The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-08-14
JEFFERSON ON SLAVERY

Some seventy or eighty years ago-helping
the struggling throcs that gave birth to a rev
olution-a sponsor OF the glorious front
where, an infant nation vas baptised into free.
dom-a hard master in the school whero the
young republic was trained into strength and
powcr--lived, wrote, and acted, and organized
q man o! the name OF Thomas Jefferson. Our
opponents call themselves Jeffersonian Demo.
| Gratis. How many of them know what cpin.
ions Jefferson held on some of the great points
which now agtate the public mindl The
slavery question is that which most absorbs the
attention Of all. Jefferson being the father OF
Democracy, his children should have presen.
ted to thcm Mt this crisis, his views upon that
institution. We accordingly reprint the folio
wing from his 'notes on Virginia. and VIC
| ask If Je6ersonidn Democrats of tho present
day can reconcile them with the diffusion theo-
~ of tho Cass- Nicholson doctrine or aggress-
Two policy of the "pecular institutions" in the
case of Kansas and Nebraska. = Flint Whig.
1T is difficult to determine on the standard
by which tho manners Of nation may be
tried whcthor catholic or pnr.icuia. Itis more
difficult for native to bring to that standard
the manners Of his own nation tamiiarized by
habits There must doubtless be an unhappy
influence on tho manners of onr people PRO-
duced by tho existence ef slavery among Us.
The whole commerce between master and
slave is n perpetual exercise OF the most bois-
trous pussions, the most unremitting dcspotism
on one part, and degrading submission oil the
other Oar children sec this and initiate IT,
for man is an initiative animal. II a parent
could find no motive in his philanthropy or
his self love- for restraining the intomperanoe
OF passion towards his sayo it ehould always
SO "a sufficient one that his child is present.
The parent storms, the child looks OH, catches
tho lncamenis Of wrath, puts OIL the same airs
in the circle of smaller slaves, gives loose to
tho worst Of passions--and thus nursod and
educated, cannot bu, be stamped by ii with
odous peculari,ics. The man must bo pro-
dizzy who can retain his manners and morals
undcpravod by such circumstances. And
with what execrotion should tho statesman be
loaded, who permitting one half tho citizens
thrs TO trample upon tho sacred rights Of tho
others. transforms those into dospots, and
these into enemics destroys the morals of the
one part and the amor patric of tho other
For il save can hayo country in this world
i, must be any othor in preference to that in
which he is born to live and labor for another
in which ho must look up tho faculties of
his nature, contribute as far rs depends on
his individual cndcavors 10 tho advancement
of tho human race. or entail las oicn miserable
condition on the endless generations proooe-
ding from him, With tho morals Of tho peo-
pie, their industry also is destroyed. For in a
warm climate no man will labor for himself
who can make another labor for him And
can the liberties of n nation DO thought TO be
sccure when we have removed their only firm
basis, convict ion in the minds Of tho poople
that th' Sc liberties are gifts of Godl Thar
they arc not to be violated with violence or
wrath: Indeed | tromblo for my country
when reflect that God is just: that his JUS
tico cannot sleep forever. But it is impossible
to be temperate TO pursue This sabjcct through
the various considerations Of policy, Of morals
of history, natural and civil. We must be
coutonicd TO hopo they will force their way
into every oro's mind. l think change al
roady procoptible. since the origin of the pros
ont revolution. The spirits Of the master is
dbaiiag, that The sldUe is rising from The dust,
lis condition modifying. tho way. hope,
preparing, under the auspico of heaven for a
total emancipation, and that this is disposed,
in ordor of oyetts TO be uith The consent of
their masters, rather than by total ertejpation.'i
*Tho experience of seventy throc years
which have elapsed since Mr.. Jefferson wrote
the above has not yet realized his anticipations.
All know that tho spirit of tho master is not
abatcd, nor that Of the savo risen.
fSlavcbolders fear this; and therefore call
upon the cnpidity ofNorthcrn officials to pro-
toct them against the rovenge of the strong
arms, lacora,ed sinews and bursting hearts of
their own slaves.