Chapter II: Part 2

The next thing in course is, the advantages that would arise to _Europe_ in thus carrying on a Christian-like Commerce with _Africa_. This trade even in its present state, excluding that of the Slaves, is as advantageous as any that is now followed; and what will it be when a friendly traffick is carried on? It is as it were all profit, the first cost being some things of _European_, particularly of _British_ manufactures, and others generally purchased with them; for which there is in return, gold, elephant’s-teeth, wax, gums, cotton-wool, divers dying-woods, and Slaves: But this last piece of Commerce, _viz._ Man-slaving, I am far from making a part of the _British_ trade, and I dare say every humane person will be likeminded. These are articles which the country abound in, and would be still cheaper to an immense degree, were the inland parts settled with their own people; but instead of that, a hundred thousand are yearly carried away. _Britain_ pays but little for the commodities it exports to _Africa_, being mostly, as observed before, its own produce, such as worsted and cotton cloths of all kinds, brass, iron, and copper work of every sort, particularly large quantities of all kinds of defensive arms, with powder and shot in proportion; _East-India_ goods, every kind of _British_ manufactures, and a good deal of _American_ and _West-India_ rum, _&c._ It is not easy to say what vast quantities of the above _British_ and _American_ productions would be exhausted yearly among so great a people, and in so very extensive a country, were the Slave Trade stopped. It is the interest of every Merchant in _Britain_ and the Plantations who are now concerned in traffick to _Africa_, to cultivate the inland commerce in its utmost extent, as having no manner of concern with the Slave Trade, there being the greatest reason to believe, that where they now export twenty shillings worth of commodities thither, they would then export an hundred pound; and I am inclined to think when the trade comes to be extended to the degree it will admit of, notwithstanding those goods that are imported from _Africa_, there will still be discovered an infinite variety of trafficable articles, with which the present Traders are totally unacquainted, and this Trade become the most beneficial to _Britain_, _America_, and the _West-Indies_, of any that is at present on foot, as it is common to every individual, and of which the government has taken much notice, by granting an annual sum of ten thousand pounds sterling for the maintaining and upholding the forts and castles in the _British_ Settlements in _Africa_, so that they are entirely defended against the attacks of any enemy, and their Trade and Colonies secured by irresistible strength of forts and castles.

A great deal more could be mentioned on the thousands of advantages that may arise to the interest of _Britain_ and the Plantations in abolishing this wicked Trade: However, I shall detain my Readers no longer on this head, but as proposed,

Conclude the whole with some short admonitions to those concerned, and a method to put this Trade to _Africa_ upon a just and lawful footing. I advise every Merchant and Ship-master who is in this Trade of Man-slaving to renounce and give it up. What arguments or reason, pray, can be advanced for his justification, when he sees such threats and curses against him, particularly mentioned in the first head? Why should any person incur the penalties of GOD’s Law so daringly for the sake of gain? Should they think themselves on a death-bed, what agonies and troubles of mind must they undergo in the thoughts of enslaving so many miserable creatures, of murdering so many thousands of innocent people in the wars they occasion, treacherously taking them out of their own country, using them barbarously, massacring numbers of them in all the cruel ways imaginable on the passage, selling them for life, and depriving them even of a comfortable living, notwithstanding they serve for nothing else; surely the judgment of GOD must come upon such men who will thus use their own Brethren who were born to inherit the same salvation with us, and if his judgment does not come upon them, it will pursue their children unto the third and fourth generation, until the riches that have been thus scandalously amassed be squandered away, and they become as poor as these Negroes themselves, by selling of whom such unjust gain was made. But this is only one way out of thousands that GOD chuses to afflict his enemies in this world. And,

Still pursuing, that GOD will be revenged on those that punish wrongfully such poor Negroes, I shall insert what the above mentioned Mr. _George Whitefield_ says in a letter to the inhabitants of _Virginia_, &c. “We have,” says he, “a remarkable instance of GOD’s taking cognizance of, and avenging the quarrel of poor Slaves, 2 _Sam._ xxi. 1. There was a famine in the days of _David_, three years, year after year, and _David_ enquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered, it is for _Saul_, and his bloody house, because he slew the _Gibeonites_. Two things are here very remarkable, 1st. These _Gibeonites_ were only hewers of wood and drawers of water; or in other words, Slaves like yours. 2d. That this plague was sent by GOD _many years after the injury_ (the cause of the plague) was committed. And for what end were this and such like examples recorded in holy Scripture? Without doubt for our learning. For GOD is the same to-day as he was yesterday, and will continue the same for ever. He does not reject the prayer of the poor and destitute, nor disregard the cry of the meanest Negro.” When speaking of the oppression and unchristian usage these poor Negroes meet with from the Ship-masters in their passage, and from the Masters they are sold to in the south parts of _America_ and the _West-Indies_, he adds, “The blood of the Negroes spilt for these many years in your respective Provinces will rise up to Heaven against you,” together with that lost in _Africa_, occasioned by the Traders that go thither. It may not be improper to observe here, that this plague was sent by GOD on _Saul_ and his bloody house _many years after the slaughter of the_ Gibeonites; so may these men reasonably expect, that have occasioned and still continue to be the cause of spilling so much innocent blood in _Africa_ and the different Provinces, to have a plague or curse come upon them, _many years after the perpetrating these wicked deeds_.

I will insert a few questions, for which I am indebted to Mr. _Postlethwayt_, by way of argument or persuasion to give up this enslaving of Men to those people who will be ready to defend this scandalous Trade to _Africa_, and of keeping these people in ignorance, who are brought into a country where the gospel is preached on all sides of them.

1st. “Whether the people of this country notwithstanding their colour, are not capable of being civilized and brought into the Christian religion, as well as great numbers of the _Indians_ of _America_ and _Asia_ have been; and whether the primitive inhabitants of all countries so far as we have been able to trace them were not once as savage and inhuman as the people in _Africa_, and whether the ancient _Britons_ themselves of our country were not once upon a level with the _Africans_?

2d. “Whether therefore, there is not a probability that those people might in time, by proper management in the _Europeans_, become as wise, as industrious, as humane, and as good Christians, as the people of any other country?

3d. “Whether their rational faculties are not in general equal to those of any other of the human species; and whether they are not, from experience, as capable for mechanical and manufactural arts and trades, as even the Bulk of the _Europeans_?

4th. “Whether it would not be more to the interest of all the _European_ Nations concerned in the Trade to _Africa_, rather to endeavour to cultivate a friendly and humane Commerce with these people, into the very centure of their extended country, than to content themselves only with skimming a trifling portion of Trade upon the Coast of _Africa_?

5th. “Whether the greatest hinderance and obstruction to the _European_’s cultivating a Christian-like and humane Commerce with those populous countries has not wholly proceeded from that unjust Traffick called the Slave Trade, which is carried on by the _Europeans_ _Americans_, _&c._

6th. “Whether this Trade and this only was not the primary cause, and still continues to be the chief cause of these eternal and incessant broils, quarrels, and animosities which subsist between the Negro Princes and Chiefs; and consequently of those endless wars which abide among them, and which they are induced to carry on in order to make prisoners of one another for the sake of the Slave Trade?

7th. “Whether, if trade was carried on with them for a series of years, as it has been with most other savage countries, and the _Europeans_ gave no incouragement whatever to the Slave Trade, those cruel wars among the Blacks would not cease, and a fair and honourable Commerce in time take place throughout the whole country?

8th. “Whether the example of the _Dutch_ in the _East-Indies_, who have civilized innumerable of the natives, and brought them to the _European_ way of cloathing, _&c._ does not give reasonable hopes that these suggestions are not visionary, but founded on experience as well as on humane and Christian principles?

9th. “Whether Commerce in general has not proved the great means of civilizing all nations, even the most savage and brutal; and why not the _Africans_?

10th. “Whether the territory of the _European_ nations who are interested in the Colonies and Plantations in _America_, are not populous enough, or may be rendered so, by proper encouragement given to matrimony and the breed of foundling infants, to supply their respective Colonies with labourers in the place of Negro Slaves? And

Lastly. “Whether the _British_ dominions in general have not an extent of territory sufficient to increase and multiply their inhabitants; and whether it is not their own faults that they do not increase them sufficiently to supply their Colonies and Plantations, with Whites instead of Blacks?”

I make no doubt, but some persons who are concerned in the Slave Trade to _Africa_, will attempt making answer to some of these questions: But I presume there are others of them they will not venture upon, knowing they are founded upon reason and truth, and I hope will have great influence on those this Treatise concern.

I would add one necessary query more, to those who hold the sword of justice, and who must account to God for the use they make of it. Since the _English_ Law is so truly valuable for its justice, how can they overlook the barbarous deaths and wrongful Slavery of the unhappy _Africans_, without trial or proof of being guilty of crimes adequate to their punishments? Why are those Masters of vessels (who are not the most considerate of men) suffered to be sovereign arbiters of the lives of these miserable Negroes in their passage, and allowed with impunity to destroy, may I not say murder their fellow creatures in a manner so cruel as can never be related but with shame and horror? Answer me this, ye pretended Judges and Governors in the different Colonies where such practices are used, and not be shocked at the negligence you have sleeped in. Since you are put in remembrance of it now, I hope and sincerely wish, I, or any other person may not have occasion to remind you of the same again, but that you will punish with equity all those who import Negroes; there being hundreds of poor _Europeans_ that would be glad to come and serve in any of the _British_ Plantations, and those that could not pay a passage doubtless would sell part of their time for it; and this I make no doubt, considering they have not the charge of their funeral and death-bed expences and sundry other things to pay, will come nigh if not full as cheap as buying and keeping Negroes; and it will be attended with this advantage, that these White people when they have served some years in the lowest capacities turn out upon the waste land, marry, and in a few years we see a town well settled, and in less than fifty years there will be an increase of fourfold; by this means the country will fill up and we become respectable and secure from an enemy, and furnished with every conveniency of life. And you Governors, _&c._ who have the legislative power in your hands will still further make Laws and put them in execution, stopping any further importation of Slaves into the Provinces or Islands where you are the Representative head, so that in that time they may furnish themselves with sufficient numbers, and by proper usage keep up that quantity which so much decrease by improper management. Now give me leave to proceed

In a method to put this Trade to _Africa_ on a just and lawful footing. First, in order to this, it is my humble opinion, if I may be allowed to give it, that there be a number of men who may chuse to venture in this Trade, both in _Britain_ and the Colonies, that shall be incorporated into separate bodies by the name of _English_, or _British_; _American_, or _New-England African_ companies, or by the denomination of other Provinces in _America_, or Plantations in the _West-Indies_; and these companies shall equip and rig out as many vessels as they think proper, loading them with _British America_, _East_ and _West-India_ goods, and bring back in return, the rich and plentiful produce of _Africa_. But before I go any further into this point it must be observed, there is one real hinderance in the way which must be removed, or else no man or company need ever think of penetrating into the heart of this country, but just content themselves with taking the skim of this Trade, leting the body stand, and that is, the Slave Trade; this must be entirely renounced and given up by the _Europeans_, particularly by _Britain_ and the Colonies; then we may with a good face and conscience travel into the heart of _Africa_, and meet with a friendly and hearty reception from the natives, who will trade with us, and give in exchange their valuable productions for our goods which are generally exported thither.

When that great, that only chief obstacle, the Slave Trade is removed, then _Britain_ and the Colonies will flourish by so great and profitable a Commerce. Think what a great addition it will make to their traffick, the furnishing a hundred thousand people annually, more than are at present with cloathing, powder, shot, and warlike arms, and many more things needless here to enumerate out of England; rum, and sundry other articles out of _America_ and the _West-Indies_. It is supposed that the above extraordinary number of Blacks are taken out of _Africa_ yearly, and either murdered or made Slaves of, by the ships that go there out of _Boston_, _&c._ and what advantages may arise to the inhabitants in peopling, and consequently of cultivating and manuring their ground, and of bringing their rich trade to the perfection it is capable of, with _Britain_, _&c._ is hard to say, when the innermost parts of that great and fruitful country is settled, and a free and happy trade carried into the heart of it: But thus far I will venture to say, as I have done already, that where twenty shillings worth of commodities is at present exported an hundred pound will be, when a friendly Commerce is carried on with the natives.

These companies may say, that if once this trade is set on foot, other _European_ powers, who have Settlements in _Africa_ will invade them whenever they begin to thrive by not having sufficient funds for the keeping in good defence the forts, &c. on the Settlements. As to this I answer, that those companies have a sum of ten thousand pounds sterling annually, from the Crown of _Britain_, for maintaining and upholding the forts and castles that are built upon the _British_ Colonies, which with the duties arising from the Trade will be sufficient to maintain, uphold, and defend them with strength superior to the strongest enemy.

Thus far I hope I have removed your fears of inability in supporting and continuing this Trade, and likewise have moved ways and means to put the same on a just and lawful footing. Now let me, patient Reader, conclude with a short Exhortation to the Ship-masters and Merchants concerned in this Trade, in part of which I have had recourse again to my good old Friend Mr. _Benezet_.

I beg you all would fly from the oppression and Bondage to which the poor _Africans_ are subjected, loose the bonds from off their necks, and thereby extricate yourselves from a custom which is pernicious to your welfare here and hereafter; and as you are sensible most men have objections to this base, unlawful Trade, you ought to vindicate yourselves to the world, upon principles of reason, honesty, and humanity, and then you will not attack the persons, or invade the rights of these people. I believe those who are concerned in this Trade will be at a loss to make this justification but upon motives so weak and unreasonable, that I do not think any of them which have been advanced for their defence worthy of notice; and if they are undeserving of that, they certainly are below regard; therefore I think _you should forever lay it aside_. This is the best and shortest way; for _there should be no trade carried on_, it being a national and provincial concern, _but such as is justifiable both to_ GOD _and man_, and this is in direct opposition to both. But laying man’s resentment aside, which is of little moment in comparison with that of the Almighty’s, I counsel you once more to think of a future reckoning, consider what reasons you will be able to produce at the great and last day. You now accumulate riches and live in pleasure; but what will you do in the end, and that will be but short? What if you should be called hence and hurried out of this world under the vast load of blood guiltiness that is now lying on your souls? How many thousands have you been the instruments to, and primary cause of being killed in the wars and broils with the _African_ Chiefs, wanting to obtain your number to enslave; and how many have you killed in the passage, when these poor Creatures were trying to retrieve their Liberty which they had in their own country, and which you unjustly take from them, or rather chusing to die than take food to nourish and preserve themselves for being mancipated with their children after them?

It is declared in the most express terms in Scripture, that thieves and murderers shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD. You who are in this Trade take warning by that, and if you have any thoughts or Christian feeling you must certainly renounce it; for that you are thieves and murderers (I hope after what has been said) will not be disputed; and you should think that at the same time and by the same means you are treasuring up worldly riches, you are treasuring up fountains of wrath against the day of anger and vengeance that shall come upon the workers of iniquity, unless timely repented of.

What injustice is greater? What offence more heinous? Is there any carries in it more consummate guilt than that in which you now live? How can you lift your culpable eyes to Heaven? How can you pray for mercy, or hope for savour from him that made and formed you, while you go on thus boldly and publickly dishonouring him, in degrading and destroying the noblest workmanship of his hands in this sublunary world? Can you think that GOD will hear your prayers, receive your supplications, or grant your desires, while you act thus grossly and openly against his divine revealed will and pleasure? And do you suppose that he who is the Parent of all nations, the Protector of all people, and the Father of all men, will not revenge the mal-treatment of his offspring whom he once so loved as to give his only begotten Son, _that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have everlasting life_? This love of GOD to man, which is disclosed in Scripture, adds double provocation to your crimes; for if GOD regards us with so much affection, we ought also to esteem one another.

Permit yourselves for a moment to reflect equitably and deliberately upon the nature of this horrid, detestable, vile, and abominable Man Trade, and your hearts must certainly relent, if you have not lost all sense of benevolence, all sympathy and compassion towards those of your Brethren who have the same capacities, understandings and souls, and who were born to inherit the same salvation with you; I say, if you are not callous to every Christian, humane, and manly sensibility, you certainly must feel compassion for those extremely oppressed people, when you think what miseries, what devastations and massacres among them you have been the author of, and all for filthy lucre’s sake. The thoughts of this accursed Trade touches my very heart, and finding if I continue any longer I shall get out of the bounds of decency, must therefore conclude. And if all you have read should have no weight upon your hardened hearts, this remains for my consolation that I have done my duty; and I pray! Fervently pray! That GOD would have mercy on your sinful souls; and that he of his infinite goodness would grant that you may be made sensible of your guilt and repent of these your execrable and really detestable deeds.

_FINIS._

* * * * *

☞ _The Author makes no doubt but the Publick, after reading this Pamphlet, will readily agree with him, that the words in the Dedication are verified, “That it was put together with more good intent than ability,” which he is very sensible of: But at the same time thinks all criticism and scrutinizing should be laid aside, when they reflect_, that the will to do good is next in order to the action itself.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] It is supposed eighty thousand Negroes, are upon the Island of _Barbadoes_, and yet through the hard labour they exact of these poor creatures, and what of them are killed through their barbarous chastisements, a decrease is made of five thousand Slaves yearly, which they are resupplied with from _Africa_; and it may be reasonably expected, that the children eighty thousand Negroes would have, were they worked in the same manner with the white people, and did not so many of them die through hard labour, and from the treatment they suffer: I say, it may be expected, there would be an increase of ten thousand at a moderate computation yearly, instead of five thousand decreasing. One may form an idea from this, of what an additional supply most of the _West-India_ Islands and Southern Provinces need, for there is not one of them but what import a considerable number of Slaves annually, to keep up their common stock.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.

Some hyphens in words have been silently removed, some added,
when a predominant preference was found in the original book.

Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

Pg xvi: ‘shonld have incurred’ replaced by ‘should have incurred’.
Pg 17: ‘base, unchristan’ replaced by ‘base, unchristian’.
Pg 20: ‘their opression’ replaced by ‘their oppression’.
Pg 26: ‘concerned ni the’ replaced by ‘concerned in the’.
Pg 27: Quote marks have been removed from the paragraph ‘As ... Trade.’.
Pg 31: ‘land of Egygt’ replaced by ‘land of Egypt’.
Pg 34: ‘out of Eygpt’ replaced by ‘out of Egypt’.
Pg 40: ‘and mark him’ replaced by ‘and marks him’.
Pg 45: ‘by the interposion’ replaced by ‘by the interposition’.
Pg 52: ‘and conton cloths’ replaced by ‘and cotton cloths’.
Pg 56: ‘and will coutinue’ replaced by ‘and will continue’.
Pg 67: ‘the istruments to’ replaced by ‘the instruments to’.
Pg 69: ‘the male-treatment of’ replaced by ‘the mal-treatment of’.
Pg 70: ‘your hardned hearts’ replaced by ‘your hardened hearts’.