Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-25

declared, society can never be considered TO be
secure The fabric which government may rear,
may be fair in its form, and graceful in its proper
tions, but it is at last the monument beneath
which is death and putrifacton. This is another
of the evils Of civilization which slavery not only
retards, but entirely destroys
We could not but smile the other day at the
retort courteous of Virginia lady, distinguished
for her genious and her wit, but above all for her
shrewd common sense. A prurient young advo-
cate of universal emancipation, anxious 10 dis
play his learning and philanthropy, remarked
that "a slave could not breathe the pure air of
England or the North every true, - replied
friend quietly, shut let them breathe here.
Like all true wit, the reply contained true phi
losophy. To say there is no slavery in England,
because there are no persons there whom we call
slaves, is bubble, the fallacy Of which English
experience and English history at once disprove.
The question is at last narrowed down to this,
disguise il us you will: sWhat is the best form of
slavery both for the master and the employedp'
We answer without hesitation, that it is TO be
found in that condition of things where capital
and labor are combined in the same interest
and this is only 10 be found in the institution of
African slavery as il exists at the South Where
such mutual interests exist, the place of the
overworked and underpaid employee is easily
supplied by others, and the unhappy free laborer
is unfeelingly discarded by relentless master to
his fate. Competition has been called, and per-
haps truly called the life Of trade; but alas how
often does itprove TO be the death of the laborer
Compelled 10 work for insufficient wages, lest he
be underbid BY competing starvelings-his condi-
ton demands the pity of the benevolent, while it
can receive no amelioration from the statesman.
The experiment has been already tried by one Of
the wisest and most practical statesmen of the
age-Sr Robert Peel-by reducing the number
should be required TO work The regulation was
easily and successfully evaded by the relentless
and mercenary master, simply by increasing the
speed of his machinery, whereby more work was
effected in the reduced than in the original num-
Der Of hours for labor. The touching ballads of
! Tom Hood, the indignant bursts of Ebenezer
1 Elliot, and the chartist demonstrations Of Alton
| Locke and John Crossthwaite, are not mere
fancy sketches. They are the real murmurs
winch cohie iioih Tic Dle, sau hedfl VI q WIohseu
and tramped, although God save the mark! a
free people.
A problem SO difficult Of solution elsewhere,
has been easily solved in the South---not by any
efforts of craftsmanship, but as it were by the
decree of Him who seeth not man seeth,
Under the taunts and abusive epithets of mock
philanthropy in England and the North, the
! Southern States, aroused to sense of their con-
dtion, have discovered that they had within their
limits institution which efectually warded off
| the evils under which their accusers are groan-
i ing. Now, conscious Of the right, they are pre-
pared to defend it, with firm confidence in the
truth of their position, and humble reliance
on that Power, who, by His inscrutabe DEGREES.
has made even the wrath of man to praise him.