Anti Slavery Bugle

To the Governor of South Carolina.

May it please your Excellency:

The plan which I am about to propose for augmenting the industrial resources, and thus increasing the prosperity of our beloved country, is addressed to you as the representative of a state which, having been among the foremost, by word and deed, in supporting the institutions of that country, is entitled to the credit of being eminently AMERICAN.

Our brethren of the North, (I deem it highly judicious to keep up the use of this complimentary phrase,) though illiberal and fanatical on some points wherein their institutions differ from our own, have yet thoroughly demonstrated a point which is not perfectly clear to all minds before seeing the facts and figures which they have furnished, namely, that the prosperity of a country will be in direct proportion to the amount of active industry employed in it. It is wise to learn (as your Excellency is aware that a great Latin poet has remarked) even from our brethren—and it would be unpardonable for us to neglect the lesson given to us in that particular by that robust and eminently useful class of people, the inhabitants of the Northern states. Industry is not only their taste, but their policy; let us make it ours, and it may be hoped that the strange fancy for emigration to the West, which has led many of our citizens to leave their estates, and withdraw their servants to other fields of labor, may be checked.

Without farther preamble, I respectfully suggest to your Excellency the expediency of proposing to the Legislature the passage of the following laws:

Be it enacted, that from and after the passage of this act, all Jews, resident or traveling in this state, shall be taken and held to be the property of the Commonwealth; their property real and personal, shall be considered as belonging to the state, and they themselves shall be sold as slaves for life, by the Sheriffs of their respective towns, at public auction, to the highest bidder, in lots to suit purchasers, and without reserve, as soon as the needful arrangements can be made.

The advantages of such a law would be manifold.

1st. It would increase the productive industry of the state, by engaging in agriculture and other necessary labor a class of men at present selfishly devoted to their own interests, and not only seeking these by unproductive labor, but living, many of them, on the pecuniary distress of the community.

2d. (For I wish to show the expediency of my scheme not only to the noble and chivalrous spirits who form the majority of our free population, but also to the shrewdest and most cautious calculator,) this plan would be perfectly safe. These people have no distinct and recognized government to appeal to for protection, and our national authorities, being Christian, would, of course, side with those of their own faith, in such a matter. Then the persons in question are weak, comparatively few in number, (a judicious system of breeding would soon increase their numbers under the new arrangement,) and the objects of a prejudice which would greatly facilitate the proposed movement.

3d. The accomplishment of the plan would greatly assist in removing the narrow and groundless hypothesis that only people of negro descent may be rightfully held as slaves. Other circumstances in which the negro is found, have far more to do than his color, with his subjection to slavery; and if these circumstances as decidedly exist in the case of other persons, why should not the same result follow?

4th. The course I recommend is strongly urged by religious considerations. The Jews have precious and immortal souls, which are in a state of constant peril from their pertinacious belief. Under the proposed arrangement, it would be easy to prohibit the performance of their peculiar rites, and of course the observance of their sabbaths and other festivals, of which rest is an essential characteristic, would be out of the question in a state of slavery, while they might be required to sanctify the Lord's day by attendance on public worship, whenever circumstances did not require them to labor at that time. The blessings which the negro has experienced by removal from the heathenish darkness of Africa into the light and privileges of a Christian land, might be extended to the Jew with equal success and advantage, and much might thus be effected for the glory of God, and the upbuilding of his church.

5th. The proposed measure seems clearly to be following the leadings of Providence in respect to the Jews. The sacred record teaches us that their rebellious conduct was repeatedly punished by their enslavement to other nations, and the failure of this discipline to reform them must have been owing to the fact that their masters were heathens. Guided and disciplined by Christian enslavers, placed under the droppings of the sanctuary, and faithfully taught (by the missionary whom their master supports) that precious scripture, 'Servants obey your masters,' who knows but they may be plucked as brands from the burning; a consummation devoutly to be wished, since they would thus at once be rendered more obedient while retained, and bring a better price when preference or necessity should induce their masters to dispose of them.

I submit this plan to your Excellency's consideration, and am, with due respect,
SIMON SHACKLE.