Page:Remarks upon the Situation of Negroes in Jamaica.pdf/88

 ſuperadd extortion, to the ruin of him who ſhall be tempted to buy? will it not deprive us of this valuable trade without adding to humanity, and make the labour of thoſe, who are now upon the plantations more heavy, and at laſt ſink them down to languor and deſpair? would not a haſty liberation break down the bounds of juſtice, and obedience, introduce anarchy, confuſion, licentiouſneſs and death? As no ſubordination could be preſerved in ſuch a ſtate, the negroes might unbridle revenge, and make an indiſcriminate ſlaughter of the Europeans, and offer men, women, and children as the firſt victims of liberty: they would next proceed, in the pride of irreſiſtance, to the deſtruction of the buildings, crops, and proviſions; live in a ſtate of conſtant hoſtility, deſtroy one another, and periſh themſelves at laſt, by famine, or diſeaſe; or would be ſwept away by other nations, who would enrich themſelves with our capitals, riſe on the ruin of our trade, take advantage of our loſs; and grow inſolent, oppreſs, or perhaps conquer us with our own wealth. Nay this is not all; new taxes muſt be raiſed to ſupply