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Show 98 THE LlDERTY DELL. tb consciences of the Friends of order to perplex: e Abolition. 'Vill the momentary obstruction of material interests be opposed to these great results? 'When bas it ever been possible in this world to do much good w1. th ou t seeming at the same time to do a little harm 1 I have sometimes heard it said that the condi-tions of labor in the Colonies would have been less disturbed if the preparation and the accomplishment of the Emancipation had been left to the colonists tbcmsol vcs ; but you know better than I , my dear Colleague, that these assertions are hardly sincere. We cannot but recollect with what unanimity and what vehemence the colonial councils opposed, in 1844 and 1845, the Ameliorations that we sought to introduce into the condition of the Slaves. Is it not evident that this disposition would have rendered impossible tho time of a system of transi· LETTER, 99 tion which indeed was attempted without success in tho English colonies. For myself, I am quite convinced that it would have been iml)OSSible to effect tho emancipation otherwise than as it was effected, that is to say, in one day, and by a single decree. I would add also, that in my opinion the Abolition of Slavery in our colonies would have remained a long time unaccomplishcd, if France had not been in Revolution, and if it be easy to understand why all men of tho white race do not consent to the Revolution of 1848, I cannot conceive that a single man of color can be found whe does not regard it with benedictions. Furthermore, my dear Colleague, this great question of the Abolition of Negro Slavery, which has my entire sympathy, appears to me to have established ita importance throughout the world. At the present limo, tho States of the Peninsula, if I de not deceive myself, are tho only Enropoan powers who still continue to poBSCss Slaves ; and |