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It has been often said, with how much of truth it is not our purpose here to inquire, that in this country the mention of the evils of Slavery is and must be fraught with most evil consequences.  Yet the agitation of this subject, whether for good or evil, in the United States, is intimately connected with the whole movement in England.  In the earlier stages of the measures directed against the trade, a hearty response was awakened here; nor could the subsequent act of emancipation fail to produce an impression everywhere, and most of all among ourselves.  United to the English nation by strong affinities, one with them in language and literature, yet cleaving still to the institution which England had so energetically striven to destroy, could it be otherwise than that such a movement on her part should awaken an eager interest among us?  Could such an event as the release from slavery of eight hundred thousand negroes in the British Colonies pass by unnoticed?  To suppose this is preposterous.  It is not too much to say, that the effect of British emancipation was, at the time it took place, to give in certain portions of the United States an increased degree of life to the anti-slavery sentiment.  No words could have been uttered, which, reaching the shores of America, would have been half so emphatic as this one act of the British nation.  Among the causes which have nourished and strengthened the anti-slavery sentiment among us this, has its place.  Verily, if England gave us the poison, she has not been slow to proffer to us the antidote.

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Concerning the actual fruits of Emancipation, it may be asked, What have they been?  The world looked on inquiringly as to how the enfranchised negroes would demean themselves.  One fact has never been disputed.  This momentous change in the social state of near a million of people took place without a single act of violence on the part of the liberated slaves.  Neither did the measure carry violence in its train.  So far the act was successful.  But that all which the friends of Emancipation hoped for has been attained, no one will assert.  When, however, we hear of the financial ruin of the Islands, as a consequence of that measure, it may be well to inquire into their condition previous to its taking place.  That the West India Colonies were trembling on the brink of ruin at the close of the last century is evident from their repeated petitions to the mother country to take some measures to save them from utter bankruptcy.  This can hardly be laid to the extinction of Slavery, for both Slavery and the Slave-Trade were at that time in the height of successful operation.