The Conservative Principle; or, Social Evils and Their Remedies, Part II: The Slave Trade [pp. 449-462]

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DE BOW'S REVIEW.
MAY, 1857.
THE CONSEPRVATIVE PRINSCIPLE; OR, SOCIAL EVILS AND THEIR
R,EElIEnIES.
PART 11.-SLAVE TRADE.
3Ir. Fitzhugh was the first wNriter to propoiund the theory, that "domestic
slavery is a natural, normal, and in general, necesstary institution of civilized
society;" and still, although his theory is adopted by many, he is almost its
only active working advocate. Ile here fiollows it out to what he believes to
be its legitimate conclusion. In another place, near the close of this number
of the Review, we shall have some remarks to make upon the subject.-EDIToa.
There is a subject connected with this question of negro
slavery-, which is rapidly becomingi, one of practical and pressing imiportance to all christenidom. Tlhe emancipation of the
West Indian and South Amnerican negroes has greatly diminishled the supply of Southern and tropical products, enhanced
their price, trebled the price of negroes, and stimnlated into
increased activity the African slave trade. Besides, the demand for slave labor greatly exceeding, the supply fromn this
source, a new form of slave trade has been added to the old
orthodlox Guinea trade-Coolie apprentices are il il orted by
hundreds of thousands firom Asia, and Eng,land makes cqy)rentiees of the negroes which she seizes fromi the slave ships.
She is )but the eagle, hovering over the coast of Africa, to
poIunce upon and rob the fislh-hlawk of its prey. This apprentice system is in all respects far more cruel than thle old orthlodox slave trade, and is driving its subjects to commit suicide
whenever they can find the opportunity. Famiilies are separated by it-for female apprentices mnight becomie expensive.
The apprentices are treated with careless cruelty, because it is
the interest of masters to work themn to death; and their service being temporary, ten times as many must be imported to