430 
THE SLAVE QUESTION. 
an immense but natural stimulus would be given to 
internal legitimate commerce. As tbe only medium at 
present known in Africa is by cowries or barter, it 
would be advantageous and economical to adopt this 
method at first in payment, and salt would be found, 
perhaps, the simplest and most profitable article. 
Unfortunately we have always met the African 
with our own preconceived notions, and in requiring 
his adoption of them, we have remained in utter igno- 
rance of what he may have of good, inherent in his 
own institutions. It is but fair to imagine that they 
may be suited to him, as he is to the condition in 
which it has pleased God to place him. 
The several expeditions into the interior of Africa 
have proved that the people there, are far from being 
devoid of civilization. That they have, in fact, insti- 
tutions and tendencies which, if fully developed, would 
aid much in healing the wounds which have been 
inflicted by the perversion of them. They have 
justice, which lends its hallowed name to the worst of 
purposes ; — and they have commerce, which is absorbed 
by the most ruinous of all speculations, — the sale of 
their fellows. 
In endeavoui’ing “ to call forth the resources of the 
country,” we should therefore ascertain what materials 
we have to work upon, which are not inconsiderable if 
rightly developed. First, a way has been opened to 
the heart of the continent, whereby there is easy com- 
munication with a great variety of nations hitherto 
