A Cribute for the Negro. PART 1. 'a An Inquiry into the claims of the Legra Race to humanity, and a Vindication of their original equality with the other portions of Mankind; with a few observations on the inalienable rights of Alan, the Sin of Slavery, Kr., Kr. Part First. AN INQUIRY INTO THE CLAIMS OF THE NEGRO RACE TO HUMANITY, &c. CHAPTER I. Sin of Slavery increasingly acknowledged-Delusion respecting the moral and intellectual capacity of the Negro-An important question-To despise a fellow-being on account of any external peculiarity, a sinChristianity the manifestation of universal love-Inquiry into the causes of the diversity characterising various nations and people-Analogous in animals-Remarks of Buffon and Lawrence on this subject-Connection between the physiological, moral, and intellectual characters in Man-The diversities trifling in comparison with those attributes in which they agree-Nothing to warrant us in referring to any particular race an insurmountable deficiency in moral and intellectual faculties-Scripture testimony to unity of origin in the human race. In the present enlightened age, talent and piety have combined their energies, in endeavouring to promote the welfare and emancipation of the degraded and enslaved African. The grievous sin of man making merchandise of his fellow-creatures, and holding them in perpetual slavery, has long been a subject of eloquent declamation, and has for some time been denounced by the unanimous voice of the British public. England has given to the nations a noble example, in abolishing, at a great sacrifice, a system of injustice and cruelty, in which she had long taken a guilty part. ""Twas Britain's mightiest sons that struck the blow!" "And monarchs trembled at the o'erpowering sound, And widely struck, by the victorious spell, From Negro limbs, the enslaving shackles fell!" Yet notwithstanding the evils of Slavery are becoming increasingly felt and acknowledged, it is evident that there still exists, in the minds of many who deprecate the whole system as unjust, a strong delusion with regard to the moral and intellectual capacities of the Coloured portion of mankind, and as regards their proper station in the scale of intelligent existence. It is an important question, whether the Negro is constitutionally, and therefore irremediably, inferior to the White man, in the powers of the mind. Much of the future welfare of the human race depends on the answer which experience and facts will furnish to this question; for it concerns not only the vast population of Africa, but many millions of the Negro race who are located elsewhere, as well as the Whites who are becoming mixed with the Black race in countries where Slavery exists, or where it has existed till within a very recent period. Many persons have ventured upon peremptory decisions on both sides of the question; but the majority appear to be still unsatisfied as to the real capabilities of the Negro race. Their present actual inferiority in many respects, comparing them as a whole with the lighter coloured portion of mankind, is too evident to be disputed; but it must be borne in mind that they are not in a condition for a fair comparison to be drawn between the two. Their present degraded state, whether we consider them in a mental or moral point of view, may be easily accounted for by the circumstances amidst which Negroes have lived, both in their own countries, and when they have been transplanted into a foreign land. But if instances can be adduced of individuals of the African race exhibiting marks of genius, which would be considered eminent in civilized European society, we have proofs that there is no incompatibility between Negro organization and high intellectual power. It has been well observed by a late writer, that it is important to clucidate this question, if possible, on several accounts; and that if it be proved to be correct, the Negro is qualified to occupy a different situation in society to that which has been declared to belong to him, by the almost unanimous acclaim of civilized nations. If the capabilities and aptitudes of the Negro are such as some writers argue, he is only fitted, by his natural constitution and endowments, for a servile state; and the zealous friends of his tribe, Wilberforce and Clarkson, Allen and Gurney, with many others, who were thought to have obtained an exalted station among the great benefactors of the human race, must be regarded as having been simply well-meaning enthusiasts, who, under an imagined principle of philanthropy, argued with too much success for the emancipation of domestic animals, of creatures destined by nature to remain in that condition, and to serve the lords of the creation in common with his oxen, his horses, and his dogs. If science has led to this conclusion, as the true and just inference from facts, the sooner it is admitted the better: the opinion which is opposed to it must be unreasonable and injurious. But the purport of the present volume is to prove from facts which speak loudly, that the Negro is indubitably, and fully, entitled to equal claims with the rest of mankind; a task by no means difficult, no more so indeed, to the impartial judge, than to demonstrate the self-evident truths "That smoke ascends, that snow is white." The claims of the Negro are, however, called in question by so many, and their rights as men denied by those who point at the colour which God has given them, with the finger of scorn, that some counteracting influence seemed desirable. To despise a fellow-being, or attach a degree of inferiority to him, merely on account of his complexion, or any other external peculiarity which may have been conferred upon him, is to arraign the wisdom of the Allwise Creator, and, consequently, an offence in the Divine sight. "He |