New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-01-08
Theodore Parker's Letter on SIa very.
LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
touching the Matter Of Slavery. By THEODORE Pas
a ~ ~,

IueO0Ore Iarhefs Bsetter on slavery.
LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
touching the Matter Of Slavery. By THEODORE Pas
xEn Boston James Munroe a Co. ls4s, ~. lze
We have seldom met with a more powerful,
logical. and strongly condensed argument against
the great national evil Of Slavery than Mr. Pmkers
pamphlet Most earnestly is il to be desired that
the important truths he has put forth may pas be-
fore the eyes, and be deeply implanted in the mind
and memory OF every true American.
Conscious of the sin, the shame, the imrolicy
even in pecunisry point Of view, Of Slavery, we
offer the following selections To our readers to draw
that attention to Mr.. Parkers letter which his sub
jecs, and the ability with which he treats il. alike
demand. Were a copy in the hands OF every man.
woman and youth OF fifteen years ana upward, in
Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and
they possessed of learning enough to enable them
TO read and understand the facts placed in array
in its pages, it would seem powerful enough to
upset the peculiar institution, and add these four
TO the Free States
Il am to speak Says Mr.. Parker Of a great
evil, long established, wide spread deeply rooted
in the laws, the ussges and the ideas OF the peo-
pie. II affects directly the welfare Of three mil
mons OF men, one sixth part Of the nation they
are Slaves. il affects directly half the States
they are Slave holders. 1t has powerful influence
on the other half though more subtle and unseen.
IL Affects the industry, laws morals, and entire
prosperity OF the whole nation u a degree exceed
ing the belief of men not familiar with its history
and It's facts. The evil increases with rapid
growth; with advancing food II gains new terri
tory, swells with larger volume its deadly spray
and mlasma gradually invade all our INSTITUTIONS -
The whole nation is DOW legally pledged 70 its
10 Lat
years has made Slavery federal institution. Your
revenue boats and your navy are bound to sup
port II your army acts for its defence. You have
fought wars, spending money and shedding blood,
gain soil wherein TO plant the tree OF slave
rs You have established it in your districts and
your territories. You have recently annexed ~
your realm territory as large as the Kingdom
of France, and extended Slavery over tina, soil
Whence O semi DarDar0us people had expelled II
with igLominy. You now fighting a war IN
behalf OF Slavery, war carried on A. great cost OF
money and of men. The national capita is great
slave market; In her shambes your Brothers are
daily offered for sale. Your flag floats over the
most wicked commerce earth--the traffic 10
men and women. Citizens OF the United States
breed youths and maidens for sale IN the market,
AZ the grszier oxen and swine
"Tbe Bey of Tunis has abolished Slavery as a
disgrace to Africa and the Mshometan religion
Your Constitution of the United States supports
the South fondy cliDes to 1t; the free men Of the
North bend suppliant necks 10 this yoke. With
few exceptions, your Representatives, and Sena'
tors IN Congress give 1t their countenance and
their vote their hand and their heart. Your great
and famous men are pledged TO this, or their sffeHce
pr0c,icaiiy purchased.
% In all the nion there is no legal asylum for the
fugitive slave; no soil emancipates his hurrying
feet. The States which allow Slavery within
their limits legally defend the Stakeholder: catch
and retain the man fleeing for his manhood aud hs
life"
Mr. Parker clearly comprehends the difference
between the position of England, when a great
WestInsia slave.power in 1912, and now, with a
contented and enfranchised negro population Oh
her Islands and in Hayti. He seems to be well
aware that, with three millions of slaves near
her regiments Of freed Africans; our 10000 regu
lars and volunteers, sent and to be sent to keep
Mexico lour future Ircand) in chains, the drain of
specie to uphold that 5000; the feeling aroused
against us in the breasts OF millions Of enlightened
lovers of Freedom, by the sight Of our blood and
treasure poured forth like water to sustain the most
cruel system of bondage the world ever saw and TO
reestabish it &c curse upon the vast empire from
which a semi-barbarous race had enforced its ex-
pulsion: th new taxation, whether direct or indi-
TO enrich contractors, loan iobbers and commlssa-
ries that with these causes in operation, and the
Northern Colonies more tranquil aud prosperous
than at any former period the nation is weakened
and divided at moment when it should be hus-
banding its strength.
THE existence of 1000 600 slaves IN the heart
of the nation with interests hostile TO their mas
tiers weakens the effective force OF the nation In
k.a ~. tk..H
ton. and in the late war The Slave States offer
a most vulnerable point OF attack. Let an enemy
offer freedom to all the slaves who would join the
stapdard-they will find in every negro decided
friend and the South could not stand with mllhons
of foes scattered through all parts OF her territory
Have the slaves no arms! There are fiREBKANDs
on every hearth During the Revolution many
thousands escaped from South Carolina alone At
the conclusion of the last war with England she oil
fered to pay 81 ,204 600 the value OF the slaves
who in a brief period. had taken shelter beneath
her flag What if England had armed them a.
solders-torav the country and burn the towns
Will future enemy be so reluctant The eeiiRg
of the cirli-ed rc0rid recOlts al orr mhumdlay-
The English, for reasons no longer easing, took
httle pans 10 draH themselves Of the tcedpon thus
thrust INTO their hands"
Oh how anxious our warriors are TO confer the
blessings Of "civil and religious liberty on Mex
leo, Commodore Stockton must have almost deaf
ened his audience at the Philadelphia dinner about
iberty-the liberty Of men with white skins TO buy
sell, torture and Cypress men whose skins are
little darker. How humane
Suppose the Commodore were to peruse MIR.
Parker's letter-it affords al apt illustration of
civil and religious liberty as We have had 1t for
hundred years in operation south OF the Potomac.
Effects Of Slarery on Education
The effect on the intellectual, moral and reli.
eious condition of the SLAVE is easily understood
He is only continued in Slavery by restraining him
from the civilization of mankind IN this age. HIS
mind. conscience, soul-sll his nobler poSers-
must be kept In a state OF inferior Development
otherwise he will not be slave in the nineteenth
century. and in the United States. Ia comparison
with the Intellectual culture of their masters the
slaves are a mass OF Bsrbarans, still more emphat
cally, when compared with the free institutions OF
the North they are savages This is not mere
matter of inference the fact is substantaed by the
notorious testimony of slave holders themselves
In 1894 the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia
r, ported that the slaves may justly be considered
the Heather OF this country, and Will bear compar-
-, ,.;t, tho Hsathen in any part of the world