The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-18 00:00:00

/Le

C....

kindness than the Transatlantic Protestant. The
laws of the States are so framed that no protection is
extended to the negro against the ruffianism or
sensuality of the master. He may murder them
at leisure—or burn them before a slow fire, or im-
pie them--the testimony of fellow slaves is not taken
in the courts of law, and no other eyes witness the asses-
sinetion—or the rape, as the case may be. We are, we
confess, surprised and disgusted at the attempt made by
Mrs. Stowe to salve the wounded self-love of her
countrymen, even at the risk of their taking refuge
in ethical subtleties, to break down clear and moral
distinctions, by taking of the " white slaves of Eng-
lend," and comparing the treatment of our masses by
our aristocracy and capitalists to that by the planters
of their negroes. To confound slavery with poverty
is the favourite sophism of all tyrants. The Czar,
the Emperor of Austria, the Kin:, of Prussia, talk of
their paternal government, of theirn fatherly care of
their people, of the miseries of democracy in Manches-
ter and Glasgow. But the law is open and equal to
the meanest British subject, protects him, believes his
oath as well as that of the richest and highest, will
vindicate his rights against them. He may do what
he likes, speak what he thinks, go where he pleases,
without let or hindrance, serve others, or be his own
master as he chooses. To give liberty of action to
the ignorant, will often confer upon them a power to
be abused to their own hurt. " Set a beggar on
horseback and he may ride to the devil." But is it
any reproach to our peers and men of property that
there is misery among masses over whom the law gives
them no control? or is it any argument against hu-
man liberty, that it permits a licentiousness which
may be pernicious to those who have not the faculty
of self-control? The very attempt to draw a parallel
between a merely poor man and a slave is to con-
found all moral distinctions, and betrays a dishonest
and crooked habit of thought in the man who dares to
insult the common sense of mankind by the comparison.
Ask the hand-loom weaver if he would be a slave in Vir-
ginia. Ask the negro if he would change places with as • •
English beggar. It is a foul act of dialectic thimble-
rigging to nttributa ull the social mile 4£
English masses to English upper imo3c3, merely. fie"
cause there i 8 misery among the Masses.
merit of the American comfortable classes that there
are no beggars in the States. It was not the fine
gentlemen of the Broadway who prevented the beg-
gary, but the masses themselves, and the high value
of labour in a thinly-peopled country where land is
cheap. If the comfortable classes in the States were
in England, they could no more, and woe/d no more,
prevent misery in densely populated cities where all
were free to do as they pleased, than our nobility and
gentry--. But the fallacy is scarcely worthy of
exposure—and here we leave the subject.—Dispatch.

THE SLAVE QUESTION.

Lord Carlisle, in his admirable preface to a new
edition of " Uncle Tom's Cabin," and which was
inserted in our columns, refers to several indica-
tions of a good future for " the poor forsaken ones."
of whom he is the eloquent advocate. Among
those indications, he places the appointment, con-
ferred last year by the eminently commercial, emi-
nently American State of Massachusetts, to the office
of its Senator in Congress on his own much loved
friend Mr. Charles Sumner. Lord Carlisle refers
with much satisfaction to the Speech lately delivered
by the Massachusetts Senator on the bearings of the
Fugitive Slave-law, as " one which, by the closeness
of its logic, and the masculine vigour of its eloquence,
proves how all the perfections of his mind have
grown up to and been delated with the inspiration of
the cause which he has made his own."

We have already drawn the attention of our
readers to that noble speech, and we have expressed
respecting it sentiments in harmony with those
uttered by the Noble Lord, in the firm conviction
that it will give a powerful impetus to the efforts
which are now being made in the United States, in
behalf of the millions whose sufferings and whose
chains are constantly pouring forth their pleadings
into the ears of him who will before very long break
in pieces the oppressor.

It will add to the full understanding of the great
question of slavery in the United States in the pre•
sent aspect of that question, if we farther advert to
that comprehensive view which Mr. Sumner has
lately given of the whole subject, and gne of the
principal features of whose speech we have already
noticed.

The speech under consideration, referring to the
manner in which the question of human freedom in
America has been compromised by the Congress,
shows that any compromise finally closing the dis-
cussion of slavery under the Constitution is tyran-
nical, absurd, and impotent. Slavery, it is shown,
can exist only by virtue of a positive law, and as it
has no such positive support in the Constitution, it
cannot exist within the national jurisdiction. Mr.
Sumner asserts that the United States' constitution
nowhere recognises property in man, and that,
according to its true interpretation, freedom,
and not slavery, is national, while slavery,
and not freedom, is sectional. In this spirit (says the
orator) the national Government was first organized
under Washington, himself an abolitionist,: sur-
rounded by abolitionists, while the whole country,
by its church, its colleges, its literature, and all its
treat ♦oices, was united against slavery, and the
national flag, at the same time, nowhere within the
national territory, covered a single slave. Mr.
Summer reminds the Congress that the national Go-
vernment is a Government of delegated powers ; and
as among these there is no power to support slavery,
the institution cannot be national, nor can Congress
in any way legislate in its behalf. The true way to
secure peace and safety to the Republic (he argues)
is by the recognition and firm establishment of this
principle.
In reference to the late provision for the surrender
of fugitive slaves, Mr. Sumner shows that it was in-
troduced tardily and with hesitation, and adopted
with little discussion, and then for a long period after
was regarded with comparative indifference. The
Fugitive Slave Act, unconstitutional in so many res-
pects, is especially so on two grounds—first, as an
usurpation by Congress of powers not granted by the
Constitution, and an infraction of rights secured to
the States ; and, secondly, as a denial of trial by jury
in a question of personal liberty and a suit at com-
mon law.

Mr. Sumner appeals to the recollections and to the
nationality of his brother senators, by referrtion
g to
the
the resistance which their forefathers m
British Stamp Act, and which they obeyreftuseueddelcogitie
v
only for reasons which would make Act, like this,
h
Slave Act also illegal. That
former
was a usurpation by
ia by jury in
to it under thiearßtiiraish mentofpowers not be-
longing Constitution, and an
ine
cf roancdt
liyo n,
boef o
arightst
wbelasonagdineol of trial
g,,
thtoa t t haes coloniesberty ;i
senfda r,
certain cases of property,
above property, so is the outrage perpetrated by the
American Congress far above that perpetrated by
the British Parliament." Finally, Mr. Sumner
strengthens his case by strikingly illustrating the
fact, that the Slave Act has not that support in the
public sentiment of the States, where it is to be exe-
cuted, which is the life of all law, and which pru-
dence and the precept of Washington require.
The "precept of Washington," to which Mr Sum-
ner alludes, was one which he wrote on the occasion
of the escape of one of his own slaves—for be
held
slaves until he had light enough to discerbissin,
when he emancipated them—he wrote to thee desire of
collector
of Portsmouth, particularly expressing h
Mrs Washington to have the slave restored,t but
adding
this:—
"Id
a srequest d thatexe
istteicha
do not mean, however, by
violent measures should. hbtehue
used
case if she has ad-
herents in the minds of
Rather than either of these
mob or a riot, which
wouldhswheeorsiewndctbhsisfpiwesolsrleindegveeintizu,nsemasy)
forego her services altogether;
I also, which is of infinite impor-
tance."should happen,
and the example,
"the precept of Washington."
contrary to the sound good sense,Need and
proper
which pervade it, is the Fugitive
which cannot be enforced without " ex-
proper
Slave Law,
anawo'b or a riot," and uneasy sensations in
tchiteinmginds of all well-disposed citizens ? As Mr.
Summer reminded his brother legislators, the exist-
ing act cannot be executed without "violating the
precept of Washington." Rage, tumult, commotion,
mob riot, violence, and death, are the results con-
stantly following the efforts to execute this vile law.
" Workmen are violently dragged from employments,
to which they are wedded by years of successful
labour ; husbands are ravished from their wives,
and parents from children. Everywhere there is
disturbance ; at Detroit, Buffalo, Harrisburgh, Syra-
cuse, Philadelphia, New York, Boston. At Buffalo,.
the fugitive was cruelly knocked down by a log of
his
wounded head. At Harrisburg the fugitive was shot .
2, t Christiana the slave-bunter was shot. And
everywhere in the free States the law succumbs to
the will of the people.
In this manner are eloquent advocates of the slave
in the United States pleading the cause cf freedom.
theirany
One such orator as Mr. Sumner
will produce many
others, and encourage them to consecrate
p •
owe'rs to the cause of freedom, until that cause
become triumphant.

SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT HUYTON.--.
A distressing casualty occurred at Huyton station, on the
London and North-Western Railway, the victim being Mr.
T. B. Sparks, of the firm of Sparks and Co., wine-merchants,
Castle-street, Liverpool, Mr. Sparks was attempting to get
into the train which passes Huyton at half-past eight
o'clock, when he fell beneath the wheels, and the train being
in motion ere ho could be extricated, both his legs were so
severely bruised that auipatatien was necessary.

IN:!"

4t

• -

'.:::71:3 LIPH or MIRY QUEEN oA SCOTS.
To-morrow will be PuCshed, Vol. 111. of
ISS AGNES S TRICKLAND'S LIVES of
the QCEENS of SCOTLAND, containing the commence-
men
of the LIFR of MARY STUART.
Embellished with a Portrait, from the Original, in the possession of
the Marnale of Ansa, at Culzean Castle. Post iive, price 10s. 6d.
W. Blackwood and Sons Edinburgh and London.

THEATRE ROYAL. HAYMARKET.
rareweil Season of Mr. Benjamin Webster
EVENING, as Lessee and Manager.
THIS
The celebrated Comedy of MONEY, by Messrs. B. Webster, Barry
Sullivan, Leigh Mu Buckstone, and Howe ; Mrs. FitZWilliaM
and Mrs. Stirling.
After which, the saccessful new and original Farce of BOX and
COX, MARRIED and SETTLED, by Messrs. Keeley and Buckstone.
To conclude with the new Farce of THE WOMAN- I ADORES

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
The Pcblio Is respectially informed that this Theatre will
RE-OFEN THIS EVENING, Oct. 18,
When will be performed (first time) a new Comic Drama, In Two
Asts, entitled THE MYSTERIOUS LADY. Characters by Messrs,
C. Matthews, F. Matthews, Belton, Baker, and Miss M. Oliver.
After which (first time at this Theatre) the Classical Extrava.
ganka, In Two Acts, called the GOLDEN FLEECE. Jason, Miss
Jells St. George ; Medea, Madame Vestris.
To sonclude vritk (first time) a new Farce, called A HOUSE OUT
OF WINDOWS, Characters Iv Messrs. Roxby and Baker; Mrs.
Maenamara and Miss Martindale.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster ; Directress, Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING,
Thi powerful Drama of THE GREEN BUSHES, or a Hundred
Years Ago, by Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Messrs. Paul Bedford,
Honey, Emery, 0 Smith, &c.
To conclude with the Historical Drama of JACK SHEPPARD.
Jack Sheppard, Mrs. Keeley; Blueskin, Mr. Paul Bedford.

ROYAL PRLICESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean.
THIS EVENING.
Will be presented THE PRIMA DONNA. Principal characters
*Masers. Walter Lacy, Addison, and Cathcart; 2.lisa Robertson,
sad Miss Heath.
After which the new Melodrama, entitled MONT ST. MICHEL ;
01'. Th. Fairy of the Sands. Principal characters by ' Messrs.
Wright, Harley, Ryder, Graham, Cooke, Everett, and Chester;
Misses Marshall, Vl,ash, Daly, and Robertson.
To conclude with the Farce of TILE SPITALFIELDS WEAVER,
In which Vs. Wright will sustain his original character.

ASPLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty.
Utsoaralled Feats of Daring, both Equestrian and Gyreinastio,
COUtbaue to Amuse and Delight the Crowded audiences of this
Fashionable Place of amusement.
Unequivocal and Triumphant Success of the Madlies. Ellsler on
wnose graceful and finished execution
on the Double Tight ItoPe,
has gained for them the far-famed titles of Cerito and Taglioni
tlirough ;nt the kingdom. They appear every evening, together
with a combination of flic most brini.i.e. *l-0
by Native aed Foreign Artist,. ~c the first celebrity.
Door. op., at 'lag-past Six
to o'Fourclock; Box-oftice open from Eleven to
daily.