New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-07
ON THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION
F,or tn. c.a,ie.,oa STANDARD q, May a.

Fyor Ths Chariesi0n ssaadr,d II Maya
Our contemporary CrHE TRiBuSrl denied TO u.s. how
ever even the bad emnonce Of inaugurafing wrong
He says that Slavery was born IN Aica and q o[i
as Cain, aud that this institution OF which we speak
nothing more in fact than the debris Of barbara s
That Slavery in the in wbch he speaks Of hs
ex sied through all times there be little qnesioo
Power had always sought its objects of opprcsio,.
and men possessing POLITICAL advantage viii aweys
nee them, and none more certainly than all our nciCh
bors of the North; but that there IL soma
thing in Slavery here TO distinguish h from slaverv
elsewhere, anu nothing more assures Of the s,r
than the testimony of our enemies. Instructed By tho
records of human experience they are perfectly con-
WINGED that there should be war when there 4 pesoe
that there should be wrong when there is evidence ~
right tey are assured that negroes ought % he
morose when they cheerful that they ought % Be-
rbelious wien they arc gentle ana submissive thai
thew ought 10 be oppressed when they arc protected
that they ought TO be neglected when they are con-
for,aby cared for; they ore assured that the railing
race should be indoent when ,hey are active and
industrious, that they ought 10 be cruel and severe
when thew are kind and ndGl cent, that they should
sink 10 unmeasured depth of vice and deb iuchery
when they are remarkable for the perfect purity Of
private character. With such continued testimony to
the fact that there conditions required OF Slavery
elsewhere which are not complied with here, we
are urged to the suggestion that with perhaps
it may not be the thing of which they speak,
and this with great reluctance 10 disturb the secu-
latiors Of Tx TRIBUNE we take IS bat the fact.
man, but here is raised TO the dignity of reltion
with them il Is wIolg, with us il is a right with
them it is artificial, with us It 10 natural; w.i them t
is deformity with Is the just constituent of
living social system; with them il Is attachment TO
be discarded with is the condition Of natural
and vigorous existence the nerves OF a common lie
Ioryade the structure and that part OF the social sys-
TEN constituted by the negro is as little liable 10 abuse
from the intelligence which presidcs over Il a. is any
member of the human body.
Ii Is this social being formed Of the union Of
equal races which il our purpose TO inaugurac and
lit be our purpose TO enter into unon with another
race-to conform 10 laws impressed upon forms OF
physical existence and adopt social duaisn--,o give
TO the negro sphere for the exercise of his h shest
faculties aud lend had to help him 10 still moro
stately structures moral and political than bis unaided
abilities would ever euable hun TO reach-his frenls
must that indeed experiment that has never
been ied before, ana whatever il may be is certainly
not that Slavery with the horrors of which philanthro-
psts 50 familiar
With respect TO the assumption that history and
science both concur in oondemning Slavery we also
have word two 10 say. We fear that he has con-
suited both with less soicude for truth than for argu-
moDts to SUI port his proconceived opinions. That
Slavery il has pre- existed the present pc Od of his
tory, has generally itself out we are ready to
admit; and that it should have done in most instan
cos of its existence we are also ready 10 a limit. In
Greece, Rome and in modern Europe, where Slavery
or sordom has existed, there has been that differ
ence between the rulers and the ruled TO render tho
relation possible. The master aud the slave were OF
the same or equal races, aud political distinctions wero
the assertions of a social falsehood. The assertion
that the slave unequal to the master was contra
diced by bis constant tendency 10 rise The assertion
ii at she noble was naturally superior to the sorf
contradcted by his constant tendency TO fall and So
cietes have lived, therefore they always will live
and as il is right that they should Ne-to ,hc ylndca-
ton and establishment of a social truth.
But even IN States where these political inequalities
have existed il BY means appears that il has been
at all restrictive Of Announcements on the contrary, in
ox-la OrQa have
existed there have been the greatest exhibitions of
physical aud intellectual strength. In the collision Of
class against class in the effort to attain n recognition
of s equal rights the sparks of intellect aud genius
have illumined the best and hottest truths of human
history; and necessary in fact, would such cols-
ion that IL would task our contemporary 10 state
one single instance in which States have started on
their march greatness from that condition of pure
democracy which he seems 10 consider the greatest
possible achievement of human experience. In fact il
would seem that 10 begin the game OF social and
political history arbitrary separation Of population
into opposing parties has been necessary, aud that
without natural or artificial duasm no people have
ever been able TO begin the task OF social movement.
And so also think il would task him to state an In
stance in which people have sustained themselves IN
n condition of social greatness long after distinctions
have ceased and there no longer classes to carry
on the contest. When social distinctions disappeared
Rome rocked ftom anarchy to despotism distinctions
have disappeared in France, and that Empire would
seem to follow the example. Such, at leaft, are the
lessons we have learned from history and constrained
TO believe that social antagonsm Is necessary TO social
movement we are willing that antagonism should ex-
list; and believing also that such antagonsn, without
natural differences to sustain it, will ultimately wear
itself away we are inclined to regard especial
privilege that able to commence history hero
under circumstances which encourage the reasonable
hope that the conditions necessary TO its progress viii
be perpetual.
In rooredce to the lights which science throws upon
this subject il mig be wrong ia us 10 speak. The
ewes of THE TRIBUNE have rolled more often through
the misty realm of sociology, and it might be too
great 10 trespass upon his peculiar province; but
if compelled TO utter crude conceptions of its truths,
we would be obliged TO say it Is by certain
that society is not intended 70 have natural artcua-
tions and nam al organs Of existence ard progression
We believe there is form of animal existence from
the poyp up TO man. in which there is not natural Or
ganism-in which, however wrong II may appear,
tneIe not natural calculations and natural sub
subordinatiou of parts TO parts-m which, In fact,
some portions of the animal economy have not been
compelled TO do the drudgery of work without the
right TO determine upon its propretyi and instructed
by the tendencies Of such unbroken law, we might be
led TO expect that TO the normal constitution Of society
itself he like condition would be necessary; but We
will not press the proposition ID "a enough for US to
know thai are vested with state of society Of the
trusts Of which we DO not feel that we can discharge
ourselves without preserving it and pressing II 10 its
logical results, and this contemporary may be as
surod that will do no matter how great the outrage
may be to his notions of propriety.
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RECENT DEATHS.