The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-24


not descend to the negroes, when their votes are
sufficiently numerous to decide an election, and
If necessary invoke the bowie knife and revolver
to aid thems Will not the rights, the interests,
nay the very social and political position OF the
white man, be sacrificed to the elevation OF some
higher law" demagogue, who would rather
govern by the aid of negroes than not govern NJ
al! The time is close at hand, nay, it Is already
come, when the question directly presents itself,
whether the final and complete triumph OF the
Abolitionists will not be the death knell to the
liberties of the white man, and whether in break
ing the chains of one race, We are not forging
letters for the other.
Let us now turn to the social and moral re-
suits of an inundation of barbarians, not coming
as in days of yore from the frozen icebergs Of
the North, bat the sunny region of the South
They will necessarily come to the North with
out property, unless they should rob their former
masters under the higher law of British phian-
thropy, which occurred several years ago in the
port ofthe United States to another rose and after
numbering the captain, officers, and crew, carried
the vessel into one of the British West India Is
lands, settled the question by establishing the
doctrine since adopted by the AboIitionists, that
the condition of slavery, by absolving us from
all the obligations of mankind, just6es the slave
in the commission Of every crime. That clear.
sighted statesman, whose loss at any time would
have been a great national calamity, and which
at this crisis is irreparable, saw the future con
sequences Of the application Of this sanguinary
principle, and offered series of resolutions on
the subject in the Senate of the United States.
But, like all other warnings looking to future
consequences, they were considered as mere
" distractions" and produced no action in that
body.
These millions of negro emigrants, will not
only be destitute of property, but from their
natural Incidence, want of foresight and econo-
my, as well as ignorance of all that experience
which can only be acquired bv early assuming
the duties and responsibilities IF self-dependence,
it would be morally impossible for them ever to
acquire anything like equality in that respect.
They would forever remain a poor, and conse-
queuty dsattected race, jealous of the prosperity
Of the white man, without any stake in the coln-
munity yet, at the same time possessing equal
political rights, and able to give Il character to
legislation by having potential voice in the
choice Of those who make the laws and direct
the national policy. They would become the
instruments Of ambitious priests and dema-
gogucs and from the principles which have
been instiled into them by the Abolitionists
from the pulpits, the newspapers, and Legislative
halls, it is easy to predict the consequences
which would result from the influence Of mil
lions of free blacks, pervading every portion of
the Northern States, all equally enemies to the
constitution, the laws, and the civil institutions
of society-all devotees Of the higher law.
But admitting fora moment, what there is not
the slightest reason to anticipate, that the pos
session Of freedom would change the very na-
ture of the African, as it is in his own country,
and everywhere else, and Transform him into an
Industrious, economical, foreseeing being; l
say in his own country on the authority of
Mungo Park, who states, that throughout the
entire continent of Africa, there is no such thing
as voluntary labor, and that three-fourths of
its inhabitants are the hereditary slaves of an
unfeeling and ferocious race of barbarians
recommend the sympathisers of our country to
read Mr.. Parks travels, instead Of abolition
speeches, lectures, and sermons, based on an
utter ignorance of the subject in all lis bearings
on human laws, or human happiness. But to
return. If the manumitted slaves should come
to the North, rs they certainly will, and miracu-
lousy become Industrious citizens, what would
be the consequence? They would threw just
so many white men out of employment, or to
diminish the wages Of labor, as to place the
latter in the position Of the working classes of
Europe, whose earnings are insufficient to supply
the common neocssaries of life. A sudden in
fux, or even gradual accumulation of millions
of men, black or white, in the Northern States,
all poor and all dependent on their own labor,
would, ifwilling to- work, not only interfere most
injuriously with the prosperity of the laboring
classes of citizens, but with that of all the emf.
A'ohi NtSHhi'H1 a'it ptheI pOIbOHS
of Europe, who seek refuge from poverty and
despoism, in the United States. A great por.
ton of these would become paupers, and thus,
instead of adding to the wealth and strength of
the country, anguish out miserable existence
equally burthen to themselves and society.
But there is little apprehension of this Tie
emigrant negroes with a few solitary exceptions,
would not work, for the only idea of freedom
entertained by ~ slave is perfect idIeness. He
fancies his master is free only because he Is ex-
empt from labor, and considers 1t the badge of
slavery. A great portion of them would there
fore become, as they now are, burden, re-
proach, or nuisance to society They would
herd together as they now do in our cities, in
CELLARS under ground, and miserable lanes and
allies, living in the midst of filth, corruption and
debauchery; outraging the laws and dccencies
of socir tv and eyl jbitnu spectacle Of the low