At a later period, I
requested the same gentleman to have it published in Blackwood, where it
would at least have had a fair trial on its own merits, but it was
refused insertion. My very worthy friend, who acted for old Kit at that
time as secretary of state for colonial affairs, did not like it, I
presume; it trenched a little, it would seem, on the integrity of his
great question; it approached to something like compulsory manumission,
about which he does rave. Why will he not think on this subject like a
Christian man? The country--I say so--will never sanction the retaining
in bondage of any slave, who is willing to pay his master his fair
appraised value.
Our friend----injures us, and himself too, a leetle by his ultra
notions. However, hear what I propose, and what, as I have told you
formerly, was published in the Courier by no less a man than Lord----.
Scheme for the gradual Abolition of Slavery.
The following scheme of redemption for the slaves in our colonies is
akin to a practice that prevails in some of the Spanish settlements.
We have now bishops, (a most excellent measure,) and we may presume that
the inferior clergy will be much more efficient than heretofore. It is
therefore proposed,--That every slave, on attaining the age of twenty
one years, should be, by act of Parliament, competent to apply to his
parish clergyman, and signify his desire to be appraised. The
clergyman's business would then be to select two respectable appraisers
from amongst his parishioners, who should value the slave, calling in an
umpire if they disagreed.
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