reproach it muft be faid, that though for a century and a half we have had under our eyes the races of black and of red men, they have never yet been viewed by us as fubjefe of na- tural hiftory. I advance it therefore as a fufpicion only, that the blacks, whether originally a diftind race, or made diftindl by time and circumftances, are inferior to the whites in the endowments both of body and mind. It is not againft expe- rience to fuppofe, that different fpecies of the fame genus, or varieties of the fame fpecies, may poflefs different qualifications.
Will not a lover of natural hiftory then, one who views the gradations in all the O Q races of animals with the eye of philofophy, excufe an effort to keep thofe in the de- partment of man as diftinft as nature has formed them? This unfortunate difference of colour, and perhaps of faculty, is a powerful obflacle to the emancipation of thefe people. Many of their advocates, while they wifh to vindicate the liberty of human nature are anxious alfo to pre- ferve its dignity and beauty. Some of thefe, embarraffed by the queftion * What fur- ther is to be done with them?' join them- felves in oppofition with thofe who are aftuated by fordid avarice only. Among the Romans emancipation required but one effort. The flave, when made free, might mix with, without ftaining the blood of his mafler. But with us a fecond is neceffary, unknown to hiftory. When freed, he is to be removed beyond the reach of mixture.
The revifed code further propofes to proportion crimes and punifhments. This is attempted on the following fcale.
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U "^vovd C^OO C^6 M N f^r^ « i Pardon and privilege of clergy are propofed to be abolifhed; but if the ver- di6l be againft the defendant, the court in their difcretion, may allow a new trial.