The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-28
HENRY A. WISE.

Mr.. Wise, of Virginia, has written singu-
lar letter, on the subject of Slavery, to Rev
erend Mr.. Adams, of Boston, which reflects
credit on Virginia politician of the present
day. 1t seems that his reverend correspondent
has been spending some months in the South,
and his Northern prejudices have been much
shaken by seeing Slavery as it is. We are not
aware that his reverence has any design of re-
moving South, or that he is expecting "a call +"
60 cure of souls in the region of cotton; but
certain it is, that in moral point of view, he is
undergoing rapid acclimation; 30 that, if he
should bs invited, be can accept without scru-
ple. Being snxiously exercised in mind, ne
has addressed letter of inquiry to Mr.. Wise,
as to father in Israel, and that gentleman
has responded 10 long letter, which finds its
wav to the public through the columns of that
organ Of pure Democracy the Washington
| Union.
There is scarcely sentence in the letter of
Mr.. Wise to which we can subscribe; and yet
we arc highly pleased with it, since it indi-
Gates great revulsion in the public sentiment
of the South II indicates that the spell of
Calhounism is broken, and that the blackness
Of darkness which was cngendered by his ge-
MUS is passing away. This is all. The phi
losophy of the lettsr is bad enough. The at
tempt to justify Slavery and to palliate its
evils, like all similar attempts is a miserable
failure Mr.. Wise, in substance, admits that
Slavery il not blessing-in fact, that it is a
sore curse to Virginia and to the South; and
he Is inconsolable that the short-sighted folly
of the Abolitionists prevented the admission of
the institution into California, since the gold
mines would have drawn eff the slaves from
Virginia, and from the whole South, and have
concentrated them On the shores of the Pacific.
We thank Mr.. Wiso for this admission of the
evils of Slavery, but we cannot believe that its
extension to California would have been the
means of its abolition. California has now
been open to free men for six years since the
gold discoveries, and yet the population will
not exceed three hundred thousand, which is
less than the natural increase of our slaves. If
Slavery had been tolerated, it is not probable
that fifty thousand would have been there at
this time, and We greatly doubt if the institu-
ton would have had more than nominal
existence, unless at the same time free labor
ers had been legislated out of the State. There
never was any great repugnance to Slavery in
California, andwe have no doubt that it would
have been introduced if it had been found
profitable. But the great distance, with the
expense Of transporting slaves to California,
and the hazards attending the business of
mining, has been the real obstacle to the in
PRODUCTION of Slavery. 1t is currently stated
that the great majority Of enterprising white
men who go to California are disappointed,
and would return if they could. The same
i'll requital would attend slave labor, and pre-
vent owners from taking them there in consid-
cradle numbers. Young men go to California
by thousands, from curiosity and the love of
adventure-a cause which could have nothing
to do in supplying the country with slaves.
Mr.. Wise, therefore, may console himself on
this head, and look to other means of getting
rid Of Slavery
MIR. Wise charges the Abolitionists with
mcddlDg with the arrangements of Providence.
for the Characterization Of Africa, and it was
necessary to enslaVe portion of the race on
this continent, in order to teach them the vir-
tues of justice, humanity, and piety, and send
them forth as missionaries to the fatherland.
Now, admitting that this is true, is the South
doing It's duty? Is the South endeavoring to
carry out this ordination of Providence, by
educating and civilizng the negro? Mr.. Wise
boasts that the three and a half millions of
colored people in the United States have more
Christian civilization than all Africa. Well,
admit it. and we appeal to the candor of the
gentleman, if that Christianity and civilization
have not been acquired by the negroes in viola
ton of Southern laws? 1t is punishable by
law in Virginia to teach colored man to read
the Bible; and there is no law in Virginia,
common or statute which recognises the rela-
ton of natrimony between slaves, or that will
protect the voluntary union of the sexes Any
man in Virginia who owns a slave, or has
money enough to buy one, may tear asunder
the most sacred family ties of husband and
wife or parent aud child. Who runs counter
to Proyidence-the man who upholds or the
man who op poses this system? Will Mr. Wise
answer?
For the champions of Slavery to claim for
Slavery the merit Of civilizing aud Christian
izing the negro, is as if the betrayers and oru-
offers Of Christ should boast of saving the
world. They did evil, and good has come of it,
and that is all that they can claim. God in
his wisdom and goodness always contrives to
thwart cvil-doers, by turning their actions to
good account. But it would have been better
if evil had never been committed. Evil is an
abuse Of the freedom of the will God gives
the free will because without it there could be
no virtue; but he under all circumstances for
bids evil-doiog and never fails to punish the
authors of it.
Now, to show that Slavery was not essential
to the salvation of Africa let US suppose that
the world had been SO enlightened, Christian
lied, and free, at the time of the discovery of
America, that the slsve trade could not be
tolerated. The consequence would have been,
that the institution would never have existed
in any part Of America. Our intercourse with
the Indians would have been regulated on the
game high principles, and they, too, would
! have been civilized. Our Northern States are
! now far more populous than the Southern; but
| if all had been alike free, all would have been
alike prosperous and populous, and our sum
total of wealth and population would far ex:
coed its present amount. Our legitimate COM
mercs with Africa would have been far greater
J