The New York herald., 1850-04-12

wnich we should lay down as immovabiy true,
ne, that II good work cannot be carried on by the
calm, selfcontrolled benevolent spirit of Christian
ity, the then time for doing il has not come. God
asks not the aid of our vices. He can overrule
them Tor good; but they are not the chosen nstrn;
adopt, as sincerely do, the other alternative-that
with the institution of slavery, as il exists in the
South, we have nothing to do-that we are not
only prohibited by the constitution from meddling
with it, but that it is question of console be
settled by Southern men for themselves-a question
upon which good men may differ, and must be left
TO differ if they WILL whether in the North or South
"a new train Of thoughts, new held OF benevo-
lent and Christian enterprise, opens before us. Go
ing back TO the great truth from which we started,
and regarding all the circumstances of the present
state of things a part of the design OF Provi-
dence to accomplish great result for Africa, there
is work, and a great work, for us to do. Let the
great heart of Christion benevoence in the North
and the South unite in selecting from this vast AZ
rican family. this nursery planted and growing on
shores, the proper subjects TO be sent upon the
mission of redemption 10 the land of their ances-
tors, until the last slave shall have departed, and
Africa's long night shall have been dspelled by the
sun of freedom and civilization. The phlanthro-
pst will find here enough TO do to satisfy the largest
benevolenceln acts, In personal sacrlces, IN con-
tributons to the cause OF humanity, without the
violation of personal or legal rights-doing good
that good may come.
Let the general government then retrace its steps,
and, instead of previsos and compromise lines, and
agreements TO keep up the balance of power, fall
hack upon the literal construction OF the constitu-
on--adopt the principle of total non-ntervention,
now and forever-leaving the laws of nature, and
the voice of public opinion, 10 adjust the limits of
the institution, free, uncontrolled, and uninuenced
by the action of Congress, and all will be SAFE
The Gordian knot will be dissolved-not cut-and
the ark Of the covenant, with its sacred deposit, be
borne on safely TO its destination.
The measures, in short, which would propose,
are:
lst. A declarative act, in such fom as may be
deemed proper, that the constitution give no
tha 10 mt fha
subject of domestic slavery either with respect to
its existence in the States, the Territories or the
District of Columbia.
I'd. The most efficient act that can be framed to
enforce the provisions of the constitution in re-
ation to fugitive slaves
Sd. That California, in consideration of the pecu-
liar circumstances of her case be admitted without
the approval or disapproval OF that part of her
stitution which relates to slavery.
| be leve these three propositions, carried out,
would settle the question for ever. They involve
porary expedent. They put the solution of the
difficulty upon the eternal principles OF rght-the
law of the constitution.
think the great majority of the North and South
prepared to place it there, and having placed il
there, to stand by and maintain the Union at all
hazards.
feel that have already trespassed too long on
your patience But il is subject of vast importance
and cannot close this letter without few general
remarks in reference to the foregoing views.
At such time, all good men will forbear, ex-
change opinions, and reason, IN the spirit OF con-
ciliation.
Conscientious differences of opinion among men
will always exist in relation to moral questions.
Some conscientious men believe slavery to be a
smother conscientious men believe that the law
Of property, which enables one man to hold what
they insist is the common gift of the Creator TO his
creatures is sin. Again, still other conscientious
hold that TO ia ke glass of wine is sn and so
on through an endless variety OF subjects
If these conscientious opinions, or any of them,
pervade the majority, are all who do not hold them
TO be driven with fire and sword out of the Union,
or compelled to yield their opinions, equally con-
consistent with wise moderation they come from
an abuse Of reason in the first place. and proposed
abuse of power in the second.
Such arguments are always drawn principally
from the excesses of system, rather than from the
system ITSELF and there lies the error II is the er
ror of fanaticism which always puts in the plea of
conscience, whether il burns the supposed hereto
AT the stake, or hunts down witchcrait or impales
the HISTORIAN, or fans the flame Of civil war;
Instead of railing with infurate defamation
against a system, because OF its excesses, which
are incident TO every human institution, We should
calmly and dspassionately seek to extract the truth
from the general rule, rather than from its excep-
system. has iis excesses' IT'S executions from tbe
general rule. But IL Is quite probable that there
may exist in the one, as in the other, absolute
law, which is working out benehcent result. If
man wishes TO fall under the delusion of universal
fanaticism, IL is only necessary that he adopt the
method of looking at the special attendants Of every
system, TO the exclusion OF the general law which
regulates them, and the work Is done while he is
intent with some accident of the train, the train
itself has long since passed on leaving him to grow
more and more inflated with conceit Indignation
unholy zeal and misanthropic railng-all the
natural results OF so narrow-mnded a procedure.
Let man run of with particular features out Of
the general complexion of any subject or thought,
and gaze at those features long enough and absorb
ngly enough, and the best thing within the range
Of human experience will become TO him n bugbear
The individual, however, who neglects the 'grcat
Jaw Of compensation" in judging of human affairs,
Nas only TO apply the same method Of judging to
himself-and passing by his redeeming qualities,
and looking only at his own exccsses and defects
he will find in himself If he is honest in the Search
enough TO satiate his appetite for condemnation
and hate. II Is FAR easier to condemn than TO Judge
corrcctly-far easier 10 get into passion about
subject than 10 get a comprehension Of II.
The idea that out OF the institution OF domestic
slavery in this country Is TO spring the regeneration
Of Africa, derives IL seems TO me- great force from
the recurrence 10 past history.
We invariably find that in the dispensation Of
Providence, nations which have been called TO act
an important part in the work OF human progress,
have been led through long previous discipline of
trial; the restraints and endurance Of youth have
preceded the power and efficiency OF manhood.
Primary subjection is the law Of stable growth,
and seems an indispensable condition Of the adj
vanccment Of our race.
We have only to look back through a few CEN
ures, 20 find the evidence of this in the annals Of
our race Our ancestors were for centuries down
trodden, cnslavcd and toiling people. The Anglo
Saxon race have become what they are, by long
training in the school Of patient endurance; in the
case of England, under oppressive servitude to the
Roman and the Norman; in the OF America,
under the oppression Of our mother country and
the trying discipline Of colonial suffering. In the
life Of nation, hundreds Of years may be a day
in the life Of an individual. II is often necessary
for many generations 10 pass, before influence
can be made io effect the mass. Ii all were willing,
the work Of national preparation might be more
rapid; but thousands are TO be made wing-and
by the Providential adaptation Of the means TO the
end.
II is conceded. all hands, that the probation Of
the African people, now in bondage our shores,
il to come 10 an end.
That while there is an interchange Of benefits be-
tween the parties, there is at the time com
munty Of evil, which renders il better both for the
whites and the blacks, that il should come to an
end.
When shall that time be, Is the great question
before the American people.
In seeking answer 90 this question, we may
be sure there is scmc safer ground on which TO
take stand than that Of political chicanc, OF "a
ngtcal hre iud,cc. or Of any merely tefnporary or