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School of Thought: Abolition of Slavery

INTRODUCTION. - Alexis de Tocqueville, Abolition of Slavery [1840]

Edition used:

Report made to the Chamber of Deputies on the Abolition of Slavery in the French Colonies, by Alexis de Tocqueville; July 23, 1839. Translated from the French (Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1840).

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INTRODUCTION.

The Commission, in whose behalf this Report was presented to the French Chamber last year, was composed of MM. Baron Roger, De Tocqueville, Count de Sade, Wustenberg de Rémusat, Cadeau-d’Acy, Dugabé, Odilon Barrot, Viscount de Panat.

The French Executive is more and more impressed with the importance of the subject, as may be seen by the following report of the Minister of the Marine and the colonies, presented to Louis Philippe in May last, and which has been approved by his Majesty.

“Sire;

“Each day so augments the number and importance of the questions relative to slavery, as well as to the political constitution of the colonies, and these questions raise difficulties so serious, that I feel the necessity of submitting them to the examination of a consulting Commission, chosen from the members of the primary State bodies. I have the honor to beg your Majesty’s approval of the following nomination.

The Duke de Broglie, President, }Peers of France.
The Count de Saint-Cricq, }
The Marquis d’Audiffret, }
The Count de Sade, }
Wustemberg, }Members of the Chamber of Deputies.
De Tracy, }
Passy, (Hyppolite,) }
De Tocqueville, }
Baron Lepelletier-d’Aulnay, }
Bignon, }
Baron de Mackau, Vice-Admiral.
The Count de Moges, Rear-Admiral.
Filleau de Saint-Hilaire, Counsellor of State and Director of the Colonies.

In order to put the reader of M. De Tocqueville’s Report in possession of as complete an idea of the French Colonies as one page can present, the following statistics are subjoined. The table is compiled principally from M’Culloch, whose authority is Montvéran, Essai de Statistique sur les Colonies, Pièces Justicatives, Nos. 5 and 6.

population.
Colonies.Census ofWhites.Free Col.Slaves.Total.
Martinique,18329,41018,83280,753107,995
Guadaloupe,183110,59610,77290,743112,111
Marie-Galante, &c.18232,57027911,60014,440
French Guiana,18321,2912,22019,17322,684
Isle de Bourbon,183020,00011,50066,00097,500
Senegal, &c.18252403,57312,29716,110
Fr. Factories in India,18251,021107,9861,194110,501

Statement (in Killogrammes) of the products of the French Colonies imported into France in 1831. The Killogramme is equal to 22 lbs. Avoirdupois.

Sugars of all Qual.Coffee.Cacao.Cotton.Cloves &c.Anatto.Indigo.Gum.Wax.Wood of all kinds.
Killogr.Killogr.Killogr.Killogr.Killogr.Killogr.Killogr.Killogr.Killogr.Killogr.
87,915,7702,199,646168,345268,935236,96782,12213,036677,04012,8981,384,889