quences if granted-Impossibility of social amalgamation- Numerous subjects of quarrel-Free blacks of the North- Their character and condition-Unable to attain social or political equality-Anecdote-Character and capabilities of Consequences of abolition, even if effected with the con- sent of slave-holders. To the North-Negro emigration to the North-Depreciation of labour-Distress of white labouring population-Black Lazaroni-Political move- ments of blacks in the North-Destructive influence of emancipation on Commerce and Manufactures of the North -Consequences to the South-Loss of negro labour and im- poverishment of the country-Negro indolence, &c.-Vio- lence and insurrection-Picture of the ravages of the eman- cipated slave-Philanthropy of Abolitionists-Consequences of emancipation to slaves-Improvidence, poverty, vice and St. Domingo before the revolution-Insurrection originated in the policy of France-AMIS DES NOIRS-Agitation of the colony by the French-Domestic dissentions-Ogé-Insur- rection-French commissioners proclaim abolition of slavery -Massacres-Cruelty of the revolted slaves-Touissant- Le Clerc lands-Evacuates the island-Dessalines-Massa- cres- -Christophe-Petion-Boyer-Present state of Hayti, Government-Population-Character of inhabitants-Agri- culture-Commerce--Free labour--Finances--Army, &c. 254 Consequences of agitating abolition in opposition to the insurrection-THE UNION ENDANGERED-Disunion can only be produced by the course of the North-Consequences-To the North-Confederacy dissolved never re-united-Destruc- tion of manufactures and commerce of the North-Collision British agency in urging abolition-Motives, &c.-Reli- Ability of the South to hold its slaves-Anxiety of Abo- litionists unnecessary-Croakers-Posterity-Comparative increase of whites and blacks-Increase unattended by dan- ger-Impossibility of successful insurrrection-Moral supe- riority of whites-Superior intelligence and skill-Organiza- Course of the South vindicated-Her indignant resistance of incendiary agitation-Her punishment of those found ex- citing her slaves to insurrection-Duty of Congress-Post ERRATUM. The Note on page 79 should have been subjoined to the INTRODUCTION. THE framers of our government, when confronted in their labours by the question of slavery, prudently turned aside from a topic, which menaced their councils with division, and the embryo constitution with death. They left the unquestioned sovereignty of the Southern States over all connected with this most important branch of their domestic relations, untouched. The controversy was buried, as they hoped, for ever; and they departed from the scene of their labours, in the happy confidence that our country did not contain one man so lost to reason and patriotism, as madly to violate the grave in which they saw this exciting question quietly inurned, and drag it forth to madden and distract the land. The result has proven that their confidence was ill-founded. Every land comprises men prepared, by nature, for treasons, stratagems, and spoils—men who rejoice to tear open and irritate the wounds of their country, and who seek, with sedulous diligence, for those weak and unguarded spots in the body politic, where it may be struck with the most fatal effect. Of their individual character, it is unneces sary here to speak. Treason finds disciples of every description and variety. Heated fanaticism and reckless villany, hypocritical guile and honest stupidity, often combine to forward the most nefarious plots. Our own country is not without such men. The sun warms the reptile into life; and freedom often animates into existence beings whose life is a reproach and a calamity to her. There are men who take an unnatural pleasure in the afflictions of their country, and who live only to foment disturb ance. Their nature and enjoyments are like those of the sailors' bird of evil omen, which flutters with delight in the breath of the tempest, looks down upon the foundering wreck, and screams, with ex-. ultation, in answer to the shrieks of the wretches who perish in the waves. There are others, who, from a leaden vanity, thrust themselves into matters for which their capacities are not suited. They expend time and money in forwarding the designs of their crafty leaders, and are well satisfied with the sacrifice. These men mistake notoriety for fame; their hearts flutter with pleasure when their names are consigned to the contempt of the public, through the medium of the newspapers; and they hear the hiss of outraged propriety with the complacent smirk of gratified pride. There is another classfanatics-who mistake the promptings of their overheated fancy-the vapours that rise from the molten lead of their own seething brains for the dictates of inspiration. They They are a troublesome race, to whom the tranquillizing chair or strait jacket is the only effective argument. Still, they should be regarded rather with compassion than anger, as they make themselves fools from conscientious motives. A fourth class remains to be mentioned, entitled only to our contempt and abhorrence. They affect an enthusiasm which they do not feel. Hypocrisy is their professional pursuit. They live upon cant-cant themselves into influence, luxury, and power; and use their sway over the weak and credulous, to forward schemes of ambition, aggrandizement, or malevolence. These men (and there are such men) are capable of any act, however atrocious; they would dip their hands in human gore, and then, with their crimson fingers, turn over the leaves of the Bible to find a sanction for the deed. We have fallen upon evil times. Men have been found who do not scruple to tear off the seals which our fathers set upon the question of slavery. They have broken open, with reckless hands, this magazine, filled with all that can excite and endanger; and are lighting the torch to apply to its materials of fury and desolation. The consequences are such as might have been anticipated. Distrust and fear, indignation and violence, are abroad in our land. Every fibre of our country is quivering with excitement. How could it be otherwise? Our people cannot be expected to stand by, with complacent tranquillity, while mad hands are digging under the foundation stone of our government. They cannot be asked to witness, unmoved, the violation of one of the first of the sacred and unalienated rights of |