The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-12-08
slavery a. affected By the Ana-siavery
Agitation.

| Noe1pression is more common among pro-sla-
tighter the letters Of the slave, and thrown back
Emancipation half q century"
This most fatal and delnsiye doctrine has been
repeated so often and in so many different ferns,
both by the public press and public speakers,
that It has come to be received as an unques-
tiOnable truth, even by many well-mesnlng
anti-slsvery men.
This favonte doctrne Of prosavery men ia as
false in philosophy as it is unfounded in fact.
When, we ask, in the worlds history, has a
moral evil Ike slavery been strengthened by
passing the searching ordesl public discussioni
When was tyranny. oppression OF wrong of any
kind ever made popular by having its abuses
laid bsrei
1t would seem to be impossible that the con-
centrated public opinion of the Union in OPP
position to human slavery, could tend to nvet
tighter the chain Of the slave. Discussion and
investigation beanng upon an acknowledged
evil, have never yet been known to strengthen
that evil.
The laws authorizing imprisonment for debt,
were repealed only by the general employment
Of those means. The same instrumentalities
are now actively employed in diminishing the
evils Of incompetence. The same weapons
were welded by the philanthropists and public
men of England, France, Holland, and Swe-
den, in efecting the extirpaiion Of slavery from
tho soil of their several Jurisdictions; and the
same means and instrumentalities will ult-
mately produce the same effects in our own land,
in relation to he institution CT slavery. African
slavery can never be strengthened by the rapidly
accumulating and increasing opposition nov be-
ing srayei against it, and every voice, of every
man, woman and child throughout Christen-
dom, that is heard in its coni emnation, acceler-
rates its fall.
Slavery is a rehc Of barbaiism and paganism,
and has within it no elements of Inherent
strength to resist the onslaughts which civiliIa.
ton and christianity are constantly making on
it
There is a constant antagonism between hu-
mainly and chattelism. God made the man
his creatures have made the chattel, and it is in
vain fer man TO contend against his maker.
But let US appeal to the facts in the case.
II the condition Of the slave has been made
worse, in consequence Of the anti-slavery aeiea-
ton, it must be either physically, Intellectually,
or religiously worse.
Have slaves less to eat than formerlyi IL their
food of less nourishing and wholesome kind1 |
Are they clothed In a worse manner, or less |
securely sheltered from the elements than in |
former yearsi We take the ground that in all of |
these respects they are in as good and in very
many instances q better condition than they |
were previous to the anti-slavery discussion. |
Alltbe motives which ever operated on the mind
Of the master, inducing him 10 provide for the
physical comfort Of the slave, are as powerful 1
as ever; and ss far as a close observation oil
seventeen years viii enable us to Judge, we
are clearly of the opinion that the physical con.
iition ofthe slave Is improving rather than dete-
ioratiDg.
Surely, it will not be contenied that the intel.
ectual condition of the slave IL worse in 1s4s.
han in 1889 or 1929. "The slave shall be reear-
led and esteemed as personal chsttel to all in.
osssts and purposes whatcve.' wa. the law of
1avery then. 1t is the same now. Grose igno.
snce m the minds Of the slaves is now and al
vays has been the condition preceient for tho
xistence and security of slavery. II
Chatt<l,sm dram dovuvards the raind. of "a.