Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-12
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY II.
ANTI-SLAvERY PUBLICATIONS.

ANTI-SLAYERY PUBLICATIONS..
We observe from tho proceedings of the General
Conference ut Columbus that the Methodist Church
South rontempates the ostabishmcntoi IL Book Con-
Germ. The debate on this measure way conducted
with ability, and with anxious s"icitude tor The
distinctive interests of the Church.
The prevalence OF an active and Jealous southern
spirit among the Ministry of this p"wer'" christian
community, affords M suspicious indication OF inc
unity OF southern sentiment. hcpnrticnar measure
by which they propose Ia give practic"i ehect 10
their patriotic zeal cunmcnds itself I" "uf""h J"aS
mcnt 10y its propricy and efficiency.
The people of the South have n" been snfilcch'ly
awake 10 the evil influence ut corrupt literature III
perverting and vitians public sentiment IN respect
TO slavery. Many Of the most cmncnt British VIII
ters Welding to the impulses of fictitious p'lail-
tlropv, have condemned Southern slavery, with but
little effect, however; for they address their writings
to minds that too mature and rejecting to beict-
tered By the dict"m OF great name Neither IL the
sentiment of the South at all corrupted by books "t
| an avowed abolition aim and tendency. AwrItcr "i
great ability recently undertook 10 produce work
| which should ntlame the passions Of the lItrrnrv
class against slavery. With this view tho resources
of the imagination drawn upon to complete ami
intensity the picture of slavery and was wanting
in fact to convict the South of the atrocities Of bar
barous d,spotisn, fiction undertook t" supply Ill
tale of pathetic suffering and inhurnan guilt tn'r
| Toms cabin was the wonder ami the talk Z" Tie
hour Ii was rcat with IN avidl,y"i which the hst"
| rv even of fiction affords 10 other example. Very
few intelligent persons i'll the South can be found
who have not smiled nj lis lnaticism and lis cXagge
rated statements at the same time that they admired
the dramatic skill and interest Of It's story But the
book made 40 permanent impression even III the
North while ut the South it never rcgitr'rd as q"
anv higher character than Il clever novel. The con-
servative reaction of public opinion at the North was
| not arrested by the cl"quence of Mrs. Stowe. 1hc
Missouri restriction will be repealed, nnd fugitive
Ezas will he recovered by the efficacy Of the law
for the rcrap,ure of runaway slaves The passage OF
the Nebraska bill attcsts the effect "t t"'it Tom :
Cobiu on the popular mind Of III" North.
The class of writings from which the South has
most to a,prchond are schoolbooks AMI works I" re-
ligious instruction The poison of abolition Is dam
serous only when administered si"usly and To fee
BILE intcllecs.
The relations between the North aud The South are
|
Greece and the Roman Empire aftcrhe suhugation OF
Achaia by the consul Munmius The dignity and cner-
gv of the Roman charucter conspicuous in war and III
politics, were not easily tanned and adjusted to the
arts of industry and literature. The degenerate and
plant Greeks on the contrary, cxcced in the handl-
craft and polite professions. We learn from the visn-
rous invcctivc of Juvcna, that they were the most
useful and capable of servants whether Us pumps or
professors of rhetoric. ObscquOus, deXcrous anu
ready the versatile Greeks mon"o!iZcd tic business
of teaching, publishing aud manufacturing III the Ko-
man Empire allowing their masters ample leisure "r
the service of the State, in the Senate ar IN the hcld
The people of the Northern States "i this C"nrde-
racv exhibit the aptitude inr the arts "i indus
trv They excel clerks mechanics, and tr'l"-"n'
and they have monopoizcd the business "i teaching,
publishing and peddling.
The scl,ool-books which Northern teachers compile,
are frequently filled with abolition sentiments, ana
they exert potent influence on the weak ana impress
siLle mind of youth. a few Southern teachers nav
ur nj hcart the interests Of the South have proposed
n convention OF the members OF their profession III
Viriniu. with view to the selection an publication
of ho,ss nroner for Southern schools The ent"rr se
e ,dablc and we do not sec why energetic Southern
| men mav ncf carry II out.
Some Of the religious societies whoSc houses OF
publication are located in Northern cities, have been
converted into Instruments of ant-slarcry pr"pagan
dsrn III tracts of purely religious character, abo-
ltion sentiments are nterpolaed, and dliiused
through the South This characteristic achievement
of Yankee cunning, has suggested to the General
Conference of the Methodist Church South the ne
cessi,y of tho establishment of II Book Concern
which, being under the control OF Southern ncn' will
be made mn instrument for the diffusion OF sound
Southern sentiment The administrative talent OF
Smith, Early and Ralston affords sufficient guarantee
that the scheme il undertaken, will be successfully
carried out. One instance of triumphant experiment
would induce imitation, and ultimately all the rei-
rious communities of the South would become the
efficient champions of Southern interests.