The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-07

eht, to arrange plans for their future az
vancement, and 10 look forward to happ
old age, when he may rejoice in their So,
cess and participate in their prosperity
One OF the highest sources OF perennial eI
oyment is cut off from his existence. Tn
development OF his moral nature is obstruc
led and the great end OF existence impaired
Intellectual improvement is considered il
compatible with slavery. Ii is even forbid
den by the laws Of Virginia to assembl
colored persons (whether bond or free) 70
the purpose Of teaching them to read o
write.
| This is refinement OF cruelty,-a wan
.onness Of despotism,-that has seldom beer
squalled in any country, and could hardl,
De excused in an age of barbarism.
Not content with subjecting the body anC
exacting its labour without reward th,
system of American slavery seeks to crush
he intellect,-to shut out the beams o
,nowledge from the darkened mind,--anc
10 repress all tie nobler instincts OF the soul
The wickedness Of this system ia thus hap
ply illustrated in an eloquent speech Of
Horace Mann, Twenty years ago sharp
sensation ran through the nerves Of the civ,
llised world, Of the story Of young man
named Casper Hauser, found in the city Of
Nuremburg in Bavaria. Though 10 or II
years old he could not walk nor telk. He
heard without understanding, he saw with
out perceiving, he moved without definite
purpose. Il was the soul OF an infant in
The body ofan adult.
"After he had learned to speak he related
that from his earliest recollection, he had
always been kept in hole so small thath he
could not stretch out his limbs, where he
saw no light, heard no sound, nor even wit
messed the face Of the attendant who brought
him his scanty food. For many years con-
lectures were rife concerning his history.
and all Germany was searched to discover
bis origin.
"After long period OF fruitless inquiry
and speculation. public opinion settled down
into the belief that he was the victim OF
some great unnatural crime; that he was
the heir to some throne, and had been Sc
questered by ambition; or the inheritor Of
vast wealth, snd had been hidden away by
cupidity; or the offspring OF criminal in
diligence, and had been buried alive 10 avoid
exposure and shame. A German, Won
Fenerbach, published an account Of Cas-
per, entitled The example Of crime on
the life OF the soul.
But why 60 to Europe to be thrilled with
the palhos of human being shrouded from
The light Of nature and cut off from a
knowledge Of duty and Of GOd' To-day,
10 this boosted land Of light and liberty,
there are three million Casper Hauser's;
and as il this were not enough il is propos-
ed to multiply their number tenfold. and TO
gil I'D all the western world with these
proofs Of human avarice and guilt.
We Justly esteem religious liberty one
Of the highest privileges Of asatioaal and
responsible being, and we honor the mem
DRY of those pure and noble souls BY whose
sufferings and msrtyrdom this precious right
has been secured. What shall we say then
of that system Of slavery which robs three
millions of immortal souls Of this inestim-
able privilege; which prohibits them from
learning to read the sacred volume, which
forbics their assembling for Divine worship
without the presence Of white person. and
which empowers the masters to dictate their
mode Of worship, and even to cut them of
from religious communion. Is il possible
that system like this, which robs man Of
his dearest rights, dwsrfs bis intellect, de-
grades his moral nature, and infringes his
religious liberty, can long be sanctioned or
even tolerated by enlightened minds pro-
Tossing the benign religion Of Jesus Christ!
5. Shareholders are not alone response
Bile for the evils of slavery, but in a gov
eminent Ike ours, where the people through
their representatives make the laws, and
where unjust laws can only be sustained by
a corrupt public sentiment every man who
quietly acquiesces in the existence Of such
laws without an effort for their repeal, is
responsible for the wrongs sanctioned by
them.
tits acknowledged that slavery can only
exist by virtue Of municipal laws;-isi is Q
forced state not recognised by the laws Of
nations, nor sanctioned by christian princi-
pie. Slavery then being the creature Of
laws. every man who assists in making OF
sustaining the laws which uphold it is 9
partaker in the wrong.
Il may be objected that the laws which
sustain it were made before we were born
and therefore we are not responsible fol
them. This objection is readily answered
Let Us suppose the country to be governed
by an absolute monarch, who on coming Il
the throne finds laws in force for the i'm
prisoument and death OF all who do 10
conform TO the religion Of the State. Hav
ing the power TO repeal those laws, if h,
should continue them in force, and put Il
death the most conscientious OF his sub
iects, would he not be responsible at th'
bar Of Divine justice for The wrongs corn
mitted under the sanction OF his authority
Was not Roman emperor responsible 70
the persecution OF the christians; although
the laws under which ihey were arrested
and put to death had been made by his pre-
decessors? In like manner the people o
the slaveholding States who have the powe
+ TO repeal the laws which sustain slavery
are individually responsible at the bar o
Divine Justice Cor all the wrong inflicte,
under the sanction of those laws. Ever.
voter shares in the sovereignty OF tbs PEG
pie, and even those wao have no vete ma.
f have some influence in moulding publi
sentiment by which our legislation is di