Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-04-16
The North and South..No. III.

To THE Hon. GEORGE p. MARSH:
Sir, It were worse than useless it were wan
ton mischief, 10 apply the dessectng knife to
society as in my two preceding letters, were
1t not that the diversity pointed out, has an i'm
portant connection with the explanation of the
difficulties which exist between these two Sec
tons of our country, the North and the South
We are beings of limited faculties, and when
the minds of individuals, or of communities of
men are shown to he occupied with one great
object OF paramount pursuit, it accounts for their
overlooking or entirely neglecting other consid-
eratOns.
Where manners or morals have been held in
predominant estimation through successive gem
eratlons, example and precept make the ind-
,idual an unconscious subject in early child
hood lie grows up under conviction that
what he sees is right, and perceives not that
there is anything distinguishing in the habits
which he is acquiring. He naturally expects
that as things are in the community oil which he
is II member, are they all civilized comlnu-
mites. He is not aware that there is an undue
stress laid upon one acquisition to the neglect
OF others. His affections are early enlisted. he
ooeys the ruling law unconsciously and from
love.
When he comes TO know that the object of
eminent pursuit, is distinguishing excellence of
the community to which he belongs, and of him
selfas an individual member of that communi-
w. he comes to value himself upon it.
The Northern people are not only moral as
a community, but consider it the highest
praise to be called a moral community. The
southern people are not only well bred and chiv-
alrous, but they deemit high encomium to be
50 regarded.
Now that any considerable change is to be
suddenly wrought in these two communities, is
not to be presumed or thought Of" Hath ma
ton changed its Gods ~ We must deal with
communities as we find them.
Sir, there is no trait in the best articles which
have seen from the North, on slavery, written
with the best intentions, that is so remarkable
to my mind, or which is so distinctive of the
peculiarites Of NewEngland character, which
have pointed out, as that by which it is uncon-
sciously assumed that the question of slave
ny in the United States, is rightully up for dis
cussion, and that the Northern people really
have something to do with it. Here lies the
principal ssue.-And | 10 assure you sir that
should be inclined to regard this whole discus
sion as solemn farce, If | had not some ac-
quaintance with the history Of New-England So
cietv.
What if the whole exterior civilized world,and
nlneteen-twentctls Of the inhabitants of the L.
nted States are opposed to slavery, Still the
political question is all settled, defined, and fix
ed, so far as the Uni.ed States are concered
This question was settled once, when Great
britain acknowledged our independence. 1t
war settled again, when our present constitu-
non was formed and the sovereign States re-
tanned their sovereignty over this subject. Aud
II any doubt has arisen to the true location of
the power OF control over slavery, from the d.
verslty OF understanding which the constitution
mas received, this is all settled by experience
| had.
| Sovereignty is in its nature such that it can
not long lie dormant. Where it is, there it will
show itself to be. 1t plainly shows itself to re-
side with the States, anything in, or supposed
to be IN the constitution to the contrary nowth-
standing. Every individual State in the Union
has done, and will continue to do what it pleas
es, on the subject of slavery and the negro.
Abolltionism has its rise, progress, and pres
ent existence, in considerations felt or feigned.
1t has never had throb of existence, nor will it
have one, but what is enforced by moral consid-
erations.
As natural consequen TO the diversity in
character and condition which exists between
Northern and Southern society," the South have
incorrect impressions of the relation which alb
oltionism bears to Northern society. To them
it remains an nexpcable mystery why Adolf
tionism is not put down at the North, either by
statutory enactments, or in some other way
They sincerely believe that if a faction exis-
ted in the South, having as direct tendency to
produce instruction in the North, as they know
Abolitionism has to produce disaster at the South
they would quell it without ceremony. Reas-
onng from themselves to others, according to
natural principles, they cannot conceive how
Northern liberation of Abolitionlsm can be ac-
counted for, except upon the suppostion that
the Northern people are all, or at least a ma
lorlty of them, Abolitionists.
| They hear, and they believe, that the North
ern people are an educated people, Education
i connected in Their minds with lofty chvary,
ana patriotism. The Southerner has seen men
OF very limited education, who were unexcept-
,onaoie IN their bearing and department, but
having never seen ii otherwise, he connects ed
nca''on N ms mind with certain ennobling viz
itoes peculiar 10 hi continuity.