Columbia telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1828-1839, March 10, 1838, Image 2
co a; Tierce, which tW industry of
<u>*OJStates ? employed in (Yanjportms and I
arnan? rhe Slave-Holding !
States is to be found the great market for all j
the prolucrions of their industry, of whatev- ?
sr kind. The prosperity of those States, j
therefore, and the civilization of their cities, j
hare been for the most part created by the
existence of Slavery. Even in the cities, but
for a class of population, which our institu
tions have marked as servile, it would be
scarcely possible to preserve the ordinary
hib'rtntie of civilized We, by commanding
the necessary menial and domestic service.
Every stage of human society, from the
nwst barbarous to the most refined, has its
owi>pee?&ar wis to mark itns the condition
of mortality ; and perhaps tht-re is none but
o?nnipotence who can say in which the scale j
jf good or evil most preponderates. W e
ieed say no'hing of rhe evils of savage life.
Their, is a state ^f society elevated somewhat
tbove it. which is to be found in some of the
>nore thinly [>eopled portions of our own
country ? the rudest agricultural state
which is thus characterized by the author to
whom I have referred. "The American of
the hack woods has often been described to
the En*l V;i as grossly ignorant; dirty, unso
cial, delighting in rum and tobacco, attached
to nothing bat bis rifle, adventurous, restless,
more than half savage. Deprived of social en
joyments or excitements, he has recourse to
those of savage life, and becomes (for in this
respect the Americans degenerate) unfit for
society." This is no very inviting picture,
which though exaggerated we know not to be
without Itkeoess. The evils of such a state,
[ suppose, will hardly be thought compensa
ted by unbounded freedom, perfect equality,
and ample means of subsistence.
But let us take another stage in the pro
gress?which to rnwdy wiM appear to offer all
that is desirable in existence, and realize
another Utopia. Let us suppose a state ef
society in which all shall have property, and
there shall be no great inequality of proper- j
ty ? In which society shall be so much con- !
densed as to afford the means of social in- j
terconrse, without being crowded, so as to ;
create difficulty in obtaining the means of
subsistence? in which every family that j
chooses may have as much land as will era- j
ploy its own hands, while others may em- j
ploy their industry in forming such products ;
as it may be desirable to exchange with them. |
Schools are generally established, and the j
rudiments of education universally diffused. j
Religion is taught, and every village has its |
church, neat though humble, lifting its spire j
to Heaven. Here is a situation apparently
the most favorable to happiness. I say ap
parently, for the greatest source of human
misery is not in external circumstances, but
in men themselves ? in theit depraved inclina
tions, their wayward passions and perverse
writs. Here is room for all the petty compe
tition. the envy, hatred, malice aud dissimu
lation* that torture rhe heart in what may be
supposed the most sophisticated states of
society; and though less marked aud offen
sive, there may be much of the licentious
ness.
But apart from this, in such a condition of
society, if there is little suffering, there is
little high enjoyment. The even flow of life
forbids the high excitement which is neces- j
s?ry for it.' If there is little vice, there is j
little place for the eminent virtues, which era- i
ploy themselves m controlling the disorders j
and remedying the evils of society, which
like war an! revolution, call forth the high
est powers of min, whether for good or for
cvit. ff there is little misery, there is little
gutm for benevolence. Useful public insti
tutions we tory suppose to be created, but not
such as are merely ornamental. Elegant arts
can belittle cultivated, for there are no means
to reward the artists; nor the higher literature,
for no one will have leisure or means to cul
tivate it for its own sake. Those who acquire
what may be called liberal education, will do
so In order to employ it as the means of their
own subsistence or advancement in a profes
sion, and literature itself wiJL partake of the
sordidness of trade. In short, it is plain that,
in sack a state of society, the moral and in
tellectual faculties cannot be cultivated to
their highest perfection.
Bat whether that which I fcave described
be the most desirable state of society or no,
it is certain that it cannot continue. Muta
tion and progress is the condition of human
fetfaars. Though retarded for a time by ex
traneous or accidental circumstances, the
wheel must roll on. The tendency of popu
lation is to become crowded, increasing the
difficulty of obtaining subsistence- There
will be some without any property except the
capacity for labor. This they must sell to
those who have the means of employing
them, thereby swelling the amount of their
capital, and increasing inequality. The pro
cess still goes on. The number of laborers
increases until there is a difficulty in obtain
ing employment. v Then competition is estab
lished. The remuneration of labor becomes
gradually less and less ; a larger and larger
proportion of the product of his labor goes ,
to swell the fortune of the capitalist ; inequal- j
ity becomes still greater and more invidious,
until the process ends in the establishment of j
such a state of things, as the same author
describes as now existing in England*. After
a moot imposing picture of her greatness sfad
resources; of hW supera bounding, capital,
and all-pervading industry and enterprize ; of
l|Mr public institutions far purposes of art,
learning *a&. benevolence; her pobiic im
provements, by which intercourse is facilitated,
and the convenience of man subserved ; the
conveniences and luxuries of life enjoyed by
those who are in possession of fortune, or
havepra&able employments ; of all, in short,
that places her at ^"he head of modern civili- i
zition, he proceeds to give the reverse of the
picture. And here -I' shall use his own
words. "The laboring class compose the
bulk of the people; the great body of the ;
people; the v?tmajority of the people?
theoe ar? the terms by which English writers
and speakers usually describe those whose
on ty property is their labor."
"Uif -comprehensive words, the two most j
jjeqnendjr used in English politics, are dis- .
and pauperism. After these, of expres- j
s:?as applied to the state of the poor, the
;>ia*t common are rice and misery, wretched
fl.-ss, sufferings, ignorance* degradation, dis
content, depravity, drunkenness, and the
ii crease of crime ; with many more of the
1 <e nature"
- Jfcie goes on to give the details of this ine
qrufftty apd wretchedness, in terms calcula
ted to sicken and appal one to'whom the pia
tnreisrtew. That he has painted strongly
we m ay suppose ; $#t there is ample corrob
orating testimony* if such were needed, that
tie representation is substantially just. ?
Wharf so much misery exists, there must of
fflif* ranch discontent, and many have
been disposed to trace the sources of the
former in vie*>u? legislation, or the strueture
of govern sent ; and the author givs the va
. rtosi - schemes, sometimes contradictory,
SftjaetHBOS Jodicroos, which projectors hare
; devised as a remedy for all this evil to which |
I flesh is heir. That ill judged legislation may
have sometimes aggravated the general suf
fering, or that its extremity may be ruitiga
; ted by the well directed efforts of the wise
and virtuous, there can be no doubt. One
, purpose for which it has been permitted to
| exist is, that it may call forth such efforts,
j and awaken powers and virtues which would
I otherwise have slumbered for want of object.
; But remedy there is none, unless it be to
abandon their civilization. This inequality,
this vice, this misery, this Stavery , is the
price of England's civilization. They suffer
the lot of humanity. 13ut perhaps we may
be permitted hdrably to hope, that great, in
tense and widely spread as this misery un
doubtedly is in reality, it may yet be less so
than in appearance. We can estimate but
very, very imperfectly the good and evil of
individual coudition, as of different states of
society. Some unexpected solace arises to
animate the severest calamity. Wonderful
is the power of custom, in making the hard
{ est condition tolerable ; the most generally
| wretched life, has circumstances of mitiga
tion, and moments of vivid enjoyment, of
which the more seemingly happy can scarce
i ly conceive ; though the lives of individuals
j be shortened, the aggregate of existence Is
I increased ; even the various forms of death
accelerated by want, familiarized to the con
templation, like death to the soldier on the
field of battle, may become scarcely more
formidable, than what we are accustomed to
regard as nature's ordinary outlets of exis
tence. If we could perfectly analyze the
enjoyments and sufferings of the most happy,
and the most miserable man, we should per
haps be startled to find the difference so much
less than our previous impressions had led us
to conceive. But it is not for us to assume
the province of omniscience. The particu
lar theory of the author quoted, seems to be
founded on an assumption of this sort ? that
there is a certain stage in the progress, when
there is a certain balance betweeu the demand
for labor, and the supply of it, which is more
desirable than any other ? when the territory
is so thickly peopled that all cannot own land
! and cuJtivate the soil for themselves, but a
i portion will be compelled to sell their labor
I to others ; still leaving, however, the wages of
labor high, and the laborer independent. Jx
is plain, however, that this would in like
manner partake of the good and the evil of
other states of society. There would be less
of equality and less rudeness, than in the
early stages ; less civilization and less suffer- j
ing, than in the latter.
It is the competition for employment, which
is the source of this misery of society, that
gives rise to ail excellence in art and know
ledge. When the demand for labor exceeds
the supply, the services of the most ordinari
ly qualified laboreF will be eagerly retained.
When the supply begins to exceed, and com
petition is established, higher and higher
qualifications will be required, until at length
when it becomes very intense, none but the
most consummately skilful can be sure to be
employed. Nothing but necessity can drive
men to the exertions which are necessary so
to qualify themselves. But it is not in arts,
merely mechauical alone, that this superior
excellence will be required. It will be ex
tended to every intellectual employment ;
and though this may not be the effect iu the
instance of every individual, yet it will fix the
habits and character of the society, and pre
scribe every where, and in every department,
the highest possible standard of attainment.
But how is it that the existence of Slavery
as with us, will retard the evils of civiliza
tion ? Very obviously. It is the intense
com petition of civilized life, that gives rise
to the excessive cheapness of labor, and the
excessive cheapness of labor is the cause of
the evils in question. Slave labor c&n never
be so cheap as what is called free .labor. ?
Political economists have established as the
natural standard of wages in a fully peopled
country, the value of the laborer's subsis
tence. [ shall not stop to inquire into the
precise truth of this proposition. It certain
ly approximates the truth. Where compe
tition is intense, men will labor for a bare
subsistence, and less than a competent sub
sistence. The employer of free laborers ob
tains their services -during the time of their
health and vigor, without the charge of rear
ing them from infancy, or supporting them
in sickoess or old age. This charge is im
posed 00 the employer of Slave labor, who,
therefore, pays higher wages, and cuts off th^
principal source of misery ? the wants and
sufferings of infancy, sickness and old age.
Laborers too will be less skilful, and perform
less work ? enhancing the price of that sort
of labor;, The poor laWfc of England are an
attempt1 ? but an awkward and empirical at
tempt ? to supply the place of that which we
should suppose the feelings of every human
heart would declare to be a natural obliga
tion ? that he who has received the benefit of
the laborer's services during his health and
vigor, should maintain him when he becomes
unable to provide for his own support. They
answer their purpose, however, very imper
fectly, and are unjustly, and unequally im
posed. There is no attempt to apportion the
burden according to the benefit received ? and
perhaps there could be none. This is one
of the evils of their condition.
In periods of commercial revulsion and
distress, like the present, the distress, in coun
tries of free labor, falls principally on the la
borers. In those of Slave labor, it falls almost
exclusively oo the employer. In the former,
when a business becomes unprofitable, the
employer dismisses his laborers or lowers
their wages. But with us", it is the very peri
od at which we are least able to dismiss our
laborers; and if we would not suffer a further
loss, we cannotreduce their wages. To re
ceive the benefit of the setvices of which they
are capable, we must provide for maintaining
their health and vigor. Iu point of fact we
know that this is accounted among the neces
sary expenses of management. If the income
of every planter of the Southern States, were
permanently reduced one half, or eveu much
more than that, it would not take one jot from
the support and comforts of the Slaves. And
this cau never be materially altered, until they
shall become so unprofitable that Slavery j
must be of necessity abandoned. It is pro- J
bable that the accumulation of individual
I wealth will never be carried to quite so great
an extent in a Slave-Holding country, as in one
| of free labor ; but a consequence will be, that
there will be less inequality and less suffer
I m*'
Servitude is the condition of civilization.
It was decreed, when the commandjgas given.
" be fruitful, and multiply and rejwenish the
earth, and sabdue it," and when itwasadded,
44 in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread."
j And what human being shall arrogate to him
self the authority to pronounce that our form
of it is worse in itself, or more displeasing to
God than that which exists elsewhere ? Shall
i it be said that the servitude of other coustries
grow out of the exigency of their circum
sraaces, and therefore society is. not respon
sible for k? But if we know that in th?
progress of things it i* to come, would it not
seein the part of wisdom and foresight, to
make provision for it, and thereby, if we can,
mitigate the severity of its evils ? But the
fact is not so. Let any one who doubts, read
the book to which I have several times referr
ed, and he may be satisfied that it was forc
ed upon us by the extreruest exigency of
circumstances, in a struggle for very exis
tence. Without it, it is doubtful whether
a white man would be now existing on
! this continent ? certain, that if there were,
thev would bejn a state of the utmost desti
tution, weakness and misery. It was forced
on us by necessity, and further fastened upon
us, by the superior authority of the mother
country. I, for one, neither deprecate nor
resent the gift. Nor did we institute Slavery.
The Africaus brought to us had been, speak
ing in the general, slaves in their own coun
try, and only underwent a change of masters.
In the countries of Europe, and the States of
our Confederacy, in which slavery has ceased
to exist, it was abolished by positive legisla
tion. If the order of nature has been depart
ed from, and a forced and artificial state of
things introduced, it has been, as the experi
ence of all the world declares, by them and
not by us.
That there are great evils in a society where
slavery exists, and that the institution is liable
to great abuse, I have already said. To say
otherwise, would be to say that they were not
human. But the whole of human life is a
system of evils and compensations. We have
no reason to believe the compensations with
us are fewer, or smaller in proportion to the
evils, than those of any other condition of so
ciety. Tell me of an evil or abuse; of an in
stance of cruelty, oppression, licentiousness^
crime or suffering, and I will point out, and
often in five fold degree, au equivalent evil
or abuse in countries where Slavery does not
exist.
Let us examine without blenching, the ac
tual and alleged evils of Slavery, and the ar
ray ofhorrors which many suppose to be its
universal concomitants. It is said that the
Slave is out of the protection of the law ; that
if the law purports to protect him in life and
limb, it is but imperfectly executed ; that .he
is still subject to excessive labor, degrading
blows, or any other sort of torture, which a
master pampered and brutalized by the exer
cise of arbitrary power, may think proper to
inflict ; he is cut off from the opportunity of
intellectual, moral, or religious improvement,
and even positive enactments are directed
against his acquiring the rudiments of know
ledge; he is cut off forever from the hope
of raising his condition in society, whatever,
may be his merit, talents, or virtues, and
therefore deprived of the strongest incen
tive to useful and praiseworthy exertion;
he is without moral principle, and addict
ed to the lowest vices, particularly theft
and falsehood ; if marriage be not disallowed,
it is little better than a state of concubinage,
from which results general licentiousness, and
the want of chastity among females ? this in
deed is not protected by law, but is subject
to the outrages of brutal lust; both sexes
are liable to have their dearest affections vio
lated; to be sold like brutes; husbands to be
torn from wives, children from parents ; ? thi*
is the picture commonly presented by the :
denouncers of Slavery.
It is a somewhat singular fact, that when
there existed in our State no law for punish
ing the murder of a slave, other than a pecu
niary fine, there were, I will venture to say,
at least ten murders of freemen, for one mur
der of a slave. Yet it is supposed they are
less protected, or less secure than their mas
ters. Why they are protected by their very
situation in society, and therefore less need
the protection of law. With any other per
son than their master, it is hardly possible for
them to come into such sort of collision as
usually gives rise to furious and revengeful
passions ; they offer no temptation to the
murderer for gain ; against the master him
self, they have the security of his own inter
est, and by his superintendence and authori
ty, they are protected from the revengeful
passions of each others I am by no means
sure that the cause of humanity has been
served by the change in jurisprudence, which
has placed their murder on the same footing
with that of a freeman. The change was
made in subserviency to the opinions and
clam :>r of others, who were utterly incom
petent to form an opinion on the subject; and
a wise act is seldom the result of legisiatiou
in this spirit. From the fact which I have
stated, it is plain that they less need protec
tion. Juries are, therefore, less willing to
convict, and it may sometimes happen that the
guilty will escape all punishment. Security
is one of the compensations of their humble
position. We challenge the comparison, that
with us there have been fewer murders of
Slaves, than of parents, children, apprentices,
and other murders, cruel and unnatural, in
society where Slavery does not exist.
But short of life or limb, various cruelties
may be practiced as the passions of the mas
ter may dictate. To this the same reply has ]
been often given? that they are secured by
the master's interest. If the state of Slavery
is to exist at all, the master must have, and.
ought to have, such power of punishment as
will compel them to perform the duties of
their statiod. And :s not this for their advan
tage as well as his ? No human being can be
contented, who does not perform the duties
of his station. Has the master any temptation
to go beyond this ? If he inflicts on him such
punishment as will permanently impair his
strength, he inflicts a loss on himself, and so
if he requires ofhim excessive labor. Com
pare the labor required of the Slave, with
those of the free agricultural, or manufactur
ing laborer in Europe, or even in the more
thickly peopled ^portions of the non-Slave
Holding States of our Confederacy ? though
these last are no fair subjects of comparison
they enjoying, as I have said, in a great de
gree, the advantages of Slavery along with
those of an early and simple state of society.
Read the English Parliamentary reports, on j
the condition ?f the manufacturing operatives,
and the children employed in factories. And
such is the impotence of m in to remedy the
evils which the condition of his existence has
imposed on him, that it is much to be doubted
whether the attempts by legislation to improve
their situation, will not aggravate its evils. ?
They resort to this excessive labor as a choice
of evils. If so, the amount ot their compen
sation will be lessened also with the dimin
ished labor ; for this is a matter which legis
lation cannot regulate. Is it the part of be
nevolence then to cut them off even from
this miserable liberty of choice ? Yet would
these evils exist in the same degree, if the
laborers were the property of the master
having a direct interest in preserving their
lives, their health and strength ? Who but a
drivelling fanatic, has thought :>( the necessi
ty of protecting domestic animals from the
cruelty of their owners? And yet are not
great and wanton cruelties practised on these
animals? Compare the whole of the cruel
ties inflicted on Slaves throughout our
I Southern country, with tfyofe els$wfrere,
I inflicted by ignorant and depraved portions
of the community, on those whom the
relations of society put into their power ?
of brutal husbands on their wires; of brutal
parents ? subdued against the strongest in
stincts of nature to that brutality by the ex
tremity of their misery? on their children ;
of brutal masters on apprentices. And if it
should be asked, are not similar cruelties in
flicted, and miseries endured in your society ?
I answer in no comparable degree. The class
in question are placed under the control of
others, who are interested to restrain their
excesses of cruelty or r3ge. Wives are pro
tected from their husbands, and children from
their parents. And this is no inconsiderable
compensation of the evils ol our system; and
would so appear, if we could torm any con
ception of the immense amount of misery
which is elsewhere thus inflicted. The other
class of society, more elevated in their posi
tion, are also (speaking of course in the gen
eral) mortf elevated in character, and more
responsible to public opinion.
But besides the interest of their master,
there is another security against cruelty. ?
The relation of Master and Slave, when there
is no miscLlevousinterference between them,
is as the experience of all the world declares,
naturally one of kindness. As to the fact,
we should be held interested witnesses, but we
; appeal to universal nature. Is it not natural
that a man should be attached to that which
is his oicn , and which has contributed to his
convenience, his enjoyment, or his vanity?
This is felt even towards animals, and inani
mate objects. How much more towards a
being of superior intelligence and usefulness,
who can appreciate our feelings towards him,
and return them ? Is it not natural that we
should be interested in that which is depen
dant on us for protection and support? Do
not men every where contract kind feelings
towards their dependants? Is it not natural
that men should be more attached to those
whom they have long known ? whom, per
haps, they have reared or been associated
with from infancy? than to one with whom
their connexion has been casual and tempo
rary? What is there in our atmosphere or
institutions, to produce a perversion ol the
general feelings of nature? To be sure, in
this as in all other relations, there is frequent
cause of offence or excitement ? on one side,
for some omission of duty, on the other, on
account of reproof or punishment inflicted.
But this is common to the relation of parent
and child ; and I will venture to say that if
punishment be justly inflicted ? and there is
no temptation to inflict it unjustly ? it is as
little likely to occasion permanent estrange
ment or resentment as in that case. Slaves
are perpetual children. It is not the com
mon nature of man, unless it be depraved
by his own misery, to delight in witness
ing pain. It is more grateful to behold
contented and cheerful beings, than sullen
and wretched ones. That men are sometimes
wayward, depraved and brutal, we know.
That atrocious and brutal cruelties have been
perpetrated on Slaves, and on those who
were not Slaves, by such wretches, we also
know. But that the institution of Slavery
has a natural tendency to form such a char
acter, that such crimes are more common,or
more aggravated than in other states of socie
ty, or produce among us less surprise and hor
ror, we utterly deny, and challenge the
comparison. Indeed I have little hesitation
in saying, that if full evidence could be ob
tained, the comparison would result in our
favor, and that the tendency of Slavery is
rather to humanize than to brutalize.
The accounts of travellers in oriental coun
tries, give a very favorable representation of
the kindly relations which exist between the
Master and Slave ; the latter being often the
friend, and sometimes the heir of the former.
Generally* however, especially if they be En
glish travellers ? if they say any thing which
may seem to give a favorable complexion to
Slavery, they think it necessary to euter their
protest, that they shall not be taken to give
any sanction to Slavery as it exists in Ameri
ca. Yet human nature is the same in all
countries. There are very obvious reasons
why in those countries there should be a
nearer approach to equality in their manners.
The Master and Slave are often of cognate
races, and therefore tend more to assimilate.
There is in fact less inequality in mind and
character, where the master is but imperfect y
civilized. Less labor is exacted, because the
master has fewer motives to accumulate.
But is it an injury to a human being, that
regular, if not excessive labor should be re
quired of him? The primeval curse, with
the usual benignity of providential contriv
ance, has been turned into the solace of an
existence that would be much more intolera
ble without it. If they labor less, they are
?much more subject to the outrages of capri
cious passion. If it were put to the choice
of any human being, would he prefer to be
the Slave of a civilized man, or of a barbarian
or semi-barbarian ? But if the general ten
dency of the institution in those countries is
to create kindly relations, can it be imagined
why it should operate differently in this? It
is true, as suggested by President Dew with
the exception of the ties of close consanguin
ity, it forms one of the most intimate relations
of society. And it will be more and more so,
the longer it continues to exist. The harsh
est features of Slavery were created bj those
who were strangers to Slavery ? who sup
posed that it consisted in keeping savages in
subjection by violence and terror. The se
verest laws to be found on our statute book,
were enacted by such, and such are still
found to be the severest masters. As society
becomes settled, and the wandering habits ot
our countrymen altered, there will be a larger
and larger proportion of those who were rear
ed by the owner, ,or derived to him from his an
cestors, and who therefore will be more inti
mately regarded, as forming a portion of his
family. . , . , ,
It is true that the Slave is driven to labor
by stripes ; a;jd if the object of punishment
be to produce obedience or reformation, with
the least permanent injury, it is the best me
thod of punishment. But. is it not intolera
ble, that a being formed in the image of his
Maker, should be degraded by bloics I This
is one of the perversions of mind and feeling,
to which I shall have occasion again to refer.
Such punishment would be degrading to a
freeman, who had the thoughts and aspira
tions of a freeman. In general it is not de
grading to a Slave, nor is it felt to be so. ?
Xhe evil is the bodily pain. Is it degrading
to a child ? Or if in any particular instance it
would be so felt, it is sure not to be inflicted
?unless in those rare cases which constitute
the startling and eccentric evils, from which no
institutions of society can provide.
The Slave is cut off from the means of intellec
tual , moral and religious improvement , arul in
conscquencc his moral character becomes de
praved , and he addicted to degrading vices.
The Slave receives such instruction as qual
ifies him to discharge the duties of his par
ticular station. The Creator did not intend
that every individual human being should be
highly cultivated, morally and intellectually,
for as we have seen, he has imposed condi
tions on society which would render this im
possible. There must be general mediocrity,
or the highest cultivation must exist along
with ignorance, vice, and degradation. But
is there in the aggregate of society, less op
portunity for intellectual and moral cultiva
tion, on 'account of the existence of Slavery 1
We must estimate institutions from their ag
gregate of good or evil. I refer to the views
which I have before expressed to this society.
It is by the existence of Slavery, exempting
so large a portion of our citizens ftom the ne
cessity of bodily labor, that we have a greater
proportion than any other people, who have
leisure for intellectual pursuits, and the means
of attaining a liberal education. If we throw
away this opportunity, we shall be morally
responsible for the neglect or abuse of our ad
vantages, and shall most unquestionably pay
the penalty. 3ut the blame will rest on our
selves, and not on the character of our insti
tutions.
I add further, notwithstanding that equality
seems to be the passion of the day, if, as
Providence has evidently decreed, there can
be but a certain portion of.intellectual excel
I lence in any community, it is better that it
should be unequally divided. It is better that
a part should be fully, and highly cultivated,
and the rest utterly ignorant. To constitute
a society, a variety of offices must be dis
charged, from those requiring but the lowest
' degree of intellectual power, to those requir
ing the very highest, and it should seem that
the endowments ought to be apportioned ac
cording to the exigencies of the situation. In
the course of human affairs, there arise diffi
culties which can only be comprehended, or
surmounted bv the strongest native power of
intellect, strengthened by the most assiduous
exercise, and enriched with the most extend
ed knowlt e ? and even these are sometimes
found inadequate to the exigency. The first
want of society is? leaders. Who shall esti
mate the value to Athens, of Solon, Aristides,
Themistocles, Cymon, Pericles? If society
have not leaders qualified as I have said, they
will have thos^wi#0 will lead them blindly to
their loss apdruinv} Men of no great native
power of intellect, and of imperfect and super
ficial knowledge, are the most mischievous of
all? none are so busy, meddling, confident,
presumptuous, and intolerant. The whole
of society receives the benefit of the exertions
ofa mind of extraordinary endowments. Of
all communities, one of the least desirable,
would be that in which imperfect, superficial,
half-education should be universal. The first
care of a State which regards its own safety,
prosperity and honor, should be, that when
minds of extraordinary power appear, to what
ever department of knowledge, art or scieuce,
their exertions may be directed, the means
should be provided of their most consummate
cultivation. Next to this, that education
should be as widely extended a 9 possible.
Odium has been cast upon our legislation,
on account of its forbidding the elements of
education to be communicated to Slaves.
But in truth what injury is done to them by
this ? He who works during the day with his
hands does not read in intervals of leisure for
his amusement, or the improventent of his
mind? or the exceptions are so very rare, as
scarcely to need the being provided for. Of
the many Slaves whom I have known capa
ble of reading, I have never known one to
read any thing but the Bible, and this task
they imposed on themselves as matter of du
ty. Of all methods of religious instruction,
however, this, of reading for themselves
would be the most inefficient ? their compre
hension is defective, and the employment is
to them an unusual and laborious one.?
There are but very few who do not enjoy
other means, more effectual for religions
instruction. There is no place of worship
opened for the white population, from which
they are excluded. I believe it a mistake, to
say that the instructions there given are not
adapted to their comprehension, or calculat
ed to improve them. If they are given as j
they ought to be ? practically, and without
pretension, id are such as are generally in
telligible tc the free part of the audience,
cotnprehenuing all grades of intellectual capa
city, they will not be unintelligible to Slaves.
I doubt whether this be not better than in
struction, addressed specially to themselves?
which they might look upon as a device of
the master's, to make them more obedient
and profitable to himself. Their minds, gen
erally, shew a strong religious tendency, and
they are fond of assuming the office of religi
ous instructers to each other; and perhaps
their religious notions are not much more
extravagant than those of a large portion o
the free population'of our country. I am not
sure that there is a much smaller proportion
of them, than of- the free population, who
make some sort of religious profession.?
It is certainly the master's interest that they
should have proper religious sentiments, and
if he fails in his duty towards them, we may
be sure that the consequences will be visited
not upon them, but upon him.
If there were any chance of their eleva
ting their rank and conditiqn in society, it
m.aht be matter of hardship, that they should
be debarred from those rudiments of know
ledge which open the way to farther attain
ments. But this they know cannot be, and
that further attainments would be useless to
them. Of the evil of this, I shall speak here
after. A knowledge of reading, writing, and
the elements of arithmetic, is convenient and
important to the free laborer, who is the
transactor of his own affairs, and the guardi
an of his own interests? but .of what use
would they be to the slave ? These alone do
not elevate the mind or character, if such
elevation were desirable.
If we estimate their morals according to
that which should be the standard of a free
man's morality, then I grant they are degra
ded in morals? though by no means to the
extent which those who are unacquainted
with the institution seem to suppose. We
justly suppose, that the Creator will require
of man, the performance of the duties of the
station in which his Providence has placed
him, and the cultivation of the virtues which
are adapted to their performance ; that he
will make allowance for all imperfection of
knowledge, and the absence of the usual
helps and motives which lead to self convic
tion and improvement. The degradation of
morals relates principally to loose notions of
honesty, leading to petty thefts; to falsehood
and licentious intercourse between the sexes.
Though with respect ev^n to these, I protest a
gainst the opinion which seems to be elsewhere
entertained, that they are universal, or that
slaves in respect to them, might not well bear
a comparison with the lowest laborious class
of other countries. But certainly ihere is
much dishonesty leading to petty thefts. It
leads, however, to nothing else. They have
nD contracts or dealings which might be a
temptation to fraud, nor do I know thaJL their
characters have any tendency that way.
They are restr.iiued by the coustant, vigilant,
and interested superintendence which is ex
ercised over them, from the. commission of
offences of greater magnitude? even if they
were disposed to them---which lam satisfied
they are not. Nothing is so rarely heard of,
as an atrocious crime committed by a slave ;
especially since they hare worn off the sav
age character which their progenitors brought
with them from Africa. Their offences are
confined to petty depradations, principally for
the gratification of their appetites, and these
for reasons already given, are chiefly confined
to the property of their owner, which is molt
exposed to them. They could make no use of
a considerable booty, ifthey could obtain it. It
is plain that this is a less evil to society in its
consequences and example, than '^committed
by a freeman, who is master of his own time and
actions. With reference to society then, the
offence is less in itself? -and may we not hope
that it is less in the sight of God. A slave
has no hope that by a course of integrity, toe
can materially elevate his condition in socie
ty, nor can his offence materially depress it,
or affect his means of support, or that of his
family. Compared to the freeman, he has np
character to establish or to lose. He has not
been exercised to self-government, and being
without intellectual resources, can less resist
the solicitations of appetite. Theft in a free
man is a crime ; in a slave, it is a rice. I
recollect to have heard it said, in reference to
some question of a slave's theft which wa?
agitated in a Court, "Courts of Justice have
no more to do with a slave's stealing, than
with his lying? that is a matter for the do
mestic forum." It was truly said ? the theft
of a slave is no offence against society. Com
pare all the evils resulting from* this, with the
enormous amount of vice, crime and -deptar
vity, which in an European, or one of $ur
Northern cities, disgusts the moral feelings,
and render life and property insecure. So
with respect to his falsehood'. I have never
heard or observed, that slaves have any pecu~
liar proclivity to falsehood, unless it be in de
nying or concealing their own offences, or
those of their fellows. I have never heard
of falsehood told by a slave for a malicious
purpose. Lies of vanity are sometimes told,
as among the weak and ignorant of other
conditions. Falsehood is not attributed to
an individual charged with an offence before
a Court of Justice, who pleads not gvnlty? ?
and certainly the strong temptation to escape
punishment in the highest degree extenuates,
if it does nat excuse, falsehood told by a
slave. If the object be to screen a fellow,
slave, the act bears some semblance of fideli
ty, and perhaps truth could not be told with
out breach of confidence. I know not how
to chaiacterize the falsehood of a slave.
It has often been said by the denouocers
of Slavery, that marriage doe*, not extet
among slaves. It is difficult to understand
this, unless wilful falsehood were intended.
We know that marriages are contracted;
may be, and ofteu are, solemnized with the
forms usual among other classes of society ,
and often faithfully adhered to during life.
The law has not provided for making those
marriages indissoluble, nor could it do so. If
a man abandons his wife, being without pro
perty. and being both property themselves,
he caunot he required to maintain her- If he
abandon his wife, and live in a state of ~ou
cubinage with another, the law cannot pun
ish him for bigamy. It may perhaps be
meant that the chastity of wives is not pro
tected by law from the outiages of violence.
I answer, as with respect to their lives, that
they are protected by manners, and their po
sition. Who ever heaid of such outrages
being offered? At least as seldom, I will
j venture to say,, as in other cornmuuities of
different forms of polity. Our reason doubt- ,
less may be, that often there is no disposition
to resist. Another reason also may be, that
there is little temptation to such violence, as
there is so large a proportion of this class of
females who set little value on chastity, and
afford easy gratification to the hot passions
of men. It might be supposed, from the re*
presentations of some writers, that a slave
bolding country were one wide stew for the
indulgence of unbridled lust. .. Particular in
stances of intemperate and shameless, debau
chery are related, which may perhaps be
true, and it is left to be inferred that tMinj
the universal state of manners. Brutes and
shameless debauchees there are in
country ; we know that if such things are re
lated as general or characteristic, the ^pre
sentation is false. Who would argue from
the existence of a Col. Chartres in England,
or of' some individuals who Blight, perhaps^
be named in other portions of this countrjv
of the horrid dissoluteness of manners occa
sioned by the want of . the institution of Sla>
very? Yet the argument might be urged
quite as fairly, and really, it seewis-to me,
with a little more justice ? for th#*e sich de
pravity is attended with muck pernif
cious consequences. Yet let not deny or
extenuate the truth. It i? true that in this
respect the morals of this cites- are very loose*
(by no means so universally soi as is- often?
supposed,) and that tha- passions, of men of
the superior caste, tempt and" fiiri<fr gratifica
tion in the easy chastity of the females.
is evil, and to be remedied, if we can do-so
without the introduction of greater evil. But
evil is incident to every condition of society,
and, I have said, we have only to consider
in which institution it oaost predominates.
Compare these pvostitvtes of our country,
(if it is not injustiee to eall them so,) and
their condition, with those of other coun
tries ? the seventy thousand prostitutes of
London, or of Paris, or the ten thousand of
New York, or our other Northern c?ties.
Take the picture given of the first from ,the
author whom I have before, quoted. The
laws and customs of England conspire to sink
this class of English women into a state of
vice and misery below that whi-h necessarily
belongs to their condition. Henee their ex
treme degradation, their troopers* oaths, their
love of gin, their desperate recklessness, and
the shortness of their miserable lives."
44 English women of this class, or tether
girls, for few of them live to be womee, die
like sheep with the rot; so fast ti^t.won;
there would be none left, if a fresh supply
were not obtained equal to. the number oC
deaths. But a fresh supply is always obtain
ed without the least trouble : seduction easi;
ly keeps pace with prostitution ^rmoruhtj.
Those that die are, like factory children that
die, instantly succeeded by. new competitors
for misery and death." There is no hour of
a summer's or a winter's night, in which
there may not be found in the street a ghast
ly wretch, expiring under the double tortures,
of disease and famine. Though less aggra
vated in its features, the picture of prostitu
tion in New York or Philadelphia would be
of like character.
' In such communities, the unmarried wo-?
man who becomes a mother is an outcast
from society ? and though sentimentalists Ja