XI. CHA P. heart in individuals, the vital principles of philanthropy, might be propelled to the moft diftant extremities. SUPPLE MENT. Propose to form a new 603. A full investigation of this momentous fubject, led them to a firm conviction, that though feveral of the prefent European governments even should be disposed to Community, grant, yet not one of them could fecure and guarantee, to a little community, however useful, (existing in their dominions as a STATUS IN STATU,) the privilege of enacting their own laws, of coining their own money and of exemption from imprisonment for debt. (§ 142, Qu. 51.) privileges which appeared to form an indispensable part of their plan.—For being placed, as it were, in the great current of the prevailing selfish principles and fluctating politics of Europe, it was easy to see, that what such a community might build up to-day, was liable to be swept away to-morrow. out of Eurepe, and in Africa. 604. The gentlemen, therefore, soon agreed that the chaos of jarring interests, involved in the present politics, finances and commerce of Europe, oppofed a formidable obstacle to their design: and they were clearly of opinion, that the only measure which promised any reasonable hopes of fuccefs, would be the establishment of a new community, some where out of Europe, in the original organization of which, fuch regulations might be adopted, as would effectually exclude every political, financial and mercantile principle, which was not deemed consistent with the happiness of mankind. But the question was, to what part of the habitable globe they were to turn their views?—Though many large tracts of Afia and America were unoccupied, few of them were unclaimed, and ftill fewer were within a convenient distance of Europe.-To the western coast of Africa alone, these weighty objections did not apply.— Abounding with tracts, neither occupied nor claimed by European XI. SUPPLE European powers, fufficiently near to Europe to afford an CHA P. infant fociety the advantages of her foftering care, yet fufficiently remote to place a mature community beyond the reach of her influence, particularly, her commercial influence:—in these respects, the Coast just mentioned appeared the best adapted for the proposed undertaking. MENT. nion confirm ed by Des Marchais, 605. Such were the general confiderations, which among Their opiothers, directed the hopes of these gentlemen to the western coast of Africa; and farther enquiry convinced them, that, upon the whole, their plan would be more easily practicable in that, than in any other, quarter of the globe. Their opinion was particularly influenced by the Chev. Des Marchais' interefting Voyage to the Coast of Guinea, made by order of the French Government, fome paffages of which, together with extracts from other authors, not generally known, I have confidered fo much connected with this work, that I have inferted them in the Appendix*. 606. It was concluded then, that there was a probable profpect of establishing in Africa, with little oppofition, either from European claims or from the natives, a colony on their own principles, which might serve as a basis for a new and free community. In order, therefore, to give the reader an idea of their plan, I shall here insert the general principles on which they propofed to form their affociationt. See in the Appendix, Documents, &c. refpecting the Swedish Colonial Design, No. 1. The following articles are general articles, there being no room for particular explanations, which indeed would not be very amufing to most readers. It is alfo neceffary to observe, that variouscircumstances occafioned various little deviations to be afterwards made from the articles inferted at p. 45 et feq. of a " Plan for a free Community, &c. printed in 1789, and which were found applicable to a later period. Outlines СНА Р. SUPPLE MENT. Outline of the Plan. Outlines of a Plan for forming an Affociation, in order to establish a new and free Community out of Europe, and beyond the Sphere of it's political, financial and (especially) commercial influence. (1.) A certain number of friends to this undertaking (fay 10 heads of families) to affemble, in order to make choice of members to form the firft elements of this new community. Each of these 10, to recommend 9 others, and the whole 100 so chofen, to select from among themselves a certain number, (fay 40 families) to embark. (2.) A committee to be chofen to provide for the embarkation, and to manage all the concerns of the community, (fee the whole of Chap. IX. and particularly § 179.) This committee to be furnished with maps and every other necessary information. (3.) This whole Affociation to divide themselves into three Classes, viz. PRODUCTORS, MANUFACTURERS and MERCHANTS, (See § 194 t.) Their political influence in the community to be in a certain definite proportion (fay Productors to have 12 votes, Manufactures 8, and Merchants 4.) (4.) To prevent all undue influence, the representatives in the Legislature to be ballotted for by each head of a family feparately, and without affembling for fuch purpose. (5.) When the (40) families have determined to embark, they are to give up a certain part of their property to fuch public use, (§ 170) as may be found proper by the committee mentioned in article 2d. (5.) In order that no prejudice may arise to that country, from which one or more of these (40) families may emigrate, all the 100 heads of families are to bind themselves as fureties, that such property of those individuals as may be employed in this undertaking, shall be restored to that country from which he removes, within a ftipulated term of years, together with a certain annual intereft. (7.) This new community to make an agreement with those nations, where they The prefent European communities appear to be all more or less infected with prejudices, not easily eradicated, arising from the unnatural claffification of ftates into Nobility, Clergy, Burghers, Peasants, &c. The whole community except the two firft claffes, are called Roturiers in France, Commons in G. Britain, and Ofrelfe, (that is UNSAFE) in Sweden. These diftinctions appear to have encouraged pride and idlene's in the first clafs, bigotry and intolerance in the fecond, money pursuits and an artificial credit in the third, and to have increased the mifery and poverty of the whole last class, who form, however, the greateft part of the state. are are going to establish themselves, and which agreement, for the fafety of both CHAP. parties, fhall not be inconfiflent with any of the articles herein mentioned*. (8.) Perfons of any nation, who may be difpofed to emigrate on thefe conditions, may apply to any of the members in the committee, mentioned in the 2d article, from whom they may receive all neceffary information; and, upon fatisfying the committee, respecting their characters, may subscribe the Social Contracts (see § 152 et feq.) and receive certificates of their having become members of the community+. (9.) The government of the community to be organized, from the very beginning, according to fuch system, as they may adopt among themselves, (see § 179,) and to be changeable or permanent, agreeable to the determination of the community, (see also § 154 and 171.) (10.) That the Chiefs, in every Department of Government, be answerable to, and checked by, the whole Community, in the execution of it's will. In like manner, the understanding of the Members of the Community, relative to the public happiness, to be enlightened by the knowledge and example of the government; and, if these prove ineffectual, the evils arifing from error to be checked by the exifting laws. (11.) All the Members wishing to emigrate, who poffefs property, and are unacquainted with the commodities neceffary to be procured, may depofit such property in the hands of the Committee (Art. 2.) who will give fecurity for the application thereof, according to the proprietor's defire, confiftent with the regulations agreed upon. Members not refiding in that country where the embarkation may take place, and not able to be present till near the time of the failing of the expedition, may impower the Committe, or any number of the Affociation, to tranfact their concerns, and to vote in their behalf. (12.) All humane persons of property who may be inclined to contribute to the formation of a capital, for the fupport of this undertaking, may deposit such fums as they think proper with the Committee, for which they will receive a bond, figned by all the 100 members. By this bond the fubfcribing members will oblige them The emigrating colonists to agree about a tract of land fufficient for the maintenance of an increafing community. (§ 196.) + With respect to the cautious choice of the colonists, see § 1, 125, 128, 145, 355, 398, 404, 408, 446, 476, 559 note, 570 note, 571 note,—and without figning such contracts no body to embark. That nothing may obstruct the improvement of the understanding, it is here meant that every individual may speak, write or print whatever he thinks proper, fubject to no other reftraint than the known laws exifting before fuch speech or publication. For the fame reason, it is farther meant that news papers and other prints, calculated to diffuse public information, shall be circulated, and the poftage of letters defrayed, at the expenfe of the public. XI. SUPPLE MENT. felves, CHA P. felves, in behalf of the whole community, to pay a certain annual intereft till the XI. SUPPLE- Oppofition of the flave-trade whole principal is difcharged, which, however, muft not be done before the expiration of 10 years, after the arrival of the colonists on the fpot fixed on. In the fame bond, the community fhall bind themselves, after the expiration of the 10 years, befides paying principal and intereft of the fums advanced, to convey and make over to the lenders, a certain quantity of cultivated land, as a gratification, for every fum (fay £1000) with which the undertaking may have been affifted in its infancy. (13.) Differences arifing among members of the affociation to be decided by the arbitration of 12 perfons, chofen equally of each party, till other regulations may be agreed upon; and any difference, that may arife between the community and other communities or nations, to be decided, if poffible, in a fimilar manner. (14.) As foon as this community increases to 100 families above 10,000, they are to purchase more land, in order to fettle a fresh community, upon the fame principle. (15.) That all kinds of private monopoly fhall be excluded; or, if any monopoly be allowed, it shall refide in the community, and be exercised by the government. Confequently coining, hitherto monopolized, will be in the power of every individual. (16.) That no individual in this new community, fhall ever be liable to be arrested for credit given to him. (17.) That there fhall be in this community, public checks to prevent any individual from employing his property in any manner that may be found deftructive of, or inconfiftent with, good morals. (16.) It is the defign of this plan, that our free community shall be erected in Africa, confequently among the negro nations; not for any of the bafer purposes of ufurping dominion over them, disturbing their peace, enflaving their persons, or debauching their manners; but for the nobler purposes of civilizing, and gradually incorporating them into our community, by every gentle means, as by regular marriages, the education of their children, &c. It will therefore become the indifpenfible duty of every member to spare no pains for promoting this beneficial purpose, particularly by educating one or more of their children, under control of the whole community. 607. The more the local fituation of the intended colony was confidered, the more the gentlemen were perfuaded that no part of the western coast of Africa, would admit of being peopled by a body of men actuated by principles, which, in their view, promifed to eradicate corruption, unless the flave-trade, the chief commerce pursued in those regions, could be removed to fuch a distance from the spot where the colony might be fixed, as |