Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1854-09-28


they must show themselves the friends Of
masters as we'll as of slares; that If they
would be instrumental in doing good to the
latter, they must win the hearts and conf
dence Of the former. # thew cannot do
good to both, let US alone. Just let as atone.
| 1t is safer for us that they should, either for
good or for evil, interfere with any other
species Of our property rather than with this
subject of slavery.
| Besides the above facts, he shows truths in
reference to the slave trade Of the South, on
| the African race rcdexiyely, that ought to ST
lcncc forever the opposition, the vitupera-
ton, and Misrepresentation of the Northern
clergy, and the Abolitisnsts of the North.
The clergy believe, as they are the represen-
tatives so to speak, of the Gospel Kingdom
on earth, they must legislate for High Hea-
zen, not suffering that to instruct them. but
emboldened by the want of Christian graces,
aim to urge Deity to do as their passionate
tendencies direct. On this point Mr.. WISE
uses very strong and applicable language,
which we quote:
''You ask first, 'What idea have YOU of the
destiny Of the slave population in the Uni
ted States?' Monochrome in the world but
q speculative idea. And why 81 eculate? To
what end? To see, as you propose, whether
,ce can see and fall into the swavs of God to
man?' Why, sir, the fanatics think already
they have optics keener than we have. and
more; they imagine that their called and elect
ed part is to play Providence to whole peo-
pie! Now, sir, don't let up initiate their
example by ingiorously trying to become
Little Providences to the African race For
mercy's sake. let US leave little to God AL
mighty himself! ! say this most reverentlv.
Don't YOU believe in a special Providence?
lfso, do you not believe, can you doubt. that
God regardeth both this people and our ora
race, in their contact with each other, and in
the destiny which He alone foreknoweth ard
ordaineth? HoU have an idea of their desti-
ny? lam very finite, and a thousand years
Is as one day with God. | can't take His
heliocentric view of human destiny. Histo-
nv lies like a harlot, and can't even clearly
look back. But we may much better Judge
righteously in this matter by looking back
and Hooking up'-especialy by the latter
mode of looking--than by vainly attempting
to see what is not to be seen through the un-
open vista of the future. dare not foretell
to myself what will be the terminus of the
stately steppings' of the Almighty on the
grand journey of His Providence to any por-
ton of the human race. think see He
acts on Individuals ror the eternal response
biity Of persons. think | see He acts on
nations, castles, tribes, races, for the tempo
raj responsibility Of people,"
Mr.. WISE cons lers the slave trade not on
y the hand maid Of Christianzng the Afri-
can race, but Of redceming them from bon
dage more intolerable, four fold, than that
in the temperate zones in the United States,
because of the ignorance and brutal barbara
ty of the native kings, and their inter- tribal
wars in their own land:
Did the unbinding tn m from the stakes of
superstition. and torture, and death, and
bringing them to a land Of law and civiliza
| ton make them any more slaves? Did their
migration from a ian Of EGYPTIAN darkne
to land of Gospel light plunge them still
deeper into ignorance and superstition, and
fl them less to pursue and enjoy the human
happiness OF which they Were capabl@? Love
Of domination, love of gold, lust of very
sort, may have been the besetting sins Of the
traders they were English anu Yankees: but
can't see where the original wrong to the
African was, or rather, how they were worst
ed! If any, God, doubtless, pat it upon the
"spollers who should be spoilcd.'' But what
Of il? Here they were brought, bougt and
sold, and here they have for centuries served
as slaves. And that it was the design of
Providence that they should be, for some
wise end, have no more doubt than that
the great AN saw fit repeatedly to subject
the jews to captivity aand bondage And
what has come Of It? Cod angels an 1 min
isters-time, climate, and the Christian
Church-have been at work, and the result
IS wonderful to everybody except those Demi-
gods and Little Providences who think the
Almighty operates too slow! Two centuries
have Set free 434,675 descendants Of Eth.o-
plan parents who would never have known
light or liberty but for that curse we call sla-
very in the United States made them Chris
tians, civilized moral agents, many of them.
of Gospel truth. (See table II of census Of
1S50)
In Ne" Eng and,......... % 02l
In Slave States 2S7
Io'at free States. s96 :HS
In slave States, 81
4a4.675
Time and climate have worked this result.
nd the free States, you will observe, have
set free no more than the slave.
Tho ranlr of Mr. NrSr IN tho l.. 81 ia o.,on.