Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-10-04

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the right of the Shareholder upon a some
what different ground. He said a ma
might acquire property in q horse befor
the existence Of civil society. by catchin
. wild ono. And so, he added, one ma
might acquire property in another mar
by subduing him to his will. The super
or force gave the right. whether 10 tn
horse or to the man. Now, if this be SC
and if at any time the superior fore
should change sides, then it follows inevi
tably. that the relation Of the parties Nigh
be rightfully changed by a new appeal t
force.
The same gentleman claims Bible au
thoriiy for slavery. He says: 81 see sla
very there tolerated. had almost said in
culcated. I see such language as this
'.Both thy bondmen and thy hondmaid
shall be Of the heather that are arount
about you; Of them shall you buy bon d
men and bondmaids; and We shall TAX
them as an inheritance for your children
'after you, to inherit them for a posses
'sion,'" DC. Does not the gentleman
know. that by the same authority, the Is
poll their Egyptian masters. and to es
cape from bondage! Surely the latter is
the better authority. II the gentleman
argument is sound. he is bound to advo
cate a repeal Of the act of 1893. II the
gentleman's argument is sound. the free
States, instead Of surrendering fugitive
slaves to their masters, are bound 10 give
those masters q Red-sea reception and
embrace; and the escape Of the children
of Israel into Canaan is a direct prece-
dent for the underground railroad to Cam
ada.
Both the gentleman from Kentucky
Mr.. FRENCH yesterday. and the gentle
man from Virginia to-day, spoke repeat
eddy. and without the slightest discrimi-
nation, Of "a slave and horse" "a slave
and MULE" &c. What should we think
sir, Of a teacher for our children. or even
of tender Of our cattle, who did not re-
cognize the difference between men and
humanity and horse
flesh! What should we think, it,, on o.
pening a work, claiming to be scientific
treatise on zoology, we should find the au-
thor to be ignorant Of the difference be-
tween biped and quadruped. or between
such errors would be frifling compared
with those which have been made through
all this debate. They would be simple
errors in natural history. perhaps harm
less; but they are errors-fatal errors-in
and Christian ethics. No, sir;
all the legislation ofthe slave States proves
that they do not treat. and cannot treat. a
human being as an animal. | will show
hat they are ever trying to degrade him
nto an animal, although they can never
succeed.
The conscious idea that the state Of
slavery is state Of war-a state in which
superior force keeps inferior force down
develops and manifests itself perpetu-
ally. 1t exhibits itselfin the statute-books
IF the slave States, prohibiting the educa-
ion Of slaves, making it highly penal to
each them so much as the alphabet; dis
,ersing and Furnishing all meetings where
hey come together in quest acknowledged.
Look into the statute books. of the free
States, and you will find law after law.
after encouragement, to
Iecure the diffusion Of knowledge. Look
nto the statute books of the slave States.
md you find law after law, penalty after
to secure the extinction of knowl-
,dge. WHO has not read with delight
hose books which have been written,
10Th in England and in this country. en-
tiled 1.-The Pursuit Of knowledge under
giving the biographies Of H.
ustrious men, who. by an undaunted and
ndomnable spirit, had risen from poverty
md obscurity to the heights Of eminence,
md blessed the world with their achieve
nents in literature, in science, and in
norals9 Yet here, in what we call repub-
lean America, are fifteen great States, wy
ng with each other to see which will bring
he blacklist and most impervious pail Of
ignorance over three millions Of human
'eings; nay, which can do most to stretch
his pail across the continent, from the At.
antic TO the Pacific.
Is not knowledge good! Is itnot one
# the most precious bounties which the
Ill-bountiful Giver has beloved upon the
human race! Sir John Herschell, pos
essed of ample wealth, his capacious
mind stored with the treasures Of knowl.
'dge. surrounded by the most learned so.
;iety in the most cultivated metropolis in
he world. says: "If were to pray for
a taste which should stand me in stead,
under every variety of circumstances,
and source of happiness and cheerful
ness to me through life, and shield a.
gainst its ills, however things might 60 a.
miss. and the world frown upon me, it
would be taste for reading" Yet it is
low proposed to colonize the broad re-
.ions of the West with millions of our fell
ow beings. who shall never be able to
cad hook or write q word; to whom
shall bring no delight in child
rood, no relief in the weary hours of sick
less or convalescence. no solace in the
lecrepitude of age; who snail perceive
nothing Of the beauties of art, who shall
know nothing OF the wonders of science,
Who shall never reach any lofty, intellecfu-
Il conception Of the attributes of their
yreat Creator;-deaf to all the hosannas
# praise which nature sings to her Ma
ser; blind in this magnificent temple which
God has builded.
Sir, il is one Of the noblest attributes Of
nan that he can derive knowledge from
lis predecessors. We possess the accu-
lo..r;D~ nf avoS Erog, ton