Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

when not compelled. And what is there so pitiable in their present condition? Were they not slaves in their own countries? Are not Spain, Portugal, France, and the Italian states, governed by despots, who hold all their subjects in slavery, without exception? Even England treats her sailors as slaves: for they are, whenever the government pleases, seize and con fined in ships of war, condemned not only to work but to fight for small wages, or a mere subsistence not better than our slaves are allowed by us. their condition then made worse by their falling into our hands? No: they have only exchanged one slavery for another; and I may say a better: for here they are brought into a land where the sun of Islamism gives forth its light, and shines in full splendour, and they have an opportunity of making themselves acquainted with the true doctrine, and thereby save their immortal souls. Those who remain at home have not that happiness. Sending the slaves home, then, would be sending them out of light into darkness.

"I repeat the question, what is to be done with them? I have heard it suggested, that they may be planted in the wilderness, where there is plenty of land for them to subsist on, and where they may flourish as a free state. But they are, I doubt, too little disposed to labour without compulsion, as well as too ignorant to establish good government; and the wild Arabs would soon molest and destroy, or again enslave them. While serving us, we take care to provide them with every thing; and they are treated with humanity. The labourers in their own Countries are, as I am informed, worse fed, lodged, and clothed. The condition of most of them is therefore already mended, and requires no further improvement. Here their lives are in safety. They are not liable to be impressed for soldiers, and forced to cut one another's Christian throats, as in the wars of their own countrics. If some of the religious mad bigots who now tease us with their silly petitions, have in a fit of blind zeal, freed their slaves, it was not gene rosity, it was not humanity, that moved them to the action; it was from the conscious burden of a load of

sins, and hope, from the supposed meri's of so good a work, to be excused from damnation.--How grossly are they mistaken, in imagining slavery to be disa vowed by the Alcoran! Are not the two precepts, to quote no more,Masters, treat your slaves with kindness-Slaves, serve your masters with cheerful. ness and fidelity,' clear proofs to the contrary? Nor can the plundering of infidels be in that sacred book forbidden; since it is well known from it, that God has given the world, and all that it contains, to his faithful Musselmen, who are to enjoy it, of right, as fast as they conquer it. Let us then hear no more of this detestable proposition, the manumission of Christian slaves, the adoption of which would, by depreciating our lands and houses, and thereby de priving so many good citizens of their properties, create universal discontent, and provoke insurrections, to the endangering of government, and produc ing general confusion. I have, therefore, no doubt, that this wise council will prefer the comfort and happiness of a whole nation of true believers, to the whim of a few Erika, and dismiss their petition."

The result was, as Martin tells us, that the Divau came to this resolution: "That the doctrine, that the plundering and enslaving the Christians is unjust, is at best problematical: but that it is the interest of this state to continue the practice, is clear: there. fore, let the petition be rejected."-And it was re jected accordingly.

And since like motives are apt to produce, in the minds of men, like opinions and resolutions, may we' not venture to predict, from this account, that the pe. titions to the parliament of England for abolishing the slave trade, to say nothing of other legislatures and the debates upon them, will have a similar con clusion. HISTORICUS.

March 23, 1790.

OBSERVATIONS ON WAR.

By the original laws of nations, war and extirpation were the punishment of injury. Humanizing by degrees, it admitted slavery instead of death: a farther step was, the exchange of prisoners instead of slavery another, to respect more the property of private persons under conquest, and be content with ac quired dominion. Why should not this law of na ions go on improving? Ages have intervened be tween its several steps; but as knowledge of late increases rapidly, why should not those steps be quick-' ened? Why should it not be agreed to, as the future law of nations, that in any war hereafter, the following description of men should be undisturbed, have the protection of both sides, and be permitted to follow their employments in security? viz.

1. Cultivators of the earth, because they labour for the subsistence of mankind.

2. Fishermen, for the same reason.

3. Merchants and traders in unarmed ships, who accommodate different nations by communicating and exchanging the necessaries and conveniences of life.

4. Artists and mechanics, inhabiting and working In open towns.

It is hardly necessary to add, that the hospitals of enemies should be unmolested-they ought to be assisted. It is for the interest of humanity in general, that the occasions of war, and the inducements to it, should be diminished. If rapine be abolished, one of the encouragements to war is taken away; and beace therefore more likely to continue and be last ng.

The practice of robbing merchants on the high seas -a remnant of the ancient piracy-though it may be accidentally beneficial to particular persons, is far from being profitable to all engaged in it, or to the nation that authorizes it. In the beginning of a war some rich ships are surprised and taken. This en courages the first adventures to fit out more armed essels and many others to do the same. But the

1

enemy at the same time become more careful, arm their merchant ships better, and render them not so easy to be taken: they go also more under the protection of convoys. Thus, while the privateers to take them are multiplied, the vessels subjected to be taken, and the chances of profit, are diminished; so that many cruises are made whereir. the expenses overgo the gains; and, as is the case in other lotter ies, though particulars have got prizes, the mass o adventures are losers, the whole expense of fitting ou all the privateers during a war being inuch greate than the whole amount of goods taken.

Then there is the national loss of all the labour of So many men during the time they have been employed in robbing; who besides spend what they get in riot, drunkeness and debauchery; lose their habits of industry; are rarely fit for any sober business after a pea e, and serve only to increase the number of highwaymen and house-breakers. Even the undertakers, who have been fortunate, are by sudden wealth leo into expensive living, the habit of which continues when the means of supporting it cease, and finally ruins them: a just punishment for their having was only and unfeelingly ruined many honest, innocent traders and their families, whose substance was eployed in serving the common in teresis of mankind.

ON THE IMPRESS OF SEAMEN.

otes copied from Dr. Franklin's writing in penci in the margin of Judge Foster's celebrated argu ment in favor of the Impressing of Seamen (pub lished in the folio edition of his works.)

JUDGE FOSTER, p. 153. "Every man.-The con. clusion here from the whole to a part, does not seem to be good logic. If the alphabet should say, Let us all fight for the defence of the whole; that is equal and may, therefore, be just. But if they should say.

et A B C and D go out and fight for us, while we stay at home and. sleep in whole skins; that is not equal, and therefore cannot be just.

.

Ib. Employ."-If you please. The word sig nifies engaging a man to work for me, by offering him such wages as are sufficient to induce him to prefer my service. This is very different from compelling him to work on such terms as I think proper.

lb. "This service and employment," &c.-Theso are false facts. His employment and service are not the same.-Under the merchant he goes in an unarmed vessel, not obliged to fight, but to transport merchandize. In the king's service he is obliged to fight, and to hazard all the dangers of battle. Sickness on board of king's ships is also more common and more mortal. The merchant's service, too, he can quit at the end of the voyage; not the king'a Also, the merchant's wages are much higher.

Ib. "I am very sensible," &c.-Here are two things put in comparison that are not comparable: viz. injury to seamen, and inconvenience to trade. Inconvenience to the whole trade of a nation will not justify injustice to a single seamen. If the trade would suffer without his service, it is able and ought to be willing to offer him such wages as may induce him to afford his service voluntarily.

Page 159. "Private mischief must be borne with patience, for preventing a national calamity." Where is this maxim in law and good policy to be found? And how can that be a maxim which is not consistent with common sense? If the maxim had been, that private mischiefs, which prevent a national calamity, ught to be generously compensated by the nation, ne might understand it: but that such private mis chiefs are only to be borne with patience is absurd!

Ib. "The expedient, &c. And," &c. (Para graphs 2 and 3.)-Twenty ineffectual or inconve bient schemes will not justify one that is unjust.

Tb. "Upon the foot of &c.-Your reasoning, inleed, like a lie, stands but upon one foot; truth upon two.

Page 160. "Full wages."-Probably the sam they had in the merchants' service.

« ZurückWeiter »