THE BRAZILS. 115 
whip, or to regulate the stroke of the bill or the hoe by the 
measure of a forced song. 
The number, however, of African negroes that are annually 
imported into the Brazils affords a presumptive proof that 
here, as well as in the West Indies, it suits the interest of the 
planter to purchase new slaves in preference to the rearing of 
young ones, by allowing that degree of parental attention ou 
the part of the mother, which a state of helpless infancy ne- 
cessarily requires. It is in vain to tell us that the condition 
of the African negro is meliorated in the colonies, when a 
constant importation is required to keep up their numbers. 
But even admitting that their situation was improved by a 
passage across the Atlantic, by what rule of right do we as- 
sume to ourselves the power of compelling people to be 
happy contrary to their wishes ? The advocates for the con- 
tinuance of the trade, that is to say, the slave merchants and 
the planters, being driven from all their former grounds of 
argument, have ingeniously called in the negroes themselves 
to answer the question, and to oppose the abolition. — Our 
master s estate, say the negroes, must produce so much sugar, for 
which purpose so many new negroes are annually purchased ; 
but if the trade be put an end to, and the same quantity of 
canes must be planted, the old negroes will be obliged to do 
the whole work themselves : if, therefore, you do not con- 
tinue to import, we shall use our endeavour not to continue 
any longer your slaves. — It rec^uired some ingenuity to in- 
vent any new argument in favour of the continuance of the 
trade, when the question had been so long and so ably dis- 
cussed. Its advocates, however, seem to be driven to the 
Q 2 
