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PLANTERS AND SLAVES.
nor advocate of any party; and when it ultimately moves itself, I believe it will be acknowledged that, as its deliberations have been long, its language will be firm and its march straight forward. There is abroad in the world, but more especially in Great Britain, an unprecedented activity of mind. We may neither fight, write, sing, nor pray better than our ancestors, but we are much better informed. Principles which Bacon knew not, and rights which Sidney would have trampled upon, are now the theme of the tales of childhood—are learnt from a nurse's lips or associated with the tones of a mother's voice. Knowledge made us free; freedom increased our knowledge; both together have made us what we are, the first of the world. As wise, as free, as Englishmen, we obey the impulse of our nature in striving to raise all mankind to a level with ourselves. We say the king's commission should in all places import equality of protection; that justice should in the East and West plant the staff, and a charter lie in the wavings of our Union. To this national feeling the Colonists must be respectful. It is too virtuous to be hurt by insinuation, too powerful to be resisted by violence. The slaves will not be emancipated with dangerous abruptness, but they must be educated, and legally secured from the possible effects of caprice. The termination of slavery may be remote, but the process of enfranchisement must begin as to-day. I write this after