The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-03

good character, to take charge of orphans, In
order to educate and train them up for some
useful pursuit: and in each case, Of parent,
guardian, and master Of apprentices, the au-
thority ceases a. soon as the child comes to
years of maturity.
10 all these particulars the reverse is true OF
Slavery. In this country the law only permits
the enslayement of a race which is held In uni
versal contempt, and between which and the
dominant race there exists what Shareholders
declare 10 be an irrecOncilable prejudice and
sntipsthy. The law consults only the welfare
Of the master. The rights, the natural afiec-
tons, the education, and religious duties and
obligations Of the slaves, are made TO yield to
the pecuniary interest, the caprice, or the
wantOn tyranny, of the master and this abso-
Lutte authority never ceases until death relieves
the victim. have simply stated the legal
power Of the master, which no man can as
sumo the hardhood TO deny, in the face OF
Southern statute books. An in6del master may
forbid his slave the privilege of attending any
church, of any denomination and bigoted
one may command attendance upon and con-
formity with his own. IL the slave should be
able 10 read the master may forbid it. and may
burn his Bible or prayer-boOk and in none of
these cases can the law interpose to protect the
slave in the exercise of these several duties,
which he deems essential to his eternal saliva
ton. This is what the law permits, and 30 far
the privilege Of reading il concerned, is gen
orally though not invariably enforced to the
letter. How insulting to the common sense
and humanity of this age il the attempt to
compare this system with parental authority
A regard for truth liberty, and humanity,
has constrained me TO expose thus freely the
fallaoes and misrepresentation of "a Caro-
hnian," which have doubtless proceeded in n
great measure from an amiable desire to hood
wink the Southern people into a belief that
ttfey really have that high sense OF moral re.
spOnsibility in the matter of Slavery, which he
wishes them TO possess. ! must do our author
the justice 10 say that his sentiments and the
interest which he manifests in the welfare OF
the oolored race, are highly 10 be commended
while hold bis principles to be unsound and
of evil tendency. Nevertheless, when the
Southern mind becomes imbued with the sent,-
msnts of "a Carolinian," there can be no dan
ger from his principles For when the heart is
prepared 10 do that which is " just and equal
towards the slaves the logic of the head will
not insist upon the right 10 do otherwise. His
error consists in the effort to justify or apollo
gize for laws and usages which he would per-
ouhuo OouitI lucu 10 III tncIe
could be any longer reason for giving them
up when they are shown to be just and neces
sary. | will not say that man is always re-
quired 10 declare the whole truth, but no
should never maintain or apologize for error
He may teach practical duties, and leave alb
straot questions of right to take care of them
selves, when the assertion OF abstract truth
would only destroy his usefulness This was
the course pursued by the A ostles in reference
to this question of Slavery, and their example
may be initiated by Southern men an like stu.
ations; but they are utterly unjustifable, and
unsustained by she apostolic example,, in going
"a step further to defend the evil system
Since writing the foregoing essay, ascer-
tain that only portion of A Carolinian's" |
pamphlet has fallen under my observation
viz that which appeared in the Lung Age