and the amor patriae of the other. For if a flave can have a country in this world, it muft be any other in preference to that in which he is born to live and labour for another:
in which he muft lock up the faculties of his nature, contribute as far as depends on his individual endeavours to the evanifhment of the human race, or entail his own miferable condition on the endlefs generations proceeding from him. With the morals of the people, their induftry alfo is deflroyed. For in a warm climate, no man will labour for himfelf who can make another labour for him. This is fo true, that of the proprietors of flaves a very fmall proportion indeed are ever feen to labour. And can the liberties of a nation be thought fecure when we have removed their only firm bafis, a conviction in the minds of the people that thefe liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? In- deed I tremble for my country when I refleft that God is juft: that his juftice cannot fleep for ever: that confidering numbers, nature and natural means only, a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of fituation is among poffible events: that it may become probable by fupernatural interference! The almighty has no attribute which can take fide with us in fuch a conteft.—But it is impoffible to be temperate and to purfue this fubjed Tt through the various confiderations of policy, of morals, of hiftory natural and civil. We muft be contented to hope they will force their way into every one's mind.
I think a change already perceptible, fmce the origin of the prefent revolution. The fpirit of the mafter is abating, that of the flave rifing from the duft, his condition mollifying, the way I hope preparing, under the aufpices of heaven, for a total emancipation, and that this is dilpofed, in the order of events, to be with the confent of the matters, rather than by their extirpation.
QUERY XIX. The prefent ftate of manufadlures, com- merce, interior and exterior trade?