The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-20
VOL. VIII.

South on the subject of Slavery" but awhsD
that journal proceeds further, and from the ds
fence of Slavery as it is proceeds to the inst.
fcstion of the slave trade" it feels bound "a
enter it's earnest protest. The only difereDc,
between the two journals, is that the logic Of
one has overcome the prejudice of education
and the prejudice of education in the other !.
stronger than its logic. The Mercury is logic.
al; the American, prejudiced. Both agree
that Slavery is positivs good, and ought to BE-
extended--both Hold that it is right and prope,
to buy or sell men and women--and that the
slave trade between Maryland and Virginia
and Louisiana and Texas, is in perfect accord.
ance with Christianity and the civilization Of
the age @If this be 50, brother" says the M,r.
curry, T" is it not all can't to denounce the same
kind of trade between Guinea and Georgia.
Horrors" cries the AmericGn, "would YOU %
back to barbarism?D "All moonshine, broth.
er; look at in the light of reason. Tha,
lusty fellow in Dahomey is already slave
30 is that sleek chap that waits upon you
My friend in Dahomey ships his slave for
the Savannah market-you ship yours for the
New Orleans. Why is the clipper that carries
your merchandise, an honest trader, and the
clipper that carries his piratel IF anything,
the latter has the advantage, in point of hu.
mainly; for he brings heather slave from
hell where he may be roasted TO a heaven
where he may be converted, while you send
slave, already Christian to place where ho
will have to work harder, and can enjoy fewer
Christian privileges"
The Mercury is logical, the american is pref.
udiced. 1t must take lessons in philosophy
and ethnography from the RNhmOnd Exam.
iner before it can discuss the subject inlelH
gently.
This reminds us that We have not done faI
justice to our ethnographical friend Of the f..
Gminer.
On the Fourth Of July, according to ancicn.
usage, the Declaration of Independence was
solemnly read in public in the city of Rich.
mond. AS we were not honored with an in.
vitation to attend the celebration, We eanno.
say with what acclamations the reader was
greeted when he read tho following passage.
owe hold these truths to be selfevident-
that all men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unaen.
able rights; that among these are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness"
But we do know that our philosophical
neighbor of the Examiner deemed it lis duty
that day to issue commentary upon this JET
fersonian dogma, longer than the whole Dec
Iaration of Independence. His theme was
Slavery and the Slave Trade, the great Civil
zsrs and ChristianiEers of Mankind-and in
the elucidation of this sublime position, be &C.
cupied five solid columns of his journal. He
commences in religious frame Of mind, in
beautiful harmony with the hallowed associl-
tions of the day;
"Regarding the Institution of American
Slavery, as furnishing an admirable instance
of Divine wisdom, and as a means intended BY
God for the Characterization and civilization Of
the most brutal and debased portion of the
human race, it is with no ordinary pleasure
that we spread before our readers conclusive
proofs of the truth of opinions which we have
always entertained. And no unprecedented
reader can examine the evidence which we
shall presently lay before him, without thank.
ing his Creator for having, for many year.
used the slave trade as wise and benevolent
means of saving millions of human being
from the consequences of African brutality
and superstition. The advantages which the
African has derived from the much denounced
system of American Slavery we shall consider
in several points of view"
AS it is our object rather to enlighten our
readers in regard to the progress of cviliza.
ton among our Southern brethren, than to
interpose any obstacle to its gigantic strides,
we shall present synopsis of the new gospel
according to the Examiner.
It considers Slavery under four distinct
heads.
1st 1t has rescued millions of the wrctchod
children of Africa from loashsome and brutal
and taught them the religion Of
Christ-and "has done more for the advance.
ment of the Christian religion than all the mis-
sionariee, philanthropisis, and propagandists,
that the world has ever seen.D
But, it is not only Gods selected and mes.
potent missionary institution, it is also pre-
eminent Philanthropic Institution for
"2jly. That american Slavery has sdved NIL.
lions of Afrleans from the horrible fate of q far
,0orSe siauery an africa, con be rendered per-
fectly clear"
Under this head, the Examiner brings to
view ell sorts CT horrors perpctrated in Africa
such as clubbing to death, roasting to death,
burying alive, and other atrocities, which arc
disallowed by the humane institution Of Ameri-
can Slavery.
"3dly. As great deal has been said Of late
years respecting the character Of Southern
and enough Gbels have been pub
lished about them to fill q library, we invite
the attention of our readers to the concurrent
testimony of many distinguished travellers re-
speeding the habits manners, and customs OF
one million of native African Shareholders, who
murder, torture, and mutilate, at pleasure,
about thirty-nine millions of Grceley's 'hGppy
Well-we acknowledge that if we had any
doubts before, in regard to the comparative
condition of slaves in America and Africa, and
the comparative character and position Of Viz.
ginia and Ashantce Shareholders, they are now
all removed. The arguments and evidence
presented by the Examiner must convince even
The most skeptical that American Shareholders
arc more civilized, decidedly kinder to their
slaves, than African Shareholders. Whether
The Southern readers of that journal will feel
themselves complimented by such a comparl-
'cn, is another question. We confess il is one
hat had not occurred TO us.
Its fourth proposition is, that the tendency
'f the African slave trade is to mitigate slave
y IN Africa-that the defamation about the
norrors OF the slave traffic is fummery-tbat
'laves in Africa were better off before the sup