The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-09

This address was sent to us by one who seems
to possess a candid and intelligent mind. The
address was accompanied by the following note,
which we take the liberty Of publishing. We
suppress the name Of the writer, as we are not
sure the publication of 1t would be agreeable to
him.
HAERoDssuRs, Ky. Nov. IL, l64s.
Gentlemen: I have had the pleasure Of peru
sing q few numbers Of your paper; and am
much pleased with your remarks on Mr.. John
sons speech, and, replies to A. B. c. Of the
Georgetown Herald.
In your last number you express a willing
ness to hear anything, from a respectable source.
contrary TO your views. Therefore, herewith
send you an address delivered, sometime since,
by James Shannon, President Of Bacon College
This address has been freely circulated through
out this aud the adjoining States, and by many
IL Is considered Q triumphant argumentin favor
of slavery. The FIRST issue having been exhaust
ed and great demand existing for copies, IL 10
expected TO be stereotyped.
The influence that this address has had, snd
nov has over the minds Of many persons, VIII
justify you, apprshend. in giving IL an exten.
sive notice. II is frequently spoken Of as being
unanswersble.
willingly confess that am not entirely set
tied AZ to the course TO be pursued, in regard &c
ling, however, TO learn; and the belief that you
would meet my principal difficulties in replying
TO this speech has induced me TO forward IL
Yours with due respect.
This address is very long, but we shall not re-
quire as much space in our attempt to answer
the arguments of President Shannon, as he has
taken to set them forth. In the address consid-
cradle space is employed in stating some "prs-
liminary considerations" on the subject of hap.
piness, which we will not attempt to dispute
The latter part Of the address contains some re.
marks on corruption in courts Of Justice, on
mobs, &C., the sentiments Of which. meet with
our appreciation. We have nothing to do at
present, with anything but the middle of the
address.
We cannot see why the friends of African
slavery are SO anxious to stereotype this ad-
Dress IL has very little to do with their system
Grant that il IL unanswerable; and what is
proveo' Why, merely that when human be-
ing is very wicked and very ignorant. no mat
ter what may be his color, he should be con-
dsmned TO what will be to him the blessings of
slavery. There is nothing in the address which
shows that q black man has better title to the
privileges Of slavery than white man. The
only question is concerning his character. II
he b ignorant and immoral, then for him "bond-
age iss blessing, and, freedom an unmitigated
calamity" and it becomes every good man to
assist In fastening the chains upon him. And
n IL necessary inference that when the state
Of ignorance and immortality ceases, the state
OF slavery should cease also. Whenever, then,
black man becomes intelligent and moral, he
should Be liberated; and whenever a white man
becomes ignorant and wicked. he should be en-
shaved. Every one will admit we have ieno-
rant and immoral white men among us; and
according 10 President Shannon's principles,
these Ough. 10 be bought and sold, and forced
10 work by the side Of their blacker fellow
slaves We were once very angry because the
Algerines made slaves Of American citizens
They might have justified themselves according
TO the doctrines Of Mrs. Those who were en-
shaved were ignorant and immoral in the sight
Of the Algerines- They knew nothing of the
Koran, which contains all knowledge; they
wantonly violated its precepts; they ridiculed
the Holy Prophet; in short, they were "infidel
dogs" For such men. bondage was bless
ing. and freedom unmitigated calamity"
Bot President s. would perhaps say, that the
Algerines had no right TO decide upon the con-
dition Of the Americans. This brings us to a
difficulty in the way Of carrying out his prin-
cipies. Who is to be the judgsl We ought to |
have judge, perfectly wise and good-where |
shall we find such one on EARTH Newton,
with all his knowledge, said that he had only |
gathered few pebbles On the great ocean of
truth, and the best men confess that they are |
full of sin. The most learned and virtuous are |
only more free from ignorance and crime than |
some others. In the highest sense, all men are
ignorant and vicious. When tried by the stand |
ard Of absolute perfection, "there is none that
doeth good-no, not one," and there is none
that knoweth anything-no, not one. i
This brings us to another difficulty. As
there are degrees in vice and crime, there
ought to be corresponding degrees in slavery
Every sinner makes himself a slave by his own |
acts; but we now speaking Of the slavery
degrees in slavery, at what particular degree of
vice and crime should human being be emil
tied TO the benefits Of slavery 1t seems to us
that mankind ought to have eAsyscteromefer-
\ messurer Of character which SHOULD infaIlibly
indicate the various stages Of ignorance and
crime. and the exact point at which man 10
entitled to the high privilege of being bought
and sold.
President shannon tells us that God sanction
I'd slavery among the Hebrews, and that this is
, proof that the system is right among us. We
viii not enter into a discussion of tie subject
Of slavery among the Jews. II II Is proved
hat slavery existed in this nation just a. il ex-
sts amongst ms, we have no right to claim this
= q Justification of ourselves ill we prove that
vs are justified In doing whatever the Jews were
allowed TO do. According to the testimony of
he Savior himself, Moses permitted divorce TO
he Jews for their hardness Of heart. Polygamyj
Ilso existed among them. They killed the wo-
men and children Of the Canaanites. II we are
to do whatever they did, why may
W not divorce our wives7 Why may NOT each
4 us have two or more wivesl Why may we
'ot kill the Indians who occupy some Of the
and on this continsptf II the state Of things
lmong the Jews affords us a warrant, we NAV
make slaves Of American citizens. We are ID
'ssnd 10 do 90 when We find them possessed of ,
he proper amount Of ignorance and vice. To
'ur ignorant and wicked feIlow-citiaens, "sIa-
'ery 10 blessing, and freedom an uumitiv,,ed i
slamity," and we have no authority for refus- 4