sionary systems are doing for idolatrous nations a preparatory work far more important than the Jews did for Rome. The sacred Scriptures, now complete, are being translated into the languages of every nation under the sun; and the day seems dawning when the kingdom of Christ shall have universal dominion in the earth. A comprehensive view of the agencies at work in the propagation of Christianity, and the certainty of the results which must follow the general circulation of the Scriptures and the preaching of the Gospel, makes the heart of the Christian swell with emotions too great for utterance, and should lead the man who would raise a finger to obstruct its progress among any class of men, slave or free, to doubt whether the love of Christ pervades his soul.

CHAPTER IV.

AFRICAN SLAVERY AND AFRICAN EMANCIPATION, IN THEIR EFFECTS, RESPECTIVELY, UPON THE NATIONAL WELFARE OF THE CAU

CASIANS.

Thus far, mainly, the investigations have had reference to the moral and religious effects produced upon the African race, in their connection with the Caucasian, whether as bondmen or freedmen. The object in view would be imperfectly accomplished, without an examination of the effects which the blacks, under slavery, and emancipation, respectively, have had upon the economical and political welfare of the countries into which they have been introduced. When this is done, it will afford a useful lesson on the dangers of premature emancipation, and the hasty enfranchisement of uncivilized men, upon the progress of civil liberty and the safety of civil government.

SECTION I. EFFECTS OF EMANCIPATION IN BRAZIL, MEXICO, AND THE SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLICS.

At the time of the prohibition of the slave trade by England and the United States, Brazil belonged to Portugal, and the remaining South American provinces and Mexico to Spain. The most active period of the slave trade, as already shown, was that which succeeded its prohibition, and that which followed West India Emancipation. All the slaves exported westward from Africa, during this epoch, were taken to the Spanish, Portuguese, and French colonies of South America and the West India islands. This gave them a very considerable African population - the slaves of Brazil, in 1850, being equal in number to those of the United States, and the number in the Spanish islands falling but little short of one-third of that number. The French colonies, at the

time of emancipation, in 1848, had a colored population of 416,755, of whom 257,009 were slaves.

Now, what have been the results with these our neighbors ? Brazil has never emancipated her slaves. She remains a stable, progressive, and prosperous government, as compared with the countries by which she is surrounded, although her slave population is double that of the white citizens.

Cuba, still belonging to Spain, has never emancipated its slaves, but continues to augment their numbers by means of the slave trade. Its productiveness is regularly on the increase, and its economical prosperity unsurpassed by any equal extent of territory in the world.

Mexico, in 1813, threw off the yoke of Spain, and declared herself a Republic. But the attempt of Iturbide to restore a despotism, raising up a race of military chieftains for his overthrow, afterwards produced a struggle for power, resulting, in 1824, in the prohibition of the slave trade, and the adoption of a Constitution declaring free all born after that date. Pedraza being elected President, Santa Anna, at the head of the military, interposed, and placed in the presidential chair the defeated candidate, Guerrero, who to strengthen himself, and the better to resist an invasion from Spain, then in process of execution-issued a decree, September, 1829, emancipating all slaves.

Thus was liberty and equality at once secured to the blacks of Mexico, and, under the law, the African, in a moment, made the equal of the descendants of the proud Castillians who had conquered Montezuma ;* and thus, also, was another instance of emancipation effected under circumstances where it was required by a political necessity, just as, in England, it was demanded by a conjectural economical necessity. But in neither case was the good of the black man the principal motive urged to give to him his freedom-it being in the one case to secure troops to sustain a usurper, in the other with the belief that free labor would be more profitable than slave labor.

And what have been the results of the Mexican expedient to gain a political advantage, by placing the African on terms of

* See "Ethiopia," page 102.

equality, side by side with the Caucasian? Happily, the consequences have been depicted by a master hand, in the abolition ranks. We refer to the late Judge Jay, who thus drew the picture of Mexico to the life, in 1846:

"The republic of Mexico had long been the prey of military chieftains, who, in their struggle for power, and the perpetual revolutions they had excited, had exhausted the resources of the country. Without money, without credit, without a single frigate, without commerce, without union, and with a feeble population of seven or eight millions, composed chiefly of Indians and mixed breeds, scattered over immense regions, and for the most part sunk in ignorance and sloth, Mexico was certainly not a very formidable enemy to the United States." *

In addition, Judge Jay states that the exports from Mexico, in 1842, were, exclusive of gold and silver, only one million and a half of dollars. It has increased but little since that period, owing to its being torn and distracted by almost constant wars, and because it has none of the elements of progress in its present state of society.

Here, now, we have the results of the practical application, by the Mexicans, of the doctrine that all men are created free and equal! Indians, negroes, whites, were all declared equal at the ballot-box; and scarcely a single President, elected by the popular vote since that event occurred, has ever been able, for any considerable time, to maintain himself in his seat. Such has been Mexican emancipation, and such its results!

The condition of the South American Republics is so nearly like that of Mexico, that details in relation to the results of their emancipation schemes may be spared. The portrait of Mexico, with some slight modifications, may stand for the whole group; and its state of society may be inferred from the character of its population. Mr. Jay states it as follows:

The wisdom and foresight of the Fathers of the Republic of the United States, averted such evils as have afflicted Mexico, by not committing the folly of commingling barbarism and civilization, on equal terms, in the Constitution. Had they emancipated the negroes, and, like Mexico, admitted both negroes and Indians to citizenship, the United States, to-day, might have been little better, in its moral and civil condition, than Mexico has been for years. By the course which we adopted, the emigrants from Europe, with their labor, skill, capital, and intelligence, flocked to our shores, instead of to the milder climates of Mexico and South America. Thus we were strengthened while they remained weak and distracted the ignorance and degradation of their barbarous population rendering it a suitable instrument, in the hands of ambitious military adventurers, for the disturbance of the public peace. Had the course of Mexico, toward her uncivilized population, been productive of the greatest good to the cause of humanity, it would afford a justification of her action. But no one familiar with the facts will, for a moment, deny that the great body of our slaves are better provided for, and have made more rapid advances in civilization, than the mongrel breeds of Mexico; and yet, the Indians, mixed breeds, and negroes, have long been in the possession of the privileges of citizenship in that Republic - have long had all the rights which abolitionists claim for the slave, without any of the blessings which, they insist, will necessarily follow in the wake of emancipation.

Another remark or two may be useful here, in reference to the subject of emancipation. Human freedom is the richest of blessings, where men are prepared for it; but it may be productive of serious evils when prematurely conferred. Take an example, in another relation of life: the inheritance of wealth is a boon that may bring lasting happiness; but the law wisely forbids its transfer to the heir, until he has attained an age when it is supposed he must be capable of using it prudently. The negro and Indian races are to be considered as minors in their relations to the freedom guarantied in civilized society, and the great mass of them, at present, and most likely for ages to come, as wholly incapable of using it safely. The time may come when it will be otherwise; but, till then, the prudent Christian will not be in haste to disturb existing