829.) Our Colonies. 491 
exasperated the minds of their several inhabitants to the last point of 
endurance ;—and at the same time, the enterprising and ambitious 
United States of America stand well inclined—as who can doubt— 
and well able—as they have proved—to assist in curtailing and reducing 
England’s power and resources ; and this, too, even if they had not, as 
in this instance they have, the powerful inducementafforded by the expec- 
tation that they may gain some of those advantages which, in the event 
_ of a quarrel with our colonies, we must lose. 
Of all the colonies which have reason to complain of the misguided 
policy of this country’s government, Jamaica has suffered most. At 
once the most valuable, and the best-disposed towards the mother- 
country, her importance has been derided, her intentions doubted ; her 
attempts even to comply with the requisitions of this country, unreason- 
able and harsh as they have sometimes been, have been thwarted, 
baffled, and mocked ; and not only the future destruction of the colony 
has been threatened, but steps have been taken—nay, may be, even now, 
in more rapid progress than at any former period, for her present ruin. 
Although each of the colonies we have alluded to would furnish ample 
topics for observation, the task shall at present be confined to Jamaica, 
whose case is the most striking, and to which the public attention at 
this moment ought most especially to be directed. 
The cause of quarrel—for to deny that deep and serious quarrel exists 
would be absurd—between the government of this country and the 
legislature of Jamaica, is bottomed upon the existence of slavery there. 
_ The English government has resolved to adopt measures for the present 
_ amelioration with a view to the future emancipation of the slaves. The 
proprietors of the Island of Jamaica concur in the spirit of those resolu- 
3 tions: they differ, in some respects, from the government of England, as 
_ to the means by which they should be carried into effect; and for this 
offence, and for this alone, it is that they are threatened with destruction, 
and their enemies of all kinds and descriptions, high and low, “ the lit- 
tle dogs and all,” are caressed and urged on to attack them ; and open 
and violent denunciation, and the small lie and back-wounding calumny, 
are echoed and encouraged with joyous and eager applause. It 
is not enough that the Colonists feel and evince an anxious desire to 
ameliorate the condition of their slaves — that their interest, as well as 
their duty and feelings, prompt them to that course—that their per- 
sonal characters, their moral conduct, their intelligence and respecta- 
bility, place them as high in the estimation of every man who thinks for 
himself, as that which is held by any of their accusers :—facts and eyi- 
dence are alike disregarded:—it is enough they are found guilty of 
having relied upon the protection of this country’s laws, of having in- 
creased this country’s wealth; for these crimes their property is to be 
_ confiscated—their reputation crucified-—their very names delivered over 
to reproach and obloquy. 
. mere fact of the existence of slavery is so repugnant to the feel- 
ings of the British people, so odious to their very.nature, that the con- 
femplation of it, in whatever shape it is presented, excites disgust and 
eprobation ; and their minds are already prepared to censure its ex- 
stence, and to vote for its abolition. Of this predisposition the enemies 
the colonists have adroitly availed themselves, and have directed it as 
erved their several purposes or favoured their interests. It has, how- 
ever, been left to these days of liberality to act in matters of national 
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