Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-10-02
For the Waterman and Journal.
AFRICAN, OR, AS MORE APPROPRl-
ATE, AMERICAN SLAVERY.

Among tHe HuultIOuS SIlSE5VSuOhS "HSh w"
mnltfarious subject presents, for further con-
sideration, nothing strikes US as more appro-
pirate, in the course of its discussion, than an
inquiry into tho nature and definition Of human
happiness, and how, and to what extent it may
be effected by tho political indulgence or re.
straint Of conscientious voliion.
Despite the many elaborate definitions with
which photography and metaphysics have clo-
thed il, happiness must be acknowledged to con
sis simply in an agreeable consciousness, or in
u pleasant performance of the animal, moral e.
intellectual funciions its ratio, meanwhile, be.
ing, directly, as the number Of functions hus
employed. He, therefore, who aspres TO the
maximum of attainable happiness, should, not
only, cultivate sue ,essfully his physical health,
but should promote n luxuriance ofintellectual
vigor, competent TO the investigation Of all use
full truth, and TO the entire subsection OF his an
imal and moral propensites, 10 objects Of ra-
tional utility. The above definition, s, perhaps,
as inconrovertibly consonant with the natural
law, OF man as it is dissonant with the princi.
pies and practice of human slavery. While the
animal propensites of the slave, from the habit
ual negaton ofmotivo to intellectual enterprise,
must be predominantly developed, they are, a
lone, from the nature OF his restraints, success
fully cultivated; so that he, who should stand
forth in the pride of conscious manhood, con.
tcmplatng nature with the blissful enthusiasm
Of grateful admiration, and its author, with n
soul consecrated 10 piety and heaven-gather-
ing gludness from his multiplied associations,
and full harvest Of the delights of reciprocal
sympathy, sits, melancholy, atheistical mis-.
anthrope, broojing contempt of life and hatred
: of mankind. Beaslly are his pleasr es, yet hui
-, man are his griefs. Docs an individual, thus
situated, subserve The highest interests of hu.
0 man desliny1 Do his contrit utions, to the com
| mon stock ofhuman happiness, demand CRATE
1 ful recogntion--andis his warmest vocal ben.
y ediction but lispng response of the ecstscy
3 of participation
h While the freeman is exhilerated with tn,
= inspiring consciousness that he may enter up
g on this high vocation unproscribed, and com
4 pete, for happiness, with the world, in the a
chcvement of the dignity, and in welding th'
!, attributes, of exalted humanity, the olave mus
: yield TO an unnatural exertion, which annh
"a ates his manhood, and merges his smypathiel
in the profanity of deepest impfecaton.
l. Nature having recognized reciprocity of in
.. diligence and restrnint-of duties and obliga
v tions-as indispensable 10 successful! civil poll
/ ty, the incompatbily Of slavery, as well as dis
d tincton of caste, with its permanent prosperity
10 eetimately and unavoidably deduced. Ev
, cry attempt, therefore, to show the right ofon
J. individual TO hold his fellow in state Of invol
untary bondage, under the present constituto
/ Of man, should be rejected as perversion OIL
g logic, and an insult to the commonest un der
u standing: and political com pact, which rec
l. ognizes the right of one individual to ensav,
a another, is an outrage against the injunction
- Of nature, and the true policy Of civil instiu
tons and is, therefore, abrogated by its ow
l. deformity, Nothing can preserve constitu
&c ton, thus defective, but brutal stupidity, arb
:. trary physical force, or the most imminent ca
q pe1iency-nor will its injustice fail to reco W
d, on its perpetrators in the character of heaven
g. heaviest and most righteous reributon. Hu
- man slavery, whether Of blacks or whites, be
i, ing uissonant with the moral constitution
4. man generated in his worst propensites, an
10 continued for their diabolical qualification, mu
;, he, forever, equally incompatible with his hal
J" plness and safety: under any construction,
-, which it is susceptible, slavery, as a politics
or civil recognition, is not only paradoxical an
us nugaory, but, incontrovertiby, a palpab
in breach Of the moral law. 1t is subversve of e'
IL cry principle of ethical philosophy, and heres
~ against NATURES inpartiality.
at Education, OF some sort, has been, almo
universally, and from time immemolial, ADM
II: ted "a essential 10 human happiness, and y
:" so lmperfeclIy has its character been investing
be ted, and its utility understood, that reaso
n which is the product of judcious cultivation'
III the highest characteristic Of our species, ar
oi that, only, which renders man worthy OF in
N morlality-has been, hitherto, incompetent
prevail in contest for superiority against sci
ne shness and superstition.
al All history, civil, political, sacred and pr
he fame, bears concurrent testimony 10 mans a
tn roeance, ostenlation and love OF power, viii
his disgracdfu servility, to the influence
wealth, has rendered him, proverbially col
temptible, with the votary Of science, and Il