more noble view than that of regarding in the first place the interest of mankind, oruniversal Society, and afterwards the advantage of its own colony orSociety in particular? Standing thus between them both, will not the happiness of both center in itself? Does not the father of a family rejoice in the happiness both of his country and his children? But is there any colony existing founded on these truly humane principles? Does not the education which the present colonies have received, and do still receive from their interested and imprudent parents, prove the rankest hatred between beings that ought to be united by the tenderest ties? Whence proceeds the cause, that smaller societies have been compelled by misunderstanding to separate from the greater which gave them existence, but pervertededucation, combined with the false principle of endeavouring to keep the child, arrived to its maturity perpetually in leading firings, like an infant?
Since my short stay in London, I have weighed with the stricted impartiality the argument for and against slavery; I hope, therefore, I may be permitted to communicate my ideas on this delicate and interesting subject, making man always the principal object of comparison, as being the most exact form, and the most perfect model existing in the creation.
No one will deny that the two distinct and principal faculties, which essentially constitute man, areWilland theUnderstanding: the former is derived from some kind of love, and being from the birth possessed by man in common with all other animals, he would become even more savage and destructive, if he had not the opportunity in society of cultivating his other faculty, theUnderstanding, which by instruction is capable of infinite elevation. Butwhen this latter faculty comes to maturity, it then acquires a right of directing theWillin the way most conformable to wisdom, and bears the same relation to it as a helm to a ship, which is constantly directed thereby in the course most favourable to the voyage.
This elevation of theUnderstandingabove theWillorPassions, is the same as what we callEducationorCivilization, Education with respect to every man in particular, and civilization to mankind in general.
The greatest human societies may in general be divided into two classes; thecivilizedand theuncivilized; and the obligations the former are under to the latter, are precisely the same as those of parents towards their children. From this analogy between children and uncivilized nations, it may then easily be concluded, that the one as well as the other are governed by their passions, in consequence of their understanding not being cultivated.
If we feel within us an interior but distinct voice, dictating that we ought to seek our own happiness in promoting that of our posterity; in ascending from particular to general, we shall also feel that the instructed and civilized nations for their own advantage must of necessity act unanimously for the happiness of the barbarous and uncivilized.
If the tutelage of children be regarded as a period of slavery, I allow that the civilized nations have some right to exercise a certain dominion over the uncivilized, provided that this happy dominion be considered as a paternal yoke, and that the duration do not exceed the period of the child’s maturity.
Let us then form new settlements along the African coast; settlements which shall have no other aim than that of inviting those nations to the riches which will arise from the cultivation of their own country, and thence the enjoyment of civilization, to both which they are capable of applying themselves with ardour and joy.—Let us thus on the wreck of tyranny raisealtars to humanity. Let us give to this weak, timid, and ignorant people, a masculine and courageous education. Let us make them feel the nobility of their origin, that under our tuition they may become generous from sound political interest; and may they no longer be slaves, but men. Let us for our own part freely assist them in tilling the fine country they inhabit. Let us prove to those innumerable multitudes of men, by the force of example, that they possess the most fertile soil. Let us also, by example, teach them no longer to suffer themselves to be torn from their native shores. Let us teach them to shake off the irons, and to revenge themselves on the blind tyrants, who shackle them, by becoming more useful to them in a state of freedom.