Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/504

476 476 FEKDINAND AND ISABELLA. II. PART mientos to a council of jurists and theologians. This body yielded to the representations of the advocates of the system, that it was indispensable for maintaining the colonies, since the European was altogether unequal to labor in this tropical climate ; and that it, moreover, afforded the only chance for the conversion of the Indian, who, un- less compelled, could never be brought in contact with the white man. ^^'^ On these grounds, Ferdinand openly assumed for himself and his ministers the responsibility of maintaining this vicious institution ; and subse- quently issued an ordinance to that effect, accom- panied, however, by a variety of humane and equi- table regulations for restraining its abuse. '^^ The license was embraced in its full extent ; the regu- lations were openly disregarded. ^^^ Several years and courag-e for the conversion of ry ! The whole argument, which the natives, and the vindication of comprehends the sum of what has their natural rights. Yet these been since said more diffusely in were the men, who lighted the defence of abolition, is singular- fires of the Inquisition in their own ly acute and cogent. In its ab- land. To such opposite results stract principles it is unanswera- may the same principle lead, under ble, while it exposes and denounces different circumstances ! the misconduct of his countrymen, 120 Las Casas concludes an elab- with a freedom which shows the orate memorial, prepared for the good bishop knew no other fear government, in 1542, on the best than that of his Maker, means of arresting the destruction l^^ Recop. de Leyes de las In- of the aborigines, with two prop- dias, August 14th, 1509, lib. 6, tit. ositions. 1. That the Spaniards 8, ley 1. — Herrera, Indias Occi- would still continue to settle in dentales, dec. 1, lib. 9, cap. 14. America, though slavery were ^-2 The text expresses nearly abolished, from the superior advan- enough the subsequent condition tages for acquiring riches it offered of things in Spanish America, over the Old World. 2. That, if " No government," says Heeren, they would not, this would not jus- " has done so much for the abo- tify slavery, since " God forbids us rigiiies as the Spanish." (Modern to do evil that good nimj conic of History, Bancroft's trans., v(d. i. p. ii." Rare maxim, from a Spanish 77.) Whoever peruses its colonial churchman of the sixteenth cenlu- codes, may find much ground for