Pearson Forensic Dispute on the Legality of Enslaving the Africans

6 applies to the support of a distinction of the same kind among others not so related, it will follow inevitably that a distiunction in the latter case is equally justifiable with one in the former: the are both supported by the same principle of natural law, & therefore must stand or fall together. I have introduced these observations upon the foundation of the authority of parents over their children, for the sake of example rather than as necessary to support the general idea of inequality, I say as neces-sary, for I think before the principle of abso-lute equality can be maintained, it must be made to appear that all mankind, in point of capacity & disposition to conduct properly, are equal.

It now only remains to apply these ge-neral principles to the particular case of the Africans in this country, & see what degree of authority the people here are

7 thereby warranted to exercise over them. And if it shall appear in fact that they are not reduced by the law of this land to a degree of inbordination beyond what the law of nature abovementioned, the happiness of both requires, it will follow undeniably, that the law whereby they are thus subjected is just.

My friend, I am no enemy to humor; but I think it rarely serves to illustrate a logical conclusion. I confess my argument as you have represented it appears ridi-culous enough; but if you had deferred your reply 'till I had made an appli-cation of the principle to the point in hand, perhaps it had saved you this needless expense of wit.

I have not pretended as a consequence from my principles, that every degree of superiority in point of discretion could warrant to one individual of a community a

In right to exercise authority over his neighbor. I have only encountered that the motion of equality in the trial strict sense have no foundation in nature; but as high kings now the ruly end of action, we priority in point of wisdom goodnifs and, was in the nature of things a brother foundation of authority. And as nature has made a difference among creatures in there respect, so it was fit brother, and agreeable to nature's law, that different degreses of authority in point of direction. of conduct should be exercised by them if that this difference in some cases even among the human species was so ininheritent as rendered the exercise witheredwithout the consent of the goeverned. For this I have produced on example firm fact, in the case of parents and children. ALl this you have implicity allowed. I now go on to say as a consequency from the same acknowledged.

that whenever such a connexion of things takes place, that any number of men cannot consistently with the good of the whole have a residence in any commu nity, but in a state of involuntary sub ordination, & that their residence in such community notwithsanding such subordi nation be in fact best for them & others ^collectively. Such subordination tho' involuntary is no viola tion of the law of nature. Subordination in this case comes fully within the reason of the subordination of children, rests pre cisely on the same foundation, & is therefore justifiable on precisely the same principles. Now fully within this predicament lies, as I conceive, the particular case of Afri cans in this country. That it is only in a state of limited subordination, that these people can consistently enjoy a residence among us, is, I suppose, acknowledged by all. And whether their condition here, notwithstanding

standing such subordination, be not vastly preferable, regard being had to their interest (?) only, to their condition in their native country, no one I think can doubt, at least no one who has an adequate conception of the misery & wretchedness of that condition. Figure to yourself my friend, you are not unacquainted with the African history, figure to yourself my friend the delightful situation of a natural inhabitant of Africa. View him necessarily destitute of every mena of improvement in social virtue, of every advantage for the cultivation of these principles of humanity, in which alone consists the dignity of the rational nature, & from which only source springs all that pleasure, that happiness of life, whereby the human species is distinguish ed from other parts of the animal creation. Consider his situation as a candidate for an eternal existence, view him as necessa rily ignorant of every principle of that