Squatter sovereign., 1855-02-20

| there is a vast multitude of slaves. Where
this is the case in any part of the world
those who are free are by far the most
proud and Jealous of their freedom. Free
dom to them is not only an enjoyment, but
a kind of rank and privilege. Not seeing
there that freedom, as IN countries where
it is common blessing, and broad and
general as the air, may be united with
much ablect toll, with great misery, with all
the exterior of servitude, liberty looks among
them like something that is more noble and
liberal. | do not mean Sir, to commend
the superior morality of this sentiment,
which has at least as much pride as virtue
In Ii; but | cannot alter the nature OF man.
The fact is so; and these people of the
southern colonies are much more strongly
and with an higher and more stubborn spir-
it attached to liberty than those to the north
ward Such were all the ancient common
wealths; such were our Gothic Ancestors;
such in our day were the Poles; and such
will ever be all masters of slaves, who are
not slaves themselves. In such people,
the haughtiness of domination combines
with the spirit of freedom, fortifes it, and
renders it invincible."
History attest the truth of every word
uttered by him. Not only does the institu-
ton of slavery elevate the character of the
master, and where the master is free rem
der his devotion to liberty high and holy
feeling, fortify it and render it invincible,
but, where, as In our country, the slave is
of different race, marked and set apart
by his color, it elevates the character not
only of the master, the actual ownor of
slaves, but of all who wear the color Of
the freeman. With us, color, not money
marks the class: black is the badge ofslave-
ry; white the color of the freeman: and
the white man, however poor whatever
be his occupation, feels himself sovereign.
Though his estate be but an empty title, he
will not disgrace his station by STOPPING for
moneys sake to become the slave ofanother;
he will treat with others as his equals, ex-
change his labor for their money, not hon.
ored by their service, but reciprocating
the favor of equal to equal. His class res
poets him, with the jealousy of rank will
stand by him, and for the sake of their Or
der will sustain him.
Not only does negro slavery thus elevate
the character of the white man, it ennobles
woman. Relieved by the slave from the
abiect toll, the servile condition to which
the white woman is so often subjected by
necessity where the negro slavery does not
exist, and which strip her of womans'
greatest charm, modesty; which make Of
her the rude drudging, despised servant of
harsh master; the white woman becomes,
as she is fitted to be, not the slave, but the
queen of her household, fit mate for a SOW
ereign.
Virtuous, modest, sensitive, retiring, her
only ambition to merit the love of her hus-
band, her only pride to point to her chill
dren and say, ''these are my jewels wor-
shipped in her sphere, her gentle sway un-
disputed, the white woman In the slave
holding States needs nc conventions to give
her, her rights. Whether she be the mis-
tress of mansion, or the humble tenant of
cabin, to her the seat of honor is ever
accorded-at home or abroad, every son
Of the south deems himself her cham
pion.
Such is the estimate placed upon wo-
man, such her condition in the slave-holding
States. It's no fancy sketch, but picture
for which we are sneered at by Utilitari-
ans, who would have Gus put woman to
use." So too would the savages: with
them woman is useful; she relieves her
lord of his labor, bows her head in his
presence; kneels to him; waits on his pleas
ure; is his slave! Not such is the use to
which shareholders put woman. The only
use to which they would put her, is that for
which her maker intended her, ga help
meet for her husband; to be ''with him one
hesh."
Negro slavery has further effect on the
character of the white woman, which
thn to oil
who love the white race more than they do
the negro. 1t is shield to the virtue of
the white woman.
So long as man is lewd, woman will be
his victim. Those who are forced to oc-
cupy menial position, have ever been,
will ever be most tempted, least protected:
this is one of the evils of slavery; it attends
all who are in that abject condition from
the beautiful Circassian to the sable daugh-
ter of Africa. While we admit the sell
fishness of the sentiment, we are free to
declare, we love the white woman so much,
we would save her even at the sacrifice of
the negro: would throw around her every
shield, keep her out of the way of tempta-
tion.
Suchare the effects of negro slavery up
on the individual character ofsthe white
race.
Upon the character of the white man, as
member of the Republic towards the
preservation OF the government In Its pu-
rity, IT'S very form, It's effects are not less
important.
1t was truly said, by Burke, sswhere
slavery exists, those who are free are by
far the most proud and jealous of ther free
dom > ssare more STRONGLY and with an
higher and more stubborn spirit attached
to liberty" freedom is to them not only
an enjoyment, but a kind OF rank and privi-
lege.' This is the more strikingly illustra-
ted IN Republic. where the slaves are of
a different race distinguished from the free
man by their color. In such republic,
the white looks upon liberty as the privi-
lege of his color, the government pecu-