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

II As tomorrow has been set apart by the
municipal authorities for religious obseryances,
IN view Of the rayagcs of the yellow fever, we
shall issue no paper from this office on THURSDAY
SLAVERY A RIGHT AND BLESSING.
Slavery anticipates the benefits Of civilization
and retards the evils of civilization" Such is
the language Of Chancellor Harper, man dis
tinguished alike for his wisdom and his many
virtues. 1t is impossible to imagine more con-
densed statement Of the proposition which we
propose to discuss in our present issue. 1t is
truth, painful it is true, that civilization
brings in her train attendant evils as well as
attendant blessings; and TO check the former, and
promote the latter, in the highest degree is at last
the true object Of government 1t is a problem
difficult of solution, TO ascertain how much of
the individual liberty Of the man should be sacri-
feed, in order TO secure the requisite amount of aid
from the society. In other words, what is the true
mean between absolute isolation and absolute
communism In the first condition, the man cut
off from his fellows and left to his own resources
becomes an independent savage. In the last,
entirely merged in society, his own will wholly
subjected to the will Of others, he becomes
mere slave. Now, between these two extremes
there exists a condition which is in the highest
degree adapted 10 the development of his indi-
yidual powers, without sacrifice of the strength
and the pleasures he derives from association
with others. To ascertain this medium condition
is the true object Of the Government.
II is obvious that the tendency of advancing
civilization is 10 increase this social power to the
prejudice Of the individual right. In proportion
population becomes dense, the Individual is
merged in society, and is compelled to yield a
greater portion Of his liberty for the benefit of
the common mass. Hence the necessity of intro
ducing into Government some element which
will keep down the too rapid growth of popula-
ton; and, by relieving the plethora which would
result therefrom, to restore wholesome action to
the society. Now this desirable object is effected
by the institution Of slavery-and effected, too,
without any sacrifice of the advantages to be
derived from civilization. II prevents the rapid
immigration Of laborers into the State where it
exists-keeps down that competition in labor
which has proved SO disastrous in England and
elsewhere-and, by combining the population to
agricultural pursuits, in a great degree, advances
individual liberty-and individual happin ess
Nothing can be more true than that an agricultu-
raj people are better adapted to rational conser-
yatiye freedom than any other condition of so
ciety. But not only does it keep down an un-
healthy density Of population, and retard the
evils which flow therefrom II keeps out to
great extent a class Of malcontents, who, anxious
for freedom, without the wisdom and knowledge
which should ever attend lis enjoyment, are the
rnost dangerous TO the existence of conservative
government. There is far less room for mob
class in community where all the lower avenues
Of labor already filed by a race of men, who
from their nature and from their condition
never lnterpose TO destroy the fabric Of gov
eminent II was a remark Of Burke, which,
though often quoted, can never become trite
that where slavery existed, freedom became
rank and privilege. With such a rank resting
upon a basis Of slavery, conservative liberty must
ever be secure. Not the wild dreams of freedom,
which haunted like nightmare devoted France,
during that fierce delirium Of the last century
not the absurd excuses of some Of our Northern
States which have already developed agrarianism
womans' rights, communism, and polygamy
at the North; but the solid substantial freedom
which secures to all the highest amount of right
consistent with good order and sound reason
where each, in the sublime language of nspira-
ton, may ''sit under his own vine and fig tree.
with none to modest or make him afraid IL
is this condition Of society which has so Ionp
kept the Southern portion Of our confederacy free
from the faint Of radicalsm; and although il,
too, is at last yielding somewhat TO the tide il
is this institution which has reared up so many
champions Of conservatism, determined yet TO
stem the current which has set so vigorously
against them. When Of late, demagopues arose
to Brighten peaceful people by the cry Of
PoPery, or 10 tickle their prejudices, by de-
nouncing our foreign population, the storm which
they raised swept unstayed, but, thank God, not
unresisted over, the entire North, until ouelled bv
the "Pcace be still'' Of our proud Virginia.
Bot not only is this the effect Of slavery in .
vernmental aspect Of the question; there are
0 dangers 10 be feared for the stability or
'no' ment besides those which spring from blind
'o'e y. II is the nature Of man TO be diyid
''o' IA, ses, and rigid destiny has dccreed
=, ust be hewers Of wood aud drawers
=, ,ere manual laborers to those, who
,be, requirement or the smiles Of q
vater-n. occupy a higher position in the
!, suoerior &c permit these two classes
ilier fortune, arouse the jealousy
y &c society. On nation which burns,
become antagonistiC age the grinding
cb chafes, and the indlN Of those IN
,bo one hand, or encou oundwork of
rice and imperious opPressiI endan-
~ n The other, and the very @ nee
~ -, 80 few Of the citizen, h