Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-06-28
ROT. Agassiz on the Origin of the HUI
man Race.
From the Boston Traveller, Jone IA.

man Race.
From the Boston Traveller Jone IA.
Prof Agassz delivered lecture on this SUBJ
iect on Thursday evening, before the Young
Mems Association of the Lawrence Scientific
School in Cambridge, which was attended by a
large audience of ladies and gentlemen. AS we
understood he did not wish his lecture reported
we shall attempt no more than analysis. He
commenced by Observing that an incidental re-
mark which ne made on a particular occasion
had been commented upon extensively, and
brought out the discussion of question which
it was not his object to enter into. His object
was, on that OCCASION to speak of unity of the
human race simply as question of Natural His
tory. But his remark had called forth discus
sions of the question with referance to religion
and political condition. The question, how man
created, was entirely distinct from religion
mere question of Natural History, and as such
as a philosopher, he claimed the right to dicuss
it. But he wished it distinctly understood that
he took no ground in opposition to the Mosaic
record, in the Genesis. We have no reference.
ne said in that account, to any part OF the woriu
that was unknown to the ancents. lie also
disclaimed all idea of connecting TINS question
with slavery, or the political condition OF the
African race.
The unity of the human race and the DIVERSE
ty Of their origin, he said, were two distinct ques-
tons. He acknowledged the unity of mankind,
but this unity could exist in perfect consistency
with the diversity of their origin.
There was another question: also, involved in
this inquiry: +Do all men belong to one species,
or are there different species of mene" But
diversity of origin, he said, did not involve eth
er the unity or plurality of species. He went
at considerable length int an explanation OF
the subject of species, as understood in natural
history, to prove this assertion.
The question also involved the limits within
which organizedlbeings are modified by circum
stances and condition; and there were some
ascertaned facts, he sad which could be used
as datefn considering the subject. Skeletons
o had been found in Egypt, which had been buried
for thousands Of years and with them were
found certain seeds of plants, which had been
planted and had grown. But these mummies
and these plants corresponded exactly to certain
other plants and other human beings now 70 be
found in very different circumstances. There
appeared to be regular plan, by which organi-
zsd being, both plants and animals, were distrib
uted over the earth, whereby the same plants
and the same animals were constantly found in
certain geographical positions was true
OF man, II we referred to the primitive unhis
torical races. And thesepgeocraphica positions
were almost entirely without reference to eli
mate. lie ran over a specification of the differ
ent varieties of certain animals and of the hl.
man race, which were found constantly in Ger.
tain localities and positions; from which he drew
the conclusion that these varieties could not
have been produced by the modifying influence
OF climate and circum stanccs hence that the
distribution of the different varieties of the hu-
man race must have taken place, not at random,
but with regular plan-in short that they
created n mn in tho nj
they originally occupied. -Among other facts
bearing on the point, he stated that the trout
was always found in brooks. even high up in
the mountains, where they could not have gone
by emigration, and 50 also, there were certain
varieties of fish that only found in the lakes
with no outlet and these lakes contained the
same kind of fish, in different and distant loca-
ties. And it was remarkable fact. that the
aborgnes of America, with all its variets of eli
dnate, belonged to one and the same people.
Ii men originated from common center, and
were ditfus2d over the earth, their present condi
ton, must have been produced by changes at or
since the dispersion. But had it been so, there
would have been more similarity between tn ,se
(Which inhabit similar portions of the earth. lie
SAW only one conclusion from these facts, and
that was, that these changes could not have
Raken place by the modifying influence of cir
cumStances, alter migrating from common
center; bT &hat the non-hstorc or original ra-
'ceS, must hGfe been created i'll the places they
occupied. Ana this view, he again assured his
audience, was iig perfect accordance with the
Mosaic account lie had felt it bitterly, that he
had been represented as pushing these views
withthe desigu,of dsoTeditinghhe Mosaic Record
'or with any view af Affecting the political con-
dition fthc Negroes, bah of which he denied.
Nheimpresston we received from the lecture
was, that, however theseWiews might affect the
mind of the naturalist, who stBAaes nature more
than revelation, therelis 10 danger that the COM
mlchSg received opinion OH this subject. rived
from the most obvious meaning af the Scrip
lures, will be shaken by any .tsrg utnernts drawn
from facts in Natural history ysuchas here pre-
scented.