第 8 节
作者:
天净沙 更新:2022-04-16 12:07 字数:9321
home to our physical and moral characters; to our happiness and
safety; is to provide an asylum to which we can; by degrees; send the
whole of that population from among us; and establish them under our
patronage and protection; as a separate; free and independent people;
in some country and climate friendly to human life and happiness。
That any place on the coast of Africa should answer the latter
purpose; I have ever deemed entirely impossible。 And without
repeating the other arguments which have been urged by others; I will
appeal to figures only; which admit no controversy。 I shall speak in
round numbers; not absolutely accurate; yet not so wide from truth as
to vary the result materially。 There are in the United States a
million and a half of people of color in slavery。 To send off the
whole of these at once; nobody conceives to be practicable for us; or
expedient for them。 Let us take twenty…five years for its
accomplishment; within which time they will be doubled。 Their
estimated value as property; in the first place; (for actual property
has been lawfully vested in that form; and who can lawfully take it
from the possessors?) at an average of two hundred dollars each;
young and old; would amount to six hundred millions of dollars; which
must be paid or lost by somebody。 To this; add the cost of their
transportation by land and sea to Mesurado; a year's provision of
food and clothing; implements of husbandry and of their trades; which
will amount to three hundred millions more; making thirty…six
millions of dollars a year for twenty…five years; with insurance of
peace all that time; and it is impossible to look at the question a
second time。 I am aware that at the end of about sixteen years; a
gradual detraction from this sum will commence; from the gradual
diminution of breeders; and go on during the remaining nine years。
Calculate this deduction; and it is still impossible to look at the
enterprise a second time。 I do not say this to induce an inference
that the getting rid of them is forever impossible。 For that is
neither my opinion nor my hope。 But only that it cannot be done in
this way。 There is; I think; a way in which it can be done; that is;
by emancipating the after…born; leaving them; on due compensation;
with their mothers; until their services are worth their maintenance;
and then putting them to industrious occupations; until a proper age
for deportation。 This was the result of my reflections on the
subject five and forty years ago; and I have never yet been able to
conceive any other practicable plan。 It was sketched in the Notes on
Virginia; under the fourteenth query。 The estimated value of the
new…born infant is so low; (say twelve dollars and fifty cents;) that
it would probably be yielded by the owner gratis; and would thus
reduce the six hundred millions of dollars; the first head of
expense; to thirty…seven millions and a half; leaving only the
expense of nourishment while with the mother; and of transportation。
And from what fund are these expenses to be furnished? Why not from
that of the lands which have been ceded by the very States now
needing this relief? And ceded on no consideration; for the most
part; but that of the general good of the whole。 These cessions
already constitute one fourth of the States of the Union。 It may be
said that these lands have been sold; are now the property of the
citizens composing those States; and the money long ago received and
expended。 But an equivalent of lands in the territories since
acquired; may be appropriated to that object; or so much; at least;
as may be sufficient; and the object; although more important to the
slave States; is highly so to the others also; if they were serious
in their arguments on the Missouri question。 The slave States; too;
if more interested; would also contribute more by their gratuitous
liberation; thus taking on themselves alone the first and heaviest
item of expense。
In the plan sketched in the Notes on Virginia; no particular
place of asylum was specified; because it was thought possible; that
in the revolutionary state of America; then commenced; events might
open to us some one within practicable distance。 This has now
happened。 St。 Domingo has become independent; and with a population
of that color only; and if the public papers are to be credited;
their Chief offers to pay their passage; to receive them as free
citizens; and to provide them employment。 This leaves; then; for the
general confederacy; no expense but of nurture with the mother a few
years; and would call; of course; for a very moderate appropriation
of the vacant lands。 Suppose the whole annual increase to be of
sixty thousand effective births; fifty vessels; of four hundred tons
burthen each; constantly employed in that short run; would carry off
the increase of every year; and the old stock would die off in the
ordinary course of nature; lessening from the commencement until its
final disappearance。 In this way no violation of private right is
proposed。 Voluntary surrenders would probably come in as fast as the
means to be provided for their care would be competent to it。
Looking at my own State only; and I presume not to speak for the
others; I verily believe that this surrender of property would not
amount to more; annually; than half our present direct taxes; to be
continued fully about twenty or twenty…five years; and then gradually
diminishing for as many more until their final extinction; and even
this half tax would not be paid in cash; but by the delivery of an
object which they have never yet known or counted as part of their
property; and those not possessing the object will be called on for
nothing。 I do not go into all the details of the burthens and
benefits of this operation。 And who could estimate its blessed
effects? I leave this to those who will live to see their
accomplishment; and to enjoy a beatitude forbidden to my age。 But I
leave it with this admonition; to rise and be doing。 A million and a
half are within their control; but six millions; (which a majority of
those now living will see them attain;) and one million of these
fighting men; will say; 〃we will not go。〃
I am aware that this subject involves some constitutional
scruples。 But a liberal construction; justified by the object; may
go far; and an amendment of the constitution; the whole length
necessary。 The separation of infants from their mothers; too; would
produce some scruples of humanity。 But this would be straining at a
gnat; and swallowing a camel。
I am much pleased to see that you have taken up the subject of
the duty on imported books。 I hope a crusade will be kept up against
it; until those in power shall become sensible of this stain on our
legislation; and shall wipe it from their code; and from the
remembrance of man; if possible。
I salute you with assurances of high respect and esteem。
PROFESSORS FROM ABROAD
_To Dugald Stewart_
_Monticello in Virginia; Apr。 26; 1824_
DEAR SIR; It is now 35 years since I had the great pleasure
of becoming acquainted with you in Paris; and since we saw together
Louis XVI。 led in triumph by his people thro' the streets of his
capital; these years too have been like ages in the events they have
engendered without seeming at all to have bettered the condn of
suffering man。 Yet his mind has been opening and advancing; a
sentiment of his wrongs has been spreading; and it will end in the
ultimate establishment of his rights。 To effect this nothing is
wanting but a general concurrence of will; and some fortunate
accident will produce that。 At a subsequent period you were so kind
as to recall me to your recollection on the publicn of your
invaluable book on the Philosophy of the Human Mind; a copy of which
you sent me; and I have been happy to see it become the text book of
most of our colleges & academies; and pass thro' several
reimpressions in the U。S。 An occurrence of a character dear to us
both leads again to a renewal of our recollections and associates us
in an occasion of still rendering some service to those we are about
to leave。 The State of Virga; of which I am a native and resident;
is establishing an university on a scale as extensive and liberal as
circumstances permit or call for。 We have been 4 or 5 years in
preparing our buildings; which are now ready to recieve their
tenants。 We proceed; therefore; to the engaging professors; and
anxious to recieve none but of the highest grade of science in their
respective lines; we find we must have recourse to Europe; where
alone that grade is to be found; and to Gr。 Br。 of preference; as the
land of our own language; morals; manners; and habits。 To make the
selection we send a special agent; M'r Francis W。 Gilmer; who will
have the