1824.)'> 
iugal; and the event, beyond all ques- 
tion, will shortly prove the liberation 
and independence of their splendid 
and extensive American possessions. 
The ancient erroneous ideas on this 
subject, are obviously prevalent among 
our ruling politicians at this moment. 
These principles have formed the real 
giound of our tardy and reluctant re- 
cognition of South American rights; 
and to the increased and formidable 
national light and just apprehension of 
national interest, it is doubtless to be 
attributed that, our legitimates, who 
countenanced France in her Spanish 
crusade, did not likewise aid and abet 
the despots of the continent, in their 
support of the old colonial system. 
_ My juvenile pen, then in leading- 
strings, was drawn in favour of admi- 
nistration, in the American revolu- 
tionary war. I have been again to 
school since, and I beg Jeave to sub- 
mit to impartial judges, to what 
degree I have improved in so long a 
course. In as few words as I can 
comprehend my matured opinions, the 
rationale and justice of colonization 
will appear in the following proposi- 
tion. Colonists, in their relation to 
the mother-country, to employ no very 
elevated, but perhaps an apt, compa- 
rison, are placed in the predicament of 
an apprentice to his master.. The ap- 
prentice naturally and _ necessarily 
obeys his superior through the limited 
period, until he shall have acquired 
the due nurture and instruction, and 
feels that he is in a capacity to support 
himself.. He then becomes major and 
independent. Perhaps a simile from 
the parental and filial state of man- 
kind will be still more appropriate. 
Thus, as it appears to me, the case 
ought to stand between the parent 
state and the colony which has issued 
from it. Nor ought the mother coun- 
try, in justice or liberality, to seek 
remuneration for that expense and 
risk which have been incurred for the 
mutual benefit of both, in those com- 
mercial restraints from which her own 
population are free, and which abridge 
the just liberties, and postpone, to a 
too Jate date, the advancement and 
prosperity of the colonists. The re- 
payment of such obligation, or debt, 
should rather be provided for, in a 
colonial tax appropriated to such pur- 
pose, and imposed by the colony on 
itself, in satisfaction of the just de- 
mand of the maternal government. 
Colonists should forfeit no right, natus, 
On Colonization and the Australian Colonies: 
27 
ral-or civil, by emigration. - Whilst 
under the regime of the mother coun- 
try, they are fully entitled, as fellow- 
citizens, to an equal extent of privi- 
lege, but no greater, in commercial 
dealings with all other countries, and 
to the right of laying out. their own 
money in whatever part of the world 
it may be done to most advantage; 
and of exporting their products, or 
their manufactures, to the best mar- 
kets which the wide world can pro- 
duce. Colonies ought not to be com- 
pelled to any mode of commerce for 
the mere benefit of the mother coun- 
try, on fiscal considerations, or to 
fayour a commercial — aristocracy, 
which has an interest distinct from, 
indeed inimical to, that of the commu- 
nity. Let us never forget the infamous 
Assiento contracts, when negroes were 
absolutely forced upon our West 
India islands; and when a religious 
high-church government gave full 
sanction to the accursed slave-trade, 
that most deadly and hellish of all hu- 
man crimes, the flagitious hypocrisy 
excepted of the palliation and pro- 
longation of slavery. Arbitrary regime 
in the colony of a free country, on no 
specious pretence, can be either law- 
ful or expedient. Nor does it consist 
with political justice or equity that 
governors or officers should be thrust 
upon them, at exorbitant salaries, to 
their impoverishment and degradation, 
from obviously corrupt motives in the 
government. On the other hand, alle- 
glance and protection being recipro- 
cal, so long as. protection shall be 
needed, true allegiance and faithful 
obedience to the sovereignty of the 
mother-country must be co-existent. 
Protection being no longer needed, the 
confident and unhesitating demand of 
independence may justly follow, and 
the new independent nation is then at 
full liberty to choose whatever form of 
government it may deem most suita- 
ble to its own local and peculiar in- 
terests. Thenceforward, a strict alli- 
ance may take place between the two 
independent nations, with respect to 
their political and commercial inter- 
ests, very different from the hollow 
friendships and smothered hostility: 
which has been used to prevail in 
these cases. The arrogated right of 
the old governments has been hitherto 
analogous to that of conquest, which: 
stands on no juster ground than the 
right of the, sword; a right, no other., 
wise: to. be estimated and determined, 
than 
