The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-01
MONARCHY, ARISTOCRiCY, AND SLAVERY,
JUSTIFIED.

The new editor Of the Union, deeming it neces
sary to vindicate himself against the charge o.
disoyalty to Southern Institutions, puts forth the
following justification of Slavery
"With the institution of slavery, therefore, we
have been familiar from our infancy; and we say
in all sincerity after a residence of some years in
the Northern States of the Union, and after the
most ample opportunities, afforded oy close Cd.
! seryation in Europe of the habits and customs or
that Old World, that we have seen nothing which
could tempt us from the predictions OF early life
| in our native land Not that we would character
| ize the institution of slavery as blessing; but
speb Is the mysterious connection with which
! Providence binds man to the Institutions under
which he is born, that, as general rule his hap
pinesss springs less from the perfection Of human
theories respecting the relations Of labor and
vice, than from the practical observance Of the
simple and plain duties enjoined by the Divine
laws In the highest and most comprehensive
view of these relations, there IS no equality among
men ezee in the universal dirty Of all to obey the laws
of God; and these require such exercises os re-
ciprocal and mutual service, that if faithfully pur
sued, they fill up the measure of individual life,
and leave heather 10 The rich the poor, the strong
nor the eak the master the servant, any ground
Of controversy and strife But, in the more practical
and ordinary view Of these relations, what are
termed freedom and equality are necessarily de-
teTmiled ia any giUen society or community blythe "a
yying Influences of origin and caste, age, Numbers,
geographical position and contact vuh other SOCIETIES
or communities; and the gradual appearance Of laws
and institutions is the result rather of the neces-
stiles Of such conditions than of the suggestions
of an original philosophc standard Of what may
be called the highest reason Thus the terms
Liberty and Freedom are not IN themselves e1pres-
sine of a standard Yrch excludes the idea of depen-
dence and S>rUaude; nor do they afford criterion
by which one nation consents to be judged by
another as to its more less perfect civil organ
zationn
There is q remarkable want Of precision and
clearness In this attempted justification of Slave
ry. The editor either did not understand him.
self, or he was willing to bewilder the reader with
vague generalites A clear examination will show
that it is plea for Slavery, on grounds which, il
admitted fully sustain an Oligarchy, an Aristoo-
racy, limited Monarchy, or an Absolute Dss-
potism, Just according to circumstances. The
doctrines of natural rights, of the equality Of
men in natural rights, of the right of the
People to govern of the wrongulness Of castes and
caste legislation, are completely repudiated by
this professed organ Of the National Democ
] racY. ,,, ,--.-,.-
| except in the duty Of obedience to God-freedom
and equality do not really exist what are termed
such depend upon origin, caste, age, number SC
the terms are not in themselves expressive of
standard which excludes the idea Of dependence,
and seryitude, Slavery, Mastership, despot anc
subject, noble and serf. In fact, all our tall
about freedom and equality, popular sovereignty
and popular rights, is mere sham. Despotism
Caste, Nobility, Serfdom, Slavery, are all right
The one thing necessary is, that the Despot, the
Noble, the Master should rule wisely, the sub.
ject, the slave obey implicitly. In this way, the
laws Of God are honored, which know nothing Of
freedom or equality, but always recognising in
equality, servitude, and dependence simply en-
join upon superior and inferior, master and slave
noble and plebean, the duties belonging to the
peculiar position of each.
How do our Democratic friends like the poiti-
cal philosophy Of the new editor of their National
organ2 The truth u.s. the essential principle Of
Slavery is that which gives vitality to Despotism
everywhere, viz the subsection Of one man to the
will and the use of all his powers, for the benefit
Of another They stand upon the same ground,
resort to the same weapons Of offence and defence
are equally repugnant to the Democratic Princ-
pie, and must share similar destiny Popular
Rights must fall before them, or they must fall be-
fore Popular Rights.