The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-30

southern California has the ifauuueht moNe-
nent for slave Territory been organized.
There are pro-slavery men in the new State
whose conduct shows that they are acting in
concert with conspirators on this side of the
upon them we charge this insid-
Gus design to plant slavery upon the shores OF
he Pacific The Sunday Dispatch, for exam
Die, is published at San Francisco: it ought to
feel pride in the grandeur of the State, and
seek to maintain its integrity This we should
expect to be the natural feeling of the people
Of Northern California But, the persons con-
cerned in that paper, and demagogues residing
in that section, are laboring to reduce the dl-
mansions and of course the political power of
their State Can such conduct be accounted
for on any other ground than that they are
more interested in the extension of slavery, than
in the prosperity Of the Commonwealth OF
which they are bastard children! We now
understand the meaning of the party in the
last Legislature that supported Judge Heyden-
felt, notorious slavery -extensionist, against
Fremont II known opponent to the extension of
slavery to the regions west of the Mountains
1t was working with a view to the ultimate eS-
tabIig.ment of near slave State on the Pacific
While this game is going on in California,
the old political parties have been crying down
agitation, and laboring to convince the People
that the Compromise was q final adjustment of
the Slavery Question. The Democrats in their
State Conventions have repeatedly affirmed this
by solemn resolves, and even the New York
Wings supposed to be more viglant against
the encroachments of slavery than a majority
of their brethren, Il few months since laid down
as one of the articles of their reunion, the fol-
lowing proposition:
"That the Wings of New York as a body are
opposed to the subsection of any Territories of
the United StateS now free, to laws imposing
Involuntary servitude, except as punishment for
crime and they rejoice that no proposition to
that effect is now pending or &e4y'to be pre-
sente3,; ..,i..,,...,
AT that very moment apropOsltion more dan
gerous was pending, and likely to be present
ed-and that was, to divide California and or
ganze its southern half into Territorial Gov
ernment without restriction as to slavery
We call upon the People to awake. The
men who tell them that the Question of Sla-
very is finally adjusted, are false prophets
Facts transpiring before our eyes give them the
lie. If they be permitted to go on deceiving
the People the next Congress may be the the
atre of the triumph of as detestable plot to
defraud Freedom of her rights as any that has
disgraced the annals of the country
EBONY SCHOOLS-ORAL INSTRUCTION.
The Memphis daily appeal quotes certain
which appeared in the Era on its
article against the continuance of Sunday schools
for teaching slaves to read, and thus remarks:
"The writer of the above rests his whole re-
ply on the artful plea that we object to slaves
being taught to read the Bible. Our argument
was against their being taught to redd-against
heir receiving literary education. 1t is alb
'urd to say you only teach them to read the b.
Ne, when you thus give them the key of all lit
'rature and science. The Era says we have
iispelled the illusion that slavery is in accord
Ince with Christianity This is another open
'erverson. We expressly said, let them by all
means receive religious instruction. That
will render them more faithful more virtu-
'us, and more happy and will reveal to them
hat they shaver, mot vIfy 10y uatnTc, tut by
he revealed will of Divinity. But let that re-
igious and mora instruction be given ORALLY,
md in no other ray The same reply will serve
Tor the peryersion that our article was in dsre-
gard of the Divine injunction Search the
Scriptures They can be taught all that is
orally. Indeed, all churches evident
y rely more upon oral instruction, even to the
educated than upon any other. Else why their
public services so regularly and on 10 many and
varied occasions? Why their solemn ceremo-
malls their public singing, praying preaching,
occurring &c. The masses of mankind ALWAYS
have and always will receive more instruction
orally than in any other way. SiaUes can be |
taught all that is essential and all they can I'M
ierstand, orally Let their education then be |
)ral, and not literary The latter, we repeat, |
strikes at the peace and security of Southern
society
"Those citizens of Memphis who superintend
.hese schools will find that their enterprise is
by Abolitonism That fell fend |
which has threatened the stability of this Union
which would rejoice to behold the South a Sec
md San Domingo, looks with smiles upon a
practice which they regard us one of the means
,f sappmg the social system of the South. Well |
may men pause and consider. when they re-
,elve encouragementiroms such quarter Well
may they and ne people ask the fearful question,
are they not giring nd and comfort 10 Abol,-
ion'sm! That they are, is too clear for argu-
nent however humane and honorable may he |
heir motives We raise our voices against the
dangerous practice, and we hope that public
'entiment If the law cannot DC invoked, will |
BRING it to a speedy termination. Such school, |
We are informed existed in this community sew |
,ral years ago; but public sentiment revolted at |
t. and the Grand Jury presented it as a public |
nuisance. Ii this one which now exists cannot |
be reached by legal process we shall advocate
The most stringent enactments on the subject by |
the present Legislature In one or two South |
ern States TO tedCh sidces 10 read is penitenti-
AIRY offence Viewing it rs striking at the in |
stitution of slavery, and knowing it to be en-
by the Abolitionists for the purpose of
aiding in the accomplishment of their foul and
ncendiary schemes, We hope that the Legisla-
lure will pass equally stringent laws and pun
sh the offence with equal severity"
As we are disposed to act fairly, the appeal
has the benefit of our columns to correct what
t deems Misrepresentation But surely this
explanation is AZ bad Ms the original article
The appeal takes the strongest possible ground
against educating slaves. They must not be
taught to read the Bible, for if You teach them
his much, "you give them the key of all ltera-
ure and science and history and philoso-
,hy," it asserts in former article, attest the
ruth that enlightened men cannot be enslaved'
Reading, the ideas that would be gained by
cading, the mental activity and development
md intellectual selfreliance it would produce,
would lead to their elevation and enfranchise-