Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-12-16

\ thus seriously impair the fortunes Of their
I owners but al the same time humanity must
Z mourn the diminution Of those comforts and
that regard for the health of the slave which
4 has characterized slavery in the south, and
made ii the most cheerful and happy mental
Iabour 10 be found in the world. Il is well
/ known that as the profits Of labour diminish,
so do its comforts. Many melancholy exam
4 pies OF this truth are to be found in the histo-
4 RES OF the old world and when the negro pop
uation multiplies in number and sinks in val
ne, whatever may be the humanity OF the
master, necessity win compel him TO restrict
the comforts of the slave and reduce him 10
the smallest pitianee upon which it is possible
to live. But the non -slaveholding states viii
comfort themselves, no doubt, with the rehec-
ton that when this day arrives. the freedom Of
the slave is sure. He is to reach the much
desired goal Of freedom through years Of suf-
fefng; and when he aitaIns II, what is to be-
come Of lim2 Is be to be allowed political
rights and priviIeges7 The recent vote Of the
very state which sends the resolutions com
municate, denying to this race, few as they
are in that state in number, the right Of the
suffrage gives the answer Are they 10 be
placed on footing Of social equality2 1t
not thought OF, except in the dream Of an oc-
casonal fanatic. Is it expected that they are
10 become an industrious, orderly, thrifty pop
ulaton2 We have only to appeal to existing
experience to know that if the negro, in a
state of freedom, can be governed by the ordi-
nary motives and stimulants that elevate the
white man, it is utterly hopeless 10 expect IT
under circumstances that mark him as of an
inferior and degraded race.
| But il is truth attested BY all history that
the negro is incapable OF steady and produc-
tive labor and of high civilization, except un-
| der the authority and control of the white man.
1 The mistaken henevolence OF some, and the
selfish policy OF England produced the aboli-
ton slavery in the British islands. 1t was in
sisted that the negroes if manumitted would
work with that cheerful alacrity which springs
1 from knowledge that the fruits of their toll
were to be their own; in other words, that
| free labor would be cheaper and more produc-
| tive than slave labour Ia support of this the
DRY England paid one hundred millions of
dollars; and what is the consequence The
negroes thus freed, from whom so much was
expected, who were to establish in their own
persons the correctness Of this theory, will not
work except when impeled by necessity, and
1 consequently those islands have ceased TO be
valuable The British government has been
~
and the recaptured Africans, in order to swell
the amount of labour, and thereby 10 secure
! from its necessities, not from its choice, the
cultivation Of their islands; and even this ex-
pertinent has failed. ] mention this as re-
cent case, striking in character and completely
| illustrative Of the known and well established
fact, that the negro race, with rare exceptions,
will not labor as the white man, unless when
compelled by those having the authority to CO.
cree him. can appeal 10 every state in the
Union in support OF this important and most
painful ruth. Should, therefore, the non
saveholding states succeed in the abolition Of
slavery, they will throw upon the community
three millions of human beings as a charge
and pest, consuming instead of producing,
and inficting upon their sister states as well
as themselves the most fatal injuries. If the
free negroes are now such an injury and an
noyance, and are denied even among those
who seem 10 take the mostlvely interest in
their welfare, all social aud political equality,
it is appalling TO think of the consequences that
would ensue if the whole Of our slave popula-
ton were set free. ] do not hesitate to express
the opinion that the moment you free the
slave you degrade the man. lrely upon the
experience oil this race in every state in sup
port of this position. In point OF productive
industry, character and happiness, the free
negro is far below the slave.
The south never can consent to be confined
TO prescribed limits. She wants and must
have space, il consistent with honor and pro-
priety. 1t is due to the happiness and inter-
ests other population. and 10 no portion Of ii
more than to the slave himself. Conine her
TO prescribed limits, allow emigration TO the
white man and forbid il to the slave, and the
consequence is obvious. Her slaves will rap
idly accumulate; the white man must emf
CRATE; and finally, the slave will become the
owner of the present slaveholding states.-
Nothing can arrest this result under such a
policy but the adoption of some means on the
part of the whites TO prevent the increase Of
slaves by well known checks upon population,
OF by sending Off the worthless and unproduc-
tive to the acknowledging states. These
are grave and unpleasant views Of this impor-
tant question, but it is well at once to look
them firmly in the face and boldly present
them 10 public consideration.
II the non.slaveholding states would recog-
Mise us as partners, free and equal partners,
in our Union fthey would only be content
TO let us share the social feelings that should
exist in this relation; if they would lie, us Gas
we let them) consult our own interest and
pursue our own happiness unmolested if
they would respect ard obey the sacred obi
cations of the constitution, and consult that
real and enlarged philanthropy which charac-
terized; the revolutionary fathers; in short
if they would practice that golden maxim Of
christian morality which nculcales the duty
Of doing unto our neghbor as we would that
he should do unto us--we could look to the
future with confidence and hope to reveal
mighty people, distinguished for a higher de-
velopment Of all the godlike attributes OF our
nature than is TO be found in the history of
time. Christ came into this world TO teach
the law and to redeem us from our sins.-
His LOT was cast in the midst of slavehodng
community, and yet He, the Son of God, so
far respected that institutions never to de-
nounce it even as an evil, much less SIM
The inspired Apostles made il christian du-
ty on the part of servants to be true TO their
masters Says ST. Peter, Servants, be sub
ject TO your masters with all iear not only TO
the good and gentle. but also to the froward."
Paul, IN Rome, found a converted slave who
had fled from his master, and sent HIM back
with letter, desiring the master to forgive his
servant Onesimus and lovingly receive him a
gain. But all these illustrious examples, all
these christian rules of conduct, seem to be
lost upon our -slaveholding brethren. Not
content with the wisdom and patriotism of
our revolutionary sires, not content with the
forbearance Of Christ and the inculcations Of