New-York daily tribune., 1851-07-31


Quently come within their notice. But did not ia
tend 10 offer you 50 long communication. ana hops
you viii excuse me Tor 20 dong r.no.
We do not question the truth of our cor
respondents statement, and are ready to be-
heve that the mass of slaves in the middle
States, at least, are well treated, fed sad .
clothed and not overworked and that evea
in the cotton. rice and sugar growing re-
gions, they suffer less oppression than any
other body of slaves that ever existed.
The reason why this is so is palpable it
arises from the general prosperity of the
country, the good prices obtained for crops,
and the consequent value of labor. The
slave is thus worth more, and receives 4
larger proportion of food. clothing and care
in exchange for his services. In a word,
the increase and diffusion Of wealth, which
always tend to freedom and social equality,
have had their legitimate and necessary effect
upon the condition of American slaves, as
our correspondent well illustrates. Where
there is genuine progress In material things
there must be corresponding progress in
moral and political things. Such is the
case here. There are, of course, Instances
enough of gross cruelty on the part Of mast
ers. but we are convinced that they are ex-
ceptional cases. And vet it is remarkable
that as slavery is ameliorated, the number
of slaves who desire to get their freedom.
and who kick at their bonds, constantly in-
creases and the number Of those who remain
slaves from choice, if, indeed, there was
ever any number of such, diminshes.
But that human chattels are comfortable
is no sufficient apology for keeping them in
that condition. 1t is true. for instance, that
in modern times the killing Of men iu war
is performed much more cleanly and with
less pain than in antiquity but yet war is
no less barbarous, inhuman and absurd than
it was them And so slavery, however a.
leviated, remains an evil of the greatest
magnitude, or. as our correspondent calls it,
curse. Indeed, we do not see but that in this
he says about as hard thing ofthe institution
as any abolitionist, and we fail to understand
what right he has to lecture others for oc-
casionally enlarging on an evil which he
himself condemns without reservation.
In fact, he occupies position which the
true apostles of slavery must regard with
only little less aversion than they feel for
that of Mr.. Garrison, John p. Hale, or any
other bugbear whose name bushes TO si-
lence the worrying of the infant chvalry.
He pronounces the institution to be a curse,
he must then desire its extinction and re-
sist the enlargement of its area. But in
the view of slavocrats of the pure stripe
this is treason and deserves the traitors
doom.
There are two parties in the South oae
bent on perpetuating slavery, and extend.
ing its blessings as widely rs possible the
other regarding ii as curse and desiring
its restriction and extermination The
leader of the first party was the late Mr..
CALHOUN the most eminent man In the
second is HENRY CLAY. Though the ultra
opinions of the first, and their passion for
political suicide, are not approved by the ma
jority of the southern people, they adopt
their spirit, and act in accordance with 1t.
This was exemplifed in the late struggle
for constitutional reform in Kentucky, when
every thing looking toward the extinction
of slavery was put down, although 1t was
certain that the State would be largely
benefited BY eradicatlng the institution.
All the action Of the South is based on the
deuson that slavery can be eternal. This
renders necessary and provokes degree
of discussion and agitation at the North
which would not otherwise be called out.
But we are told to leave slavery alone;
it is the special curse of the South, and wo
have nothing to do with it. This is great
mistake in every way. AS journalists 1t is
our right and duty to discuss whatever inte-
rests the public, or whatever we think
ought TO interest it, whether in New York,
England, Carolina or India. But in slavery
we have a nearer interest than this for It
is an American institution, and excrts its
baleful influence over the whole Republic,
all of which is weakened and endangered
by weakness and danger in any Of its parts
not to say anything of the disgrace this
institution casts upon Democracy in the
eyes of civilized mankind. Besides, we are
liable to be called on to send back fugltiyes,
an act which certainly renders US partici'
pants in their enslaying Moreover, 1t is
- L. &