The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17
THE UNITY-oF-RACE QUESTION.

THE UNITY-oF-RACE QUESTION.
Professor Agassiz and perhaps ono or two
other men of genius and science, have attempt
ed to controyert the Scriptural and popular
belief of the common origin of mankind. In
doing so, they of course set aside the Mosaic
account of the Creation as fable, and invsli-
date the authority of the Old Testament. The
champions Of Slavery have, as might be expect
ed awaited themselves of this theory as jus
LITIGATION of the system, and have palmed off
upon the public any number of pamphlets and
books, written by execrable scribblers, North
crn as we'll as Southern, all designed as offer
ings on the altar of slsve-driving pride and
prejudice. The inexpressible disgust which we
feel for creatures of this stamp, particularly
those of Northern origin, has induced us to
treat their puerile conceits with the contempt
they deserve But it affords us pleasure, new
ertheless, to observe that the momentary eclat
gained ty these literary fungi in the South, is
passing away. A majority of the advocates OF
Slavery labor under a wholesome fear of the
Devil, at any rate, if they cannot be said to
love God and they are beginning to see that
the apostles of the new revelation are leading
them into the slippery and dangerous paths of
Infdclity. They have therefore set themselves
to the task of degrading the negro in an ortho-
dox, Scriptural manner, 80 that the most pious
slavo-driver may reconcile his pride, his preju-
dice, and his injustice, with the dictates of re-
ligion. They accordingly pass sentence of con-
| IL, 4 Il Of
of races, and set up another, that the negroes
are the descendants of Cain, whom the Almighty
is represented as saving from destruction
during tho flood in some miraculous way.
This ridiculous subterfuge appears to satisfy
the consciences of piOus slaveocrats, and affords
| q
arms Of religion. There is DO warrant in Scrip.
turo for the assumption that any of the pos
tcrity of Cain survived the flood, unless they
had intermarried into the family of Seth, and
were represented in the blood Of Noah and lis
family. But this is no affair Of ours If it
saves the champions of Slavery from the heart
less infdelity of those who attempt to degrade
men to the level of monkeys it viii subscrve q
good end.
1t appears to US utterly illogical, on orthodox,
Scriptural grounds, to contend that the de-
scendants of Cain, allowing him to have any
or of Ham, are moro deserving Of the curse of
eternal Slavery than those of Adam. There
can be no grades Of depravity where ali are
born totally depraved and equally deserving
| the Divine vengeance, which is the prevalent
doctrine throughout the South. Adam was
told that he and his seed should eat bread by
the sweat of the face forever; and yet we see
our pious brethren of the South eating bread
by the sweat of other peoples faces-a plain
evasion Of the curse. Who then, can blame
the descendants of Cain and Ham for evadiDg
the curse pronounced against those their an
cestors? What makes the case stronger in
their favor, is the fact that Adam and Eve
were the original offenders, who, by eating the
forbidden fruit, brought death into the world
and all our WOO" while Cain and Ham were
influenced by the evil example of their ances-
tors.
The sin of Adam was original. 1t caused
the Fall of man from his state cf perfect in
noccnce; while Cain was born in SIM" and
Ham was not only born in sin, but bred up
amidst the greatest depravity. They received
a curse, with a brand or mark, while Adam
and Eve received a curse without a brand
which would have been no brand, because it
could have distinguished them from no other
class.
: We think, therefore, that there is strong
spice of Pharisaical pride in the idea which
piOus, orthodox champions of Slavery have ad-
vanced, that it is perfectly right and proper to
trsmple on and enslave for all time the unfor-
tunate descendants of Cain and Ham 1t is
not only thanking God that they are not as
other men are, but thanking Him that they
have been made the instruments of the Divine
vengeance upon the colored race. According
to these pietists, the curses visited upon Cain
and Ham have much to do with the price
current of cotton and sugar; and they see nc
hope for the white men of the South, which il
not Immediately dependent upon the damna-
ton of the negroes. They believe that ne
groes may be good enough for the holy compa
ny Of the Apostles and Martyrs in Heaven, but
that they are unworthy to enjoy, in conse-
quence of the sin of their ancestors, the fruits
of their own labor, while sojourning in this
world! So much for piety and cotton!
The infdel suggestion that the races of mer
have different origins, allowing it to be true
by no means proves difference of kinds. The
: Almighty might have created several diferen
pairs, having the same organization morally
intellectually, and physically; and diversitie
of color, hair, and features, adapted to the sew
! eral climates which man inhsbits cannot de
r stroy the essential unity and identity of tn,
race. We see that the different races of men
5 the extremes even, as they are generally re
garded, will propagate together, and that thei
issue will go on indefinitely prOpsgating. Thi
shows an identity of organization. 1t show
that the negro is nearer to the white man thai
5 tho ass is to the horse, because the mule, tn
3 joint product of these animals, is barren.
s But it is like reasoning to prove an axiom
The thing is selfevident, that the negro ha
t every claim to manhood, in every respect, if no
r in ga hiOh a da0rea that 6ha Cauoaaian voa