! 
1810.] 
who are then rendered active from ne- 
cessity, will devise means of relief; those 
of active redress are not in their power, 
but they may share their wrongs with 
those who now inflict them, by withdraw- 
ing themselves and their slayes to some 
country, where they will receive that pro- 
tection which is denied at home. And even 
should this dread alternative not be 
adopted, the dissatisfaction excited by 
such real causes will not be confined to 
the breasts of the immediate sufferers. 
It will spread rapidly, and may ultimately 
excite efforts which are much to be de- 
precated. Men will not be oppressed, 
nay absolutely defrauded, without a mur. 
mur or complaint. 
These evils will result from the cala- 
mities of the whole of the West Indiaco- 
Jonies ; if a part only suffers, the mischief, 
though less general, will be proportionably 
destructive to all connected with them. 
The cotton colonies are therefore entitled 
to their due share of attention from the 
legislature. A statement of their former 
and present situation, in all respects, will 
next be given; it is fatally correct, and 
needs no embellishments to heighten the 
miseries it contains, 
Ever since the British have engaged in 
colonial speculations in the West Indies, 
they have made the culture of the cotton- 
tree in some degree an object of atten- 
tion. For a long time it was partial, 
and confined to very few situations: the 
increasing enterprise of the mother 
country did not, however, allow West 
Indian industry to be exclusively con-- 
fined to sugar; but, by improving the 
manufactures at home, it gave a new 
impulse to the western world, and cotton 
has gradually become an object of more 
general attention. 
The West Indies, for’ a considerable 
period, supplied nearly the whole of the 
British demand. About thirty years 
ago, the Dutch settlements on the coast 
of Guyana first attracted the attention 
of the cotton-planters; and about the 
same time North America engaged. in 
similar pursuits in her southern states. 
During the progress of this cultivation, 
the extension of manufactories at home, 
produced a corresponding demand for 
the raw material; which was principally 
supplied by the British colonies, including 
those on the coast of Guyana, and which 
were captured in 1796 by the British. 
A few years ago, the foreign planter dis- 
covered that Britain was the best mar- 
ket for this produce; and since that 
x 
w 
On the present State of the Cotton Colonies. 
5 
occurred, the North Americans have 
introduced enormous and increasiug 
quantities of cotton-wool. The produce 
of the Brazils was monopolized by Por- 
tuval previous to the occupation of the 
latter country by the French; it has 
since found a vent in Great Britain, 
Unimportant as the quantities undoubt- 
edly are that are derived from other 
sources, they also increase. Foreigners, 
as well as our fellow-citizens, are thus 
protected, in a way that does not seem 
quite congenial to the common notions 
of justice. 
The following statement will enable 
the reader to appreciate fairly the real 
miseries of the British cotton planter, 
who sutfers for the benefit of foreigners. 
In the British cotton-colonies immense 
capitals have been vested, and large 
tracts of country have been devoted to 
the cultivation of this article. In point 
of national importance, these colonies 
have been rapidly increasing, as will be 
seen by reference to table C, (in our 
next. ) 
The original expence of forming plan- 
tations, and of rendering them fit for the 
purposes for which they are now used, 
was very considerable, as will be more 
evident when it is recollected that the 
barren uncultivated tracts which have 
been rendered productive and fruitful, 
were remote from all those facilities 
which we possess so amply at home: 
that the whole labour of clearing away 
immense forests, and of draining swamps 
or unhealthy lands, was performed by 
negroes brought from Africa at a heavy 
expence, why for a time were entirely 
dependent on foreign supplies for sup- 
port. A calculation might be insti« 
tuted; but the facts are so strong, that 
the general position may be assumed 
without fear of being questioned. 
From the very nature of our West 
India colonies, they must even now, and 
at all periods, be in a great measure 
dependent on other countries for some 
of the most important necessaries of life, 
The constitution of the society precludes 
manufacturing the most common articles, 
and they do not possess all the means of 
support. 
The monopoly secured by Britain to 
herself, enhances the price of whatever 
is derived from her, as provisions can 
always be obtained much cheaper from 
North America—but this is inconsistent 
with the notions of those who have the 
power of remedying the mischief, 
The 
