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

ment for his people, but MS premature aeath PRIV
vented its being carried out. Henry ChristoPhs |
was the son OF slave, a negro, "btdeh as Jet.
Roberts, the present Governor of the Republic OF
Liberia, writes his annual and other messages |
with strength and elegance, and performs all The
duties OF his Office with skill and energy. Rob
erls is negro' But will not trouble you farther
with this detail for feel that itmust be disagree
bic to you, and an apology may be due Tor the
heavy tax levied on your time and patience; II so,
have only to say, that the ''DsiseTabIs pretend
srs 10 historic kHorlsdge, rho HOE iAfest The
EARTH" need 10 be taught modesty betting
their attainments But before leave this topic
I cannot forbear to hint that you must be famil-
lar with the fact, that travellers OF distinction
have affirmed that there are nor States, and
large commercial towns and cities scattered over
the continent of Afnca, whose sovereigns are
negroes, whose armies are negTOes-whosep people
are negross-cities in which trade and manufac-
lures seem to be equally esteemed and protected
These are remarkable facts in the history of the
negro race which the meTest "pTetendeT 10 histo-
rio knorIsdge' could not overlook. When the
ostrich buries his head in the sand, he does not
eclipse the sun, but only deceives himself
The facts detailed in this article appear to me,
sir, at variance with the postulate you have so
confidently announced. ''They have been upon
the earth, like the beasts of the field, like the
temporary races of tigers and balloons, and
have left not one trace Of their existence, except
in their posterity. In the wide arch of the
sciences and arts there is nothing-absoIiaeiy
nothing, traceable 10 them to mark their superb
orty over the brute creation, much less TO midi
cate equality with the intellectual white man"
When read this singular passage, I could but
think you had written il Immediately afteTa Pc
usal of MontesquisH's chapter on slavery, and
deeply impressed with the truth Of the senti-
ment, ait is impossible for US 10 suppose these
creatures to be men: because, allowing them 10
be men, suspicion would follow that we our
selves are not ChIistansP' you nobly resolved to
vindicate your claims to christianity, by degTa-
ding the whole Afncan race to a level with the
'brute creation" Your devotion to christianity
, excites in me sentiment Of wonder and admi-
ration, while your sacrifice exctes in me sen
timent akin to horror, for it Is a sacrifice Of
Truth, Justice and humanity.
The ancients, we are told, believed that the
I face was always the index of the mind. Mod
: ern PSYCHOLOGISTS have gone step farther, con-
tending that fine cm, perfect in all IFS parts,
' cannot contain a crooked or imperfect mind.
Thomas HoPE, Esq, F. X. s., in his elaborate
treatise on the "Origin and Prospects Of Man, -
confidently asserts, that the genus, man, COM
peculiar parent stock, Disseminated one from
the other by a comparative scale Of excellence
D., both IN physical and intellectual capacity; the
former IL not determining the latter, at least be-
ing its unernng index-and that between these
several races is boundary; not only distinct
4 and well defined, but impossible; so that CAT
4 FIRE or Samoyed could no more, by whatever pa rs
in education OF discipline be elevated 10 the CON-
=, prehension of European science, than the dull
estof brutes be trained TO the sagacity of the
Elephant" You, SIR, seem TO have adopted the
opinion Of this ingenious Speculation. and mis-
taking the sarcasm Of MoEiesgisp for a sober
statement, concluded, at Is handy 10 De beiiey-
4 ed that God, who is a wise being should place a
soul, especially good soul, in such black ugly
body" But the facts to which have already
called your attention, as well as numerous 9th
ers, prove the theory false, and demonstrate
, that the negro is capable Of high degree of
knowledge. Suppose, sir, we had no facts to
appeal to- would then inquire; has the experi-
, ment been made? Has any effort been put forth
to elevate ana refine the minds Of the unfortu-
: nate negro? Have Christian nations--has chris
tan Kentucky sought to pour upon If the light Of
I sclencel Have you, sir, holding as you DO.
learning in such exalted estimation, established
schools for the education Of your servantsl
Have you sought TO carry out the purpose Of
Deity for the good of man." by bringing the
, means of mental improvement within the ne
gTO's reach, and encouraging him to the stug-
, gle2 i fear sir, the answer 10 these inquires
will reflect but little credit upon the ''proud
and noble, generous, enthusiastic, and glorious
people" Of Kentucky, and the entire South.
What account can We give of our stewardship,
when after lapse Of two hundred years assoe-
alton with the negro for "his improvement we
have made hun only "semi-cirilised sapage."
When, sir, sgreeably TO your theory Of the dis
pensations Of an all-wise Providence, He conf
ded to the 'intellectual white man" the negro
race, it was for chs guidance, protection and
improvement" and he having received his vard
handed him the plough and spade, and babe him
toil-but the temples of science were closed
against him, and the stern voice OF the 'intel-
lectual white man," said, "and now also, lest
he put forth his hand and take of the tree OF
knowledge and become wise like unions LET H.
make law against IT," And that law like
fsming-sword turns every way TO bar his pas
sage TO the tree of knowledge. So that general
ly, whatever knowledge Of letters they acquire
is by stealth. This is the fruitsge of the plant
ing, more bitter than the tabled ''apples OF
Sodom." "indeed, trsaJls for my country
rhen reflect tia, God is just, and that his jas
tiee cannot sleep forsrer." Who, in view of the
position you have assumed, and the facts which
are known and read of all men, will not echo the
sentiment Of the immortal jefferson, And SIR,
had the intellectual white man." been true to
his trust, what hest of Afucan names might
have been clustered in the "arch of the
Sciences" and though no Fr0nklia might have
appeared 10 draw the lightning from heaven-no
Merton to teach US new philosophical Co.
iHrnbvs to open passage to another continent.
| no Fulton to invent a steamboat-fory on kno0r