George Washington Flowers Memorial Collection DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ESTABLISHED BY THE FAMILY OF COLONEL FLOWERS A TREATISE ON OR CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM OF SOCIETY AS IT EXISTS IN SOME GOVERNMENTS, AND COLONIES IN AMERICA, AND IN THE UNITED STATES, UNDER THE NAME OF SLAVERY, WITH ITS NECESSITY AND ADVANTAGES. BY AN INHABITANT Of FLORIDA. SECOND EDITION. 1829 . 3 2 0.7 K 3 '3 ~T ~p- *&-*#*** ^ * -<-• Irrm PREFACE. M o J (f V t, V cr a. It will be allowed by every one, that agriculture is the great foundation of the wealth and prosperity of our Southern States. This important science has already at- tracted some share of attention from men of the first tal- ents, by whose improvements in cultivation several valu- able productions promise, from their superiority, to main- tain a preference in foreign markets ; and the recent intro- duction of new articles of tropical produce into the south- ern districts, where they bid fair to succeed, offers still greater incitements to agricultural enterprise, and opens a new and extensive range for future speculation. While this great field of wealth and independence pro- mises now to be well understood and duly appreciated, the 'primary cause and means by which alone it can be real- ized, has either escaped attention, or been designedly over- looked : I mean the perpetuation of that kind of labor which now produces it, and which seems best adapted, under all circumstances, to render it profitable to the Southern capitalist. The idea of slavery, when associated with cruelty and injustice, is revolting to every philanthropic mind; but when that idea is associated with justice, and benevolence, slavery, commonly so called, easily amalgamates with the ordinary conditions of life. To counteract the existing prejudice against slavery, by making it evident that the condition of slaves may be equally happy and more independent of the ordinary evils of life, than that of the common class of whites de- nominated free — that they are now equally virtuous, mo- ral and less corrupted than the ordinary class of laboring whites: — that their labor is far more productive — that they yield more support and benefit to the State ; which, under a well regulated system of management, is better fitted to endure a state of war than it would be with an 3 30 7 S' j PREFACE. equal number of free white people of ordinary means and condition ; and, finally, that the slave or Patriarchal System of Society [so often commiserated as a subject of deep regret] which constitutes the bond of social compact of the Southern seaboard of the United States, is better adapted for strength, durability and independence, than any other state of society hitherto adopted. To endeav- or to prove all this, and to destroy the prejudice existing against slavery, under the circumstances with which it is now associated in the South, is the object of the present essay ; dedicated to the people of Florida, and to politi- cal economists throughout the Southern States, by a vot- ary of rational policy, and most respectfully their humble servant, Z. Kingsley. •% See notes at the end- 3 3 07 f 3 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017jflfi1h funding from Duke University Libraries https://archive.org/details/treatiseonpatria01king A TREATISE os THE PATRIARCHAL SLAVE SYSTEM. That there ia a large portion of territory in the Southern states un- favorable to the health and production of white people, is evident from the sickly appearance of nearly the whole seaboard laboring white population, extending from the Chesapeake Bay to the Mississippi. This sickly ap- pearance is most observed among the lower orders, who are exposed to the weather ; and it can only be accounted for by supposing that nature has not fitted a white complexion for hard work in the sun, as it is evident that the darkness of complexion here is a measure of capacity for endur- ance of labor, under that influence. Many, from a superficial view of things, suppose that the aversion to labor observable in the South, among the working classes of whites, pro- ceeds from natural indispositon. But a nearer view, and better acquain- tance with facts will show, that the radical cause Is the want of health, which produces an apathy or aversion to work and frequently a relaxation, or want of natural excitement in the powers of life, which seek artificial stimulants : as we see frequent instances of the strongest, soberest, and most industrious mechanics coming from the North, becoming, after a few years hard labor, weak and idle, and finally, falling a sacrifice to the abuse of ardent spirits. Some are of opinion, that the want of health in these classes, is owing to their being unaccustomed to a hot climate. But as many years have elapsed since the first white people settled among the Southern swamps, and their descendants have not improved either in looks or longevity, it becomes evident that people of white complexions are un- fitted by nature for that situation. (2) Some of our Northern neighbors, living in a state of health and affluence, and not being aware that this prosperous state, in many instances, pro- ceeds indirectly from Southern slave labor, and without duly investigat- ing, and comparing the hardships, and humiliation of the lower condition of their white population with the more comfortable state of the Southern negroes, have denounced the patriarchal state of subordination of the lat- ter, called slavery, as the most abject and miserable of all possible grades of human existence. Now it appears to me, that do one state can be per- fectly free from these evils; but that all must experience some modifications of dependence. (3) The negro under the management of a just, conscien- tious and humane master ; (of which description it will certainly be allow- ed that there are some) who provides for the physical wants of his ser- vants, his wife and children, in health, sickness and old age, for no other consideration than the equitable one of competent labor, when in health, will surely enjoy a happier and more enviable state of existence than the ♦ ■ Ip 6 poor white man. burdened with a family, who has to contend with cold and hunger, besides religious and moral tyranny. Moreover, the free white man, with the greatest economy and industry, usually consumes nearly the whole product of his labor; laying by but little, even under the most favorable circumstances, but with a smaller stock of prudence and exertion, which more commonly happens, he not 5nly con- sumes all bis earnings, but is compelled by cold, hunger, and want of em- ployment or ill health, to apply to the public for charity. Whereas the negro by his labor, discreetly restrained under the co-operative, or Patriarch- al system, not ouly furnishes clothing, implements of husbandry, and pro- vision, but creates a large export surplus to meet contingencies; thus in- creasing the comfort and capital of the establishment, of which he consid- ers himself an integral part. (4) In short, the greatest value of agricultural product for export, and nearly all the springs of national and individual prosperity, flow from slave labor, as is fairly demonstrated by our annual account of exports. It could not reasonably be expected otherwise. The labor of the negro, under the wholesome restraint of an intelligent direction, is like a constant stream ; that of the white man is economically measured out by his urgent necessi- ties, or dissipated by his expences. Besides, climate enables the one to furnish articles of greater value; while the white man’s labor is usually applied to raise cheap articles of food for the mere subsistence of himself and family. Such is the comparative usefulness of these two classes of society in our present state of peace. But to render a slave holding country stronger and equally advantageous in a state of war, against which it ought always to be prepared; or, in other words to neutralize the spirit of disaffection which necessarily results from every unequal distribution of privileges ; it will be requisite to alter a little our present policy. (5) Before, however, we begin, and by way of getting rid of some slight prejudices, it might be well to take a view of some other slave holding countries, which have already un- dergone the test of experiment, and successfuly resisted all the disorganis- ing temptations and insidious machinations of powerful, but, as yet, un- successful enemies ;(6) and endeavor to obtain safe and conclusive evidence from established precedents exactly applicable to our circumstances. First, I will take a view of Brazil, (7) which is by far the most I powerful and extensive slave holding country in America, or in the world; its popula- tion consists of something less than one million of whites, something more than one million of free colored, and considerably over two mil- lions of slaves. It passed through such a war of revolution as onr own from the colonial state to that of an independent government, attended with all the violence of conflicting interest, opinions, and consequent hos- tility of royal and independent partiz&nf), with their hostile armies. It uowranks, ns Empire of Brazil, perhaps the most extensive government in the world, and js carrying on war with the free Republic of Buenos Ayres; with its white free colored population, it has fitted out, manned, and sent to sea nearly forty ships of war, and has raised or sent to the frontiers, nearly fifty thousand regular troops. It now affords the grand imposing spectacle of a slave holding government, whose population greatly prepon- derates in favor of color, at war with a free republic, which constitution- ally disavows slavery, and which not only endeavors to subdue it by force •t arms, but to subvert it by inflammatory proclamations: offering freedom 7 and protection to the slaves as their reward for revolt. But all these disor- ganizing temptations have heretofore f li led ; the slaves mantain their obliga- tion, and do their work peaceably as usual; furnish iog produce and means, not only to support the national credit, but to carry on the war, and rejiel the bearers of these insidious proclamations. This trait of virtue and fidel- ity in the Brazilian slaves, is to be attributed to humane and just treat- ment. , The door of liberty is open to every slave who can find the means of pur- chasing himself. It is true, few have the means, but hope creates a spirit of economy, industry and emulation to obtain merit by good behavior, which has a general and beneficial effect. Slaves are also allowed to hold some kind of property, under limitation — such as stock. But the grand chain of security by which the slaves are held in subordination, is the free people of color, whose persons, properties and rights are protected by law; which enables them to acquire and hold property in their own name, and allows the free children of quarteroons by a white man, to be white by law. By this link, they become identified with the whites on one side, and with the slaves by descent on the other; a connexion which perfectly cements the three casts of which the whole nation is composed; and each being per- fectly contented with its permanent, lawful privileges, the jealousy, which might otherwise arise from -cast or difference of complexion or condition, is totally extinguished, and no one feels an interest in disturbing that with which every one is satisfied. The British colonial policy is fast verging to the same point. Its ob- ject is to improve the education and mental attainments of its free colored pdpulation, as well as to protect its slaves from unjust oppression. The free colored people are thus gradually rendered fit to take place of the whites, whose lives have long been uselessly sacrificed to a hot climate, which does not, nor ever can agree with them. They have so far progressed, as to fill up a great deal of agricultural as well as mercautile room, and most of the militia troops with free colored people, who are good mechanics, well educated and of great respectability : so that a very considerable share of landed property has already passed into their hands. Their law also entitles the children of free quarteroons, to all white privileges, if the father is white. By this policy they unite the two casts, who become equally interested in maintaining good order and con- tentment among the slaves. The Spanish, French, and Dutch Colonies have all adopted the same policy. The island of Saint Dcnfingo is now independent under its aboriginal name Hayti.(8) Its colonial tranquility was first disturbed by national edicts, which the French people, while frantic with revolutionary zeal, madly promulgated in their colonies. This dangerous fanaticism soon spread it- self among the slaves holders, who being divided into two great political factions, nearly equal in strength, armed their slaves to support their own political opinions. This, together with their pride in denying the participa- tion of equality to the free colored people, caused the destruction of that flourishing and important colony. The fall, and final extinction of its colon- ial power, and its subsequent re-establishment under a free and independent government of negroes in our vicinity, furnishes in a variety of incidents which took place during its whole course, abundant examples of situation, occurrences, and facts, from which we may establish consequences that 8 would apply to almost every possible situation in which we could imagine slaves of a similar class to our own to be placed. To infuse a general spirit of revolt among the numerous plantations of St. Domingo, appears to have been a matter which required both time and labor to accomplish; especially as some departments were more prudent than others, and tried to counteract it. Santhonax and Polvorel, the commissioners sent out from France to enforce the national decrees of liberty and equality, were the most activo and successful propagators of liberty. But iu many of the quarters, the slaves still continued to work, even without white overseers ; and furnished large quantities of coffee for exportation during the whole government of Toussaint. And, what is still more remarkable, the rich and extensive department of Grande Anse con- tinued to furnish nearly its usual quantity of produce, and remained quiet for several years after the commencement of the revolution, and until Jeremie was evacuated by the British, notwithstanding that this department was annually besieged by Generals Toussaint and Kigaud, commanding the armies of the South and of the West, accompanied by all their seditious proclamations The slaves were armed by their masters, and protected themselves and families while they made abundant crops of coflee. In short, when we come to consider the massacres and bloodshed necessarily attend- ing such a horrid revolution, where a vast number of slaves were forced into a state of licentious anarchy, and led on by partizans blinded by revolu- tionary fury, who gave no quarter on either side, it is astonishing that the slaves now liberated should have so Boon returned to a peaceable and quiet •tate of domestic order, and again admitted whites to reside peaceably among them, and enjoy all the pre-eminence that condition could give. (9) Bnt such was the fact; and considering that they were still acting on the defensive against the British, who, for many years after, and with all their disposable force, endeavored to subdue them, it is a matter of astonishment and wonder how so much produce was still made as was exported under the reign of Toussaint, and until the arrival of the grand French expedition under Rocharnbenu and Leclerc, in (1803 — 3) when the island was again thrown into anarchy, and would have been ultimately re-conquered but for the breaking out of the war afresh Iretween France and Britain, w hich suspended the farther progress of the conquest, and finally confirmed its independence. Its government has now settled under the form of a military Republic ; but the quantity of produce raised hears but little proportion to what it was under the Patriarchal restraint of its Colonial system of go- vernment, as the present state of individual emancipation implies less necessity for hard work, especially in a healthy, fertile, and mild climate such as llayti, where few clothes arc required, and bountiful nature pro- duces spontaneously the necessaries of life. From all these facts it follows, that, under a just and prudent system of management, negroes are safe, permanent, productive and growing pro- perly, and easily governed ; that they are not naturally desirous of change but are sober, discreet, honest and obligiug . are less troublesome, and pos- sess a much better moral character iJm»b the ordinury class of corrupted whites of similar condition. (10) Thr.'tr strong attachment to their homes, to their wives and children, and to domestic life, are likewise great securities fortheirgood behavior; which, with a fair and equitable allowance of clothes and provisions, kind treat- ment when sick, and fair words when well, will, in most roses, insure / , ' i 9 good behavior, obedience and attachment. Lnder these circumstances t hey will, without grumbling, and with very little corporeal punishment, perform a great deal of valuable labor in a year, and with profit and sa- tisfaction to the owner, who, if prudent, will soon find himself in easy cir- cumstances, aud feel happy iu experiencing the attachment, confidence, and good will of a grateful and happy pcople.(ll) The policy generally pursued by our own slave holding state govern- ments with regard to free colored people, and that pursued hy foreign co- lonial and other slave holding governments, is directly opposite. In the latter, the free colored people have found it their interest universally and decidedly to place themselves in the scale of the w hites, or in opposition to the slaves. (12) In the former, necessity, from the unfavorable construc- tion of the laws, has compelled them universally to throw themselves into the scale of the slaves in opposition to the whites. This difference of policy- adopted by these different governments, who have precisely the same views and interests to favor, and the same objects to guard against, is ob- viously owing to the difference of local circumstances, growing out of the different situations of the two countries w ith regard to population. In our greatest slave holding states which take the lead, the great ma- jority of the inhabitants is white, who boast of enjoying every- priviledge of free men, hut possessing a strong feeling of prejudice against every other shade of color, and inhabiting a high, healthy country, suitable to the labor of white people, to whom colored labor is not absolutely necessary. This majority bas the right of forming laws to govern the minority, or slave bolding part of these states, lying nearest the sea, to whom a colored popula- tion is absolutely necessary, and with the safety and good government of which a smaller degree of prejudice against color would better comport. But as the great quantity of whiles in the up country- is at all times ready to put down or exterminate all the colored people in case of insurrection, fear and force in governing these people are safely substituted for wisdom and policy. (14) * The operation of physical causes has induced the foreign slave holding colonies and governments to adopt a policy diametrically opposite. Their climates being unfavorable to the increase of the whites, has thrown a great majority into the scale of the free colored people, many of whom, being rich and liberally educated, enjoy great respectability-, and having the same interest with the whites, and great influence with the slaves, form a barrier to insurrection ; which not only makes life and property safe in time of peace, but renders the whole physical strength of the country completely disposable in time of war. North Carolina, by the liberal provisions of her constitution aud en- lightened policy to her free colored people, stands firmer with regard to slave property than any state to the south, not even excepting Louisiana. A general line of limitation might be ilia wn between white and colored, such as exists in the British West India colonies. Taxes in all cases should be equal; and the law both criminal and civil should he as impartial as the sun. If it is otherwise, what kind of protectiop can be given either to person or property ; and what must be the final result where neither is given ? I believe no disadvantage has ever been perceived in North Carolina from its free citizens of color being allowed to vote. It appears from the above statement, that to raise the value of southern plantation property tr> its just scale of purchase value, according to the rat 10 of interest yielded by its neat average return of crops, to bear an equal pro- portion with the value and returns of real property in the north, which is the principal object of this treatise, it inay be considered necessary — 1st. To put all fear of danger, either to person or property, from in- surrection of the slaves, at rest. ~d. To destroy all doubt of the permanent durability of such property in case of war or invasion. 3d. To extinguish that general foreign or northern prejudice against holding slave property, which commonly arises from their mistaken view of our policy and laws to regulate slaves and free colored people. To accomplish these objects will require a considerable sacrifice of local prejudice to the shrine of self interest, with some small mixture of discretion which I flatter myself the present enlightened state of society, improved by its advancement in the science of political economy, w ill, in consideration of the proposed advantages, liberally bestow. Health and bodily perfection, are certainly before all other objects the most important ; and to attain these, no sacrifice of any kind should be considered as too great. Improv- ing the breed of domestic animals, has occupied the attention of some of the most eminent and useful men in our country. How much more meritorious and laudable would that philanthrophist be to whose energy and moral courage mankind were indebted for exposing and removing a prejudice that not only continues to entail ill health and degeneracy on the people, but completely neutralises the physical strength of the country, by placing one portion of the inhabitants in hostile array against the other. Tbe red aborigines were in this low country a healthy people. The negroes are not only a healthy people, but robust and durable even in the swamps. The intermediate grades of color arc not only healthy, but when condi- tion is favorable, they are improved in shape, strength and beauty, and susceptible of every amelioration. Hailv experience shows that there is no natural antipathy between the casts on account of color; and it only requires to repeal laws as impolitic as they are unjust and unnatural ; which con- found beauty, merit and condition in one state of infamy and degradation on account of complexion, and to leave nature to find out a safe and wholesome remedy for evils which, of all others, are now the most deplora- ble, because they arc morally irreconcilcable to the fundamental principles of happiness, and self preservation. f NOTES I [1] It will reasonably be inquired, who is the writer? and how presumes he to advise in contradiction to common practice and the received opinion of nineteuths of all the slave owners of the United Slates? He answers that he is a slave owner, and has a right to express his opinion, having lived by planting in Florida for the last twenty-five years. He disavows all other motives but that of increasing the value of his property; moreover, he thinks that truth will support his arguments as to a subject with which he has had great opportunities of becoming well ac- quainted, having lived long indifferent slave holding countries. [2] This observation will apply to many of our farmers whose youth, strength and ambition seem for several years to set the climate at defiance, but they are finally overcome by sickness, which brings on debility and premature old age. [o] Northern migration to the south for the purpose of gain in winter, and southern migration to the north, to spend money in the summer, finally concen- trate in the north the whole product of southern slave labor.' Slavery is a necessary state of control from which no condition of society can he perfectly free. The term is applicable to, and fits all grades and conditions in almost every point of view, whether moral, physical or political. It certainly is a mistaken notion that the progress of labor, guided by the ac- cidental impulse of single individuals, is greater than that of systematic co-opera- tion, directed and controlled by a skilful mechanic and economist, under the patriarchal government; for it is evident that slaves taught early, could produce any kind of manufactured goods one-third cheaper than free people; the co-ope- rative system oflahor being better calculated either to increase the quantity or to attain perfection in the manufacture; and whenever labor, expended in manu- facturing cotton into cloth, yields more than it does when employed in raising the raw material, slaves will become manufacturers. [4] As white people are only wanted to act as overseers, or to fill vacauces in conformity to law, their number must always be limited to these wants and easy situations. But the number ofcnlored people must eventually be hounded by the qunntity, and quality of soil from which they derive subsistence by manual labor. [o] Pride and prejudice, our present stumbling blocks in the management of our negroes, should give way to policy and the necessity of self preservation, and induce us to remove as far as possible whatever are the obvious causes of this dan- gerous spirit of revolt. Power may for a while triumph over weakness and misfortune. But as all na- ture (from the eternal principle of self) takes part with weakness against power, the re-action finally must be terrible and overwhelming. [6] Whoever was so unlucky as to see, on Cumberland Island, last war, the magical transformation of his own negroes, whom he left in the field but a few hours before, into regular soldiers, oi good discipline and appearance, and with what despatch and celerity the recruiting service went on under the protection of a few hundred marines, notwithstanding all the care and vigilence that was used to prevent desertion, could not help figuring to Imnself the consequences had there been a larger. force, able to maintain a position on the main, with any ulterior object of conquest in view anil possessing the means of equipment. Where would thay have stopped, or what could have stopped them? [7] The empire of Brazil embraces, from north to south, about one thousand leagues of sea coast, and as many from cast to west. The whole of this immense territory, in a wholesome, temperate and warm (lunate, is watered by the largest and most extensive rivers in the world, and possesses abundance of capa- cious and deep harbors for shipping, with inexhaustible quantities of incorruptible timber, of which it has already built some of the finest first-rate ships of war and 12 merchantmen that any country can boa^t of. Its export agricultural produce is last approaching; in value to that of the United States, and it is incontestably the most extensive, valnnble, rich, healthy and best situated body of land under anv one government in America ; and bids fair, from its policy and form of government, which is a limited monarchy, to be one of the most durable. Us present popula tion, being more than three-fourths colored, will rapidly predominate on that side, on account of its convenient situation to Africa , its immense annual importation of slaves, its rich soil, its temperate and healthv climate, and more especially from its great distance, and the expense of passages from Europe. With Chinese economy it mav, at some period not very remote, compete in population with that most ancient Empire, which it greatly exceeds in extent. Of all other countries, in fact, it most resembles China in its climate, fertility of soil and complexion of inhabitants. [8] I heard of no instance of abuse or treachery on the part of the negroes of Grand Anse, during my residence in Jeremie, while it was held by the British; nor did I experience either insult or interruption in the south or west of St. Do- mingo, under the government of Touissant, or Rigaud. I resided there nearly a year, at one period, besides making frequent voyages, daring which I often tra- velled alone, and on horseback, from Leogane to the Cayes, and from Petit-Goave to Jacquemel, through woods and over mountains, with my saddle bags loaded with specie to buy coffee; and though I frequently met large groupes of armed negroes in the woods, I neither received insult or hinderance, but was always tTent- ed with kindness and civility. Many Americans, (1 may say hundreds) at that time on the Island, can testify to the same treatment and circumstances. [9] This observation applies only to neutral nations. The French, w ho were at war aDd enemies, were several times not only plundered but killed within the government of Rigaud: but under Touissant, I kuew of no instance of treachery, and all nations, classes and conditions were equally protected. [lOlForthe truth of thisobservation, I appeal to every slave holder in the south, who nas had an opportunity of witnessing the conductor white laborers who come annually to seek work from the north ; whether the common plantation negroes do not conduct themselves, much better and are of a more respectable moral character. [11] Our laws to regulate slaves are entirely founded on terror. It would be worth while to try the experiment of a small mixture of reward with the pun- ishment — such as allowing them the free use of Sunday as a market day and jubilee, which I have observed had a good effect in all foreign countries, also in Louis- iana. The laws of ttie southern states are exclusively constructed for thp protec- tion of whites, find vexatious tyranny over the persons and properties of every colored person, whose oath can in no case be admitted as evidence against a white person. Policy and self-preservation require, to render the co-operatixe system beneficial, that slaves must b~ kept under wholesome and just restraint, which mu9t always create some degree of resistance more or less to Patriarchal authority ; to counterbalance which the interest and co-operation of the free colored people is absolutely necessary when the white population is scanty. [12] A slave who saves my life by rescuing it from assassins at the risk of his own ; or who saves the lives and properties of a whole community by informing against conspirators, must still remain a slave! and what a dreadful feeling of ge- neral resentment must originate from such a source of injustice! No 'wonder (with such laws) at the universal antipathy and detestation against slavery, thus identified with tyranny and the most oppressive cruelty. [13] What greater iusult can be offered to common sense, than to arrogate the condition of freedom to ourselves, who have not the power, under any circum- stances, of disposing of our property in the way we please. Is there any thing worthy of acceptance that can he offered to a slave but freedom! And that we have not within our gift in many of our States. If our low country is destroyed, and I lose my life and property by an insurrec- tion, what satisfaction is it to me to know that onr back country militia will ■ ' promptly and bravely revenge my ilealb; and destroy my negroes? A stale of war might soon produce such an event. A very common argument against free colored people’s testimony being ad- mitted as evidence in all cases is, that their moral character is not generally so respectable. The force of all testimony must be measured by its respectability ; therefore of unequal value. But that the moral character of free colored people generally, is inferior to that of the same condition of whites, 1 think cannot be proved. Ou the contrary, all unprejudiced people who have had an opportunity of knowing, and have paid attention to the subject, will say that the very opposite is the case. Even if it were not so, what a reflection on our policy and justice, to outlaw them for complexion, which they cannot help, and deprive them of the means of acquiring moral improvement, by driving them to seek shelter among theslaves! Few, I think will deny that color anil condition, if properly consi- dered, are two very separate qualities. But the fact is, that in almost every ins- tance, our legislators, for want of due consideration, have mistaken the shadow for the substance, and confounded together two very different things; thereby substantiating bylaw a dangerous and inconvenient antipathy, which can have no better foundation than prejudice. It is much to be regretted that those who enact laws to regulate slaves, and free people of color, are often obliged to con- sult popularity rather than policy and their own good sense. If such alterations were practicable as would render slave property safe, without adopting the pre- sent system of terror, all 3uch laws as tended to regulate plantation management, and interfere with the province of individual owners, could be repealed; property would increase in value ; and the owner, no longer a kind of state prisoner, hover- ing over the movements of his negroes and overseers, could liberalise and improve his mind by travelling, and satisfy his thirst for knowledge wherever the advance of science offered the greatest field for its acquirement. The patrol laws are demoralising to the whites who compose the patrol; ty - rannical and unjust to the negroes; and unnecessarily supercede, in most cases, the owners prerogative and rights over his property. Some of our state laws, in defiance of our national treaties, condemn to indis- criminate imprisonment in the common jail, every class of free colored persons, who may arrive within their limits, without reference to sex, cause or condition ; and to be sold as slaves where they have not the means of paying the penalties annexed to the crime of arriving within the jurisdiction of the law. 'What must be the final consequence of such infatuation ? an infatuation arraying itself in open and avowed hostility against twelve millions of people, now composing the co- lored population of this quarter of the world. Hayti, alone, in the full career of wealth, freedom and juvenile independence, with equal, if not superior, advan- tages of climate, soil and situation, to any equal portion of territory in the world, and evidently destined by nature, at no very distant period, if not to command, at least to share the commerce of the surrounding ocean ; and, without being over peopled, confortably to acco-nmodate twelve millions ot inhabitants. A war of color would, in our situation, of all ware be the most dangerous ; therefore the least advisable, because we naturally and unavoidable (under onr present policy) contain within us the materials of our own dissolution ; and nine- tenths of all our present white friends would at least laugh at our absurd indis- cretion - All the late insurrections of slaves are to be traced to influential preachers of the gospel, (as, for instance, at Barbadoes and Demarara,) to white preachers, (missionaries) from England. Vesey, who instigated the Charleston plot, was an exhorting brother. Gualla Jack or Jack the Conjurer was a priest in his own country, M’Choolay Moreema, where a dialect of the Angola tongue is spoken clear across Africa from sea to sea, a distance perhaps of three thousand miles; I purchased him a prisoner of war at Zinguebar. He had this conjuring implements with him in a bag which he brought on board the ship and always retained them. I know two instances, to the south ward, where gangs of negroes were prevented from deserting to the enemy by drivers, or influential negroes, whose integrity to their . 14 ■Miter*, and influence over the slaves prevepted it ; and what isslill more remark- able, in both inilances the influential negroes were Africans, and professors of the Mahomed an religion. A favorite maxim with some of oar old southern politicians to increase the se- curity of slave property has been to prohibit the increase of free people, or, by some means or other not yet divulged, to get rid of the evil altogether. If this could be done without making the remedy worse than the disease, it would be worth while to try it; but as the iniquity has its origin in a great inherent, univer- sal and immutable law of na'ure, legislation, by the aged, against such an alleged crime as propagation in youth, would be hopeless and like the story of tha King of Arabia, who, after destroying his appetite by excess aod gluttony, made a law forbidding, under a severe penalty, that any of his subjects should be baogry. About twenty-five years ago, I settled a plantation on St. Johns river, in Florida, with about fifty new African negroes, many of whom 1 brought from the coast myself. They were mostly fine young men and women, and nearly in equal numbers. I never interfered with their connubial concerns, nor domestic affairs, bat let them regulate these after their own manner. I taught them nothing but what wes useful, and what I thought would add to their physical and moral hap- piness. I encouraged as much as possible dancing, merriment and dress, for which Saturday afternoon and night, and Sunday morning were dedicated ; and, after allowance, their time was usually employed in hoeing their com, and getting a supply of fish for the week. Both men and women were very indus- trious. Many of them made twenty bushels of corn to sell, and they vied with meh other in dress and danciog, and as to whose woman was the finest and _ prettiest. They were perfectly honest and obedient, and appeared qnite happy, having no fear bat that of offending me ; and 1 hardly ever had occasion to apply other correction than shaming them. If I exceeded this, the punishment was quite light, for they hardly ever failed in doing their work well. My object was to excite their ambition and attachment by kindness ; not to depress their spirits by fear and punishment. 1 never allowed them to visit, for fear of bad •aampla, but encouraged the decent neighboring people to participate in their weakly festivity, for which they always provided an ample entertainment them- selves, a* they had an abundance of hogs, fowls, corn and all kinds of vegeta- bles and fruit. They bad nothing to conceal from me, and I bad no suspicion of any crime in them to guard against. Perfect confidence, friendship, and good understanding reigned between us; they increased rapidly. After a few years, this pleasant and profitable state of harmony was interrupted by the revolution of 1812. A war party of Seminole Indians attacked the plantation in my absence; caught, bound arid carried off, or killed forty of them, whose reluctance in go- ing with the invaders may be imagined from the following circumstance. The wile of a young man they had tied and were driving off, that her husband, who was too strong to be handled, and who hadhisyoaog child id bis arms, might fol- follww ; but this he absolutely refused, handing over the child to his wife, and say- ing that the knew best bow to take care of it, but that his master should never say that be was a runaway negro; upon which the Indian shot him, and he died next day. But my object in this long digression is to show the danger and hurtful ten- dency of superstition (by some called religion) among negroes, whose ignorance ■•d want of rationality render them fit subjects to work upon. I afterwards pur- abased more new negroes. A man, calling himself a minister, got amoDg them. It was now sinful to dance, *ork their com or catch fish, on a Sunday; or to Ant cat fiA, because they had no scales; and if they did, they were to goto a ^ ce where they would be tormented with fire and brimstone to all eternity! sy became poor, ragged, hungry and disconsolate: to steal from me was only to do justice — to take what belonged to them because 1 kept them in unjust bondage; that all pastime or pleasure in this iniquitous world was sinful; that this was only a place of torrnw and repentance, and the sooner they were out of ■ ■ ' . it the better; that they would then go to a good country, where they would ex- perience no want of any thing, and have no work nor cruel taskmaster, for that God was merciful, and would pardon any sin they committed ; only it war ne- cessary to pray and ask forgiveness, jrnd have prayer meetings, and contribute what they could to the church, &c. They accordingly formed private societies under church regulations, where all were brothers and sisters, and, under an oath of the most horrid penalty, never to tell or divulge any crime that would bring any brother or sister into trouble, but to lay all tbe blame on those who had not united with them, and who, of necessity, were obliged to join the fraternity, as soon as possible, in their own defence. They had private pightly meetings, once or twice a week, with abundance of preaching and praying, (for they all exhorted, men as well ns women) with an ample entertainment from my hogs, as it was do sin to steal for the church, the elders of which held it right to break open my corn house and provide amply for the meeting; so that, finally, myself and the overseer became completely divested of all authority over the negioes. The latter even went so far as to consult the head men of the church whether or not, according to religion, my orders ought to be obeyed! Severity had no effect; it only made it worse ; and l really believe that, in several instances, sick children were allowed to die, because the parents thought conscientiously that it was meritorious to transfer their offspring from a miserable and wicked world to a happy country, where they were iu hopes of soon joining them! I relate the above circumstance not from any disrespect or prejudice against any particular religious profession ; but when it renders men uuhappy and discontent- ed with their condition in life, by destroying local attachment and love of country, it certainly should be rationally opposed : and I cannot help regretting that honest well meaning men, with so much ability to do good, and render mankind, espe- cially the lower orders, happy and contented, should so misapply their talents as to subvert all natural and rational happiness, and endeavor to render onr species miserable. [ was informed by a gentleman who lived near the Fishdara ford, on Broad Ri- ver, South Carolina, that his employer had made an experiment on the manage- ment of negroes, of whom he was overseer, which answered extremely well, and offers to us a strong case in favor of excitiDg ambition by cultivating ntility, lo- cal attachment and moral improvement, among slaves. He established four or five plantations, not far apart, and stocked each of them with a suitable proportion of bands, and work cattle, under a driver, who had the entire management of every thing under his (the overseer’s) control. The overseer’s duty merely extended to direct tbe driver on what land be was to raise provisions, and where cotton was to be planted ; with this understanding, that all the cotton raised, after it was cleaned and packed, belong to the owner, and that all the hogs, com and pro- visions left after supplying the plantation, belonged to the negroes, who might do with it as they pleased. The consequence of this arrangement was, that these plantations, regulated as before stated, turned out better crops than any other plantations of equal force in that neighborhood, and the owner had no farther trouble nor expence than furnishing tbe ordinary clothing and paying the overseer’s wages, so that he could fairly be called free, seeing that he could realise his annual income wher- ever he chose to reside, srithont paying the customary homage to servitude of per- sonal attendance on the operations of bis slaves. - Good policy requires that all laws tending to demobilise the people by holding out a premium for peijnry, should be abolished. Motives of policy, self-p m e rt w- tiou or justice, on which laws should be founded, form little or no part in aufeb laws, as far as regards the free colored people of the South, (with some exceptions, such as North Carolina and Ixiuitiana,) which are dictated in a spirit of intol- erant prejudice ami irresponsible autocracy, holding out to people they nick- name free, no positive reward or premium whatever for being virtuous; nothing to stimulate to industry or the acquisition of a good name, learning or refine- 16 meat; no kind of protection either for person or property; their destiny it Al- ready fixed by a mark of nature which has doomed to irrevocable disgrace its degraded bearer, who is singled out as a victim for cruelty, avarice and revenge; wboee punishment mint he corporeal, not even excepting the most delicate female, whom industry and virtue alone would place at the heud of society in Any other country. The fruits of their industry must be offered up as a temptation to the avariewof some nobler color, which alone is privileged to hold and protect it. in short, liberty is merely nominal, without any constitutional protection. They maybe sold for debt to pay pvrtial, exhorbitant and tyrannical taxes or fines, all which are unconstitutional. Oppression is carried to its greatest extreme when a mother of the most unexceptionable moral character, leaving her family on aocountof ill health, and going out of her native state, is inexorably punished by perpetual banishment from her husband, children, friends, country and all that is dear to her. r Since these severe enactments against color, several of the most respectable and enterprising young men have withdrawn from their native country and entered into the Haytinn navy, and more will undoubtedly follow. I should think it were better to iuduce such to remain nt home as friends, than oblige them to pass the Rubicon as enemies. It has been a favorite project of some of our least mathematical economists, to transport all the colored people of the U. States to Africa, without considering that the cost of the annual increase alone, if purchased, when added to the lowest possible freight, would exceed the annual revenue of the U. Sates. Besides, ♦he difficulty and stem opposition that would encounter a prostration of all rights of property and liberty of person, they would have to put on board, in irons, under a wrong guard, and be conveyed and landed in the same military for- mality, to oppose the resentment of the natives whom they must displace, ns well A* the vengeance of the convicts themselves, both of whose lives must be sacrificed to famine or resentment at the despotic nod of cruelty and superstition. A great opportunity was lost of colonising more rationally at the late evacua- tion of the Spanish part of Saint Domingo, where there would have been ample loom for nil the colored people of the U. States, within five days sail of Charleston. A patriarchal feeling of affection is due to every slave from his owner, who should consider the slave as a member of his family, whose happiness and protec- tion is identified with that of bis own family, of which his slave constitutes a part, according to his scale of condition. This affection creates confidence which be- comes reciprocal, and is attended with the most beneficial consequences to both. It certainly is humiliating to a proud master to reflect, that he depends on his slave even for bread to eat. But such is the fact. In most foreign colonies where spring is perpetual, Saturday is allowed the slaves as a compensation for their furnishing their own provision, which chiefly consists of yams and plantains, produced almost spontaneously, or with little la- bor, and abundance of sweet, nutritious, and farinacious fruits of exquisite fla- vor, growing wild on the trees all the year round. This not only supplies them with aelicious and wholesome food, but furnishes the means of traffic in the towns at night, or to carry to market on Sundays which is every where celebrated as a day of freedom and rejoicing, similar to the practice at New-Orleans. Let any slave owner reflect and say, how much advantage the country would derive from preaching up industry, economy and a local attachment to the slaves; and, by pointing out to them the happy coincidence and wise and bene- ficent dispensation of so much good which every where surrounds them, how much he would be deserving of universal respect and gratitude; iustead of preach- ing np terror and dismay, misery and discontent, as dispensations of the su- preme Author of all good. All local attachment and love of virtue must be chilled or annihilated by such intemperate abuse of supreme wisdom. Any extreme is said naturally to produce its opposite.— Will an excess of error ever produce truth? ■