The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-08

IL
hand; and b. who would remove it must con-
slider the eject of this or that plan Of extirpa-
tioC, not only in reference to the slaves, but
also in its bearings upon the whites. This is
made plain by rejecting upon the effect which
immediate abolition would have upon the two
races That they could not exist together
that it would bring on . war ofclasses and end
in the determination of the one or the other
is inevitable. No sane man will contend that
the two races could exist on the same polti-
cal and social plain In this view the retention
of slavery IS it DOW exists is mercy to the
black race, for no one questions that, being in
ferior both in mental power and in physical
energy, their freedom would end in their ami
hilation.
But there is another and higher view Of
this subject, which we address to phlanthro-
pists and men Of liberal opinions in the North
and elsewhere.
1t is undeniable that the condition of the peo-
slaves in the United States. There has been no
period in the history of that benighted race in
which the native African IN his own country
has been cs well off in the substantial comforts
ofiife as the slaves of this country. Upon the
question Of slavery itself the African is more
tettered at home than here. Sunken in the
deepest barbarism, degraded to the very con-
fines Of humanity, with scarcely trace of intel
lect, not a ray of civilization has penetrated
their native land except through the instrument
tality Of foreign slavery. The combined
missionary effort OF the world in all time
has numbered Of its converts to Chris
tanity in all Africa only fifty thousand
persons, while the Methodist Church alone
in this country numbers two hundred and fifty
thousand communicates Of that race at the pre-
sent day. Thus is the account practically stated
eff the effect Of slavery in the United States
upon the civilization and christianization of
the negro race; and all this surely comes
through the instrumentality Of American sla-
very. Those who seek for benefits to an
oppressed people-those who look to practical
labors and results-those who regard the form
and the name as Of trifing account while the
great end sought is reached-will find in this
statement a most interesting fact bearing upon
the question Of domestic slavery in the States
and will see in it the operation Of principle
which goes far to place that institution among
the causes which are silently working out the
regeneration of people whom other and more
direct means could not redeem from barbarism.
The missionary labors of England among the
African people has borne other and still more
important testimony upon the question of the
AZ IF 4ha 1o4f &,
apparent that by Africans must Africa be civil
lied The efforts of philanthropy, however
well directed. have proven unavailing as
means Of regenerating that people. A hundred
years has failed to make its impress upon them
"a hundred years Of faithful missionary labor
has left the objects Of such charity in hopeless
baIharisnl--while the colonization of Liberia,
which sprang from the institution OF slavery
here. has carried into the very heart of Africa
he terminating seeds Of civilization and Chris
tianity. There is in this the secret power of
afinity-the adaptation of means to ends 1t
opens field for observation well worthy Of the
consideration OF all true philanthropists. Itren-
ders the question Of American slavery important
as it bears upon the destiny of the most ignorant
and debased people on the face of the earth.
1t furnishes an Office for Africans in this country
who may acquire their freedom-a stimulant to
the benevolent North and South to hasten on
the work of colonization. It answers the de-
mands Of aboIitionsts by pointing to the solid
fruits Of American slavery gathered on field
of greater debasement and under circumstances
Of greater need. II speaks to England France
and Germany, where the slavery Of this country
is the object Of pre-arranged denunciation aud
professional abuse. Itappeals to the benevolent
Of every land by the results which it has ef
fected in the way of human progress, where
other means had proved utterly unavailing.
The abolition Of slavery in the United States
is another question. That it can be effected by
agitation here or elsewhere is quite impossible.
Slavery is sustained by interest 1t has en-
tered largely into the social and political
machine. 1t is embedded in the very vitals of
our society. 1t will be removed by the contact
of labor, Of which it is now an essential part
"by the inevitable law Of population" as
Mr.. Clay called il in his Ralaigh Letter. It
is not football, to be kicked about by every
idle political gamester. Centuries have been
required to work it into The texture of society;
and during all that time it has occupied the
primary seat Of labor and been the chief ele-
ment of production. and at precisely those
points where it could have no competitor from
the white race. It's influence upon the latter has
indeed been great. So far as the productions
Of cotton. rice and sugar enter into the uses
Of nankind-so far as they constitute basis
Of commerce, and may be supposed thus to ex-
ercise their influence upon the civilization of
the world-so far as they bind governments to
peaceful policy out Of respect to the great
industrial interests which they maIntain--so
far does the institution of slavery exert its in
iluence upon the white race. 1t is at this
day an important element in the general
labor Of the world, and as such it enters into
and constitutes an important part Of political