The southern press., 1850-11-05

some three millions every four years. To what
extent this power OF one class over another ought
TO be permitted--to what extent il is possible to
restrain II, or how far it exists of necessity men
and governments will differ, but the difference is in
degree rather than IN principle; and not so
! much in degree as is imagined
Already In Massachusetts the power of capital
over labor, or the mprovidence oflabor is such as
to abrldge, to melancholy degree, not only the
natural Increase of the species, bat the natural du-
ration of human life. And il race like the la
boring classes Of Massachusetts, so much superior
TO the African in all the elements of resistance to
social hardship, is thus incapable of sustaining IT.
self, what would become or the African, if instead
of being protected, as well as controlled now by
individual masters, it were left to its own energy
to maintain the struggle? Removal TO remote
country or the possession of national independ-
ence does not escape this destiny. Nations of in
feror civilization or moral attainment are generally
remarkable for the slow increase or actual decrease
4 of population which proves that matitudes
among them perish by improvdence, and hence,
i that this tendency does not result alone from the
presence ofa superior class, in whatever form that
superiority may be manifested. a.s.iT.. .sll8
Since, then, slavery is the result of universal
and immutabe moral law, and not Of local, civil,
or political law, or of social or geographical posi-
i ton, il be abolished only by the moral regen-
GRAFTON of the slave. And if this were TO take
place with the African race, that race would be
free, even without any change of existing laws,
and without violence. Nay, if the black race were
to become superior morally to the white, the black
would rule the white, without any change of ex-
listing laws; for all the great trusts of society
would be committed to the black man. He would
direct the operations Of his nominal master IS farm
|, or plantation He would become the teacher, the
minister, the lawyer the doctor, the banker, the
merchant. He would give law to literature, to
taste, and to fashion, and his color, instead of
being a reproach, would become an honor. m
E 1t is by moral excellence that all races and ma
tions Of people have risen TO liberty, 70 greatness,
and to power. The moral law is incribed on the
!, hearts of all men, except the reprobate by whom
! it has been obterated, and have reason to be-
Ilieve the African race reprobate 1t certainly is
in its native land the most depraved its religion,
the silest idolatry; its government the most abjec
and cruel of despotisms; It's industry, continual
predatory warfare; its commerce, the barter ofits
own flesh and blood for whiskey and for toys
But, in this country, it certainly has made and is
still making great progress, and its personal sub
lection to the white man has been the great nstru
mentality of this progress It's own willingness
to obey that portion of the divine law it has OBJ
served, must be the efficient cause. Why this
part of the race has been less peryerse than that
; in Africa, or why the whole race has been more
, depraved than the races of Europe and Asia, we
can account for no better than for the virtue of
. one individual more than another of the same
race. The mysterious conflict Of the human will
with Divine grace, it is perhaps not for mortal man
to comprehend. .t.E.e .7
What may be the moral progress and attainment
OF the African race in this country in future, will
depend on the degree Of It's observance OF the
Diviney inscribed law of duty in the human
heart. That is enough for its temporal and eter-
nal redemption, without any external co-opera-
ton, and in defiance of external hostility. But
the relation Of the master, since it has been en-
ployed as one Of the means of their improvement,
may still be regarded effective auxiliary and
to still greater extent than heretofore, of their
future advancement If the power Of the master
urar Iptar sad ~ alctr, tnair lat
; power could not stand. The gathering thunder
; bolt may be dispersed or turned aside from its
$ path, the earthquake and the volcano may yet be
subjected to human power, but man will never be
; able to turn back the genial influences of spring
and the renewal of nature s bloom--stl less can
he stay the mercy of heaven to re-kindle and re-
store the repenting and returning soul. ID.
So far isit from being true thas slavery evil to
society in all It's effects that it promotes and requires
the exercise of the highest qualities ofman Dgni-
II ty, mercy, knowledge, in fact the whole family Of
virtues and attanments are peculiarly important
in the master, since his authority depends on his
moral pre-eminence. The responsibility Of the
master is also great. His power over the slave,
like all other power, is trust, to be exercised as
7 well for the benefit of the subject Of that power,
as its possessor. Hence the master is bound to
promote, according to his ability the welfare of
the slave to instruct, to deveope to the fullest
tent of which he is capable every faculty Of his
ty that would lessen the respect Of the slave, or
encourage him by its example in similar conduct.
n This is the interest as well as the duty of the
master. Every Improvement in the moral char
acter Of the slave increases his value as such, as
well as his happiness. | do not think 1t lessons
his fidelity but confirms it, and adds to the security
of that kind property. 1t is by the bad education
of false theorists who teach that he is the victim of
cruel destiny, that is, that he is the creature of
unmerciful Creator, that the slave is rendered
y nP
himself the cause of his degradation and resorling
to the appointed mode of redemption. 1t is this
prevailing delusion, that man or q race can be
reduced TO slavery or subsection by the power Of
others, without moral depravity of their own, that
produces so many abortive rebellions and revolu-
ions in the world. All history shows, however,
that there is less danger from this cause to the in
stitution of domestic slavery than to any form Of
social or political inequality. The few conspira-
cies among slaves that have been projected have
almost all been revealed turned aside by the ai
fection, the fidelity, the gratitude of individual
slaves. trust, therefore, that the improvement
in the relation Of master and slave, which was GO
ing OH before the abolition agitation began, will
not be interrupted by it, but that the kindness and
confidence oftha relation will continue to increase
If the slave could be elevated to liberty or to high
moral excellence, or rather if he would elevate
t himself, for by him alone can it lie done through
the grace Of the Most High, hope there are few
Shareholders who would not rejoice at the result
even if it were attended with pecuniary loss to
, them. But even that would not be a consequences
, All great moral reforms gradual. And, inthe
period of transition from theirpresent to that high
: estate, they would become so much more valuable
and productive slaves, to leave their masters
richer, in the surplus productions OF their energy
and skill, than they would be in the abiding servi
! tude of the present day.
The South is now invested with one of the most
stupendous trusts that could be held by any peo
Pile. She has to preserve the highest state Of pros
perity ever enjoyed anywhere by the two races
that occupy her territory, and to maintain their
progress against theory of human rights which
now menaces both hemispheres, and is as fatal to
all property, to society, and to government as to
her own institutions. Her resources for this con-
test the products of her system-they are her
wealth, her numbers, her character, her genius,
her renown, and her hopes-eements of power
and stability great enough to withstand the shock
Of any hostile system and to survive its ruin. "-
New CARDINALS APPOINTED AT RoME.-The
following is the list of che new Cardinals Just