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Show xii J>HEFATOH.Y LET'l'Elt. interest in the cause of emancipation, and we have a strong hop~ that the practical views developed in the present volnme will ere long be embraced by him, in reference to the slave states of Non~ America. In the mean time, as it was JT. "'bject to convince the more reasonable of the pro-slavery " believed it best~ address my letters to a gentler- ·ally regarded • belonging to that class. In r 1 had of coune no reference to the side whi~ of the United States. It ~ ~ z "litical parties in America- ~ ~tl.. Jfuf /@tr~~~ . , ·~ l'ernapo ... _ ~o in which the letters are w ~ ~ of our tour, and of the inc, ~ descriptions of the peculia/~ ~ and prose-I am ready to,.~ ~ .;>; work may serve to amus~~ ~. ~ ~... ... ..'." ' w .. ~ >:,:: • 1 the politia ·•ons of all ,f souna style ·nt of those graver points, so dlq~/ ~ ~ I . h . . . . l ~"'· ~ ~ ' both sides the Atlantic, an·.: ..,:< ...... . ~- ~ w nc It IS my prmcipa purpo!. ~ o,.... ~ v - P ~ ~ ~ .,.. own part, I consider it to be g1~ 1ir J~ ?' are engaged in the pursuit of set ~'i\ ~.. . ":; ~ catch the passing recreation afford\ \P~c[~~ ~ ~ skies, and bright sunsets. It is ~,!%~~ .. which is always bent, must break at '~' ':> my narrative, such as it is, is just a tn, One more point in relation to mode o. ..J claim a few remarks. While it is undoubtedly Oh. ~an duty to avoid the least concession of principle on the subject of slavery, the use of harsh epithets and violent language towards the slave· holders, is not only objectionable in itself, but has ofien had an injurious effect in arming them against our arguments, and of thus hindering the progress of oar cause. I have therefore thought PREFATORY J.ET'I'En. xiii it best to observe towards them the terms and usages of christian courtesy; and I believe there arc many of these persons in the United States, who are increasingly disposed to enter upon a fair consideration of the subject. Jf such individuals are wisely dealt with, by the friends of the slave, they can hardly fail to arrive at conclusions; which will finally entail upon them the moral necessity of openly supporting the cause of emancipation. ·At the same time, it ought never for a moment to be forgotten that the holding of our fellow-men, as property-liable to be bought and sold like other goods and chattels-is in its own nature a sinful and unlawful practice; and further, that slavery in the United States is aggravated by certain features of a peculiarly revolting character. ] need only remind thee, under this head, of the practice of slave-breeding, and of the extensive and shameless internal traffic in human beings, with which it is connected. But it may be asked, what arc my objects in republishing, in this country, a book which is specifically intended to bear on the people of the United States? My answer to this question is as follows- First, I conceive that the British public is increasingly alive to a feeling of interest, in the peculiar condition of the question of slavery amongst our brethren in America. There are features in the political constitution of that country, which throw many difficulties in the way of abolition; but as the principal inhabitants of the several independent slave states are brought to a conviction, that free labor will answer their purpose better than the compulsory work of slaves, these difficulties will all be surmounted. ln the principles and progress of such a work, the British public cannot fail to be interested. In the second place, the practical details of the working of freedom in our West Indian colonies, must of course be as interesting to the friends of humanity in our own country, as to those in America. |