It is well known that the versatile character of man is quickly formed and altered by the influence of natural or moral causes. It is therefore important, that general trinciples are so universally and decidedly established, after mature consideration, in the United States, as to produce universal effects; and this too upon aliens as well as natives. The laws are not only to govern, but to protect the orderly. This coincides with the interests and feelings of the many, whether foreign or American. 1 hey all rejoice in the circumstance, because it gratifies their self-love and promotes their interests. It is rea sonable to believe, that no men would more earnestly oppose an inquisition, a conscription, an impressment, a picketing, the torture, or an established church in America, than those, who have fled from their 'lathe homes to enjoy our happy exemptions from those great and obvious evils. This description of men might be safely expected to endure every hardship and suffer all the severities of persecution and warfare, before they would relinquish our protecting constitutions.
The form and nature of our country, without conquer ed annexations, or dependent colonies, occasion the condition of the Americans to exhibit a perfect civil uniformity, unknown and impracticable in any other maritime empire, and highly influential upon the unifor mity of the national character. The white and free black inhabitants are all included in this observation; for it is a truth, that the free blacks regularly adopt and display the institutions, apparel, furniture, and habits of the whites. They are generally Episcopalians, Cal vinists, and Methodists, in those places where all the Christian sects are within their free observation. It would be very difficult to adopt a civil constitution, by which the white inhabitants of the West Indian, South American, and East Indian colonies of the European states, could fully partake in their respective national governments. Yct it is found not only easy in this coun try, but really necessary to the just, convenient and uniform operation of our principles and systems. Man is justly contemplated, by our laws and by our political science, as an intelligent creation of the divine power. It is known that the highest intellect of the red and black races of men is sensibly better than that of the feeblest of the whites. As we cannot discriminate as to rights among the whites by the principle of intellect.
the same rule presses itself upon our regard with re spect to the free people of the red and black races. Divine providence has ordained the existence of the coloured races of men. and we believe and know, that the same supreme authority has imperiously ordain ed humanity and jtistn c among his intelligent and re sponsible creatures. Our institutions, therefore, con sider all men Ake. We endeas our, with care, pains, and pe I Ise to CIV time red people, and to persuade them to end,' ace our political economy, our civil insti tutions, her morals, and our religion ; or, in other w ords, to conform to our national plan of public and private happini as. So of the blacks, in certain degrees, times, and places ; though it is true and manifest that their numuers and their condition, with many attending cir cumstances, render the operations of justice, humanity, and an enlightened policy towards them, awfully danger ous at this time, and insupportably costly, and conse quently very gradual, deliberate, and arduous. Their
natural coalition is :t manifest dispensation of the divine hand ; and when it simil appear in a future day, that the humanity of our white people has raised the blacks from the .•,1i•ican condition, which is but a little higher than the next inferior class of beings, to the knowledge and practice of the salutary arts of civilization, morals, and religion, the meritorious choice of good on the part of the whites, ‘% ill be thereby humbly manifested to the universal fitther of men.
The comparative wisdom and virtue of the large de scriptions of men in various nations, who hold the nu merous bodies of slaves, which exist within their re spective couetries, is .1 fair subject of consideration ; and it is belies Gel tl,at it cannot be justly made to appear to the disadvantage or those of North America. The citizens of our slave states, and the northern slave holders have consented to and co-operated in the mea sures of this country for the arrestation and abolition of the slave trade. They have softened the rigour of the ancient slave laws. They have improved the apparel, food, habitations, and general treatment of the black people. In most of those states and districts, where safety permits the measures, they have adopted a sys tem for the abolition of slavery, and entered upon the operation by numerous emancipations, and by the substitution of a contracted service for a term of years, in li_u of personal and hereditary slavery. Did the laws of Greece and Rome go further ? Do those of the modern empires of Europe go so far in respect to their white cerfs or kfrican slaves? When it is considered with what ease and prompti tude doctrines su new as those of the .Ve7otunian philo sophy were adopted in all free countries, and even in others, thowelt they were the fruit of the wisdom and :earning of a single mind, it will not be considered as improbable, that the political principles of the North Americans, and their manifest beneficence to the many, should as easily and promptly become objects of adop tion awl attachment to those persons, who arrive among us from other climes. These acceptable principles oc casion all men, who have not opposing interests or pre indices to rally, as it were, around them, to partake of their nature and spirit, and thus, in fine, to exhibit the same characteristics. Republican principles, or in other words, their own just rights and substantial interests, =oust he acceptable to the unbiassed mass of every corn munity, , and this must occasion them, where it is safe and lawful, to be naturally embraced and exhibited. Many, nay all, may enjoy here these personal rights. A few only can enjoy the advantages of aristocracy and hierarchy: one of despotism or unlimited motia.rehy. The citizens of this country, therefore,as well naturalized as native, easily and quietly assimilate themselves in a prudent opposition to the power of a few, and in au open legitimate maintenance of the rights of the whole of the members of the community.