36 



INTRODUCTION* 



the islands. In Peru, there was a much greater num- 

 ber than in Mexico; but from the privileges they enjoy- 

 ed, it is evident that their condition was not severe. 

 In Mexico there was no necessity for the introduction 

 of slaves, in consequence of the gixiat number of In- 

 dian laborers, and the cheapness of labor; these 

 people who were in a low state even under their own 

 kings, were studiously kept in the lowest degradation 

 by their new masters, while the kings of Spain were 

 desirous of elevating them to the rank of subjects; for 

 it seems that they were sunk too low in the scale of 

 beings, even in the eyes of the European sovereign. 

 A singular contest was for a time exhibited between 

 the sovereign and the Spaniards of America; the first 

 endeavoring to ameliorate the condition of the Indians, 

 and the others through selfish interest, persisting to re- 

 tain them in a state of absolute bondage. If Spain has 

 oppressed the American Spaniards, their ancestors 

 maybe much more justly accused of cruel treatment 

 to the aborigines. The laws of the Indies are in 

 many respects highly favorable to the slave; in case 

 of ill treatment, justice is seldom denied; and on pro- 

 curing a fixed sum, he can always compel his master 

 to set him free. In fact, the rights of the master over 

 his slave, have never been so extensive under the 

 Spanish government, as in the colonies of other na- 

 tions. 



The European Spaniards, though comparatively 

 small in numbers, were a thousand times more im- 

 portant than the English in the United States, pre- 

 vious to our revolutionary war. They held all the 

 the principal colonial offices, ecclesiastical, military 

 and civil. Nearly all the active capital of the coun- 



