Ifthedifferentdegrees—comparativelysoslight—whichexistinEuropeancivilizationproduceresultsofsuchmagnitude，theconsequenceswhichmustensuefromthecollisionofthemostperfectEuropeancivilizationwithIndiansavagesmayreadilybeconceived。]
TheIndians，inthelittlewhichtheyhavedone，haveunquestionablydisplayedasmuchnaturalgeniusasthepeoplesofEuropeintheirmostimportantdesigns;butnationsaswellasmenrequiretimetolearn，whatevermaybetheirintelligenceandtheirzeal。Whilstthesavageswereengagedintheworkofcivilization，theEuropeanscontinuedtosurroundthemoneveryside，andtoconfinethemwithinnarrowerlimits;thetworacesgraduallymet，andtheyarenowinimmediatejuxtapositiontoeachother。TheIndianisalreadysuperiortohisbarbarousparent，butheisstillveryfarbelowhiswhiteneighbor。Withtheirresourcesandacquiredknowledge，theEuropeanssoonappropriatedtothemselvesmostoftheadvantageswhichthenativesmighthavederivedfromthepossessionofthesoil;theyhavesettledinthecountry，theyhavepurchasedlandataverylowrateorhaveoccupieditbyforce，andtheIndianshavebeenruinedbyacompetitionwhichtheyhadnotthemeansofresisting。Theywereisolatedintheirowncountry，andtheirraceonlyconstitutedacolonyoftroublesomealiensinthemidstofanumerousanddomineeringpeople。*t[Footnotet:SeeintheLegislativeDocuments（21stCongress，No。
89）instancesofexcessesofeverykindcommittedbythewhitesupontheterritoryoftheIndians，eitherintakingpossessionofapartoftheirlands，untilcompelledtoretirebythetroopsofCongress，orcarryingofftheircattle，burningtheirhouses，cuttingdowntheircorn，anddoingviolencetotheirpersons。Itappears，nevertheless，fromallthesedocumentsthattheclaimsofthenativesareconstantlyprotectedbythegovernmentfromtheabuseofforce。TheUnionhasarepresentativeagentcontinuallyemployedtoresideamongtheIndians;andthereportoftheCherokeeagent，whichisamongthedocumentsIhavereferredto，isalmostalwaysfavorabletotheIndians。"Theintrusionofwhites，"hesays，"uponthelandsoftheCherokeeswouldcauseruintothepoor，helpless，andinoffensiveinhabitants。"AndhefurtherremarksupontheattemptoftheStateofGeorgiatoestablishadivisionlineforthepurposeoflimitingtheboundariesoftheCherokees，thatthelinedrawnhavingbeenmadebythewhites，andentirelyuponexparteevidenceoftheirseveralrights，wasofnovaliditywhatever。]
WashingtonsaidinoneofhismessagestoCongress，"WearemoreenlightenedandmorepowerfulthantheIndiannations，wearethereforeboundinhonortotreatthemwithkindnessandevenwithgenerosity。"Butthisvirtuousandhigh—mindedpolicyhasnotbeenfollowed。Therapacityofthesettlersisusuallybackedbythetyrannyofthegovernment。AlthoughtheCherokeesandtheCreeksareestablishedupontheterritorywhichtheyinhabitedbeforethesettlementoftheEuropeans，andalthoughtheAmericanshavefrequentlytreatedwiththemaswithforeignnations，thesurroundingStateshavenotconsentedtoacknowledgethemasindependentpeoples，andattemptshavebeenmadetosubjectthesechildrenofthewoodstoAnglo—Americanmagistrates，laws，andcustoms。*uDestitutionhaddriventheseunfortunateIndianstocivilization，andoppressionnowdrivesthembacktotheirformercondition:manyofthemabandonthesoilwhichtheyhadbeguntoclear，andreturntotheirsavagecourseoflife。
[Footnoteu:In1829theStateofAlabamadividedtheCreekterritoryintocounties，andsubjectedtheIndianpopulationtothepowerofEuropeanmagistrates。
ChapterXVIII:FutureConditionOfThreeRaces—PartIII
In1830theStateofMississippiassimilatedtheChoctawsandChickasawstothewhitepopulation，anddeclaredthatanyofthemthatshouldtakethetitleofchiefwouldbepunishedbyafineof$1，000andayear’simprisonment。WhentheselawswereenforcedupontheChoctaws，whoinhabitedthatdistrict，thetribeassembled，theirchiefcommunicatedtothemtheintentionsofthewhites，andreadtothemsomeofthelawstowhichitwasintendedthattheyshouldsubmit;andtheyunanimouslydeclaredthatitwasbetteratoncetoretreatagainintothewilds。]
IfweconsiderthetyrannicalmeasureswhichhavebeenadoptedbythelegislaturesoftheSouthernStates，theconductoftheirGovernors，andthedecreesoftheircourtsofjustice，weshallbeconvincedthattheentireexpulsionoftheIndiansisthefinalresulttowhichtheeffortsoftheirpolicyaredirected。TheAmericansofthatpartoftheUnionlookwithjealousyupontheaborigines，*vtheyareawarethatthesetribeshavenotyetlostthetraditionsofsavagelife，andbeforecivilizationhaspermanentlyfixedthemtothesoil，itisintendedtoforcethemtorecedebyreducingthemtodespair。
TheCreeksandCherokees，oppressedbytheseveralStates，haveappealedtothecentralgovernment，whichisbynomeansinsensibletotheirmisfortunes，andissincerelydesirousofsavingtheremnantofthenatives，andofmaintainingtheminthefreepossessionofthatterritory，whichtheUnionispledgedtorespect。*wButtheseveralStatesopposesoformidablearesistancetotheexecutionofthisdesign，thatthegovernmentisobligedtoconsenttotheextirpationofafewbarbaroustribesinordernottoendangerthesafetyoftheAmericanUnion。
[Footnotev:TheGeorgians，whoaresomuchannoyedbytheproximityoftheIndians，inhabitaterritorywhichdoesnotatpresentcontainmorethanseveninhabitantstothesquaremile。
InFrancethereareonehundredandsixty—twoinhabitantstothesameextentofcountry。]
[Footnotew:In1818CongressappointedcommissionerstovisittheArkansasTerritory，accompaniedbyadeputationofCreeks，Choctaws，andChickasaws。ThisexpeditionwascommandedbyMessrs。Kennerly，M’Coy，WashHood，andJohnBell。Seethedifferentreportsofthecommissioners，andtheirjournal，intheDocumentsofCongress，No。87，HouseofRepresentatives。]
Butthefederalgovernment，whichisnotabletoprotecttheIndians，wouldfainmitigatethehardshipsoftheirlot;and，withthisintention，proposalshavebeenmadetotransportthemintomoreremoteregionsatthepubliccost。
Betweenthethirty—thirdandthirty—seventhdegreesofnorthlatitude，avasttractofcountrylies，whichhastakenthenameofArkansas，fromtheprincipalriverthatwatersitsextent。ItisboundedontheonesidebytheconfinesofMexico，ontheotherbytheMississippi。Numberlessstreamscrossitineverydirection;theclimateismild，andthesoilproductive，butitisonlyinhabitedbyafewwanderinghordesofsavages。ThegovernmentoftheUnionwishestotransportthebrokenremnantsoftheindigenouspopulationoftheSouthtotheportionofthiscountrywhichisnearesttoMexico，andatagreatdistancefromtheAmericansettlements。
Wewereassured，towardstheendoftheyear1831，that10，000IndianshadalreadygonedowntotheshoresoftheArkansas;andfreshdetachmentswereconstantlyfollowingthem;
butCongresshasbeenunabletoexciteaunanimousdeterminationinthosewhomitisdisposedtoprotect。Some，indeed，arewillingtoquittheseatofoppression，butthemostenlightenedmembersofthecommunityrefusetoabandontheirrecentdwellingsandtheirspringingcrops;theyareofopinionthattheworkofcivilization，onceinterrupted，willneverberesumed;theyfearthatthosedomestichabitswhichhavebeensorecentlycontracted，maybeirrevocablylostinthemidstofacountrywhichisstillbarbarous，andwherenothingispreparedforthesubsistenceofanagriculturalpeople;theyknowthattheirentranceintothosewildswillbeopposedbyinimicalhordes，andthattheyhavelosttheenergyofbarbarians，withoutacquiringtheresourcesofcivilizationtoresisttheirattacks。Moreover，theIndiansreadilydiscoverthatthesettlementwhichisproposedtothemismerelyatemporaryexpedient。Whocanassurethemthattheywillatlengthbeallowedtodwellinpeaceintheirnewretreat？TheUnitedStatespledgethemselvestotheobservanceoftheobligation;buttheterritorywhichtheyatpresentoccupywasformerlysecuredtothembythemostsolemnoathsofAnglo—Americanfaith。*xTheAmericangovernmentdoesnotindeedrobthemoftheirlands，butitallowsperpetualincursionstobemadeonthem。Inafewyearsthesamewhitepopulationwhichnowflocksaroundthem，willtrackthemtothesolitudesoftheArkansas;theywillthenbeexposedtothesameevilswithoutthesameremedies，andasthelimitsoftheearthwillatlastfailthem，theironlyrefugeisthegrave。
[Footnotex:ThefiftharticleofthetreatymadewiththeCreeksinAugust，1790，isinthefollowingwords:—"TheUnitedStatessolemnlyguaranteetotheCreeknationalltheirlandwithinthelimitsoftheUnitedStates。"
Theseventharticleofthetreatyconcludedin1791withtheCherokeessays:—"TheUnitedStatessolemnlyguaranteetotheCherokeenationalltheirlandsnotherebyceded。"ThefollowingarticledeclaredthatifanycitizenoftheUnitedStatesorothersettlernotoftheIndianraceshouldestablishhimselfupontheterritoryoftheCherokees，theUnitedStateswouldwithdrawtheirprotectionfromthatindividual，andgivehimuptobepunishedastheCherokeenationshouldthinkfit。]
TheUniontreatstheIndianswithlesscupidityandrigorthanthepolicyoftheseveralStates，butthetwogovernmentsarealikedestituteofgoodfaith。TheStatesextendwhattheyarepleasedtotermthebenefitsoftheirlawstotheIndians，withabeliefthatthetribeswillrecederatherthansubmit;andthecentralgovernment，whichpromisesapermanentrefugetotheseunhappybeingsiswellawareofitsinabilitytosecureittothem。*y[Footnotey:Thisdoesnotpreventthemfrompromisinginthemostsolemnmannertodoso。SeetheletterofthePresidentaddressedtotheCreekIndians，March23，1829（ProceedingsoftheIndianBoard，inthecityofNewYork，p。5）:"BeyondthegreatriverMississippi，whereapartofyournationhasgone，yourfatherhasprovidedacountrylargeenoughforallofyou，andheadvisesyoutoremovetoit。Thereyourwhitebrotherswillnottroubleyou;theywillhavenoclaimtotheland，andyoucanliveuponit，youandallyourchildren，aslongasthegrassgrows，orthewaterruns，inpeaceandplenty。Itwillbeyoursforever。"
TheSecretaryofWar，inaletterwrittentotheCherokees，April18，1829，（seethesamework，p。6），declarestothemthattheycannotexpecttoretainpossessionofthelandsatthattimeoccupiedbythem，butgivesthemthemostpositiveassuranceofuninterruptedpeaceiftheywouldremovebeyondtheMississippi:
asifthepowerwhichcouldnotgrantthemprotectionthen，wouldbeabletoafforditthemhereafter！]
ThusthetyrannyoftheStatesobligesthesavagestoretire，theUnion，byitspromisesandresources，facilitatestheirretreat;andthesemeasurestendtopreciselythesameend。
*z"BythewillofourFatherinHeaven，theGovernorofthewholeworld，"saidtheCherokeesintheirpetitiontoCongress，*a"theredmanofAmericahasbecomesmall，andthewhitemangreatandrenowned。WhentheancestorsofthepeopleoftheseUnitedStatesfirstcametotheshoresofAmericatheyfoundtheredmanstrong:thoughhewasignorantandsavage，yethereceivedthemkindly，andgavethemdrylandtoresttheirwearyfeet。Theymetinpeace，andshookhandsintokenoffriendship。
WhateverthewhitemanwantedandaskedoftheIndian，thelatterwillinglygave。AtthattimetheIndianwasthelord，andthewhitemanthesuppliant。Butnowthescenehaschanged。Thestrengthoftheredmanhasbecomeweakness。Ashisneighborsincreasedinnumbershispowerbecamelessandless，andnow，ofthemanyandpowerfultribeswhooncecoveredtheseUnitedStates，onlyafewaretobeseen—afewwhomasweepingpestilencehasleft。Thenortherntribes，whowereoncesonumerousandpowerful，arenownearlyextinct。ThusithashappenedtotheredmanofAmerica。Shallwe，whoareremnants，sharethesamefate？
[Footnotez:ToobtainacorrectideaofthepolicypursuedbytheseveralStatesandtheUnionwithrespecttotheIndians，itisnecessarytoconsult，1st，"TheLawsoftheColonialandStateGovernmentsrelatingtotheIndianInhabitants。"（SeetheLegislativeDocuments，21stCongress，No。319。）2d，TheLawsoftheUniononthesamesubject，andespeciallythatofMarch30，1802。（SeeStory’s"LawsoftheUnitedStates。"）3d，TheReportofMr。Cass，SecretaryofWar，relativetoIndianAffairs，November29，1823。]
[Footnotea:December18，1829。]
"Thelandonwhichwestandwehavereceivedasaninheritancefromourfathers，whopossesseditfromtimeimmemorial，asagiftfromourcommonFatherinHeaven。Theybequeathedittousastheirchildren，andwehavesacredlykeptit，ascontainingtheremainsofourbelovedmen。Thisrightofinheritancewehavenevercedednoreverforfeited。Permitustoaskwhatbetterrightcanthepeoplehavetoacountrythantherightofinheritanceandimmemorialpeaceablepossession？WeknowitissaidoflatebytheStateofGeorgiaandbytheExecutiveoftheUnitedStates，thatwehaveforfeitedthisright;butwethinkthisissaidgratuitously。Atwhattimehavewemadetheforfeit？Whatgreatcrimehavewecommitted，wherebywemustforeverbedivestedofourcountryandrights？WasitwhenwewerehostiletotheUnitedStates，andtookpartwiththeKingofGreatBritain，duringthestruggleforindependence？Ifso，whywasnotthisforfeituredeclaredinthefirsttreatyofpeacebetweentheUnitedStatesandourbelovedmen？Whywasnotsuchanarticleasthefollowinginsertedinthetreaty:—’TheUnitedStatesgivepeacetotheCherokees，but，fortheparttheytookinthelatewar，declarethemtobebuttenantsatwill，toberemovedwhentheconvenienceoftheStates，withinwhosecharteredlimitstheylive，shallrequireit’？Thatwasthepropertimetoassumesuchapossession。Butitwasnotthoughtof，norwouldourforefathershaveagreedtoanytreatywhosetendencywastodeprivethemoftheirrightsandtheircountry。"
SuchisthelanguageoftheIndians:theirassertionsaretrue，theirforebodingsinevitable。FromwhicheversideweconsiderthedestiniesoftheaboriginesofNorthAmerica，theircalamitiesappeartobeirremediable:iftheycontinuebarbarous，theyareforcedtoretire;iftheyattempttocivilizetheirmanners，thecontactofamorecivilizedcommunitysubjectsthemtooppressionanddestitution。Theyperishiftheycontinuetowanderfromwastetowaste，andiftheyattempttosettletheystillmustperish;theassistanceofEuropeansisnecessarytoinstructthem，buttheapproachofEuropeanscorruptsandrepelsthemintosavagelife;theyrefusetochangetheirhabitsaslongastheirsolitudesaretheirown，anditistoolatetochangethemwhentheyareconstrainedtosubmit。
TheSpaniardspursuedtheIndianswithbloodhounds，likewildbeasts;theysackedtheNewWorldwithnomoretemperorcompassionthanacitytakenbystorm;butdestructionmustcease，andfrenzybestayed;theremnantoftheIndianpopulationwhichhadescapedthemassacremixedwithitsconquerors，andadoptedintheendtheirreligionandtheirmanners。*bTheconductoftheAmericansoftheUnitedStatestowardstheaboriginesischaracterized，ontheotherhand，byasingularattachmenttotheformalitiesoflaw。ProvidedthattheIndiansretaintheirbarbarouscondition，theAmericanstakenopartintheiraffairs;theytreatthemasindependentnations，anddonotpossessthemselvesoftheirhuntinggroundswithoutatreatyofpurchase;andifanIndiannationhappenstobesoencroacheduponastobeunabletosubsistuponitsterritory，theyafforditbrotherlyassistanceintransportingittoagravesufficientlyremotefromthelandofitsfathers。
[Footnoteb:Thehonorofthisresultis，however，bynomeansduetotheSpaniards。IftheIndiantribeshadnotbeentillersofthegroundatthetimeofthearrivaloftheEuropeans，theywouldunquestionablyhavebeendestroyedinSouthaswellasinNorthAmerica。]
TheSpaniardswereunabletoexterminatetheIndianracebythoseunparalleledatrocitieswhichbrandthemwithindelibleshame，nordidtheyevensucceedinwhollydeprivingitofitsrights;buttheAmericansoftheUnitedStateshaveaccomplishedthistwofoldpurposewithsingularfelicity;tranquilly，legally，philanthropically，withoutsheddingblood，andwithoutviolatingasinglegreatprincipleofmoralityintheeyesoftheworld。*cItisimpossibletodestroymenwithmorerespectforthelawsofhumanity。
[Footnotec:See，amongstotherdocuments，thereportmadebyMr。
BellinthenameoftheCommitteeonIndianAffairs，February24，1830，inwhichismostlogicallyestablishedandmostlearnedlyproved，that"thefundamentalprinciplethattheIndianshadnorightbyvirtueoftheirancientpossessioneitherofwillorsovereignty，hasneverbeenabandonedeitherexpresslyorbyimplication。"Inperusingthisreport，whichisevidentlydrawnupbyanexperiencedhand，oneisastonishedatthefacilitywithwhichtheauthorgetsridofallargumentsfoundeduponreasonandnaturalright，whichhedesignatesasabstractandtheoreticalprinciples。ThemoreIcontemplatethedifferencebetweencivilizedanduncivilizedmanwithregardtotheprinciplesofjustice，themoreIobservethattheformerconteststhejusticeofthoserightswhichthelattersimplyviolates。]
[Ileavethischapterwhollyunchanged，forithasalwaysappearedtometobeoneofthemosteloquentandtouchingpartsofthisbook。Butithasceasedtobeprophetic;thedestructionoftheIndianraceintheUnitedStatesisalreadyconsummated。
In1870thereremainedbut25，731IndiansinthewholeterritoryoftheUnion，andofthesebyfarthelargestpartexistinCalifornia，Michigan，Wisconsin，Dakota，andNewMexicoandNevada。InNewEngland，Pennsylvania，andNewYorktheraceisextinct;andthepredictionsofM。deTocquevillearefulfilled。
—Translator’sNote。]
SituationOfTheBlackPopulationInTheUnitedStates，AndDangersWithWhichItsPresenceThreatensTheWhitesWhyitismoredifficulttoabolishslavery，andtoeffaceallvestigesofitamongstthemodernsthanitwasamongsttheancients—IntheUnitedStatestheprejudicesoftheWhitesagainsttheBlacksseemtoincreaseinproportionasslaveryisabolished—SituationoftheNegroesintheNorthernandSouthernStates—WhytheAmericansabolishslavery—Servitude，whichdebasestheslave，impoverishesthemaster—ContrastbetweentheleftandtherightbankoftheOhio—Towhatattributable—TheBlackrace，aswellasslavery，recedestowardstheSouth—
Explanationofthisfact—DifficultiesattendantupontheabolitionofslaveryintheSouth—Dangerstocome—Generalanxiety—FoundationofaBlackcolonyinAfrica—WhytheAmericansoftheSouthincreasethehardshipsofslavery，whilsttheyaredistressedatitscontinuance。
TheIndianswillperishinthesameisolatedconditioninwhichtheyhavelived;butthedestinyofthenegroesisinsomemeasureinterwovenwiththatoftheEuropeans。Thesetworacesareattachedtoeachotherwithoutintermingling，andtheyarealikeunableentirelytoseparateortocombine。ThemostformidableofalltheillswhichthreatenthefutureexistenceoftheUnionarisesfromthepresenceofablackpopulationuponitsterritory;andincontemplatingthecauseofthepresentembarrassmentsorofthefuturedangersoftheUnitedStates，theobserverisinvariablyledtoconsiderthisasaprimaryfact。
Thepermanentevilstowhichmankindissubjectedareusuallyproducedbythevehementortheincreasingeffortsofmen;butthereisonecalamitywhichpenetratedfurtivelyintotheworld，andwhichwasatfirstscarcelydistinguishableamidsttheordinaryabusesofpower;itoriginatedwithanindividualwhosenamehistoryhasnotpreserved;itwaswaftedlikesomeaccursedgermuponaportionofthesoil，butitafterwardsnurtureditself，grewwithouteffort，andspreadsnaturallywiththesocietytowhichitbelongs。Ineedscarcelyaddthatthiscalamityisslavery。Christianitysuppressedslavery，buttheChristiansofthesixteenthcenturyre—establishedit—asanexception，indeed，totheirsocialsystem，andrestrictedtooneoftheracesofmankind;butthewoundthusinflicteduponhumanity，thoughlessextensive，wasatthesametimerenderedfarmoredifficultofcure。
Itisimportanttomakeanaccuratedistinctionbetweenslaveryitselfanditsconsequences。Theimmediateevilswhichareproducedbyslaverywereverynearlythesameinantiquityastheyareamongstthemoderns;buttheconsequencesoftheseevilsweredifferent。Theslave，amongsttheancients，belongedtothesameraceashismaster，andhewasoftenthesuperiorofthetwoineducation*dandinstruction。Freedomwastheonlydistinctionbetweenthem;andwhenfreedomwasconferredtheywereeasilyconfoundedtogether。Theancients，then，hadaverysimplemeansofavoidingslaveryanditsevilconsequences，whichwasthatofaffranchisement;andtheysucceededassoonastheyadoptedthismeasuregenerally。Notbut，inancientStates，thevestigesofservitudesubsistedforsometimeafterservitudeitselfwasabolished。Thereisanaturalprejudicewhichpromptsmentodespisewhomsoeverhasbeentheirinferiorlongafterheisbecometheirequal;andtherealinequalitywhichisproducedbyfortuneorbylawisalwayssucceededbyanimaginaryinequalitywhichisimplantedinthemannersofthepeople。
Nevertheless，thissecondaryconsequenceofslaverywaslimitedtoacertaintermamongsttheancients，forthefreedmanboresoentirearesemblancetothosebornfree，thatitsoonbecameimpossibletodistinguishhimfromamongstthem。
[Footnoted:Itiswellknownthatseveralofthemostdistinguishedauthorsofantiquity，andamongstthemAesopandTerence，were，orhadbeenslaves。Slaveswerenotalwaystakenfrombarbarousnations，andthechancesofwarreducedhighlycivilizedmentoservitude。]
Thegreatestdifficultyinantiquitywasthatofalteringthelaw;amongstthemodernsitisthatofalteringthemanners;
and，asfarasweareconcerned，therealobstaclesbeginwherethoseoftheancientsleftoff。Thisarisesfromthecircumstancethat，amongstthemoderns，theabstractandtransientfactofslaveryisfatallyunitedtothephysicalandpermanentfactofcolor。Thetraditionofslaverydishonorstherace，andthepeculiarityoftheraceperpetuatesthetraditionofslavery。NoAfricanhasevervoluntarilyemigratedtotheshoresoftheNewWorld;whenceitmustbeinferred，thatalltheblackswhoarenowtobefoundinthathemisphereareeitherslavesorfreedmen。
Thusthenegrotransmitstheeternalmarkofhisignominytoallhisdescendants;andalthoughthelawmayabolishslavery，Godalonecanobliteratethetracesofitsexistence。
Themodernslavediffersfromhismasternotonlyinhiscondition，butinhisorigin。Youmaysetthenegrofree，butyoucannotmakehimotherwisethananalientotheEuropean。Noristhisall;wescarcelyacknowledgethecommonfeaturesofmankindinthischildofdebasementwhomslaveryhasbroughtamongstus。Hisphysiognomyistooureyeshideous，hisunderstandingweak，histasteslow;andwearealmostinclinedtolookuponhimasabeingintermediatebetweenmanandthebrutes。
*eThemoderns，then，aftertheyhaveabolishedslavery，havethreeprejudicestocontendagainst，whicharelesseasytoattackandfarlesseasytoconquerthanthemerefactofservitude:theprejudiceofthemaster，theprejudiceoftherace，andtheprejudiceofcolor。
[Footnotee:Toinducethewhitestoabandontheopiniontheyhaveconceivedofthemoralandintellectualinferiorityoftheirformerslaves，thenegroesmustchange;butaslongasthisopinionsubsists，tochangeisimpossible。]
Itisdifficultforus，whohavehadthegoodfortunetobebornamongstmenlikeourselvesbynature，andequaltoourselvesbylaw，toconceivetheirreconcilabledifferenceswhichseparatethenegrofromtheEuropeaninAmerica。Butwemayderivesomefaintnotionofthemfromanalogy。Francewasformerlyacountryinwhichnumerousdistinctionsofrankexisted，thathadbeencreatedbythelegislation。Nothingcanbemorefictitiousthanapurelylegalinferiority;nothingmorecontrarytotheinstinctofmankindthanthesepermanentdivisionswhichhadbeenestablishedbetweenbeingsevidentlysimilar。Neverthelessthesedivisionssubsistedforages;theystillsubsistinmanyplaces;
andonallsidestheyhaveleftimaginaryvestiges，whichtimealonecanefface。Ifitbesodifficulttorootoutaninequalitywhichsolelyoriginatesinthelaw，howarethosedistinctionstobedestroyedwhichseemtobebasedupontheimmutablelawsofNatureherself？WhenIremembertheextremedifficultywithwhicharistocraticbodies，ofwhatevernaturetheymaybe，arecommingledwiththemassofthepeople;andtheexceedingcarewhichtheytaketopreservetheidealboundariesoftheircasteinviolate，Idespairofseeinganaristocracydisappearwhichisfoundeduponvisibleandindeliblesigns。
ThosewhohopethattheEuropeanswillevermixwiththenegroes，appeartometodeludethemselves;andIamnotledtoanysuchconclusionbymyownreason，orbytheevidenceoffacts。
Hitherto，whereverthewhiteshavebeenthemostpowerful，theyhavemaintainedtheblacksinasubordinateoraservileposition;whereverthenegroeshavebeenstrongesttheyhavedestroyedthewhites;suchhasbeentheonlyretributionwhichhasevertakenplacebetweenthetworaces。
IseethatinacertainportionoftheterritoryoftheUnitedStatesatthepresentday，thelegalbarrierwhichseparatedthetworacesistendingtofallaway，butnotthatwhichexistsinthemannersofthecountry;slaveryrecedes，buttheprejudicetowhichithasgivenbirthremainsstationary。
WhosoeverhasinhabitedtheUnitedStatesmusthaveperceivedthatinthosepartsoftheUnioninwhichthenegroesarenolongerslaves，theyhaveinnowisedrawnnearertothewhites。
Onthecontrary，theprejudiceoftheraceappearstobestrongerintheStateswhichhaveabolishedslavery，thaninthosewhereitstillexists;andnowhereisitsointolerantasinthoseStateswhereservitudehasneverbeenknown。
Itistrue，thatintheNorthoftheUnion，marriagesmaybelegallycontractedbetweennegroesandwhites;butpublicopinionwouldstigmatizeamanwhoshouldconnecthimselfwithanegressasinfamous，anditwouldbedifficulttomeetwithasingleinstanceofsuchaunion。TheelectoralfranchisehasbeenconferreduponthenegroesinalmostalltheStatesinwhichslaveryhasbeenabolished;butiftheycomeforwardtovote，theirlivesareindanger。Ifoppressed，theymaybringanactionatlaw，buttheywillfindnonebutwhitesamongsttheirjudges;andalthoughtheymaylegallyserveasjurors，prejudicerepulsesthemfromthatoffice。ThesameschoolsdonotreceivethechildoftheblackandoftheEuropean。Inthetheatres，goldcannotprocureaseatfortheservileracebesidetheirformermasters;inthehospitalstheylieapart;andalthoughtheyareallowedtoinvokethesameDivinityasthewhites，itmustbeatadifferentaltar，andintheirownchurches，withtheirownclergy。ThegatesofHeavenarenotclosedagainsttheseunhappybeings;buttheirinferiorityiscontinuedtotheveryconfinesoftheotherworld;whenthenegroisdefunct，hisbonesarecastaside，andthedistinctionofconditionprevailsevenintheequalityofdeath。Thenegroisfree，buthecanshareneithertherights，northepleasures，northelabor，northeafflictions，northetombofhimwhoseequalhehasbeendeclaredtobe;andhecannotmeethimuponfairtermsinlifeorindeath。
IntheSouth，whereslaverystillexists，thenegroesarelesscarefullykeptapart;theysometimessharethelaborandtherecreationsofthewhites;thewhitesconsenttointermixwiththemtoacertainextent，andalthoughthelegislationtreatsthemmoreharshly，thehabitsofthepeoplearemoretolerantandcompassionate。IntheSouththemasterisnotafraidtoraisehisslavetohisownstanding，becauseheknowsthathecaninamomentreducehimtothedustatpleasure。IntheNorththewhitenolongerdistinctlyperceivesthebarrierwhichseparateshimfromthedegradedrace，andheshunsthenegrowiththemorepertinacity，sincehefearslesttheyshouldsomedaybeconfoundedtogether。
AmongsttheAmericansoftheSouth，naturesometimesreassertsherrights，andrestoresatransientequalitybetweentheblacksandthewhites;butintheNorthpriderestrainsthemostimperiousofhumanpassions。TheAmericanoftheNorthernStateswouldperhapsallowthenegresstosharehislicentiouspleasures，ifthelawsofhiscountrydidnotdeclarethatshemayaspiretobethelegitimatepartnerofhisbed;butherecoilswithhorrorfromherwhomightbecomehiswife。
Thusitis，intheUnitedStates，thattheprejudicewhichrepelsthenegroesseemstoincreaseinproportionastheyareemancipated，andinequalityissanctionedbythemannerswhilstitiseffacedfromthelawsofthecountry。ButiftherelativepositionofthetworaceswhichinhabittheUnitedStatesissuchasIhavedescribed，itmaybeaskedwhytheAmericanshaveabolishedslaveryintheNorthoftheUnion，whytheymaintainitintheSouth，andwhytheyaggravateitshardshipsthere？Theansweriseasilygiven。Itisnotforthegoodofthenegroes，butforthatofthewhites，thatmeasuresaretakentoabolishslaveryintheUnitedStates。
ThefirstnegroeswereimportedintoVirginiaabouttheyear1621。*fInAmerica，therefore，aswellasintherestoftheglobe，slaveryoriginatedintheSouth。Thenceitspreadfromonesettlementtoanother;butthenumberofslavesdiminishedtowardstheNorthernStates，andthenegropopulationwasalwaysverylimitedinNewEngland。*g[Footnotef:SeeBeverley’s"HistoryofVirginia。"SeealsoinJefferson’s"Memoirs"somecuriousdetailsconcerningtheintroductionofnegroesintoVirginia，andthefirstActwhichprohibitedtheimportationofthemin1778。]
[Footnoteg:ThenumberofslaveswaslessconsiderableintheNorth，buttheadvantagesresultingfromslaverywerenotmorecontestedtherethanintheSouth。In1740，theLegislatureoftheStateofNewYorkdeclaredthatthedirectimportationofslavesoughttobeencouragedasmuchaspossible，andsmugglingseverelypunishedinordernottodiscouragethefairtrader。
（Kent’s"Commentaries，"vol。ii。p。206。）Curiousresearches，byBelknap，uponslaveryinNewEngland，aretobefoundinthe"HistoricalCollectionofMassachusetts，"vol。iv。p。193。Itappearsthatnegroeswereintroducedtherein1630，butthatthelegislationandmannersofthepeoplewereopposedtoslaveryfromthefirst;seealso，inthesamework，themannerinwhichpublicopinion，andafterwardsthelaws，finallyputanendtoslavery。]
Acenturyhadscarcelyelapsedsincethefoundationofthecolonies，whentheattentionoftheplanterswasstruckbytheextraordinaryfact，thattheprovinceswhichwerecomparativelydestituteofslaves，increasedinpopulation，inwealth，andinprosperitymorerapidlythanthosewhichcontainedthegreatestnumberofnegroes。Intheformer，however，theinhabitantswereobligedtocultivatethesoilthemselves，orbyhiredlaborers;
inthelattertheywerefurnishedwithhandsforwhichtheypaidnowages;yetalthoughlaborandexpenseswereontheoneside，andeasewitheconomyontheother，theformerwereinpossessionofthemostadvantageoussystem。Thisconsequenceseemedtobethemoredifficulttoexplain，sincethesettlers，whoallbelongedtothesameEuropeanrace，hadthesamehabits，thesamecivilization，thesamelaws，andtheirshadesofdifferencewereextremelyslight。