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AN INQUIRY

INTO THE

HISTORY OF SLAVERY;

ITS INTRODUCTION INTO THE UNITED STATES;

CAUSES OF ITS CONTINUANCE;

AND REMARKS UPON THE

ABOLITION TRACTS OF WILLIAM E. CHANNING, D. d.

BY REV. T. C. THORNTON,
-President of the Centenary College, Clinton, Mississippi.

WASHINGTON CITY:
WILLIAM M. MORRISON.
1841.

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Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by
WILLIAM M. MORRISON,

in the Clerk's office of the District Court for the District of Columbia.

WOODS AND CRANE, PRINTERS,

Baltimore.

TO ALL THE

WHITE INHABITANTS OF THE SLAVE-HOLDING STATES

AND TO ALL THE

LOVERS OF THE UNION

THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES,

THIS VOLUME

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY

THE AUTHOR.

PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTION.

INTRODUCTION.

A FRIEND whom we hold in high esteem, in a work of his which was published but a short time since, publicly committed us to examine a Tract of the Rev. Dr. William E. Channing, on "the Annexation of Texas to the United States." After such a public announcement, though unexpected, we did not feel at liberty wholly to decline. We procured the tract, and upon an investigation, found its subject to be simply slavery, and its object the direct, immediate, and indiscriminate emancipation of all slaves in in the slave-holding states, to remain here, in our midst.

This subject had been previously elaborately treated of, by Dr. Channing in two tracts, one of which at least has been stereotyped by the Anti-slavery Association of New York. Thus, whilst the title and dress were changed, and it addressed to that distinguished Senator the Hon. HENRY CLAY, in order to induce southerners to read it, the subject and object were virtually the same. These facts and their intimate connection with the welfare of our country have chiefly actuated us, to present to the public our views on the delicate question of SLAVERY, as it exists in the United States. In the examination of this, other subjects directly connected with, or growing out of it, were presented, on which we deemed it proper to remark.

On the annexation of Texas, we have said comparatively but little. This is a political question. It is not now, and perhaps never will be again before the American people. Dr. Channing doubtless selected it, as he did the name of the Hon. Mr. Clay, to secure the circulation of his abolition tracts in the south. He knew the interest that southerners take in all that concerns Texas. He knew that Mr. Clay is esteemed an anti-abolitionist; but by introducing his name on the title page of his book, in connection too with Texas, he hoped to get a hearing in the slave-holding states for his stale abolition dogmas.

Should the TEXANS ever again ask to become one of our confederacy, we feel perfectly willing to leave the discussion on that

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