Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-23

only remaking upon facts not attacking the institutions
of others will only say, BY the way, this spectacle Of
man willing TO work and dying for of bread is not 10
be found IN the siayehodng States there thai Won
| ''see yonder poor oerlsbored wight
So abject, mean, and yile
Who begs his brother Of the earth
To give him leave to TOLL"
On the contrary the subsistence and protection Of the shave
from the cradle to the grave, secured to him by positive
legislation by public enactment and but not least by
private affection But, said before, do not advert 10
these things by way Of repoach other States or nations
point out the existence OF these things evils amongst
themselves OF precisely the character with those which
they complain Of so much in do that thew up-
heave the pillars of State, dissolve the fabric of society in
van indeed in any, attempts remedy these grievances
at home Why, then, disturb with agaons and attempts
to remove inequalities amongst US, which they do MOI inter-
ee with at home II the good of society requires them 10
tolerate this unequal condition of home how much
stronger the argument to justify when the question is
between two such races found upon soil We
claim nothing but the protection Of their argument l.
Tor ONE do not raproach the of other States for
the inequalities Of human condition which exist under them
they have done all in their power and under existing cir
cumsances 10 relieve them The Government which does the
best which compatible with the circumstances under which
acts has done all that could be expected and than
most OF them effect But if these inequalities still exist and
exist they will can only say that such have
been the ordination Of Providence Why il should be so
know not; the finite cannot comprehend the infinite. But
Wherever look ON nature whether 10 the vegetable animal
Kingdoms, find this eternal struggle between capacities of
different extent and power Of different degrees The whole
progress OF organized life consist series Of vico-
RES achieved by the stronger the weaker whose places
they take upon earth Inhe Forest the stronger crowd
out and overshadow germs which spring up
to Decline decay, and perish. Amongst herds Of animals
the stronger appopates the larger share of the food designed
io all and appropratcs at the expense Of the weaker So
OF the races OF the superior snbdues suppans the
eror Amongst the members of the and society
we see the most powerful commanding larger share Of the
Of subsistence and grow whilst the weak decline If
sympahes should follow the weak who disappear we
cannot deny but that stronger germ planted in their place.
and another advance is thus made in the ORGANIZED
being and OF human society What that characterizes
free governments if be not the equal and general COMPETE
ton for the rewards of society which authorizes amongst its
members And what is this universal competition but uni
versal struggle between man and struggle Of
physical but moral force for mastery and powe II is true
that social rewards in free made depend
not upon law, but the merits of the aprant To succeed he
must have the qualities which success and these
are the qualities OF wisdom, Of fotude Of energy and virtue
is thus that the highest possible stimulus is given for the
cultivation of those qualities which promote the prosperity and
happiness of people, 1t is thus that society advances
rapidly, but by follows that the inequalities in
human condition diminish with this advance On the con-
traIy you make mans condition depend upon himself
make many differences in the condition there are in
the capacities of The nearest approach to absolute
equality Of condition Of which have any is
ne found in desposms where and the residue
slaves.
speak, sir, Of things they not now dealing
with Imaginary schemes of government theories Of human
formed them am merely depicting things they exist, for
the purpose Of showing brethren, who disposed
tertere with that they have taken the out of their
own eye, before attempting to the beam from
have shown them that these inequalities
human condition inevitable; and that no government can
destroy them. 1t is ordinance OF Providence
and we cannot control it. endeavorng show them
that this question of slavery be viewed in connection with
circumsancesthat what good condition Of society
not be appropriate anotheand that all stable and
consider these circumstances and conditions
Of society which modify and control particular institutions be-
fore they undertake to interfere with them.
Let gentlemen look home and weigh the consequences Of
pushing this agitation TO its extreme Let him ask himself
what would be the consequences of destroying this condition
OF slavery and leaving the two side by side in the
country have admitted that the extension of equal
privilege Of competition characteristic of free govern
ment and benefit but this last only Of homoge-
people, and not of society including widely different
under the bonds In the latter case benefit
when the privilege extended beyond the members Of
the superior and governing Suppose the door of
petition open to the black, well the white, would
the former be Iampled down and des,royed Would they
not be reduced TO condition infinitely than that in
which they exist But why, ask why should there be
any doubt and hesitation, when these alternatives which
have referred presented and when easy
take that which would lead harmony prosperity and
progress Passion and prejudice, madness-if may be par
doned for using the termsmay for the present rule the hour
so that reason may find moment Of calm TO seek the
sPonse But the day for that response Mankind
will demand Of render up of that high
virtues Of oreiabers and the blessings Of Providence and
posterty will reckon with for the loss Of that inheritance
which given be improved and transmitted them
The future historian will record with shame and grief that the
harased column and the broken shaft all that remain
commemorate the unfinished achievements and aborve efforts
Of people richly endowed than any that have
listed upon the earth.
Let gentlemen beware how they stimulate this agitation for
there problems political equations troublesome Of
luton north Of "Mason and Dxon's ine, any south of
This agitation which you throw upon may to
you, in the expansion Of its circle the great Of
public opinion. The seeds Of the thistle which you
fields may be borne wings with the breath
Of public discussion, and be planted in your The very
mine which cunnngy wrought shake social fabric
from "tuet 10 foundation sone in the reaction and viba-
ton Of its shock, may involve the Of your own II
evident truth that this Union is be dissolved the injury
will not be confined side. The mischefs will be
to all can only hope that, il this ruin come the
will not rest upon upon my fathers house. The South
will be clear Of IT, She has already sacrificed much union.
She willing TO make fresh sacrifices il she and
preserve her equality, But she will be willing sacri-
flee the bhrght Of her children and thus reduce them
condition than that Of their ssvcs-s condition in
which, have sad they would be involved in all the
sponsibiliies, without the rights Of freemen.
IT. No W ~ A n n