in a general committee of the whole slaveholding delegations, that the South ought to be “informed of the full length and breadth and depth” of the measures, intentions, &c, of the abolitionists.  At this there is not an abolitionist who will not rejoice.  We ask for nothing but access to the popular mind of the South.  We feel full confidence in the eternal rectitude of our principles, and of their reception at the South, when once they are understood.  Let the conflict come, let the truth of liberty fairly enter the lists with the error of slavery, and we have not a doubt of a glorious triumph.

[Footnote A:  Appendix H.]

May we not, after this, expect the aid of Mr. Elmore and others of equal distinction in the South, in giving to their fellow-citizens the information that we have always believed, and that they now acknowledge, to be so, important to them?

May 24, 1838.

JAMES G. BIRNEY.]

APPENDIX.

* * * * *

APPENDIX A.

Extract from an article addressed to the editor of the Christian Register and Observer, signed W.E.C.—­attributed to the Rev. Dr. Channing.

“Speaking of slavery, I wish to recommend to your readers a book just from the press, entitled ‘Emancipation in the West Indies,’ and written by J. A. Thome and J.H.  Kimball, who had visited those islands to inquire into the great experiment now going on there.  I regard it as the most important work which has appeared among us for years.  No man, without reading it, should undertake to pass judgment on Emancipation.  It is something more than a report of the observation and opinions of the writers.  It consists, chiefly, of the opinions, conversations, letters, and other documents of the very inhabitants of the islands whose judgments are most trust-worthy; of the governors, special magistrates, police officers, managers, attorneys, physicians, &c; and, in most cases, the names of these individuals are given, so that we have the strongest evidence of the correctness of the work.

The results of this great experiment surpass what the most sanguine could have hoped.  It is hardly possible that the trial could have been made under more unfavorable circumstances.  The planters on all the islands were opposed to the Act of Emancipation, and, in most, exceedingly and fiercely hostile to it, and utterly indisposed to give it the best chance of success.  The disproportion of the colored race to the whites was fearfully great, being that of seven or eight to one; whilst, in our slaveholding states, the whites outnumber the colored people.  The slaves of the West Indies were less civilized than ours, and less fit to be trusted with their own support.  Another great evil was, that the proprietors, to a considerable extent, were absentees; residing in England, and leaving the care of their estates