The history of slavery and the slave trade, ancient and modern. The forms of slavery that prevailed in ancient nations, particularly in Greece and Rome. The African slave trade and the political history of slavery in the United States. Compiled from authentic materials

Front matter

mm.

BT8 o jHimtitnitm

KATHARINE E. COMAN

CHAPTER I. Preliminary Sketch. — Ancient Slavery

Early existence of Slavery in the world. — The Mosaic institutions in regard to Slavery.— Hebrews, how reduced to servitude. — The Jubilee. — Distinction between native and foreign Slaves. — Voluntary Slaves : the Mercenarii of the Romans ; the Prodigals or debtor Slaves ; the Delinquents ; the Enthusiasts. — Involuntary Slaves ; prisoners of war, and captives stolen in peace, with the children and descendants of both. — Voluntary Slavery introduced by decree of the Roman Senate.— Slavery in Rome : condition of the Slaves ; cruelty to the old and sick ; prisons for Slaves; Sicily: servile war and breaking up of the prisons. — Piracy esteemed honorable by the early Greeks. — Piratical expeditions to procure Slaves. — Causes of the gradual extinction of Slavery in Europe. — Origin of the African Slave Trade by the Portuguese. — Followed by most of the maritime nations of Europe ■ > •■ 17

CHAPTER II. Slavery in Greece. — Athenian Slaves

Early existence of Slavery in Greece. — Proportion of Slaves to Freemen. — Their numbers in Athens and Sparta. — Mild government of Slaves in Athens — the reverse in Sparta. — Instances of noble conduct of Slaves towards their masters. — Probable origin of Slavery, prisoners of war. — Examples in history of whole cities and states being reduced to Slavery : Judea, Miletos, Thebes. — Slaves obtained by kidnapping and piracy. — The traffic supposed to be attended by a curse. — Certain nations sell their own people into Slavery. — Power of masters over their Slaves ; the power of Life and Death. — The Chians, the first Greeks who engaged in a regular Slave-trade. — Their fate in being themselves finally reduced to Slavery. — First type of the Maroon wars. — The Chian Slaves revolt. — The hero slave Drimacos. — His history. — Honors paid to his memory. — Servile war among the Samians. — Athenian laws to protect Slaves from cruelty. — Slaves entitled to bring an action for assault. — Death penalty for crimes against Slaves. — Slaves entitled to purchase freedom. — Privileges of Slaves in Athens. — Revolt of Slaves working in Mines. — The temples a privileged sanctuary for Slaves who were cruelly treated. Tyrannical masters compelled to sell their Slaves. — Slave auctions. — Diogenes. — Price of Slaves. — Public Slaves, their employment. — Educated by the State, and intrusted with important duties. — Domestic Slaves ; their food and treatment. — The Slaves partake in the general decline of morals. — History and Description of Athens 23

IV CONTENTS.

Chapter III

Slaves of Sparta, Crete, Thessaly, &o. — Tiie Helots.

The Helots : — leading events of their History summed up. — Their Masters described.— The Spartans, their manners, customs and constitutions. — Distinguishing traits : severity, resolution and perseverance, treachery and craftiness. — Mairiage. — Treatment of Infants. — Physical Education of Youth. — Their endurance of hardships. — The Helots : their origin ; supposed to belong to the State ; power of life and death over them ; how subsisted ; property acquired by them ; their military service. — Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Plutarch and other writers convict the Spartans of barbarity towards them ; the testimony of Myron on this point ; instances of tyranny and cruelty. — Institution of the Crypteia ; annual massacre of the Helots. — Terrible instance of treachery. — Bloody servile wars. — Sparta engaged in contests with her own vassals. — Relies upon foreign aid. — Earthquake, and vengeance of the Helots. — Constant source of terror to their masters. — Other classes of Slaves. — Their privileges and advancement. — Slavery in Crete : classes and condition. — Mild treatment. — Strange privileges during certain Festivals. — • Slaves of Syracuse rebel and triumph. — The Arcadians 38

CHAPTER IV. Slavery in Rome

Slavery tinder the kings and in the early ages of the Republic. — Its spread, and effect on the poorer class of Freemen. — The Licinian law. — Prevalence of the two extremes, immense wealth and abject poverty. — Immense number of Slaves in Sicily. — They revolt. — Eunus, their leader. — Their arms. — Horrible atrocities committed by them. — The insurrection crushed. — Fate of Eunus. — Increase of Slaves in Rome. — Their employment in the arts. — Numbers trained for the Amphitheatre.— The Gladiators rebel. — Spartacus. his history. — Laws passed to restrain the cruelty of masters. — Effects of Christianity on their condition. — Their numbers increased by the invasion of northern hordes. — Sale of prisoners of war into slavery. — Slave-dealers follow the armies. — Foreign Slave-trade. — Slave auctions.— The Slave markets. — Value of Slaves at different periods. — Slaves owned by the State, and their condition and occupations. — Private Slaves, their grade? and occupations. — Treatment of Slaves, public and private. — Punishment of offenses.— Fugitives and Criminals. — Festival of Saturnus, their privileges. — Theii dress. — Their sepulchres. — The Gladiators, their combats 46

CHAPTER Y.

Slavery in Rome. — Continued.

Abstract of the laws in regard to Slavery. — Power of Life and Death. — Cruelty oi Masters. — Laws to protect the Slave. — Constitution of Antoninus : of Claudius. — Husband and Wife could not be separated ; nor parents and children. — Slave could not contract marriage, nor own property. — His peculium, or private property, held only by usage. — Regulations in respect to it. — Master liable for damages for wrongful acts of his Slave. — The murderer of a Slave, liable for a capital offense, or for damages. — Fugitive Slaves, not lawfully harbored: to conceal them, theft. — Master entitled to pursue them. — Duties of the authorities. — Slave hunters. — Laws defining the condition of children born of Slaves. — Laws to reduce free

CONTENTS. , V

persons to Slavery. — How the state of Slavery might be terminated ; by manumission ; by special enactments ; what Slaves entitled to freedom. — Practice of ' giving liberty to Slaves in times of civil tumult and revolution. — Effects of Slavery under the Republic, and under the Empire 5P

CHAPTER VI. Christian Slavery in Northern Africa

Barbary — the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Vandals. — Northern Africa annexed to the Greek Empire. — Conquered by the Saracens. — The Spanish Moors pass over to Africa. — Their expeditions to plunder the coasts of Spain, and carry off the Christian Spaniards into Slavery. — Cardinal Ximenes invades Barbary, 1509, to release the captives. — Barbarossa, the sea-rover, becomes king of Algiers. — The Christian Slaves build the mole. — Expeditions of Charles V. against the Moors. — Insurrection of the Slaves. — Charles releases 20,000 Christians from Slavery, and carries off 10,000 Mohammedans to be reduced to Slavery in Spain. — The Moors retaliate by seizing 6000 Minorcans for Slaves. Second expedition of Charles — its disastrous termination — his army destroyed — prisoners sold into Slavery. — The Algerines extend their depredations into the English Channel. — Condition of the Christian slaves in Barbary — treated with more humanity than A frican slaves among Christians. — Ransom of the Slaves by their countrymen. — British Parliament appropriates money for the purpose. — The French send bomb vessels in 1688. — Lord Exmouth in 1816 releases 3000 captives, and puts an end to Christian Slave/y in Barbary 68

Chapter VII

African Slave Trade from the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth Century.

Negroland, or Nigritia, described. — Slavery among the Natives. — Mungo Park's estimate of the number "of Slaves. — The Portuguese navigators explore the African ^oast. — Natives first carried off in 1434. — Portuguese establish the Slave-Trade on '■.he Western Coast — followed by the Spaniards. — America discovered — colonized by the Spaniards, who reduce the Natives to Slavery — they die by thousands in consequence. — The Dominican priests intercede for them. — Negroes from Africa substituted as Slaves, 1510. — Cardinal Ximenes remonstrates. — Charles V. encourages the trade. — Insurrection of the Slaves at Segovia. — Other nations colonize America. — First recognition of the Slave-Trade by the English government in 1562, reign of Elizabeth. — First Negroes imported into Virginia in a Dutch vessel in 1620. — The French and other commericial notions engage in the traffic. — The great demand for Slaves on the African coast. — Negroes fighting and kidnapping each other. — Slave factories established by the English, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese. — Slave factory described. — How Slaves were procured in the interior 93

CHAPTER VIII. Slave Traffic of the Levant — Nubian Slaves

The Mohammedan slave-trade. — Nubian slaves captured for the slave market of the Levant. — Mohammed Ali.— Grand expeditions for hunting. — Annual tribute of

VI ' / CONTETSTS.

slaves. — The encampment. — Attack upon the villages. — Courage of the Natives* — Their heroic resistance. — Cruelty of the victors. — Destruction of villages.-— The captives sold into slavery .'.*• . ; 102

CHAPTER IX. African Slave Trade in the Eighteenth Century

England first engages in the Slave-Trade in 1562 — Sir John Hawkins' voyages. — British first establish a regular trade in 1618. — Second charter granted in 1631. — Third charter in 1662. — Capture of the Dutch Forts. — Retaken byDe Ruyter. — Fourth charter in 1672 ; the King and Duke of York shareholders. — Monopoly abolished, and free trade in Slaves declared. — Flourishing condition of the Trade. — Numbers annually exported. — Public sentiment aroused against the Slave-Trade in England. — Parliament resolve to hear Evidence upon the subject. — Abstract of the Evidence taken before a Select Committee of the House of Commons in 1790 and. 1791. — Revealing the Enormities committed by the Natives on the persons of one another to procure Slaves for the Europeans. — War and Kidnapping — imputed Crimes. — Villages attacked and burned, and inhabitants seized and sold. — African chiefs excited by intoxication to sell their subjects 106

CHAPTER X. African Slave Trade in the Eighteenth Century, continued. — The

Middle Passage.

Abstract of Evidence before House of Commons, continued. — The enslaved Africans on board the Ships — their dejection. — Methods of confining, airing, feeding and exercising them. — Mode of stowing them, and its horrible consequences. — Incidents of the terrible Middle Passage — shackles, chains, whips, filth, foul air, disease, suffocation. — Suicides by drowning, by starvation, by wounds, by strangling.:— Insanity and Death. — Manner of selling them when arrived at their destination.— Deplorable situation of the refuse or sickly Slaves. — Mortality among Seamen engaged in the Slave-Trade. — Their miserable condition and sufferings from disease, and cruel treatment 126

CHAPTER XI. Slavery in the West Indies, 1750 to 1790

Abstract of Evidence continued. — Slavery in the West Indies from 1750 to 1790. — General estimation and treatment of the Slaves. — Labor of Plantation Slaves — their days of rest, food, clothing, property. — Ordinary punishment by the whip and cowskin. — Frequency and severity of these Punishments. — Extraordinary Punishments of various kinds, for nominal offenses. — Capital offenses and Punishments.— Slaves turned off to steal, beg, or starve, when incapable of labor. — Slaves had little or no redress against ill usage 143

Chapter XII

- Early Opponents op African Slavery in England and America. Period from 1660 to 1760 ; Godwin, Richard Baxter, Atkins, Hughes, Bishop War-

CONTEND. \ VU

burton. — Planters accustomed to take their Slaves to England, and to carry them ba«& into slavery by force. — Important case of James Somerset decided, 1*772. — .John, Wesley. — Motion in House of Commons against Slave-Trade, 1776. — Case of ship Zong. — Bridgwater Petitions. — The Quakers in England oppose Slavery. — Resolutions of the Quakers, from 1727 '.o 1760. — They Petition House of Commons.— First Society formed, 1783. — Tho Quakers and others in America. — Action of the Quakers of Pennsylvania from 1S88 to 1788. — Benezet writes tracts against Slavery. — His letter to the Queen. - Sentiment in America favorable to Africans, 1772. — House of Burgesses of VhgL ia addresses the King. — Original draft of Declaration of Independence. — First Society formed in America "for Promoting Abolition of Slavery," 1774. — Opposition to the Stave-Trade in America.. 158

CHAPTER XIII. Movements in England to Abolish the Slave Trade

Thomas Clarkson, the historian of the Abolition of the Slave-Trade. — Devotes his ° life to the cause, 1785. — Publishes his Essay on Slavery. — His coadjutors. — Wil--*' liain Wilberforce, parliamentary leader in the cause. — Middleton, Dr. Porteus, Lord Scarsdale, Granville Sharp. — Clarkson's first visit to a slave-ship. — Association formed — Correspondence opened in Europe and America. — Petitions sent to Parliament. — Committee of Privy Council ordered by the King, 1788. — Great exertions of the friends of the cause. — Clarkson's interview with Pitt 179

CHAPTER XIY.

Parliamentary History. — The Twenty Years' Struggle.

Mr. Pitt introduces the subject of the Abolition of the Slave-Trade into the House of Commons, May 9, 1788. — Speech of Mr. Pitt on the occasion. — Parliamentaryaction in 1789. — Debate of 12th of May. — Speech of William Wilberforce. — Travels and exertions of Clarkson. — Sessions of 1791 and 1792. — Debates in the Commons.— Speeches of Wilberforce, Pitt, Fox, Bailie, Thornton, Whitbread, Dundas, and Jenkinson. — Gradual abolition agreed upon by House of Commons 188

CHAPTER XY.

Parliamentary History. — Slave Trade Rendered Illegal.

Action of the House of Lords in 1792. — Clarkson retires from the field from ill health, in 1794. — Mr. Wilberforce's annual motion. — Session of 1799. — Speech of Canning. — Sessions of 1804 and 1805. — Clarkson resumes his labors. — Death of Mr. Pitt, January, 1806. — Administration of Granville and Fox. — Session of 1806. — Debate in the House of Lords. — Speeches of Lord Granville, Erskine, Dr. Porteus, Earls Stanhope and Spencer, Lords Holland and Ellenborough. — Death of Fox, October, 1806.— Contest and triumph in 1807. — Final passage of the Bill for the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade. — Slave-trade declared felony in 1811, and declared piracy in 1824, by England. — England abolishes slavery in her colonies, 1833. — Prohibition of Slave-Trade by European governments. — Slavery abolished in Mexico, 1829— In Guatemala and Colombia 237

Vlll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XYI.

Indian and African Slavery in St. Domingo. — The Insurrections.

Discovery and settlement of the island by the Spaniards. — The natives reduced to slavery. — Cruelty of the Spaniards towards them. — Great mortality in consequence.—Their numbers replenished from the Bahamas. — The Dominicans become interested for them. — Las Casas appeals to Cardinal Ximenes, who sends commissioners. — They set the natives at liberty. — The colonists remonstrate against the measure, and the Indians again reduced to slavery. — Las Casas seeks a remedy. — The Emperor allows the introduction of Africans. — Guinea slave-trade established. — The buccaneers. — The French Colony. — Its condition in 1789. — Enormous slave-population. — The Mulattoes. — The French Revolution— its effect on the Colonists. — First Insurrection. — Terrible execution of the leaders. — Second Insurrection — massacre and conflagration — unparalleled horrors. — Burning Of Port-au-Prince. — L'Ouverture appears, the spirit and ruler of the storm.— French expedition of 25,000 men sent to suppress the Insurrection. — Toussaint sent prisoner to France — dies in prison. — The slaves establish their freedom. — Independence of Hayti acknowledged by France. 252

CHAPTER XYII.

African Slave Trade after its Nominal Abolition.

State of the slave-trade since its nominal abolition. — Numbers imported and losses on the passage. — Increased horrors of the trade. — Scenes on board a captured slaver in Sierra Leone. — The Progresso. — Walsh's description of a slaver in 1829. — The trade in 1820. — The slave-trade in Cuba — officers of government interested in it. — Efforts of Spain insincere. — Slave barracoons near Governor's palace — conduct of the inmates. — The Bozals. — Bryan Edwards' description of natives of Gold Coast — their courage and endurance. — Number of slaves landed at Rio in 1838 — barracoons at Rio — government tax. — Slave-trade Insurance — Courts of Mixed Commission — their proceedings at Sierra Leone in 1838. — Joint stock slave-trade companies at Rio. — The Cruisers — intercepted letters. — Mortality of the trade. — Al/uses of the American flag. — Consul Trist and British commissioners. — Correspondence of American Ministers to Brazil, Mr. Todd, Mr. Proffit, Mr. Wise. — Extracts from Parliamentary papers. — Full list of Conventions and Treaties made by England for suppression of Slave-trade 280

CHAPTER XVIII.

Efforts to Suppress the Slave- Trade. — Operations of the Cruisers.

Treaty between England and the United States, signed at Washington in 1842. — U. S. African Squadron under the treaty. — The Truxton captures an American slaver, the Spitfire, of New Orleans. — The Yorktown captures the Am. bark Pons, with 896 slaves on board. — Commander Bell's description of the sufferings of the slaves — they are landed at Monrovia and taken care of. — Squadron of 1846. — Capture of the Chancellor. — Slave establishment destroyed by the English and natives. — A slaver's history — embarkation and treatment of slaves. — How disposed of in Cuba. — Natural scenery of Africa. — Excursion to procure slaves — their horror at the prospect of slavery. — Passage from Mozambique — the small-pox on board. — More horrors of the Middle Passage.— The Estrella— revolt of negroes on board. . 303

CONTENTS. iX

CHAPTER XIX.

Operations op the Crpisers under the Ashburton Treaty.

The American Squadrons from 1847 to 1851. — More captures. — U. S. brig Perry cruises oil tire southern coast. — Capture of a slaver with 800 slaves, by an English cruiser. — Abuses of the American flag. — The Lucy Ann captured. — Case of the Navarre. — Capture by the Perry of the Martha of New York — her condemnation.— Case of the Chatsworth — of the Louisa Beaton. — The Chats worth seized and sent to Baltimore — is condemned as a slaver. State of the slave-trade on the southern coast. — Importance of the squadron. — The Brazilian slave-trade diminishes 344

CHAPTER XX.

Historical Sketch op Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Colony of Sierra Leone founded by the English, 1787. — Free negroes colonized. — Present extent and condition of the colony. — Establishment of English factories on the slave coast. — Treaties with the African chiefs. — Scheme of African Colonization agitated in 1783 — by Jefferson and others. — Movements in Va., in 1800 and 1805. — Formation of the American Colonization Society in 1816. — Its object "to colonize the free people of color." — Cape Mesurado purchased and colonized in 1821. — Defense of the infant settlement from an attack by the natives. — Mortality among the early settlers. — Increase of the colony in 1835. — State colonization societies establish settlements. — Consolidation of the state colonies, and establishment of the Commonwealth. — Governor Buchanan's efforts to suppress the slave-trade. — His death, 1841. — Republic of Liberia established in 1847. — Joseph J. Roberts ("colored) first President. — Its independence acknowledged by European powers. — The Republic attacks the slave establishments. — Natural resources of Liberia — its climate, soil, productions, exports, schools, churches, &c. — Settlements and population. — The Maryland settlement at Cape Palmas 358

CHAPTER XXI.

History of Slavery in the North American Colonies.

Early existence of Slavery in England. — Its forms. — The Feudal System. — Serfdom.— Its extinction. — African Slavery introduced into the North American Colonies, 1620. — Slavery in Virginia. — Massachusetts sanctions Negro and Indian slavery, 1641 : Kidnapping declared unlawful, 1645. — Negro and Indian slavery authorized in Connecticut, 1650. — Decree against perpetual slavery in Rhode Island, 1652. — Slavery in New Netherland among the Dutch, 1650 — Its mild form. — First slavery statute of Virginia, 1662. — In Maryland, 1663, against amalgamation.— Statute of Virginia, conversion and baptism not to confer freedom ; other provisions, 1667. — Maryland encourages slave-trade. — Slave code of Virginia, 1682. fugitives may be killed. — New anti-amalgamation act of Maryland, 1681. — Settlement of South Carolina, 1660. — Absolute power conferred on masters. — Law of Slavery in New York, 1665. — Slave code of Virginia, 1692: offenses of slaves, how punishable. — Revision of Virginia code, 1705: slaves made real estate. — Pennsylvania protests against importation of Indian slaves from Carolina, 1705. — New act of 1712 to stop importation of negroes and slaves, prohibition duty of £20. — Act repealed by Queen. — First slave law of Carolina, 1712. — Its remarka-

X CONTENTS.

ble provisions. — Census of 1715.— Maryland code of 1715 — baptism not to confer freedom. — Georgia colonized, 1732 : rum and slavery prohibited. — Cruel delusion in New York: plot falsely imputed to negroes to burn the city, 1741. — Slavery legalized' in Georgia, 1750. — Review of the state of Slavery in all the colonies in 1750. — Period of the Revolution. — Controversy in Massachusetts on the subject of slavery, 1766 to 1773. — Slaves gain their freedom in the courts of Massachusetts.— Court of King's Bench decision. — Mansfield declares the law of England, 1772. — Continental Congress declares against African slave-trade, 1784 369

CHAPTER XXII.

Slavery under the Confederation. — Emancipation by the States

Number of Slaves in the United States at the period of the declaration of Independence.— Proportion in each of the thirteen States. — Declaration against slavery in

1 the State Constitution of Delaware. — Constitutions of Massachusetts and New Hampshire held to prohibit slavery, by Supreme Courts, 1783. — Act of Pennsylvania Assembly, 1780, forbids introduction of slaves, and gives freedom to all persons thereafter born in that State. — A similar law enacted in Connecticut and Rhode Island, 1784. — Virginia Assembly prohibits further introduction of slaves, 1778, and emancipation encouraged, 1782. — Maryland enacts similar laws, 1783. — Opinions of Washington, Jefferson, and Patrick Henry. — New York and New Jersey prohibit further introduction of slaves. — North Carolina declares further introduction of slaves highly impolitic, 1786. — Example of other States not followed by Georgia and South Carolina. — Action of Congress on the subject of the Territories, 1784. — Jefferson's provision excluding slavery, struck out of ordinance. — Proceedings of 1787. — Ordinance for the government of the territory north-west of the Ohio, including Jefferson's provision prohibiting slavery, passed by unanimous vote 388

CHAPTER XXIII.

Formation of the Constitution — Slavery Compromises.

Convention assembles at Philadelphia, 1787. — Proceedings in reference to the slave basis of representation, the second compromise of the Constitution. — Debate. — Remarks of Patterson, Wilson, King, Gouverneur Morris, and Sherman. — Debate on the Importation of slaves, by Rutledge, Ellsworth, Sherman, C. Pinckney. — Denunciation of slavery by Mason of Virginia. — The third Compromise, the continuance of the African slave-trade for twenty years, and the unrestricted power of Congress to enact Navigation laws ,"%..». 392

CHAPTER XXIY.

Political History of Slavery in the United States from 1789 to 1800.

First session of First Congress, 1789.— Tariff bill — duty imposed on imported slaves. — The Debate — views of Roger Sherman, Fisher Ames, Madison, &c. — Review of the state of slavery in the States in 1790. — Second session. — Petitions from the Quakers of Pennsylvania, Deleware, and New York. — Petition of Pennsylvania Society, signed by Franklin. — Exciting debate — power of Congress over slavery. — Census of 1790. — Slave population. — Vermont the first State to abolish and pro-

CONTENTS. : , XI

hibit slavery. — Constitution of Kentucky — provisions in respect to slavery. — Session of 1791. — Memorials for suppression of slave-trade, from Virginia, Maryland, New York, &c. — The Right of Petition discussed. — First fugitive slave law, 1793. First la.w to suppress African Slave Trade, 1794. — The Quakers again, 1797 — their emancipated slaves reduced again to slavery, under expost facto law of North Carolina. — Mississippi territory — slavery clause debated. — Foreign slaves prohibited.— Constitution of Georgia — importation of slaves prohibited, 1798 — provisions against cruelty to slaves. — New York provides for gradual extinguishment of slavery, 1799. — Failure of similar attempt in Kentucky. — Colored citizens of Pennsylvania petition Congress against Fugitive Slave law and slave-trade — their petition referred to a committee ; bill reported and passed, 1800 403

CHAPTER XXY.

Political History of Slavery in the United States, from 1800 to 180T.

Slave population in 1800. — Georgia cedes territory — slavery clause. — Territory of Indiana — attempt to introduce Slavery in 1803 — Petition Congress — Com. of H. R. report against it. — Session of 1804, committee report in favor of it, limited to ten years. — No action on report. — Foreign slave-trade prohibited with Orleans Territory, 1804. — South Carolina revives slave-trade ; the subject before Congress. — New Jersey provides for gradual extinction of slavery, 1804. — Attempt to gradually abolish slavery in District of Columbia, unsuccessful in Congress. — Renewed attempt to introduce slavery into Territory of Indiana, 1806, unsuccessful. — Legislature of Territory in favor of it, 1807 — Congressional committee report against it. — Jefferson's Message — recommendation to abolish African slave-trade — the subject before Congress — bill reported — the debate — Speeches of members — Act passed 1807, its provisions 430

CHAPTER XXYI.

Political History of Slavery in the United States from 180T to 1820.

Slave population in 1810. — Period of the war. — John Randolph's denunciations. — Proclamation of Admiral Cochrane to the slaves. — Treaty of Peace — arbitration on slave property. — Opinions of the domestic slave-trade by southern statesmen. — Constitution of Mississippi — slave provisions. — The African slave-trade and fugitive law. — Missouri applies for admission — proviso to prohibit slavery. — Debate— speeches of Fuller, Tallmadge, Scott, Cobb, and Livermore. — Proceedings, 1820. — Bill for organizing Arkansas Territory — proviso to prohibit slavery lost. — Excitement in the North. — Public meetings. — Massachusetts memorial. — Resolutions of state legislatures of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Kentucky. — Congress — the Missouri struggle renewed. — The comj)romise. — Proviso to exclude slavery in territory north of 36° 30' carried. — Proviso to prohibit slavery in Missouri lost. — Opinions of Monroe's cabinet. — Reflections of J. Q. Adams. — State Constitution of Missouri — final struggle. — Missouri admitted as a slave state 447

CHAPTER XXVII.

Period from 1820 to 1825. — Political History of Slavery.

Cfmsus of 1820. — Session of 1824-5. — Gov. Troup's demonstrations. — Georgia legis-

Xll , CONTENTS.

lature — Secession threatened. — Slaves in Canada — their surrender refused by England.— Citizens of District of Columbia petition for gradual abolition. — Census of 1830 — Anti-slavery societies formed in the north — counter movements north and south. — The mail troubles. — Manifesto of American Anti-slavery Society.— Petitions to congress — Discussion on the disposal of them. — Bill to prohibit the circulation of Anti-slavery publications through the mails. — Calhoun's report — Measure opposed by Webster, Clay, Benton, and others. — Buchanan, Tallmadge, &c, favor it — Bill lost. — Atherton's gag resolutions passed 498

CHAPTER XXYIII.

Period from 1835 to 1842. — Political History.

Free territory annexed to Missouri, 1836. — Texas applies for annexation. — Remonstrances.— Preston's resolution in 1838, in favor of it, debated by Preston, John Quincy Adams and Henry A. Wise. — The Amistad — Captives liberated. — Census of 1840. — Session of 1841-2. — Mr. Adams presents petition for dissolution of the Union. — Excitement in the house. — Resolutions of censure, advocated by Marshall.— Remarks of Mr. Wise and Mr. Adams. — Resolutions opposed by Underwood, of Kentucky, Botts, of Virginia, Arnold, of Tennessee, and others. — Mr. Giddings, of Ohio, presents a petition for amicabfe division of the Union — resolution of censure not received. — Case of the Creole.- — Censure of Mr. Giddings ; he resigns, is re-elected 611

CHAPTER XXIX.

Period from 1842 to 1849. — Annexation op Texas.

Object of the acquisition set forth by Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee legislatures, and by Mr. Wise and Mr. Gilmer, 1842. — Tyler's treaty of annexation — rejected by the senate. — Presidential campaign of 1844. — Clay and Van Buren on annexation. — Calhoun's Letter. — Session of 1844^5 ; joint resolution passed, and approved March 1, 1845. — Mexican minister protests. — War with Mexico. — The $2,000,000 bill. — Wilmot Proviso. — Session of 1847-8. — Bill to organize Oregon territory. — Power of Congress over slavery in the territories discussed, — Dix and Calhoun. — Mr. Calhoun controverts the doctrines of the Declaration of Independence.— Cass' Nicholson letter 531

CHAPTER XXX.

Political History op Slavery. — Compromises of 1850.

Message of President Taylor — Sam. Houston's propositions — Taylor's Special Message. — Mr. Clay's propositions for arrangement of slavery controversy. — His resolutions. Resolutions of Mr. Bell. — The debate on Clay's resolutions, by Rusk, Foote, of Mississippi, Mason, Jefferson Davis, King, Clay, and Butler. — Remarks of Benton, Calhoun, Webster, Seward, and Cass. — Resolutions referred. — Report of Committee.— The omnibus bill. — California admitted. — New Mexico organized. — Texas boundary established. — Utah organized. — Slave-trade in the District of Columbia abolished. — Fugitive Slave law passed 563

CONTENTS. XIU

CHAPTER XXXI.

Repeal op Missouri Compromise. — Kansas and Nebraska Organized

The platforms, slavery agitation repudiated by both parties. — Mr. Pierce's Inaugural and Message denounce agitation. — Session of 1853-4 : — the storm bursts forth. — Proposition to repeal the Missouri Compromise. — Kansas-Nebraska bill. — Mr. Douglas' defense of the bill — Mr. Chase's reply — Remarks of Houston, Cass, Seward, and others. — Passage of the bill in the house. — Passed by senate, and approved. — The territories organized 608