The southern press., 1851-11-01
RrItIsh views on slavery.

Atlantic as ever not so in Great Britain. The
worthless who raised this magazine to SO distin-
guished popularity, are no more; their imita-
tors alone remain; and though providing now
and then articles of some talent, they are as
much indebted to the name Of Blackioood for
public attention, as to any intrinsic merit In
themselves.
This country reads and chiefly supports the
old Edinburg periodical. In Britain, its old rep
utation has passed away of late years. 1t is
still looked upon there as highly respectable
but it is neither so well handled, nor are its poll
tics so popular as under the old Tory rule.
To the latter cause, perhaps, may in some
measure be attributed its decline across the
ocean. Toryism, which it still strives to MAIN
tain in pristine purity, is no longer the same
among Tories. The reform measures OF the
last twenty years have modified the opinions
and pretensions Of their party; and thus all ul-
ira organs have gradually become more and
more unpalatable, as they are at variance with
the views and sentiments Of the times,
To Southern readers, the first article OF this
month ia most attractive, within it we have the
views Of two parties on subject which most
interests them.
NY Blackwood reviews the essays Of writer
whom it supposes to be named HELPS. These
ESSAYS are five in number, and the last treats OF
the .Conquerers of the New World and their
Bondsmen." We come at once to that.
It is almost needless to say, Mr.. HELPS and his
reviewer, on coming to the point OF slavery,
concur in calling 1t "cruel and unjust" The
latter considers it contrary to the fundamental
laws of morality. But he is obliged to come
down from his high PEDESTAL, and admit that
ahuman societies in the course OF progress,
cannot be altogether governed by such rules"
We won't call this an admission in favor OF
slavery, because the question as to the relative
happiness of the negro and the white slave OF
England, is one about which there can be no
doubt. 1t is at best confession extorted from
tho Tory. who feels that he is really an oppres-
sor and destroyer of the very class he pretends
IN call free. and would find palliative by as
sociating another system of servitude with his
cause.
He then SAYS: aTouching the very subject
of slavery, we see that 10 early and patriarchal
times Il was the necessary form which the rela-
ton took between the owner of land or fiocks
and bis laborer. II is here the natural predeces-
sor Of our present system Of payment by wages
Money payment of wages, 1t is plain, could nave
no place till money was in general use-tlll mar
kets had been formed-till something OF trade
\ L. oh had In last
times the landlord must pay his laborer by
sunnlyinp him with food and clothing. But the
I,borer could not save up his food for the
period of old age or the days Of sickness Pre-
sumipg. therefore, that the owner OF land or
Aocks was TO keep possession OF his property
that arrangement which we denominate slavery
was the only equitable one which could be made.
If the wealthy patriarch were to say to his Ia
borer. will feed and clothe you so long as you
are willing TO serve me, and do serve me, the
result would be that in sickness and old age
the laborer would be utterly destitute The only
6a;, bargain that could be made ras Just this,
10 buv me labor of the man for his ,ohole life, by
sustaining him for his OhOle life The laborer
must become his bondsman."
Now in this latter paragraph, we have Ia
grant contradiction with other sentiments ut
tered by the romancers Of aboliton-and at the
same time, In the statement itself, an attempt to
eronerate their own really oppressive system
from the obliquy which its mockery Of freedom
no well deserves The contrast is striking. The
philanthrophist has proclaimed the laborei
free-.in order that the moral contract OF sup
porting him, when sick or aged, may not fal
upon him. He Is freeman-therefore, can per
ish, exhausted and worn out unPitied by his EN-
ployers. He Is free-therefore, does not deserve
the care due 10 an old horse. He Is free-snc
therefore, can perform miracles 10 support him
self and family; or, deserves TO stare. Don
let Us talk of {" the fundamental laws Of NOR
atty" Mr.. Reviewer!
Again, reyerting 10 the greater simplicity and
ignorance Of the black man, he adds:
aTbere. also. the best forms Of the bargsir
for both parties would be 10 boy the labor o
the man for his whole life, by taking care Of hin
for his whole life"
Bot he does not scquiesce in this reasoning o
this incspacity.
AT The same time we are ready 10 admit tina
a requires A more intimate knowledge Of th'
negro population, than we can possibly possess
70 Determine how far Il ought TO carry eonvic
ton
Admitting The defence Of inespacity 10 b
good, he still urges that Il is desirable TO cult
v.se a provident and reflective character In thu
negro, 90 FAR as this can be done during The con
tnusnce Of slavery"
To this we reply. that the negro is bette
a -