No long political scheme is asked for, but instant
abolition is wanted; abolition to be declared while yet the war is
raging.
Let the slaves of all rebels be declared free; and all
slaveowners in the seceding States are rebels!
One cannot but ask what abolition means, and to what it would lead.
Any ordinance of abolition now pronounced would not effect the
emancipation of the slaves, but might probably effect a servile
insurrection. I will not accuse those who are preaching this
crusade of any desire for so fearful a scourge on the land. They
probably calculate that an edict of abolition once given would be so
much done toward the ultimate winning of the battle. They are
making their hay while their sun shines. But if they could
emancipate those four million slaves, in what way would they then
treat them? How would they feed them? In what way would they treat
the ruined owners of the slaves, and the acres of land which would
lie uncultivated? Of all subjects with which a man may be called on
to deal, it is the most difficult. But a New England abolitionist
talks of it as though no more were required than an open path for
his humanitarian energies. "I could arrange it all to-morrow
morning," a gentleman said to me, who is well known for his zeal in
this cause!
Arrange it all to-morrow morning - abolition of slavery having become
a fact during the night! I should not envy that gentleman his
morning's work. It was bad enough with us; but what were our
numbers compared with those of the Southern States? We paid a price
for the slaves, but no price is to be paid in this case. The value
of the property would probably be lowly estimated at 100l. a piece
for men, women, and children, or 4,000,000l. sterling for the whole
population. They form the wealth of the South; and if they were
bought, what should be done with them? They are like children.
Every slaveowner in the country - every man who has had aught to do
with slaves - will tell the same story. In Maryland and Delaware are
men who hate slavery, who would be only too happy to enfranchise
their slaves; but the negroes who have been slaves are not fit for
freedom. In many cases, practically, they cannot be enfranchised.
Give them their liberty, starting them well in the world at what
expense you please, and at the end of six months they will come back
upon your hands for the means of support. Everything must be done
for them. They expect food and clothes, and instruction as to every
simple act of life, as do children. The negro domestic servant is
handy at his own work; no servant more so; but he cannot go beyond
that. He does not comprehend the object and purport of continued
industry. If he have money, he will play with it - he will amuse
himself with it.
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