s of
white persons. All these perplexities develope more and more the
dreadful fruitfulness of the original sin of the African
trade.[10]

TO F. CORBIN

November 26, 1820.

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I do not mean to discuss the question how far _slavery_ and
_farming_ are incompatible. Our opinions agree as to the evil,
moral, political, and economical, of the former. I still think,
notwithstanding, that under all the disadvantages of slave
cultivation, much improvement in it is practicable. Proofs are
annually taking place within my own sphere of observation;
particularly where slaves are held in small numbers, by good
masters and managers. As to the very wealthy proprietors, much
less is to be said. But after all, (protesting against any
inference of a disposition to undertake the evil of slavery,) is
it certain that in giving to your wealth a new investment, you
would be altogether freed from the cares and vexations incident
to the shape it now has? If converted into paper, you already
feel some of the contingencies belonging to it; if into
commercial stock, look at the wrecks every where giving warning
of the danger. If into large landed property, where there are no
slaves, will you cultivate it yourself? Then beware of the
difficulty of procuring faithful or complying labourers. Will you
dispose of it in leases? Ask those who have made the experiment
what sort of tenants are to be found where an ownership of the
soil is so attainable. It has been said that America is a country
for the poor, not for the rich. There would be more correctness
in saying it is the country for both, where the latter have a
relish for free government; but, proportionally, more for the
former than for the latter.[11]

TO GENERAL LA FAYETTE.

1821.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The negro slavery is, as you justly complain, a sad blot on our
free country, though a very ungracious subject of reproaches from
the quarter which has been most lavish of them. No satisfactory
plan has yet been devised for taking out the stain. If an asylum
cou