The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-10-30

our slavery, to cOnfouno autnofIty In the PENa"
relations, though it be that OF slaveowner, Will
the absolute power OF prince on throne. a
political drspo, is separated from his sutj-cts.-
lie knows thrm not, nor loves them. He sympa
this-s with none OF them. but their positions anC
feelings are in constant hostility. But authority
in domestic life. though not necessarily, Is natur
ally considerable, mild, easy TO be enrreated, anC
| tends To an elevation in sentiment in the superu
| which generates humane tenderness for Ih"se IL
his power, and renders him regaEdtul alike Of the
duty AMI The dignity Of his position. 1t is only
when the hur hority is disputed and resisted, tina
a conflict occurs and The slaves. il kept 10 them
selves. unprompt.d from without. will seldom give
occasion in that way for rigor. Why should hi:
pr"pirIous state OF things be changed Why
should any wish change? Especially, why
should persons who have no concern in it, who re
not of US, end know not what they do, ofici"usy
| interfere in a relation entirely domestic and
| delicate? We know that our slaves generally
| humble, obedirnt quiet, and contenteG and
cheerful race of laborers. Scattered the
plantations in rural occupations, they are never
riotous or dangerous. rs the same number of un.
! educated working men have often been in other
paris Of our country. Slaves are no part of The
State, with no political power, and seek 20 violent
or sudden changes in the law policy Of the
| country; and where slavery exists labor and cap
ital never CONES in conflict, because they in
she same hands, and operate in harmony. 1t is
not, then, blot upon our la VS., nor stain on our
morals, nor blight upon our land. signal in
stance of its beneficial political influence Just &C.
ours TO me, 10 which | cannot refrain from asking
your attention. The sad fate of The Indian tribes
in the territories, now forming the United States,
is familiar to every one. With the exception OF
few small remnants, seated among the whites, as
dfgraded caste. in one or two of the northern
States. all belonging to that region extinct
They had no separate property, and therefore they
never engaged in the pursuits OF civil life and
could not be civilized. They were killed I'd in
wars with the whites, their insrigation, with
each other, deprived of their land and consequent.
ly, with REDUCED supplies Of food by The dlminu-
ton OF game, and brutaised by inrempersnce,
they wasted away while they were yet savages-
The same fate befeIl most of those at the South
and from the same causes. Bot there are ex.
cePtIons worthy of grave consideration. There
were five large tribes this side Of The MIsss.
sppl-the Cherokees, the Creeks, the Chicka.
saws, Choctaws, and the Semnoles. The two
former were nearer to US, and, indeed part of
their territory was within our borders. Therefore
we are more familiar with them, and will sneak
only Of them. though believe the anne is trne Of
aIl Of them. The CheroSe"s and Creeks suffered
losses Of land and people like the other tribes
but they differed from them in one circumstance,
and only one, from which, however most I'm.
portant consequences resulted. 1t so happenpd.
that, while yet respectable in strength they got in
some way-by capture or purchase-some negro
slaves. Immediately there was a change in their
whole polity which preserved their existence and
increased their numbers and their wealth. The
acquisition of s"ves gave them the idea Of property
in individuals, and in order to make the labor of
the slaves beneficial, qualified property in the
lands occupied BY each Indian, and worked bv
his slaves. recognised bv the nation and the
pursuits and arts Of civilized lie were established
among them; farms were extended, dwellings
erected, traffic prac'ised. clothes worn after the
fash>on Of he wh,res schools and churches
opened, and the rcd man became as the white man
IN his occupations, properly. eduration. md re-.
Iigon. And now thoS" tribes form intelligent and
thriving peopl" beyond he MissiSsippi with en-.
Iarg"d knowl"dge. property. and power with n
printed statue book, with legislative BODY. and
regular tribunal OF justice. Such works hath
American slavery wrought upon those tribes Is
that a reproach to it And is it not marvellous
that still. II should he pursued nv persons having
no knowledge OF its practical operation, under
phrcnsv against slavery in the abs, ract fatally
bent on its restriction and destruction, though thew
thereby should desoa'e our fields, desecrate orr
affairs, and cause the blood Of both races Of our
people I" h"w IN rivers ! Such phiIan hrOpv is
both fanciful and frrocnus, and mus, osII and
".
But believe we need not apprehend much danger
t" orr personal rights political institutions
Occasionally demagogues may sway popular or
Legislative malnrIties against ns. But it can onIv
be Tor season, aud short season. For in |
every part OF our beloved country there are men. |
and, trust, many men, Of sound heads and sourd !
hearts, who are as able as we to understand and |
explain The constitution, and calculate the value
of the Union as Justly. Such men must have
great influence in society, however it NAV he con-
sItutrd. and will assuredly instruct persuade, and
lead back the masses to a due regard for the
Constitutional rights Of their fellow. cItizens-not
less their felow.citIzens because living far apart
for multitudes, proverbaliy prone to change.
never do so more readily. than when, under the J
guidance Of wise and good men. they can retreat
from an extreme wrong, and escape from the
of those who dishonesty led them
INTO 1t. The very excess Of the error ensures it's
speedy perception. and more perfect reaction,
believe we shall be one people again in good
feeling; and therefore | cherish the soirif oc
brotherhood even towards those who NAV now
'ecm TO hold it in the least respect; and in tina,
only symPathse, am sure, with the great bulk of
my fellow citiZens at home.
1t would, indeed, be otherwise if it were true as
supposed or set forth by some, that slavery deprades
rec labor, and, consequently, that our population
IRE too proud or too lazy to work, and become, es
oeciay slave owners, dssolrte and profigate in mo-
ais, as well as atrocious tyrants But that is not
rue-not at all true; and there never was greater
met JAf hoFf 10 -