Second Letter to the Freeholders of the County of York, on Negro Slavery: Being an Inquiry Into the Claims of the West Indians for Equitable Compensation (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Second Letter to the Freeholders of the County of York, on Negro Slavery: Being an Inquiry Into the Claims of the West Indians for Equitable Compensation

I now approach the question, Why is cowpen sation for the loss of labour of the Slave abstract edly just? I answer, simply, because this country has directly and indirectly fostered the existence of Slavery in the West Indies, and given an encon ragement and guarantee to investments in that species of property, (however objectionable in itself, ) by throwing over it, as over other property, the shield of the law. If, therefore, the State de prive the Planter of that labour, which he can alone obtain through the medium of coercion, that encouragement and guarantee demand from the State equitable compensation for his loss.

But it has been argued, that all such consider ations are superseded by the fact, that Slavery is repugnant to Christianity; that we ought not, under any circumstances, to violate the precepts of Christianity; and that, therefore, we are bound to destroy Slavery at once, without consideration of consequences.

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