Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-04-26
Practicable Amenorations of Slavery.


Practicable Amenorations of Slavery.
More than sixty years ago, EDMUND BURKE
prepared, for the West India Islands, Ne
gro Code, such as might have been expected
from that wise, humane, and conservative
statesman. Some of its provisions were de-
signed to mitigate the horrors of the slave
trade. which then prevailed /; Others for the
regulation of slavery on the plantations
In his Introductory letter to Mr. DUSDAs,
he observes, among other things, whenever,
many proposed reformation, we take our point
of departure from n state of slavery, we must
pFecede the donation Of freedom, by dispos-
ing the minds of the objects TO disposition
10 receive il without danger TO themselves or
us"
The whole code is worthy of the attentive
consideration Of Southern statesmen and
we submit that the following provisions, all
of which, with many Others, are suggested BY
BURKE. are practicable, without interfering
with the proprietary rights of owners.
l. Give legal obligation to the institution
of marriage. 1t is admitted that on well
regulated plantations, negroes receive the sa-
crament of marriage from clergyman, and
are encouraged 10 respect its sanctity But
this IS not enough, even if the usage was gen.
erAl- Marriage should be made legally bind
ing. For this purpose
2 The separation of husband and wife
should be strictly prohibited.
8. The separation of the mother and minor
children should be forbidden by law. This,
in some States, has been done.
I. A lot of ground, and day, in addition
to Sunday. should be secured to each negro
and his private earnings, or peculium of the
civil law, should be protected by law.
8. He should have the privilege of pur.
chasing his freedom, at a reasonable price, IL
bsfxed by sworn commissioners. if necessary
g. Chastisements Of adults should only b,
inflicted By order of a justice of the peace
and should be in the nature of the execution
OF judicial sentence of punishment, for de
inquencies known to the law.
Z. Some efficient provision for religious in
sruction should be adopted. This, we know
is a delicate subject to be taken charge of b!
the law. But there is an imperious necessity
for religious culture in some way.
We know that these amelioratons are nov
practically enjoyed by tens Of thousands o
slaves The power of the master is urhel,
By law; yet all laws receive their power ant
pressure from the spirit Of people; and w
are sure that, in numberless cases, this power
though possessing weight more crushin
than iron, is made to bear lightly as the gos
samer elm of summer Ye. we would hav
these ameliorstions lesalzed
While, as National Democrats, we utterl
condemn and repudiate every effort on tn
part of the North to interfere, directly or in
directly, with the subject of slavery; yet W
are not ignorant of its evils, and would b
happy 10 see some plan. originating an, an
adopted By the South, for gradual emancipation
or colonization, or both. Our State has en-
dorsed the policy Of colonization, and W
wish this policy all success. We fondl
cherish the hope that something may yet b
done to strike the shackles from the captiv
African. and bad him once more raise hi
natal song under the canopy of his natal sky
When the South IS ready for II, and propose
Il. let the North join her in an amendment G
the Constitution so as 70 apply the fedora
revenue to some bene6cent plan of ameliori
alton. Let the North bear part of the buu
den by making remuneration to the planter
for their pecuniary loss.
But, under no circumstances, should w
forget the caution contained in the eloquen
passage Of CANNING
In dealing with the negro, we must re
member that We are dealing with bein
possessing the form and strength Of MAJ
but the intellect only of child. To turn hir
loose in the manhood of his physical strength
in the maturity Of his physical passions, br
in the infancy OF his uninstructed reason
would be to raise up creature resemblin
the splendid fiction Of recent romance tn
hero of which constructs human form wit
all tho corporal capabilities of man, an
the .thews and sinews of giant but bein
unable to impart to the work of his hands tn
perception of right and wrong. he finds, to
late, that he has only created a more tina
mortal power of doing mischief, and himse
recoils from ths monster he has made"