tion. Where is this vast sum to come from? Or suppose
it supplied, still, in the mass of crime and wretchedness, as it
now exists, there would be _no decrease_! Two millions of human
beings every 30 years would still be _born_ and _die_ in
slavery!!
But perhaps you wish to extinguish the crime in thirty years.
Then you must begin by transporting at least 100,000 yearly. In
order to do this, you must have an annual income of upwards of
2,000,000 dollars; and if you have not only to transport, but
also to purchase, you would probably want yearly, _twenty
millions_ more!!
Where are you to get this?--
Or suppose it got, and still one generation would perish in
their wretchedness; 2,000,000 of immortal souls--plundered by
you of the most sacred rights of human nature; of rights _always
the same_, and everlastingly _inalienable_, however
plundered--would have perished _unredressed_, and gone to
confront you at the bar of God.
And will He not make inquisition for blood? And what will it
avail you to say, "Oh, we satisfied ourselves, and traversed
land and sea, and spent thousands to satisfy others, that if we
transported a few hundreds or thousands of our oppressed
fellow-subjects to a distant country, yearly, with care, we
might guiltlessly leave the remaining hundreds of thousands, or
the millions, in slavery, and harmlessly indulge the invincible
repugnance which we felt to a colored skin. We really thought it
better, to exile our colored brethren from their native country,
or to render their lives in it, intolerable by scorn, should
they obstinately persist in remaining in it;--we really thought
this better, than humbling ourselves before our brother and our
God, and returning to both with repenting and undissembling
love."
Is not such language similar to the swearer's prayer!!
Great Britain and the United States, the two most favored, and
the two most guilty nations upon earth, both need rebuke. They
ought to be brethren, mutually dear and honorable to each other,
in all that is true and kind. But never, never, let them support
one another in guilt.
People of Great Britain, it is your business--it is _your
duty_,--to give to negro slavery no rest, but to put it
down--not by letting the trunk alone, while you idly busy
yourselves in lopping o
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