Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-11-30

the Defendant filed plea in abatement, that
/ the colored man could not maintain his
action because he was not a citizen of the
United States Judge Drnmmond who, we
suppose, is an u. s. District Judge, sus-
tained the plea, and it is said that Judge
Mclean, of the U. s. Supreme Court, sus-
tains the decision. We know nothing of
the facts of the case in question, and all
the information which we have in regard to
it is what is stated generally in the para
graph in question. We know noihug in
regard to Judge Drummond, but we do
know that a more upright and conscicn-
tious Judge does not exist on this earth than
Judge Mclean. Hc is an able lawyer, an
honest man and a genuine christian and
every conclusion which he comes to, and
every decision which he makes, is founded
upon law, justice and truth, according to
the best Of his knowledge, judgment md
comprehension. We must confess that We
cannot understand the basis upon which
this decision has been made, but presume
it is under State law of Illinois, and yet
we should not undertake to denouncc the
decision, as many Northern papers have,
without knowing the points raised, and the
reasoning ofthe Court. We have no SYM
pathy with the ultra abolitionists Of the
North, or the wild fire-eaters of the South !;
both factions have their many and boldly
dangerous errors, and both have been in.
strumental in accomplishing much and
lasting mischief in regard to the prosperity
and welfare of the Union. And yet, we
can sec no difference between the legal,
moral and religious rights, duties and res
possibilities of the white and colored man.
1t is true that God has distinguished the two
in the wisdom of His Providence, by color,
and by degrees of intelligence and other
characteristics which il is not necessary to
enumerate; but still, lie has endowed the
colorcd man with an immortal soul lie
has given him certain reasoning faculties
he lives, enjoys, suffers and dies in the
same manner as the white man does,-
where then is the cardinal difference be-
tween The two? Some Theologians, phil
osophers, absractonists and other classes
of men have attempted to classify the negro
race, and to demonstrate that they are Of
an inferior order Of being, and beiong to
standard between the whites of the human
race, and the brutes of creation. But all
their philosophy is vain, all their reasoning
is false. lie who in His wisdom has made
these distinctions, has not revealed the
cause to finite man and he, of the human
race, who attempts to explain the mystery,
or to assert that the negro is of such IN in
ferior species that he not only occupies
humble sphere on earth, but that he will al
so occupy n menial position in the world
which lies beyond the grave, SIMPLY ex-
hibits an ignorance or an arrogance which
no true man would either envy or initiate.
We have reason to believe that there will
be degrees of intelligence in heaven as
there have been on earth, even as one star
difiereth from another in power and glory
but we have no reason to believe, and we
have no right to assert that the colored
man, merely on account Of the complexion
OF his skin, or his deficiency in intellectual
power from want of culture from ages back,
or any other cause, will not be as warmly
welcomed to the kingdom Of heaven, and
occupy as blessed position in the new Je.
rusalem, Us any white man, no matter
what may have been his position here; for
we are all frail creatures Of clay,-all alike
subject to sin,--and none can tell from
whom and of whom the great Judge of the
universe, who cannot err, will last make
up His jewels for the kingdom of glory,
which will be perfect and eternal.
Therefore, certain fanaiical Northern
journals greatly err when they denounce
those Judges who have made the decision
in the case in question, because the Court
could moi do otherwise, if the laws Of ILL
nois do not recognize a colored man as a
citizen. We are aware that the laws of the
Slave-h holding States do not recognize ne
groes as citizens a negro cannot be a
witness in Court, and he is denied nearly
all the civil rights which belong to man, as
far as citizenship is concerned. This is
feature of the peculiar institution of the
South; and we do not undertake to say it
is not necessary for the security OF the
whites there, especially since the violent
and absurd efforts of fanatical abolitionists
at the North, during the last twenty years.
In consequence of the action of these dis
eased men, the condition of the slave is
I much worse than it otherwise would have
been, for Shareholders have been compelled
to be more stringent in their discipline, in
H consequence of the wild fanaticism OF cer-
tain men at the North. Yet all this does not
affect the vital question of Slavery; that
"institution," although recognized and al
lowed by the Constitution Of the U. s., is
altogether wrong and cannot be justified in
a religious, moral or equitable point Of view.
But still, the North has no right to interfere
with Slavery where it already exists, al
though we have a right and it is our duty
to protest against its increase in new terri