[
166]
before the genius of
Columbus had opened the path
to a new world, the negro slave-trade had been reduced to a system by the Moors, and had spread from the native regions of the Aethiopian race to the heart of
Egypt on the one hand, and to the coasts of
Barbary on the other.
1
But the danger for
America did not end here.
The traffic of Europeans in negro slaves was fully established before the colonization of the
United States, and had existed a half century before the discovery of
America.
It was not long after the first conquests of the
Portuguese in
Barbary, that the passion for gain, the love of conquest, and the hatred of the infidels, conducted their navy to the ports of
Western Africa; and the first ships which sailed so far south as Cape
Blanco, returned, not with negroes, but with
Moors.
The subjects of this importation were treated, not as laborers, but rather as strangers, from whom information respecting their native country was to be derived.
Antony Gonzalez, who had brought them to Por-
tugal, was commanded to restore them to their ancient homes.
He did so, and the Moors gave him as their ransom, not gold only, but ‘black
Moors’ with curled hair.
Thus negro slaves came into
Europe; and mercantile cupidity immediately observed, that negroes might become an object of lucrative commerce.
New 444.
ships were despatched without delay.
2 Spain also
engaged in the traffic: the historian of her maritime discoveries even claims for her the unenviable distinction of having anticipated the Portuguese in introducing negroes into
Europe.
3 The merchants of
