The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-07-14

BY CHAN MING.

~ BY CLAIMING. al ID
AZ - .u
be IL is often said, that the slave does le
!, = work than the free laborer; he bears
d lighter burden than liberty would lay O
: hIm, Perhaps this is generally true; We
" when circumstances promise profit 70 N
: master from the imposition of excessiy
labor, the slave is not spared In the We,
indies, the terrible waste of life among III
e over-worked cultivators, required large sur
plies to keep up the failing population. Il
this country it is probably true, that III
slave works less than the free laborer; bu
) It does not therefore follow, that his worI
is lighter. For what is it that tighten
toll! 1t is Hope; it is Love; It is Suon,
Motive. That labor is light which we d.
from the heart, to which a great goo,
quIckens US, which is to better our lot.-
That labor is light which is to com ort
adorn, and cheer our homes, to give inslruc
iion TO our children, to solace the declin
mg years OF parent, 10 give to our CRATE
Iul and generous sentiments the means O.
exertlon. Great effort from great motive:
is the best definition Of happy life. The
easiest labor is burden to him who has
no motive for performing it. How wear.
some IS the task imposed by another, and
wrongfully imposed! The slave cannot
easily be made to do a freeman's work;
and why? Because he wants freeman's
spirit, because the spring of labor is i'm
paired within him, because he works as a
machine, not free agent. The compul-
sion, under which he tolls for another, takes
fom labor It's sweetness, makes the daily
round of life arid and dull, makes escape
from toll the chief interest Of life.
We are further told, that the slave is
freed from all care, that he is sure of future
support, that when old he is not dismissed
to the poor-house, bat fed and sheltered in
his own hut. This is true; but it is also
true that nothing can be gained by viola
tng the great laws and essential rights of
our nature. The slave, we are told, has
no care, his future is provided for. Yet
God created him to provide for the future,
to take care of his own happiness; and he
cannot be freed from this care without in
Jury TO his moral and Intellectual life. Why
has God given foresight and power over the
future, but TO be used? Is il blessing to
a rational creature to be placed in condi.
ton which chains his faculties to the pres.
ent moment, which leaves nothing before
him TO rouse the intellect or touch the
heart? Be it also remembered, that the
same provision, which relieves the slave
from anxiety, cuts him off from hope. The
future is not, indeed, haunted by spectres
OF poverty, nor is it frightened by images
Of Joy. Ii stretches before him sterile.
monotonous, expanding into no refreshing
verdure, and sending no cheering whisper
of better lot.
1t is true that the free laborer may be.
come pauper; and so may the free rich
man, both Of the North and the South
Still, our capitalists never dream Of flying
TO slavery as n security against the aims
house. Freedom undoubtedly has its per
lis. II offers nothing TO the slothlul and
dlssolute. Among people left to seek
their own good in their own wav, some of
all classes fail from vice, some from inca
pacity, some from misfortune. All classes
will furnish members TO the body of the
OF the poor. But in this country the num-
Der is small, and ought constantly 10 de-
crease. The evil, however lamentable. |
is not so remedies and spreading as
TO furnish a motive for reducing half the
population TO chains. Benevolence does
much TO mitigate it. The best minds are
inquiring how it may be prevented, dimin-
ished, removed. 1t is giving excitement to
a philanthropy which creates out Of mis-
fortune new bonds Of union between man
and man.
Our slaveholding brethren, who tell US
that the condition of the slave is better than
that OF the free laborer at the North, talk 1
ignorantly and rashly. They do not, can
not know, what TO us is matter of daily OBJ
servation, that from the families Of our
farmers and mechanics have sprung our
most distinguished men, men who have
done most for science, arts, letters, religion
and freedom; and that the noblest spirits
among us would have been lost to their
country and mankind, had the laboring
class here been doomed to slavery. They
do not know what We rejoice to tell them,
that this class partakes largely of the IN
pulse given to the whole community; thai
the means of intellectual improvement are
multiplying to the laborious as fast as to
the opulent; that our most distinguished
citizens meet them as brethren, and COM
municate to them in public discusses their
own most important acquisitions. Un-
doubtedly, the Christian, republican spirit
is not working, even here as it should
The more improved and prosperous classes
have not yet learned, that it is their great
mission to elevate morally and intellectu-
ally the less advanced classes of commu.
nifty; but the great truth is more and more
recognised, and accordingly new era may
be said to be opening on society.
It is said, however, that the slave, if not
to be compared to the free laborer at the
North, is in happier condition than the
Irish peasantry. Let this be granted. Let
the security OF the peasants domestic rela- !
tons, let his church and his schoolhouse,
and his faint hope of better lot pass for |
nothing. Because Ireland is suffering from
the misgovernment and oppression OF ages,
does it follow that less grinding oppres-
sion is good! Besides, are not the wrongs
Of Ireland acknowledged Is not British
legislation iaboring to restore her prosperi-
ty? Is it not true, that, whilst the slaves
lot admits no important change, the most
minds are at work to confer