is said to excuse slavery of the Negroes bought in Africa, or are unhappy that these criminals sentenced to capital punishment, or prisoners of war, which would be put to death they were not bought by Europeans. According to this reasoning, some writers we have the slave trade as almost an act of humanity. But we observe:
1. That this fact is not proven, and is not even likely. What! before Europeans bought Negroes, Africans slaughtered all their prisoners ! They killed not only married women, as was said to be once use among a horde of thieves East, but even unmarried girls, which was never reported to any people. What! If we were not going to look for Negroes in Africa, Africans would kill their slaves destined for sale now! each party would rather knock out his prisoners to exchange them! Implausible to believe facts, the evidence must be impressive, and we have those people here that used to trade
Negroes - I never had the opportunity to attend, but there was among Roman men delivered the same trade, and their name is still an insult (1). 2. Assuming that saves the lives of Negroes being purchased, it does not commit a crime less by buying it, if it is for resale or enslave. This is precisely the action of a man who, after having saved a wretch pursued by assassins, the fly. Or, if we assume that Europeans have determined the Africans to stop killing their prisoners, that would be the action of a man who would come to disgust robbers to murder passers-by, and have pledged to settle for the fly with him. Might say in one or the other these assumptions, that this man is not a thief? A man who, to save another from death, would give its necessary, would probably be entitled to claim damages, he could acquire an interest in the property and even the work that he saved But by taking what is necessary for the sustenance of the obliged, but he could not without injustice to reduce it to slavery. We may acquire rights to the future ownership of another man, but never on his person. A man may have the right to force another to work for him, but not to force him to obey him. 3
. The excuse alleged is the less legitimate it is contrary to the infamous trade of brigands in Europe, which gives rise to the Africans of almost continual wars, whose sole motive is the desire to take prisoners to sell. Often Europeans themselves foment wars by their agent or their intrigues: so that they are guilty, not only to reduce crime in slavery men, but of all murders committed in Africa prepare for this crime. They treacherous art to excite the passions of greed and Africans to engage the father to deliver her children, brother to betray his brother, Prince to sell his subjects. They gave to the unfortunate people of destructive taste strong drink. They have notified him that the poison hidden in the forests of America, has become, thanks to the active greed of the Europeans, one of the scourges of the world, and they still dare to speak of humanity! Even the excuse that we just claim exonerate the original purchaser, it could not excuse or the second purchaser, or the colon that keeps the Negro, because they have no reason to remove this death the slave they buy: they are, compared to the crime of enslavement, what, from a flight, one that shares with the thief, or rather another one that loads a flight, and who shares with him the product. The law may have reason to treat differently the thief and his accomplice, but in morals, the offense is the same.
Finally, this is absolutely no excuse for blacks born in the house. The teacher who raises them to leave them in slavery is criminal, because he could take care of them in childhood, can give them on any color of right. Indeed, why were they needed him? It is because he has delighted their parents with the freedom, the ability to care for their child. It would therefore qualify for a first offense can give the right to commit a second. Moreover, even assuming the negro child abandoned freely of his parents: the right of a man on a deserted child, he has raised, it can be to keep in bondage? Action of humanity it give us the right to commit a crime?
Slavery legally convicted criminals is not even legitimate. Indeed, a necessary condition for the sentence is fair, that it is determined by law and in duration and in form. Thus, the law may condemn in public works, because the duration of labor, food, punishments in cases of rebellion or laziness, may be determined by the law but the law can never pronounce the sentence against a man to be enslaved by another man in particular, because the sentence so absolutely dependent on the whim of the master, it is necessarily indefinite. Moreover, it is also absurd atrocious dare argue that the most unfortunate bought in Africa are criminals. Are they afraid that we do not have enough contempt for them, we do not deal with enough toughness? And how do we suppose that there is a country in which he commits so many crimes, and yet where it will do so exact justice?
(1) "Leno" did that first slave trader; but as these merchants sold slaves to the beautiful voluptuous behalf of Rome took on another meaning. This is a necessary consequence of being a slave trader: also, even in countries quite barbaric for this occupation was not regarded as criminal, it has always been infamous in the eyes. (Note Condorcet).
Condorcet, Reflections on slavery of the Negroes, II