第 8 节
作者:天净沙      更新:2022-04-16 12:07      字数:9321
  home to our physical and moral characters; to our happiness and
  safety; is to provide an asylum to which we can; by degrees; send the
  whole of that population from among us; and establish them under our
  patronage and protection; as a separate; free and independent people;
  in some country and climate friendly to human life and happiness。
  That any place on the coast of Africa should answer the latter
  purpose; I have ever deemed entirely impossible。  And without
  repeating the other arguments which have been urged by others; I will
  appeal to figures only; which admit no controversy。  I shall speak in
  round numbers; not absolutely accurate; yet not so wide from truth as
  to vary the result materially。  There are in the United States a
  million and a half of people of color in slavery。  To send off the
  whole of these at once; nobody conceives to be practicable for us; or
  expedient for them。  Let us take twenty…five years for its
  accomplishment; within which time they will be doubled。  Their
  estimated value as property; in the first place; (for actual property
  has been lawfully vested in that form; and who can lawfully take it
  from the possessors?) at an average of two hundred dollars each;
  young and old; would amount to six hundred millions of dollars; which
  must be paid or lost by somebody。  To this; add the cost of their
  transportation by land and sea to Mesurado; a year's provision of
  food and clothing; implements of husbandry and of their trades; which
  will amount to three hundred millions more; making thirty…six
  millions of dollars a year for twenty…five years; with insurance of
  peace all that time; and it is impossible to look at the question a
  second time。  I am aware that at the end of about sixteen years; a
  gradual detraction from this sum will commence; from the gradual
  diminution of breeders; and go on during the remaining nine years。
  Calculate this deduction; and it is still impossible to look at the
  enterprise a second time。  I do not say this to induce an inference
  that the getting rid of them is forever impossible。  For that is
  neither my opinion nor my hope。  But only that it cannot be done in
  this way。  There is; I think; a way in which it can be done; that is;
  by emancipating the after…born; leaving them; on due compensation;
  with their mothers; until their services are worth their maintenance;
  and then putting them to industrious occupations; until a proper age
  for deportation。  This was the result of my reflections on the
  subject five and forty years ago; and I have never yet been able to
  conceive any other practicable plan。  It was sketched in the Notes on
  Virginia; under the fourteenth query。  The estimated value of the
  new…born infant is so low; (say twelve dollars and fifty cents;) that
  it would probably be yielded by the owner gratis; and would thus
  reduce the six hundred millions of dollars; the first head of
  expense; to thirty…seven millions and a half; leaving only the
  expense of nourishment while with the mother; and of transportation。
  And from what fund are these expenses to be furnished?  Why not from
  that of the lands which have been ceded by the very States now
  needing this relief?  And ceded on no consideration; for the most
  part; but that of the general good of the whole。  These cessions
  already constitute one fourth of the States of the Union。  It may be
  said that these lands have been sold; are now the property of the
  citizens composing those States; and the money long ago received and
  expended。  But an equivalent of lands in the territories since
  acquired; may be appropriated to that object; or so much; at least;
  as may be sufficient; and the object; although more important to the
  slave States; is highly so to the others also; if they were serious
  in their arguments on the Missouri question。  The slave States; too;
  if more interested; would also contribute more by their gratuitous
  liberation; thus taking on themselves alone the first and heaviest
  item of expense。
  In the plan sketched in the Notes on Virginia; no particular
  place of asylum was specified; because it was thought possible; that
  in the revolutionary state of America; then commenced; events might
  open to us some one within practicable distance。  This has now
  happened。  St。 Domingo has become independent; and with a population
  of that color only; and if the public papers are to be credited;
  their Chief offers to pay their passage; to receive them as free
  citizens; and to provide them employment。  This leaves; then; for the
  general confederacy; no expense but of nurture with the mother a few
  years; and would call; of course; for a very moderate appropriation
  of the vacant lands。  Suppose the whole annual increase to be of
  sixty thousand effective births; fifty vessels; of four hundred tons
  burthen each; constantly employed in that short run; would carry off
  the increase of every year; and the old stock would die off in the
  ordinary course of nature; lessening from the commencement until its
  final disappearance。  In this way no violation of private right is
  proposed。  Voluntary surrenders would probably come in as fast as the
  means to be provided for their care would be competent to it。
  Looking at my own State only; and I presume not to speak for the
  others; I verily believe that this surrender of property would not
  amount to more; annually; than half our present direct taxes; to be
  continued fully about twenty or twenty…five years; and then gradually
  diminishing for as many more until their final extinction; and even
  this half tax would not be paid in cash; but by the delivery of an
  object which they have never yet known or counted as part of their
  property; and those not possessing the object will be called on for
  nothing。  I do not go into all the details of the burthens and
  benefits of this operation。  And who could estimate its blessed
  effects?  I leave this to those who will live to see their
  accomplishment; and to enjoy a beatitude forbidden to my age。  But I
  leave it with this admonition; to rise and be doing。  A million and a
  half are within their control; but six millions; (which a majority of
  those now living will see them attain;) and one million of these
  fighting men; will say; 〃we will not go。〃
  I am aware that this subject involves some constitutional
  scruples。  But a liberal construction; justified by the object; may
  go far; and an amendment of the constitution; the whole length
  necessary。  The separation of infants from their mothers; too; would
  produce some scruples of humanity。  But this would be straining at a
  gnat; and swallowing a camel。
  I am much pleased to see that you have taken up the subject of
  the duty on imported books。  I hope a crusade will be kept up against
  it; until those in power shall become sensible of this stain on our
  legislation; and shall wipe it from their code; and from the
  remembrance of man; if possible。
  I salute you with assurances of high respect and esteem。
  PROFESSORS FROM ABROAD
  _To Dugald Stewart_
  _Monticello in Virginia; Apr。 26; 1824_
  DEAR SIR;  It is now 35 years since I had the great pleasure
  of becoming acquainted with you in Paris; and since we saw together
  Louis XVI。 led in triumph by his people thro' the streets of his
  capital; these years too have been like ages in the events they have
  engendered without seeming at all to have bettered the condn of
  suffering man。  Yet his mind has been opening and advancing; a
  sentiment of his wrongs has been spreading; and it will end in the
  ultimate establishment of his rights。  To effect this nothing is
  wanting but a general concurrence of will; and some fortunate
  accident will produce that。  At a subsequent period you were so kind
  as to recall me to your recollection on the publicn of your
  invaluable book on the Philosophy of the Human Mind; a copy of which
  you sent me; and I have been happy to see it become the text book of
  most of our colleges & academies; and pass thro' several
  reimpressions in the U。S。  An occurrence of a character dear to us
  both leads again to a renewal of our recollections and associates us
  in an occasion of still rendering some service to those we are about
  to leave。  The State of Virga; of which I am a native and resident;
  is establishing an university on a scale as extensive and liberal as
  circumstances permit or call for。  We have been 4 or 5 years in
  preparing our buildings; which are now ready to recieve their
  tenants。  We proceed; therefore; to the engaging professors; and
  anxious to recieve none but of the highest grade of science in their
  respective lines; we find we must have recourse to Europe; where
  alone that grade is to be found; and to Gr。 Br。 of preference; as the
  land of our own language; morals; manners; and habits。  To make the
  selection we send a special agent; M'r Francis W。 Gilmer; who will
  have the