Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-15

pr inc fortunes Oh their owners OUT, AT the same
time, humanity must mourn the dmnuton of those |
comforts and that regard for the health of the
slaves, which has characterized slavery in the
South, aud made it the most cheerful and happy |
mental labor to he found in the world. 1t is well
known, that the profits Of labor diminish, 50
do its comforts. Many melancholy examples of
this truth TO be found in the histories of the old
world and when the negro population multiplies |
in number and sinks in value, whatever may be
the humanity of the master, necessity will compel
him 10 restrict the comforts Of the slave. and re- |
duce him TO the smallest pittance upon which it is
possible to live. But the non-slaveholding States
will comfort themselves, no doubt, with the retlcc
ton, that when this day arrives, the freedom of
the slave is sure lie is to reach the much desir-
cd goal of freedom through years of suffering and
when he attains IL. what is to become Of him Is
he 10 be allowed political rights and privilegcs?-
The recent vote of the very State which sends us
the resolutions communicate, deny ing this race,
few rs they in that State in number, the right
OF suffrage. gives the answer. Are they to be
placed on footing of social equality? 1t is not
thoguht Of, except in the dream Of an occasional
fanatic Is it expected that they to become an
industrious. orderly, thrifty population We have
only to appeal to existing experience To know, that
If the negro, in state of freedom connot be gov
crned by the ordinary motives and stimuan,s that
elevate the white man. it is utterly hopeless TO eX-
pect it under circumstances that mark him as of an
inferior and degraded race.
But it is truth attested by all history, that the
negro is incapable Of steady and productive labor
and of high civilization except under the authority
and control of the white man. The mistaken be-
nevolence of some, and the selfish policy of Eng
land produced the abolition of slavery in the Br-
fish Islands 1t was insisted that the negroes, if
manumitted, would work with that cheerful alac-
rity which springs from knowledge that the fruits
of their toll were to be their own i'm other words
that free labor would be cheaper and more produc-
tive than slave labor. In support of this theory
England paid one hundred millions of dollars; and
what is the consequence? The negroes thus
freed, from whom much was expected who
were TO establish in their own persons the correct
ness Of this theory, will not work except when i'm
PEELED by necessity, and consequently these islands
have ceased 10 be valuable. The British Govern
ment has been compelled to import the Hill Coolies
of India and the recaptured Africans, in order 10
swell the amount of labor. and thereby to secure
from It's necessities, not from its choice the cult
walton of their islands; and this experiment
has failed. mention this as recent case, strik-
ing in character and completely Illustrative of tho
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 coerce him. can appeal to eve
ry State in the Union in support of this important
and most painful truth Should therefore, the
non savehoding States succeed in the abolition of
slavery, they will throw upon the community three
millions OF human beings charge and Il pest
consuming instead of producing and inflic,inr up-
on their sister States well as themselves the
most fatal injuries. If the free negroes are now
such an injury and annoyance, and are denied even
among those who seem to take the most lively in
terest in their welfare and social and political equal
lty, 1t is appalling to think of the consequences
that would ensue If the whole of our slave pppua-
ton were set free. do not hesitate to express the
opinion that the moment you free the slave you de-
grade the man. rely upon the experience of this
race in every State in support of this position In
point OF productive industry, character and happi-
ness. the free negro is far below the slave
| ThcSouih never can consent TO be confined to
prescribed limits. She wants and must have
space, if consistent with honor and propriety. Ii
is due to the happiness and interests of her pop
ulaton, and to no portion of it more than to the
slave himself. Confine her 10 prescribed limits,
allow emigration to the white man and forbid it
10 the slave, and the consequence is obvious
Her slaves VIII rapidly accumulate, the white
man must emigrate; 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, or
by sending of the worthless and unproductiye TO
the non-slavehoiding States. These are grave
and unpleasant views Of this important question
but it is well at once TO look them firmly in the
ton.
If the non-saveholdng States would recognize
us as partners free and equal partners, i'm our I'm
ion; if they would only be content to let us share
the social feeling that should exist in this rela-
ton; if they would letus Gas let ihem) con-
suit our own interest and pursue our own happ-
ness unmolesled; if they would respect and ohey
the sacred obligations of the Constitution, and
consult that real and enlarged philanthropy which
characterized the revolutionary fathers; i'm short
if they would practise that golden maxim of
christian morality which nculcates the duty of
doing unto our neighbor we would that he
should do unto us-we could look TO the future
with confidence and hope to reveal mighty peo
pie, distinguished for higher development Of all
the godIlke attributes of nature than is to be
found in the history Of iime.-Christ came into
This world to teach the law and to redeem us
from on! sins. His lot was cast in The midst of
a slaveholding community, and vet He, the Son
of God, so far respected that institution as never
to denounce it even as evil, much less SIM
The inspired Apostles made it christian duty
on The part of servants TO be true to their mas
tiers. Says ST. Peter, ''Servants be subject to
your masters with all fear; not only to the good
and gentle, but also to the froward." Paul, in
Rome, found converted slave who had fled from
his master, and sent back with letter, desiring
the master 20 forgive his servant, Onesimus, and
loving to receive him again. But all these illus
trious examples, all these christian rules of con-
duct, seemed to be lost upon on-slavehoIJinp
brethren. Not content with the wisdom and pa |
triotism Of our revolutionary sres not content
with the forbearance Of Christ and the inculca-
tons of his Apostles; they seem bent upon po- |
Icy that must shver into atoms the farost fabric
OF power, greatness, glory aud happiness that !
ever fell 10 the lot ofman. The Union could not |
have been formed without the full protection of |
our slave interests. 1t must end if that protec- !
ton is Withdrawn. And if it ends, who cam
without sickening heart, contemplate the con-
sequencesl The Union dissolved, the slave not
freed wars engendcred, industry arrested fields
desOlaled and Owed In blood. and The star Of ont