An American writer on Slavery has said, and I think most justly, “that two distinct races of people, nearly equal in numbers, and unlike in colour, manners, habits, feelings and state of civilization to such a degree that amalgamation is impossible, cannot dwell together in the same community unless the one be in subjection to the other.”  So fully am I convinced of the truth of this statement, and so certain am I that every one who has been in a Slave State must be satisfied of the truth of it, that I feel sure, if the South freed every slave to-morrow, not a week would elapse before each State in the Union without exception would pass stringent laws to prevent them settling within their borders; even at this moment such a law exists in some States.

With all these difficulties constantly before them, who can wonder that a kind-hearted planter, while gazing on the cheerful and happy faces of his well-fed and well-housed slaves, should look distrustfully at emancipation, and strive to justify to his conscience opposition to any plan, however gradual, which leads thereto.  Nevertheless, however satisfied in his mind that the slaves are kindly treated, and that harshness even is never used, he cannot contemplate the institution from a sufficient distance to be beyond its influences, without feeling that emancipation is the goal towards which his thoughts should ever bend, and that in proportion as the steps towards it must be gradual, so should they speedily commence.  But how?  Washington, while confessing his most earnest desire for abolition, declares his conviction that “it can only be effected by legislative authority.”

The next chapter will detail such propositions as, in my humble opinion, appear most worthy of the consideration of the Legislature, with a view to the gradual removal of the black star from the striped banner.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote BT:  List of States and Territories forming the Confederation.  Those marked S. are Slave-holding States.

STATES.

  New Hampshire
  Massachusetts
  Rhode Island
  Connecticut
  New York
  New Jersey[BU]
  Pennsylvania
  S. Delaware
  S. Maryland
  S. Virginia
  S. North Carolina
  S. South Carolina
  S. Georgia

NEW STATES.

Vermont         1791
S. Kentucky        1792
S. Tennessee       1796
Ohio            1802
S. Louisiana       1812
Indiana         1816
S. Mississippi     1817
Illinois        1818
S. Alabama         1819
Maine           1820
S. Missouri        1821
S. Arkansas        1836
Michigan        1837
S. Florida         1845
S. Texas           1845
Iowa            1846
Wisconsin       1848
California      1850

DISTRICT.

S. Columbia 1791

TERRITORIES.