The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-01

Wrong must vanish and each chain
Crushed and broken lie.
Bridge,cater, N. Y, 1853.
EXEMPTION or SLAVES uN LIMITED NUM-
BERs FROM SALE BY LEGAL PROCESS.
Since the public address of Mr.. c. G. Bay
lor, proposing the exemption of slaves from
sale for debt under legal process, was publish
ed, we have seen modification Of the project
urged by other Southerners, accepting the gen.
eral idea but limiting the intended exemption
to a small number of slaves in the hands of
each owner Some say to one, others two, or
three, at most.
Very probably if the purpose succeeds at
all, it will be in this amended form The main
design is fully met and answered by it, and,
some of the chief objections to be encountered
are also apparently removed by it.
AS at first presented, that is the exemption
of all slaves for sale by execution, it is an un-
excoptionable abolition movement. 1t is the
best thing and the largest pledge of progress
in the right direction that the South has con-
ceived since the new order Of things and ten
denotes has sprung up in that region. Their
internal improvement, educational enterprise,
dversifcation of productive industry, restora.
ton of public credit, provision for foreign i'm
migration of free laborers into the slave States,
and general preparation for conformity to the
policy and economy of the Northern States,
already well begun in fact, and organized into
creed of popular opinion at the Memphis
Convention, taken altogether, lay the founda-
tion of that system in which we have our
hope. These are matters Of mere economical
policy, indeed, and are no confession or indica-
ton of the sentiment which is our motive for
desiring their success Like other right things,
they answer selfish interests as well as the gen.
eral welfare and may be adopted without any
regard for their broader benefcence. But there
is an omnipresent spirit of good that cannot
be kept cut of available arrangements Put
a few scraps of zinc and copper into certain
order, and the lightning of Heaven enters the
pile without any special invitation Of the man
that builds it-get into the position of noble
agency with whatever intention, and the Di-
vine inspiration will dispose and direct the
issue. The alLmighty is the all. good, and no
one can do great thing without admitting
the Divinely associated good into it,
The measures toward which the South is
now moving with the force Of destiny are
right, and God will not let any right thing
do any wrong to any man. The incidents
from right system are al
ready appearing. They indicate and they
assure the hope we find in it. Messrs. Baylor
and associates would distribute the slaves Of
The South to enlist the present non.slavehold-
srs in the support of Slavery. That is the in
ention set in the front rank of their motives
,ut look, what they have posted in the rear
ank. u Exemption of slaves from COM
,ulsory sale, to prevent the separation Of FAINT
les! And, mark it, to take away this one of
he complaints of the Abolitonists against
he system. The pile is built of the baser
metals, but the lightning is from heaven, the
aspiration is of God And what are the col
ateral conditions Of the movement! The self
sh policy has to find its way against resistance,
,ut the benefcent emotion is flowing in from
ii sides. The Charleston papers thought that
,ow when the British Government had with
lrawn its interference in the matter OF imprlson-
ny colored seamen, the time and circumstances
we're favorable for some amendment OF the
wills of the slave system. This very separa-
ion of families was named as the subject OF
reform and simultaneously the same thought
and purpose is indicated at so many points IN
the South as proves the feeling To be an cpl
demic. This exemption project binds up the
gathered straws into cheat, ready for the
ilai and the good fruits which it will thresh out
of it. "God is great" whoever sis his proph-
etn-Mahomet, or Mr. Baylor, or MIR. Ba-
laam's ass. WhsA matter about tho cudgel--
the foot of the mercenary minister is crushed
against the wall, and the curse that he bar.
gained for is turned into blessing, even in his
own mouth SO the angel that opposed him
gets out of the way, and he rides on to his
destiny.
But some of our friends, who take our idea
Of the probable working of general exemp.
ton law, are apprchensivc that the suggested
limitation to very small numbers poor
mans portion-will work the mischief intend
cd by the projectors, and disappoint the gooC
we hope. We do not think 80.
In point of fact, the slaves of the Northern
States we're held in very small numbers by
each owner, and emancipation there encoun
tered scarcely any resistance. The rich coult
easily afford TO lose the market value Of I
small number, and the poor, or comparativel.
poor, had really but little to lose even fol
them, by gradual emancipation. The maj
that holds but one or two slaves, employs then
for tho most part a. domcstics; and, as such
take them from infancy up to old age, the.
are worth but little more than their keep
Hired servants at the North cannot save mucl
beyond thirty dollars year out Of their wages
and they are worth that much more than slave
10 their employers. Slaves are profitable onl
where they can DO worked in large gangs, a
particular kinds Of labor. They are very poo
stock, as Virginia well knew forty years age
in the ordinary pursuits Of domestic industry.
Now the poor man Of the South, according
to the plan under consideration, is to keep hi
one or two slaves, not to sell them. He mus
hold them Cor whatever they are really wort