The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-11-25
An Address


An Address
, PRysBYTERI,Ns or hESTuckf TOR TIE
10 ~ .r'-r,os AND EMaScIPArIoS or THEIR
S',rrs-By Committee Of the synod o. ny.
tCoEtiaysdD
This system licenses aud produces
o., .,,,ltv. The law places the whip
I Ia hands of the master; and its use, pro-
y. ~ he avoid destroying life, is limited on
" Nv his own pleasure. Considering the
y y mower with which our people are
1D' 4 must be acknowledged that the
, o,, Of their dependents. is in general,
..~aI.rlv humane. Many circumstances
ansyate here TO mitigate the rigors OF per-
U Dp'aai seryitude; and it is probably the fact.
r., ~ body of slaves has been ever bet.
-, csd better clothed, and less abused, than
' :, n, sI,yes of Kentucky. Still they have
VIZ sacnrity for their comfort, but the hu-
n ~ and generosity Of men, who have
S 80. trained 10 regard them not as brethren,
mr. as mere property. Humanity and gen.
srosity are. al best, poor guarantees Tor the
..o,ac,;on al those who cannot assert their
ft;.b,s and over whom law throws no pro.
,ao,;on Our own condition we would ieel
- h. wretched indeed, if no law secured
:: from the insults and maltreatment even
g onr EQUALS. But superiority naturally
Ssgpts contempt and contempt generates
a,.lrrealment, for checking which, we can
IL. ~ not on virtue, but only on law. There
80 IN our land, hundreds OF thousands
aio'bed with arbitrary power over those,
100, rbey are educated TO regard as their
,,o,artv. as the instruments oil their VIII,
a tresiures beneath their sympathy, devoid
Of IN The feelings which dignity humanity;
"a but one remove above cattle. Is II not
osr,sip that many of these hundreds OF
thousands will infict outrages on their de-
soised dependantsl There are now, IN our
,rboIs land. two millions of human beings
dsCepceIess, exposed, to every insult and
every injury short of manning or death,
which their fellow-men may choose TO IN
S;rt Thew suffer all that can be inflicted
by wsnton caprice, by grasping avance, by
brutal lust, by malignant spite. and by Ia
sane anger. Their happiness is the sport
Of every whim, and the prey oil every pas
son that may, occasionally or habtually,
inrs., the masters bosom. If We could
calculate the amount Of woe endured by
;g,reated slaves, il would overwhelm every
comnassonate heart, il would move even
,be obdurate to sympathy. There is also q
vas, sum Of suffering inflicted upon the
slave BY humane masters, as a punishment
Gar that idIeness and misconduct which
slavery naturally produces. The ordinary
motives to exertion in men are Withdrawn
frun Inc olave. Some unnatural stimulus
mu;t then be substituted; and the whip pre-
ssn,s itself as the readiest and most efficient.
But the application of the whip to produce
industry, IS like the application Of the gal
vanic fluid TO produce muscular exertlon.
The effect is powerful indeed, but moment
ary; snd Il often applied, it is exhaustive
and destructive TO the system. Ii can never
be used as a substitute for the healthful and
agreeable nervous stimulus with which ma
tIre has supplied US. Equally vain is the
attempt to supply by the whip the defcien-
cy of natural motives to exertion-lt pro-
duces misery and degradation. Yet made
quate as is this substitute, it is the best that
can be had-it must be used while the sys-
tenn lasts-the condition OF the slave is W.
natural, and his treatment must correspond
10 his condition. We are shocked to hear
OF epicures, who cause the animals on which
they feas: to be whipped to death, that their
flesh may be more delicate and delicious to
the taste. We feel it to be disgusting and
intolerabe cruelty, thus to infict pain even
upon beast, merely to satisfy the cravings
OF luxury; and shall We excuse ourselves
il desire for ease or wealth leads US tc
sanction, sustain, and assist in perpetuating q
system, which as long as it lasts, mast la
cerste the bodies and grind down the feel
ings Of millions Of rational and immorta
beings
Brutal stripes, and all the varied kinds o
personal indignities, are not the only spe
cies Of cruelty, which slavery licenses. Th'
Law does not recognise the family relation
Of slave; and extends to him no protec
ton in the enjoyment Of domestic endear
ments. The members Of slave fanlil,
may be forcibly separated, so that the,
shall never more meet until the final judg
ment. And cupidity often induces the mas
Ter to practice what the law allows. Broth
ers and sisters; parents and children, Sc
each other no more. These acts are dali
occurring in the midst OF us. The shrek
and the agUHy UfIrn Witnessed on sseL es
cssons, proclaim with trumpet tongu
the iniquity and cruelty of our system. Th
cry Of these sufferers goes up to the ears {
the Lord of Sabaoth. There is not sir
gle neighborhood, where these heartrendin
scenes are not displayed. There : is not
village or road that does not behold the So
procession Of manacled outcasts, who's
chains and mourn(ul countenances tell tn,
they are eKiled by force from all that the
hearts held dear. Our church, years ag
raised its voice Of solemn warning again
this fragrant violation Of every principle
mercy, Justice and humanity. Yet v
blush to announce to you and 10 the worl
that this warning has been often Disregard
even by those who hold to our commonio
Eases have occurred in our own denomin
tOn, where professors Of the religion of ner
have torn the mother from her childre
and sent her into merciless and returnle
exile. Yet acts Of discipline have rare
followed such conduct. Far be it from
to ascTibe TO our people generally part
patton in these deeds. or a svmpathy ~