The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-05-30
felior races, who might bGleduced 10

history Tor this statement, and yetthe gre
name Of Mr.. Webster has caused it to
uncOntradicted. Slavery existed in Gree,
before the seige Of Troy-and il was mo
than three hundred years after the autheI
} tic history Of Greece commences, before
is probable that any Grecian ever saw a
! Ethiopian, unless it might be Pythagori
orsome wandering philosopher who visite
Egypt IN quest Of knowledge. 1t is ce
tain that the Greek slaves were GreeE
and were prisoners from the Island, and 4
a later day from Asia, and there is n
evidence that they ever had negro slaves
|, Let US take Sparta for example. The cit
Of Helos was q neighboring city to Sparta
it was conquered and the inhabitants mad
slaves, and they gave a general name II
Spartan slaves, although much the creates
number were OF the city Of Messina. Tha
city was the rival Of Sparta, from which !
was not further than the country town:
are usually distant from each other, they
were Of the same origin, the same Ian.
guage and of the same color as their con-
querors; and they waged a war Of near
thirty years before they were %subdued, and
it was for a long time doubtful whether the
Messinians would conquer the Spartans or
the Spartans conquer the Messinian rs.
Other Grecian states acquired slavery in
the same way-from the surrounding and
weaker or less warlike cities, and the Athe-
mans after they obtained naval supremacy
reduced many Of the inhabitants Of the
islands to servitude, and probable some of
the Asiatics, but they did not extend their
conquests into Africa. So much for the
accuracy Of Mr.. Webster's historical re-
miniscences. The more manly Romans,
says Mr.. Webster, justified slavery by the
right Of conquest, that the life Of the con-
qlered belongs to the %conqueror, and that
therefore be might commute it into slavery;
they also allowed a man to sell himself as
4 slave, and also that a creditor might sell
his debtor as a slave. To this statement
have no Objection, for the fact is all ma
lions, according to the strength Of their en-
pmies and the hatred and aud luminosity Of
The contest, either put those they conquer
ed to death or held them as slaves, or ran
'omed them; and, with little shade Of DIFF
the same is done in modern times
md will contin ue to be done as long as
human nature exists. Whilst we are no
icing the acts Of ancient people in relation
slavery, | would call to mind another
.ncieDt nation who claim to have been
'early as much guided by the deity as the
ews themselves, | aIlude TO the ancient
olony Of Massachusetts.
In 1887, that holy and pious people who
ould not bear a quaker or one who differed
With them on the doctrine Of faith and
FORKS within their borders, waged wal
nth and conquered the Pequods, and his
Try says, that they nearly exterminated
le tribe, burnt the villages and hunted
lem down, slew all The warriors, and
lade slaves Of the women and children,
bout 200 in number.
In 1875, the colony of Massachus etts,
18th other descendants of the Pilgrims,
aged war. with the Narragansetts, con,
'nquered them-they all persisted by the
word, by fire or by famine, or were taken
'%isoners, and reduced to, slavery, and
any Of them sent to the island of Bermu-
! and sold as slaves.
The whole thing was done brown, in a
yle that would have done credit 10 a Cons
} king. II would be an interesting in
whether the Pilgrim fathers acted
these instances by the counsel Of God,
II they prayed hard whilst they fought
thanked God for victory, and gave him
| the glory, conientiDg themselves with
lie slaves; or on the more manly Roman
Of the right Of conquest.
1t could hardly be on the latter principle,
ccause it does not appear hal the Dutch
Of New York, when they were
onqutred, were sold as slaves.
Might not Mr.. Webster, or some other
'ankee abolrionist, whose grandfather
have been a trader in Pequod and
.Iarragansett slaves, BY referring to family
cords or traditions, explain this matter ?
AT the same time | would suggest an in
uiry as to how far the example Of the Pill
lin fathers, aided by rum and tobacco,
lay have had a tendency to corrupt the
Of the kings Of Guinea and Tim
uctoo, and induce them also to traffic a il
e in human flesh and human bones.
II is hardly probable that the Pilgrim ia.
lers or their sons, the fathers Of the pre-
abolition generation, when they visit ,