Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-08-09

exaggerations !; nor have | any sympathy with
that state of mind in which one can imagine
that he is pleading the cause of Christ while
he is counselling the deliberate violation of
the most sacred obligations. The life and
doctrine of the Lord Jesus afford the only per-
feet illustration of every truth and every duty !;
and, among the rest, of that glorious truth of
the universal brotherhood of man, and that
immortal duty OF quenchless, mutual love
founded on it. But how utterly do we mis-
conceive the life and doctrine of the Son of
God when we advocate universal treason in
order to redress partial oppression or teach
doctrines which lead only TO universal rapine,
in order TO rectify partial injustice! | wish,
from the bottom of my heart, that every peo-
pie were fit to enjoy, and did actually possess,
public liberty and free institutions but should
L, therefore, urge an indiscriminate assault
upon all nations which desire, but are denied
these inestimable blessings All duty is
founded upon truth and laws, both of which
are immutable but every duty is modified by
circumstances which vary ceaselessly and it
is only as we comprehend both of these great
principles, that we can ever attain any ration
al assurance that we perform single duty
Alright. As a member of the human race en-
lightened by the Gospel, may have partic-
ular view of the general question of human
servitude. Considered as citizen of the
United States, with the institution of slavery
occupying the precise posture it does in this
nation, my view of my own duty must nee
essarily be modified. Considered as citizen
of Kentucky, where much might be done to-
wards the amelioration of slavery, my duty is
modified again. And considered as a citizen
of South Carolina, where probably it is hardly
possible 10 conjecture how slavery could ter
inmate peacefully and safely, my duty neces-
sarily undergoes another and very serious
modification. The religion of Jesus Christ is
compatible with every condition in which
Gods providence constrains our fallen race 10
exist; and it is as absurd in reason, and as
unfounded in fact, TO assert that Christ and his
Apostles required the indiscriminate abolition
of human servitude, as to assert that they re-.
quired the indiscrimiHate overthrow of any
other form of despotic authority among men" !"
Having stated that negro slavery in Ameri-
ca has been mitigated and regulated by the
pervading spirit of Protestant civilization, Mr.
Breckenridge utters the following cheering
views -
q" do not myself believe that servtude in
this particular form is, as an original .ques-
ton, either necessary or desirable and am
vel convinced that in many of our slave states
1t might be gradually abolished with great ad-
vantage; while in all of them it might be still
further ameliorated, without regard to the
question of its ultimate solution. Nor is it
my opinion that the permanent continuance of
this servltude, In Its present form, is possible,
though its endurance may be protracted,
and the methods of its termination extremely
diversified over the immense area covered by
1t. Your duty and mine, sir, as American
philanth.opists, each in his own sphere, is to
accept this great problem we find it. and.
J by all the means In our power, assist its final
outworklng, In manner most compatible with
the true interests of humanity, with the true
progress and glory of our country, and with
those internal principles of nature and of Prov
ldence which our puny efforts NAV in some
degree assist, but are wholly impotent to cor
troll"
As we are constantly reading such views
from the noble minds of the slave states, we
cannot sufficiently deplore the existence of that
northern infatuation, or fanaticism, or execra-
bic playing for votes, which will not, so far
as party political action is concerned let the
subject alone, and thus leave the question with
the patriotic and Christian men of the slave
states who are so well able 10 deal with it.
Instead of assisting in the solution Of the sla-
very problem, the aboliionists are doing all
they can TO make the problem more difficult.
Mr.. Breckenridge concludes his letter by re-
marking on the limited nature of the power Of
the general government over this question:
We commend these remarks to our readers =
As TO its true bearing on the infinite mis-
sion of our country, what consequence can
rational mind attach 10 the temporary result of
fierce conflict for supremacy between madmen
in one of our territories west of the Missouri
river /! What odds does it make, any way, as
a national question, whether there are three
millions of slaves, or three millions and a frac-
tion Over-whether six, or ten, or a hurdred
slaves, more or less, escape or are reclaimed
The power of the general government over the
whole subject is so extremely limited, and tran
sient, and incidental, as compared with the alb
solute power of the states themselves the good
that can be done by the exercise of the powers
actually possessed by congress, is comparative
lY SO slight and uncertain, and the danger
which is obviously incurred is so real and de-
plorable; the condition in which the nation
stands with reference to the whole subject is so
peculiar, that, must confess, it has always ap-
peared 10 me unspeakably surprising that any
national party, and especially any one of the
north, should be found capable of permanent
organization in connection with such topics.-
Any honest, moderate, patriotic, consistent ex-
ercise of The powers of the general government
over The question of slavery, could hardly have
failed to satisfy the nation TO the end, as it sat
isfed it during its early and most glorious pc
riod. Whatever may have been the sins or
follies of southern statesmen, OF the southern
people, it would be hard 10 produce an exam
pie at once more fragrant, insulting and unjust
than the discourse which suggested these re-
marks.
After all, cannot pursuade myself that God
will allow US to degrade ourselves so utterly
as to break up this glorious cunfederacy on such
a question as this. i do not allow myself to
believe that the mass of the American people
are SO utterly destitute of the sublime instinct
OF their country's mission among the nations.
Civil war is not remedy it is the most dire
ful of all diseases. National strength, in a
day like ours, and 10 freemen, is not SO much a
glory as ii is necessity-the grand necessity
Of their liberty and independence. As 10 slav-
cry, tits question about which men may diff.
Ter, according to the necessity of their condition
enu me point OF view from which they consider
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