View Document Frames
Eaton, John H. to Count de Ofalia, March 10, 1838.
John H. Eaton, United States Minister to Spain,
to the Count de Ofalia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain
MADRID, March 10, 1838
SIR: Indisposition has prevented me, from acknowleging your letter of the 22d ulto, which was received only a few days ago. Tho still unwell, I proceed without further delay to answer it.
The disturbances, which affected philanthropists are seeking to occasion, within the limits & jurisdiction of countries, where a condition of domestic slavery exists, are more sensibly felt in the United States, than they can be by this Monarchy, where the evil is merely of Colonial character. Of the twenty-six Sovereign'ties which form our confederacy, they are divided on this question. Half the number tolerate; while the others within their limits have rejected a continuance of this servitude. In the non slave holding portions of our Union, there are many pretendedly sensitive persons, who believe they are rendering humanity a service, by encourageing abolition, & sowing the seeds of discord between Master & servant, while the ultimate success of their charitable plans, may be, to impose the necessity, of setting aside, that attention & parental regard which thro feeling & from interest, owners have heretofore been disposed to manifest towards these vassals.
An admitted fact with the intelligent part of mankind, is, that in proportion, to the repose & happiness which the human race enjoy, is the progress of its natural increase. With us, these people of bondage, have progressed nearly in the ratio of the white population, which has been found to double in each twenty years; a demonstrable proof that they have not been unkindly treated; while on the other hand, from 1808, when the United States & Great Britain inhibited the slave trade, to 1830, in the British Islands Jamaica & Trinadad the black population has diminished. Climate is not the cause of this, inasmuch as warm & tropical regions, agree better with negroes, than the cold & variable climate of the U States. To nothing then, except kindness, good treatment, & an absence from every thing of oppression, is this to be ascribed! And what more does humanity require? That there time & action shall be under their own control, even to the hazard of the lives & property, of those who may place them at liberty? Universal freedom is a Utopian thought. To some extent all mankind are slaves from the Sovereign to the humblest subject. Such is the relation of the free laborer! Be it admitted, that if dissatisfied, with his place & vocation, he pass to some other service; it is still, a change of situation, not of condition; because it is not, his voluntary-free will, but a necessitous state which impels him to act--There is one remark worthy to be made, that the United States are not the authors of this imposed servitude. The germ of the evil, was planted by the authority & sanction of Great Britain, while the country was in colonial subjection to her. It ill comports with the history & character of that enlightened nation, now to reproach the people of Republican America, for evils, engendered, encouraged, & nurtured by itself; & which have acquired a hold too deep rooted & fixed, to be eradicated, except by the exercise of some gradual cautious policy, & such as those who are interested in the matter may consent to adopt.
While nothing has been done, effectually to relieve against this bondage, which by others was imposed, the United States have refrained from giving it extension. Early as a power to act Constitutionally was possessed, the Government placed itself, in open opposition to the inhuman practice of plundering, & vending, the inhabitants of Africa; & more recently have denounced as Pirates, such of her Citizens as should be found engaged in this trade. A late resolution of Lord Brougham before the British parliament, proposes an address to the Throne seeking that negotiations may be opened with France, Spain Portugal & the United States of America, whereby to obtain the consent of those powers respectively, for all to be considered pirates who enter into this traffic. Had his Lordship, adverted to our laws, he would have found, there was no necessity, for the U States to become a party to this proposed arrangement, inasmuch as this duty to humanity had been performed long since; & that twenty years ago, it was declared an act of piracy, for any of her citizens to be engaged in this odious trafffic.
These remarks I have felt at liberty to make, altho not actually called for by any thing contained in your letter–they are offered to remove those false, & foolish impressions, which have been imposed upon the credulity of mankind, on this side the Atlantic Ocean, & which spite of opposing facts, seem even to be entertained by the Br. Parliament wise & well informed as it is.
From these itenerant abolitionists, to whom you refer, little is to be apprehended! Against such disturbers of the rights of others, penal laws, rigidly enforced, are quite sufficient. Public opinion & action, imprudently exercised, is sometimes a hazardous, & always reprehensible resort; altho not unfrequently a necessary one. Were a vengeful & wicked man, to place a torch at his neighbors dwelling, few would be so considerate, as to reason with him, or wait for legal redress. In such a case, the measure of justice & reparation would be meeted forthwith; & so should it be, on the part of your government to Mr. Thompson, & his associates. He came to our shores an Envoy from some fanatic club of Great Britain, to cast fire-brands amongst our slave population to preach the doctrine of universal emancipation & the rights of man; but public opinion took the law, & Mr. Thompson, into its safe keeping, and arrested his career of missionary elocution; & being thus necessarily constrained to leave our shores, he took refuge upon yours to fulfil the objects and purposes of his mission.
A principle which has ever been regarded by the U States is to forbear any interference in the affairs of Foreign nations; & to restrain their citizens, from disturbing the repose of others. Be it that slavery is an evil, does it necessarily follow, that those who are aliens to the quiet of a Country, where it is tolerated, may be permitted to impugn it, & at their mere pleasure to create disquietudes? Anxious for her citizens, to conform to the laws of the Country, in which temporarily they sojourn, the U States never will interfere in behalf of those who shall wantonly infract those laws; & should any Consul of theirs, encourage, or permit a different course, I can confidently assure you, that their government will only need information of the fact, to be induced to withdraw them from their positions, & to place their confided trust in the hands of others.
You say, that her Majesty earnestly desires a general exemption of slavery from the word, (en todo el globo) It is a most commendable & praise worthy aspiration; & altogether honorable to the benignant heart, which I am quite sure, beats in her kind, & generous bosom; & when she can effect so noble a purpose, extending with the practiced act, increased happiness to this bondaged race of human Beings, she will have woven for herself, a crown more imperishable, than that which now decks her Royal brow. But I pray you what will thereby be effected, for her Colonial possessions? Free blacks will not encounter agricultural toil; & white labor cannot be obtained in tropical climates! Will emancipation raise enfranchised slaves to a level with their former masters? Will they be admitted to the rank and condition of citizens, in regard to civil & political rights? Will they be able to associate, with the white population, & to intermarry with it; & if all these things fail to take place, as fail they must, may not discontent abide strongly as ever?
I avail myself of the occasion your letter affords to speak freely & frankly. Impressions are sought to be made that the U States desire to possess Cuba. No idea can be more rediculous [sic]. The U States contain an unsettled, & uncultivated rich soil, which for ages, will be more than adequate, to all the wants of their rapidly increasing population; without any thing of cupidity being entertained, towards their neighbors of the North, or South– of Canada or Cuba. They desire nothing more, than for the Island of Cuba to remain as it is; because its agriculture & commerce have proven mutually advantageous; & because the government & ordinances of the Spanish Monarchy, have heretofore preserved it, a quiet & friendly neighbor, which might not be the case, were it to come to the possession of some grasping, & aspiring power. Permit me then to remark that while the United States are solicitous, that nothing may arise to disturb the jurisdiction of Spain over this Island, or to cause its transfer to others hands, they could not with indifference & unconcern look upon an attempt, to pass it, into the possession & ownership of another power; & were it to be effected, they would be constrained to consider it, a departure from the subsisting friendship which now binds them to Spain; & of intended hostility on the part of that government which should obtain it.
Perhaps I have no right in virtue of any thing which is suggested in your letter, to offer these remarks; but as my government desires peace with all the world, I should not conceal from you, what would be its feelings, & probable necessitous action, were Spain to think of transferring, this portion of her Colonial dominions to a foreign power. Worn down with the fatigues of war, Spain, in courtesy, will not be disposed to do any act, which may occasion its hardships, to others who are in peace & friendship with her, & who are sincerely anxious to remain so. Territorial extension, is not desired by the United States, even if amicably to be effected; but certainly, not at the risk & hazard of war, which they will always seek to avoid, at any sacrafice, save a compromitment of safety & National honor. This language was held years ago when they were a young & feeble nation, & now, when the maturity of manhood is attained, it will not be departed from.
By the earliest opportunity, I will take occasion to communicate your letter to my Government, that it may be in possession of the news of her Catholic Majesty–
I have the honor [etc.].
Source: Vol. 11-Spain, Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, Inter-American
Affairs, 1831-1860, arranged by William R. Manning. Washington, [D.C.], 1939,
310-313.
