New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-19
WHAT Is SLAVERY I:

The people of the North must bear in mind
that the ground taken by the Soath now is
Slavery forever and its extension over the whole
country. Disguise it as we may, such is the
issue With three. fourths of the Union doomed
eterDally to Slavery, the remaining fourth
will be absorbed. Compromises, al ways sickly,
are at last dead; they can no longer be resusci-
tated on this question. A Northern man who
would now believe Southern political promise
is fit FIR rice plantation chain. gaug-for he in
yites his own eBslavemeDt. We are in regard
TO the slave question without single former
conservative guard or historical defense. The
South is not politically American-it is not po-
lijicaly Russian, for that is in one way at least
progrt ssiye The Sourh is simply despotic, be-
yond the measure of any civilized nation of this
period. To fnd its parallel we must revert ID
al cieht times. No civilized nation but this adj
yocates Slavery 1t is the bad eminence OF the
United States G0vernment-whose federation
was stab ished by men who looked upon
Slavery as temporary dying eyil--to
be after nearly seventy years OF po-
ltica shammDg on the Slave question the
violent, bullying, shameless advocate of human
bondage now and forever The South, which
formerly talked nationalism but acted parish
politics, is now undisguised in its adhesion to
the sectional institution. Slavery for the sake
of Slavery-such is its doctrine. Those who
believed in compromises should now learn that
despotism is in it's very nature not to be trusted.
The contempt which Southern olgarchs openly
express for Northern workingmen ought of
itself to beat down the unboiy combination
called Democracy and place the minority where
it belongs; but it requires so much kicking TO
rouse community TO sense of their degrade
ton, that nothing less than the Kansas and
Nebraska outrage was sufficient to start the
movement for Freedom.
In view Of the issue now presented ii is
worth our while, familiar as is the theme, TO
lock once more at the character of the insti-
tuition which the obgarchs even threaten in
their jausty and exaggerated moods to in
tToduce into the Free States. According to
the social system which Slavery establishes,
the producing classes have no head in the
State. They have no name therein, no register.
They are not capable of being injured, nor can
they receive or OWE ythiDg by purchase or de-
scent They have no heirs, and therefore can
make no will. Everything they acquire belongs
tot heir masters They cannot plead or be pie sded
for, as they have no civil rights. They are not
entitled to the rights of matrimony, and there
fine have 10 relief in case of adultery. They
have no degree Of relationship, either direct or
collateral; incest and bigamy are therefore al
lowsble. They can be sold, transferredor pawned
as goods or personal estate. They can be pun
ished or tortured with impuDity by their
masters, provided il does not amount to manning
or TO the taking Of life. The statute
in regard TO cruelty to animals, adopted very
generally by the Southern States, does not apply
to them They are prohibited the benefits of
religion and education, for the law does not
recognize them as persons but as chattels. As
chsttels they cannot exercise any parental dis
erection, for they are not the proper objects Of
cognation or affinity. Indeed, so far has this
legal rule treating them as chatlels been
pushed, that when q vessel was found at sea
with slaves on board, but without white men, it
was held in South Carolina to be case of
dersliet-no person being on board They are
debarred the rights Of education, and it is felony
to instruct them. Beside these, there are
other disabilities not necessary to mention.
To keep them in ignorance, brutality and
Slavery, the Legislatures of the different south
ern States have devised laws both disgrsceful