Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-04-06
From the New York Observer
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.

has now become deeply interesting, and n the
view Of some. threatens the stability of our
lappv Union. Il is time, therefore, THAT all
kho love their country should reflect serious
= and prayerfully upon it, and speak and act
az becomes Christian patriots. Oar OWE views
IN the general subject have been frequently
given; bat we regard this as proper moment
fir referring again TO those considerations
sshich should induce the North to avoid all
alton and language in reference to slavery,
I;hich will unnecessarily Irritate the South
among these are the following
: list, Our Southern brethren are moi responsible
FIR Ire origin Of the eUfL.
Slavery was forced upon the American peO-
Jile by Britain, to crafty her lust Of gold, in
exposition to the entreates and remonstrances
Ct the wise and good in every part of the land,
and in every period of its colonial history.
I'd II as not easy noay to get rid Of tie erfl sud
eenfY.
Slavery is the fundamental law upon which
a:l the political institutions of the South havs
Eeen based from the beginning. That law
was established by Britain at the very COM
T.lemcement of the political eXistance Of those
communities. 1t gave to the white man des-
potic power over the negro, 1t constituted
De whites privileged class--the aristocracy
II the land. The abolition of slavery In the
South would be- In other words, a voluntary
privileges which they hold under the ancient
Eaw of their country. Ought we to be surpri-
4ed If the surrender should not be made sud-
denly. even though demanded by public senti
.aent In the North, and In every other civilized
country on the globe Where, in history, is
there an example of the surrender by the aris-
locracy of their ancient powers aRd privileges,
t1weyer earnest the demand for their surren-
ler. when that demand was not backed by
4 1 ~
see slavery abolished in the South by phyical
Force. and without physical force,i would be
a moral miracle if it were abolished suddenly.
1--WE must not be TO impatient.
/, Sd. Our Soulhern brethren hare done more TO
get rid Of the eriI then could hore been reasona-
i5iy anticipated.
!. When we reflect upon the demoralizing
character of slavery, and the Instructions it
kUpposes TO Improvement physical, intellectual.
land moral, we are prone to think at the \ orth
kthat there can be nothing good In a community
ewhere such an institution exists. The census
,of 1910, however, shows that there are, as the
sresult of voluntary emancipation, in little Del
Eaware, II 900 free blacks. or more than five
tsiXths Of the whole negro population in that
state; in Maryland, 62, 900 free blacks, near
{ ly cne-half Of the whole negro population Of
that state Virginia, sc, 600 free negroes Ill
Louisiana, $4,000; and IN all the slave hold
ing states, 2I5, 900 free blacks, whose value
slaves, at the moderate estimate of $500 each,
would be more than 500, 600, 600 more than
the boosted P2O,000,0 600 which Britain paid
for the emancipation of her West India ne
groes more than the aggregate of the state
debts OF the whole slave holding section of the
Union. This vast sum of money is the volun-
tarv sacrifice made by Southern Shareholders
on the altar of anti-slavery feelings and prin-
ciples In making ii thousands Of noble mind
cd men are reduced to poverty. One would
. think that such men could be safely trusted
with the management Of the antl-slayery cause
in their own states.
4th, Christ and his apostles cid not deT0Unce
or irritaie the SLaUeh0Lder.
They lived and preached in countries where
the law gave man despOtic power over his fell
lows, but they did not denounce the law or the
men who held power under it. They did not
require the despot to abuicate, or the slavehold-
+ er to emancipate his slaves, without regard to
/ consequences. Paul did not aid and abet Ones
! linus in his escape from his master; nor did
he threaten to cut his cOnneXion with the mas
ter, if he continued to employ the labor of the
I slave He used no harsh epithets. He called
Philemon, slaveh older as he was, his ''dearly
beloved fellow laborer'' in the gospel, and
thanked God for his ''love and faith and all
his noble Christian graces. lie sent back the
penniless slave TO his master with d courteous.
conciiatory, and anectionate letter, calculated
to soften the feelings, and render all the future
intercourse of the parties pleasantand profitable.
9th, THE Bible method Of dealing acith the
sLaCs and shareholder as the best method.
The Bible is the source Of all the rational
liberty we enjoy. Whenever it's principles
are heartily embraced, slavery, or at least the
evils Of slavery, is sure to die. But how does
ii effect this By denouncing the law, and
stigmatizing al who hold power under it =
No. it does not seek to change the law as
the first great thing. 1t seeks first TO change
the heart of the master. 1t goes to him, and
In the accents of Christian love and kindness,
tells him ''that his slave is his brother: made
in the image Of God his father; an object of
his savior's most tender love; endowed like
himself with an immortal soul; possessed of
powers which will expand for ever capable
of being fitted here in this monentary life, to
enjoy ineffable glory with God in heaven,
through endless ages and that such being
should be treated with ali the consideration
due TO his near relationship, his vast capacities
and his lofty destiny" 1t addresses not the
fears, or the pride of the master, but the no.
blest feelings of his nature; and when it has
thus gained the master, it trusts to him in due
time to change the law, and, until the law is
changed, to deprive it of its power to HARM
This is the Bible way of dealing with slavery,
and 1t is the true way.
The policy of the North is ''masterly in
activity ''let-alone," ''do-nothing,'' policy
At the request Of several gentlemen, we
published in our paper of March 9th. the above
article from the New y ork Observer, "a Pres
byterian paper,) on the subject of Slavery
The article has been copied, with high COM
mendatlons, into the ''Union,' the journal
Of Commerce" and other pro-slavery papers ;
and seems to be regarded by the friends of
the ''peculiar institution as about The thing.