Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-07-31

For the Waterman and State Journal.
AFRICAN, OR, AS MORE APPROPRIATE,
AMERICAN SLAVERY.
Continued,

Notwithstanding Divine Revelation and
the most approved human reason have
lconcurred in establishing the principle that
the negro and the white-skin are of the
same blood, yet the disparity of their COM
plexion and physonomy affords, to many
conscientious individuals, Of limited scicn-
tifc requirements, satisfactory evidence of
| plurality of species, and who, therefore,
persist in deDomnating the negro beast.
ignorance, long ago. succeeded in prop
agatlng the whim that black skin is char
acteristic Of impuritY of blood; nor has SCI
ence been able, hitherto, to silence its clam
or, although no less preposterous than char
! cling, upon person, the propensity to muir
/ der because he shall have happened to have
blue eyes. Nature has provided the hui
man being with an apparatus co-eXlensive
with the der1nis or true skin, in its external
expansion, and intermediate between it and
the epidermis or grain, in the form Of a
complicated vascular membrane, endowed
with the peculiar function of secreting a
muco-carbonacious pigment, (or charcoal
painD which, probably, at the same time
that it affords defence to the nervous SEN
sibiiity of the skin against the otherwise
destrutive intensity Of equatorial sunshine,
by the facility with which it absorbs and
radiates the sun's'rays, somewhat assists
, also, in the publication Of the blood, by an
elimination of its carbon on the greater
or less preponderancy Of which depends
all the indefinite variety of complexion, a.
: mong the different individuals Of our spe-
cies.
, The function of this membrane seems tC
! be differently developed in proportion K
the different intensity Of the suns rays Il
= which it may be exposed, so that, even, il
t temperate climates, long exposure to thu
$ obhque rays of a summer sun will chang,
/ almost the fairest complexion to an an
t burne, which, in time, is again beached b,
e the termination of the succeeding winter.
. In some individuals this apparatus is 81
: sparingly developed and its functions SO in
efficiently performed that sudden, though
Y slight, exposures, to the direct Influence O
e the sun, are followed by intamation and
q even, bIsterng Of the part exposed. No
S can the Aibno, in whom this membrane /
= wanting, or in whom its function has be
y come extinct, ever escape such effects, no
, is his complexion susceptible OF change
= from any vcssitudc of climate, whatever
il it would seem, therefore, TINT a questo
q so long and SO clearly settled among ID
scientific, should not, at this late period, b
# tenaciously retained as one of the unyield
a ing supersttions of The ignorant. Itshoulc
!. Ike witchcrait, be ridicuIed, as a whim, b
d those who are not yet competent TO apprc
= ciate its absurdty. The doctrine of var
!. cites of the human race is of doubtful va
= lidty, since their distinctive characteristic
e must be constitutional, organic and permG
t. nent, nor subject to obliteraton by Weiss
i tude of climate nor intensity OF circuu
l. stance. OF the peculiarities oil physonC
r. my we may find occasion to speak, horea
/ tel. The first question being thus, and "
l. would hope satisfactorily, disposed of, II
= second vccurs for consideration, viz. whetI