Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-31

OtQUery IS o| 0H hWuS'-lh ou' e"".s w
emancipate another section OF the country from
slavery, we forget to emancipate ourselves from
the many and various kinds OF slavery (which
keep US in bondage. There is the slavery OF
parties Of which we say nothing,-that slavery
which, with many, is as imperious and tyranni-
cal as the deposits edict. There is the slavery
of custom, which subjects us to thousand trou-
bIes. There is the slavery OF fashion which makes
US ridiculous and absurd. and leadsus to expen.
sive indulgencies. There il the slavery Of preju-
dice, which makes US the victims OF ignorance and
deusion. In short there are numerous kinds OF
bondage other than that, and no better than that
which the negro slave pays to the white man
When the mind, the soul are in slavery, the
case is much more lamentable, and in free
country more dreadful than when the slavery is
that Of the body, or OF services due to the master
Let US speak of the slavery Of party. All
men of warm feelings will divide into parties. II
is natural. perhaps desirable in free country, So
that the outs may watch the ms, and keep theu.
frugal and careful and honest. But when psr
ty makes slave Of the partisan, party is as
much of curse to such slave, as the power
tyrant might have over him. That man is slave
to others, who has no will and opinion Of his own
when he is called upon to cast his vote. He is
slave who does not think for himself but who suf
fers others to think for him. He is slave who
suffers and obeys the dictation Of caucuses and
cabals, when such dctation conflicts with bis own
sense of right and wrong. He is slave who
zoes with party on all occasions. even when
that party goes wrong, and sets at defiance the
principles of common honesty. For slavery IS oil
all kinds and of all degrees;-and though white
man may not own a white man, yet he may oton
his vote, own his opinions, own his services and
his hurrahs and his plaudts. Thus Buonaparte
had thousands of white slaves.
In free country there may be many, very ma.
nv white slaves. The man who dares not ex.
press his opinion because he holds an Office, is in
many senses slave. He is slave to his situa-
ton. the servant of another, who exercises an ir
responsible influence over his will, and who COM
mands his political services as powerfully as the
Southern planter commands the agricultural SER
vices of his negroes. The only difference is in
the service. The service in one case is in the
fields: in the other, at the ballot box, in eau
Gus, or in drumming up. The slaves mind is at
liberty. But the mind of such an Office Holder
is in thraldom.
The slavery Of custom imposes upon Us many
restrictions. 1t may enslave the mind 1t often
does enslave the body, and put US in the power
Of others. But moderate attention to custom
we would by no means repudate. 1t is the most
innocent slavery to which we are subject, and
often such subsection is useful.
The slavery Of fashion is often commented up.
on. 1t is best to follow fashion in a small de-
gree, at least so far as not to distinguish our.
selves from our fellow men. But when fashion
becomes tyrant, when it huctuates perpetualIy
and is never established long enough to gain a
name, when it destroys the health, and too Sc.
riously Iightens the pocket, when 1t end angers
character. then it is time to put forth the decla
ration of independence.
But after all, such slavery is not so hurttul
nor commonly SO obnoxious as the slavery to
which pre- judce subjects US. As we Tree our.
selves from prejudices and found our opinion up
on Judgment we become free men. Prejudice
makes more slaves than tyrants. Prejudice has
more victims, than masters have. Prejudice and
ignorance commonly 60 together, they are COM
panions. Prejudice is ignorance's instructor
Prejudice imposes edicts, hundreds obey. Pre-
judice forms opinions. and many are their slaves.
Prejudice refuses lessons. ard is established in
its own self.conceit Indeed the prejudced man
is he whom you can do any thing with. provided
you fatter his prejuGices.
Thus it is easy to see that Freedom, as we'll as
slavery is of various kinds. That mf n merits The
high appelIation Of Freeman, free citizen, who
forms his own opinions, and who knows how he
formed them,-who investigates what he acts up.
on, and who acts for himself,-who takes the
best means Of gaining information and fears not
TO proclaim what his opinions are. Our country
needs emancipation from part slavery as much
as from negro slavery. For the first enslaves
bOdy and soul, and the other but the body alone.
1t is as much the interest of the slave master
here. as the slave master there. to keep US all in
bondage. Emancipation is as desirable here as
there portland .4dv.