Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/270

 the introduction of slavery. In vain. England was then the mother-country, and carrying on the slave-trade, required a market for her cargoes of slaves, and commanded the young American colonies to become this market. The selfishness of the planters, the climate, and the productions of Southern North America, all assisted. Thus was slavery introduced into the United States. Climate, productions, and many other causes continue to maintain it there, until—something further.

England, during a period of newly-awakened national conscientiousness, and influenced by such men as Wilberforce, shook herself free from slavery, and liberated her slaves at the enormous sacrifice of twenty millions sterling. It is said that the whole thing might have been done more judiciously; it could scarcely have been done with more magnanimity. We yet look for the Wilberforce of America.

The people of the Southern States are greatly exasperated by Europe, and by the Northern States wishing to mix themselves up, as they say, in their own private affairs, and talking of and interfering with the institution of slavery and their established right to it, as if it was anything to them.

Their excuse is that the American Union, and the great purpose which it declares itself called upon to accomplish, is of such vast importance, of such infinite significance in the eyes of all the Free States, for the whole of humanity, and for all the nations of the world, that they could not allow themselves to be other than interested in its full accomplishment as in an affair that concerned themselves. And does it not in reality concern them?

The United States of America have declared the freedom and the rights of humanity. Every human being feels himself participant in this great charter of liberty.

“The May-flower” was the name of the first ship