The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-10-28

As a general rule the advocates of slavery OBJ
pose the discussion Of the subject They affirm |
that religion, reason, and common sense all |
concur in sanctioning African slavery, and that |
its foundations are firm and steadfast as a rock |
Now, If they believe as they assert they do, that |
the system of slavery has the sanction of both |
Divine and human wisdom, do they not act |
very strangely IN resisting all Investigations cal
eulated 20 exhibit the merits of the subject? |
Men, very generally, are fond Of PROSECUTING 9TH
ers 10 their belief, and avail themselves Of every
suitable opportunity to impress their views, reli-
gOus, political, social, philosophical, and scien-
tIfc subjects on those who entertain what they |
consider erroneous opinions. If the pro-slavery |
men truly think, that the system they wish to |
uphold IS worthy of universal acceptation, II is |
extremely selfish in them TO seek TO conceal a |
knowledge OF the blessings il confers, from other
persons. Philanthropy should induce them to |
feel sOlicitous 10 extend the benefits which they
themselves enjoy far and wide They ought to |
exert themselves to extend the conviction that |
Afncan slavery is n most benign institution |
which blesses both master and slave. And as
ats extension depends on the acguaintance'thatl
men have with it, advantages, and as thorough
and constant discussion is indispensable to a
general appreciation OF the merits of the subject
the benevolent STAKEHOLDER should, in a spirit of
gratitude and humanity, be deeply anxious to
promote discussion 10 the end that sceptics,
scoffeTs, and deniers, may be brought TO a full
knowledge Of what religion, reason, and common
sense alike agree IN recommending 20 the human
family. 1t cannot be denied that slavery is
losing ground Ia the world-that the number of
those who advocate II is rapidly diminishing
that the ranks Of those who hostile to il are
every day receiving accessions-in fine, thai the
splnt OF the age and the mind Of the civilized
world, are earnestly auayed against the bene-
hcent system Of African slavery as II exists
among as. To anest the progress Of this great
heresy-to tum back this mighty tide of public
opinion-to extinguish the baleful fires which
wTOng-headedness and fanaticism have kindled, |
IT IS clearly necessary that the advocates Of
slavery should take the field, shake everything |
like drowsiness from Their limbs, and devote |
themselves 10 the great work Of extipating the |
pemicious, deadly, and widespread everywhere
existing in relation TO slavery. Armed with the |
Bible and all the weapons Of reason and logic,
every pTO-slavery advocate ought TO go forth in
battle array against the forces Of fanaticism be-
fore the world Is thoroughly demented, and men
everywhere gTOpe an hopeless darkness and error |
OF all persons the pro-slaveY man should be
most anxious TO discuss slavery; for the system
itself Is now menaced with destruction. IL they
believe the system deiensible, let them rally TO
Its defence. Its enemies everywhere assume |
that their indIsposition TO discussion arises from
a conviction of the utter indefensibiIty of the |
institution. And, in Truth, there is much plausi-
bIlity in this assumption, seeing that slave-hod-
ers are after all mere men, and being subject TO
human frslltles and prOPensItes may be mista-
ken in their views, and may even be induced by
selfshness to claim for the system they cling to
good deal more of merit than they feel them
selves able 10 show.
We can inform the advocates Of slavery that
the progress of discussion Is onward Every
where in tins republic men are turning their at
tention more and more earnestly to ghe institu-
ton, and as il is examined the conviction is
spreading that it Is a stupendous wrong TO both
races, and ought to be abolished. The efforts
which have been made 10 dyke out the ocean of
anti-slaveTy sentiment from the slave States
have signslly failed, and throughout the South as
well as the North spirit of fiery hostility TO the
system has been engendered. Thedisposition to
look into the merits Of the institution is becom-
ing universally prevalent. Thousands Of the
best citizens in the slave States have caught the
infection Of the age and have allied themselves
with the millions who are in favor of wagng
war Of determination against slavery. Under
these circumstances every defender of slavery
owes il 10 himself, as well as to humanity 10
come forward, and by a dexterous use of the
polished weapons Of logic, beat back the fanatics
who are bent on overthrowing system which
runs back 10 the patriaTchal ages, whose history
indeed, is lost in the darkness Of a most distant
and mpenetrable antiquity
Delaware is on the verge of emancipation,
30 general has the deluson that slavery is an
evil become in that little State "with heart
big enough for the whole Unon," as the face
tious Noah once affirmed, that before twelve
more calendar months are irretrievaby beyond
tinct within her borders. In Maryland too,
error and fanaticism are rapidly extending theiI
empire, some Of the most sagacious minds in
that old Commonwealth declare, that in less
than five years letters shall be broken and the
oppressed gcifree even there. In the old Domin-
ion, the nursing mother Of hopeful brood of
States, anti-sayery papers and anti slavery ora
tors scattering far and wide the seeds Of free
dom, and an immense number Of persons are ut
tering Vaccinations in contemplation of day of
emancipation, the FIRST grey streaks of which
they say. can be plainly seen marking the east |
ern horizon. In North Carolina State Con- |
vention Of those hostile to slavery has been
called, and there in that Southern State there
are many who declare that the days Of the in |
stitution are numbered In East Tennessee a |
great deal Of sympathy with the friends Of
emancipation elsewhere is not only cherished,
but openly expressed and men growino hold ara