COLOURED POPULATION IN THE SOUTH. 211

strangers who are sojourners among them to be included in the estimate, the white population would largely exceed that of the blacks. It is calculated that, during the last ten years, the increase of the whites has been thirty-four per cent, while that of the blacks has not exceeded twentythree and three-quarters.

That the curse of slavery will rest on the land for generations to come, both in Louisiana and Texas, appears to me almost a certainty, the soil of their cotton and sugar lands being probably the richest in the world, and producing, also, two of the commodities of life which appear most necessary to man. The climate, moreover, is one which precludes the possibility of white labour, and it is therefore fair to conclude that, until the blacks rise to an equality with their present masters, they will be compelled, as heretofore, to labour as slaves. What fate is reserved, in future ages, for the now despised black race is, and must remain, a mystery to us; and if any mighty changes be in store for them, they are at present too distant even for conjecture. It is impossible to justify the principle of slavery, and fully as vain to suggest a remedy for the evil. At the Declaration of Independence, seventy years ago, something might possibly have been attempted, though even then the difficulties appeared almost insurmountable. Let us hope that the God of Infinite Justice will not see fit to

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leave so large a portion of his creatures in ignorance of his Word, and in a state of slavery for ever; and let us hope, too, that the owners of slaves, will be enabled to see the vast and fearful responsibilities which are entailed upon them by the possession, not only of the bodies, but temporally of the souls of so many immortal beings. Verily, a strict account will be demanded of those who have not only withheld the word of God from the slaves, but have driven them to the commission of crime through oppression and injustice.

It is in the power of the legislature to do much towards improving the condition of the negro race. At present, many of the laws affecting slaves are not only cruel and unjust, but a disgrace to humanity, and the friends of the slaves would do more to benefit their cause by exerting themselves to effect the repeal of such disgraceful statutes than by their injudicious interference with the affairs of the south, and by the virulent censure which they lavish on the slave-owners. It certainly appears that there is no chance at present of a general abolition of slavery in the United States, and the utmost we can hope for in these utilitarian days is, that America will use her power with moderation, and continue her efforts to benefit the black race by means of the African settlements.

One word in regard to the policy of our own country in this matter-namely, that were Great

AS AFFECTING THE NEGRO RACE.

213

Britain to devote a twentieth part of the sum which she now annually and very uselessly expends on the prevention of the slave-trade, to a liberal and judicious system of colonization on the coast of Africa, there is every reason to expect that an end could speedily be put to the inhuman and unnatural traffic which has so long been carried on, to the disgrace of humanity, and of the Christian world in particular. America has, in this respect, set us an example which we should not be too proud to follow, and did we follow it, the negroes would have far greater cause for thankfulness to England than they have at present, when all they have gained by her injudicious, but well-meant, interference, has been an increase of their sufferings on board the slavers, and also of their value on landing, provided always that they have the good fortune to escape death on the passage.

LETTER XXXVIII.

NEW CONSTITUTION FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA— MR. M'DONOGH-NEW ORLEANS THEATRE- THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR-DEPARTURE FROM NEW ORLEANS THE 'PLANTER'S LADY'-GERMAN MUSICIANS -TRE

INSANE PASSENGER

MENDOUS STORM-HACKET, THE COMEDIAN

CROSS THE ALLEGHANIES
GADSBY'S HOTEL.

MAPLE SUGAR

Washington-April.

PREVIOUSLY to our departure from New Or

leans, there were great rejoicings in the city on account of the proclamation of the new constitution for the State of Louisiana. This change of constitution is another concession to the many-headed monster, the Mob, and it appears to me (that like most of the boons which are wrung from the reluctant hands of authority) it is a most injudicious

one.

The governor of the State had formerly the patronage of all civil, as well as military appointments, the old constitution being to this effect: The governor shall be commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the State.' He shall nominate, and appoint, with the advice of the senate, the

AMERICAN SELF-GOVERNMENT.

215

judges, sheriffs, and all other officers.' The new constitution enacts that these offices shall now be elective, in other words, entirely in the hands of the people, and thus their power and influence, already immense, is becoming daily strengthened.

That the native Americans have not only a strong love of order, but also a great aptitude for selfgovernment cannot be denied. This may, in a great measure, be attributed to the very superior education of the masses, but as the qualities I have mentioned are almost equally observable in the few who are uneducated, we must conclude that a remarkable acuteness, where their own interests are concerned, is the grand cause of the well-being of the community. The case is totally different as regards the immense numbers of emigrants who are constantly arriving, and even here the dangers resulting from placing power in ignorant and unworthy hands is becoming every day more apparent, and must eventually lead to great and important changes in this overgrown republic. At present, there is room for the power to work without much danger to the community, and as the wild beast in the open forests is less to be dreaded, than the same animal when pent up in unnatural confinement, and goaded to desperation by unsatisfied wants, so is the spread of the people's power as yet, nothing more in America than 'le commencement de la fin,' and excites but little