Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-05-17
From the National Era.
Monarchy AristOcraCy, and Slavery Justified,

mVhulOuli hIbluuIuOli unu piu'Vil SuS'iiVW
The new editor of the Union, deeming il
necessary to vindicate himself against the
charge of 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 residence of
some years in the Northern States of the
| Union, and after the most ample opportuni-
l'ties, afforded by n close observation in Eu-
rope of the habits and customs of that Old
World, that we have seen nothing which
could tempt us from the predictions of ear
" life in our native land. Not that we would
characterize the institution of slavery us n
blessing bul such is the mysterious connec-
ton with which Providence binds man to
the institutions under which he is born, that,
ms general rule, his happiness springs less
from the perfection of human theories res
pectng the relations of labor aud service,
than from the practical observance of the
simple aud plain duties enjoined by the Di-
vine laws In the highest and most compre-
hensive view of these relations, there is no
equality among men ercept in The universal du-
" Of all 10 obey The idics Of God 4; and these re-
quire such exercises of reciprocal and mu-
tual service, that, if faithfully pursued, they
I'LL up the measure of individual life, and
leave neither 10 The rich nor 10 he poor, The
strong nor The cedk, The master nor The servant,
any ground Of controversy and strife. But, in
the more practical aud ordinary view of
these relations, what are termed freedom and
equality are necessarily determined Ia anu giren
society or community by The rarying influences
q origin and caste, age, numbers, geographical
position, 0nd contact irih other societies or COM
nttntheS; and the gradual appearance of
laws and institutions is the result rather of
tho necessities of such conditions than of the
suggestions of an original philosophic stand
ard of what may be called the highest rea-
son. Thus the terms Liberty and Freedom
are not an themselves oppressive Of standard
irhlch erc'udes The idea Of dependence and seUi-
tude; nor do they afford criterion by which
one nation consents TO be judged by another
as to It's more or less perfect civil organza-
tom"
There is a remarkable want of precision
and clearness in this attempted justification
of Slavery. The editor either did not un-
derstand himself, or he was willing to be-
wilder the reader with vague generalities.-
clear examination will show that it is plea
for Slavery, on grounds which, il admitted,
iully sustain an Oligarchy, an Aristocrucy,
limited Monarchy, or an Absolute Despolisln,
just according TO circumstances. he doc
trlnes of natural rights, of the equality of men
in natural rights, Ofthe right of the People
TO govern, of the wrongiulness of castles, aud
caste legislation, are completely repudHted
by this proiessed organ of the National De-
mocracy.
There is no equality among men, it Gays,
except in the duty OF obedience TO God
freedom and equality do not really exist
what arc termedsuch depend upon origin,
caste, age, number &c.-the terms are not in
themselves expressive of n standard which
excludes the idea of dependence and servi-
tude, Slavery, Masterslip, despot and subject,
noble and sert In fact, all our talk about
freedom and equality, popular sovereignty
and popular rights is mere sham. Despo-
tism, Caste, Nobility, Seridoni, Slavery, are
all right The one thing necessary is, that
the Despot, the Noble, the Master should rule
wisely, the subject, the slave obey implicitly.
In this way, the laws of God are hOnored,
which know nothing of freedom or equality,
but always recognising inequality, servitude,
and dependence, simply cnjoin upon superior
and inferior, master and slave, noble and pie
beian, the duties belonging 10 the peculiar
position of each
lloN uO ouI bclIoCIdllC lIleUuS lhc inc
political philosophy of the new editor of
their National organ? The truth is, the es-
senlial principle Of Slavery is that which
gives vitality to Despotism everywhere, viz
the subecion 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 aud
defence, are equally repugnant to the Dem
ocratic Principle, and must share n similar
destiny. Popular Rights must fall before
them, or they must fall before Popular
Rights.