The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-07-30
Southern Slavery . Domestic Institution
True View OF the Subject.

uOPShOoo
mind. Enslaved to half dozen radical ideas
pent up within the sphere of a few impractical
theories lost in dreamy and vagrant devices
the world of progress is narrowed TO circle of
fctiOns, to which all good is confined, and out
side of which all is evil.
There are popular remedies for all sorts Of
diseases; popular doctors, preachers and au-
thors, ana also popular subjects. But there is
no remedy capable Of curing all maladies any
more than there are preachers and authors suit
ed to all minds. There is tendency of the
mind to run into channels, to fad its favorite
subjects as well asits favorite writer's aud moral
RENE dies. Sebastopol is now the great centre
OF European thought and anxiety. The politi-
cal slaves of the Eastern continent have anchor
ed their hopes on the success or defeat of the
Allies before that city of terrible assaults and
defences, while slavery is the point of Western
interest. 1t is the American subject. The time
has come when not constable can b, elected
without involving the opinions Of the can lidate
upon this all engrossing question 1t makesno
difference that the subject is one of no possible
interest to the voter or the candidate. 1t is
enough that it is the popular idea of the day
that it has been thrust into politics by design
ing men. How it came there and what possible
good it is to do-how the slave is to be benefit
ted, the master enlightened, or the cause of
truth and justice advanced, are points of no
interest to those whose business it is to
agitate the subject and to reap its fruits. Men
Of broader views and more practical and philo-
sophie ideas would look to the past to discern
the effect and value Of remedy. Tested
by this principle, it is certainly not easy to see
any good that has resulted from the fierce anti
slavery agitation Of the last fifteen or fifty years.
Extremes, indeed, are seldom found
practical or useful. 1t would be diff.
cult, in our judgment, to justify the
ultra North or the ultra South. Tnere
is this difference, however, in their positions
! the latter is assailed by the former. Not quite
80 much philosophy and discretion is expected
Of the man who is assaulted in his legal rights,
and is sought to be Invested Of his property on
the mere plea of philanthropy, as of the med
ding fanatic who acts the double part of self
constituted Judge and moral teacher. It is GER
tainly enough to exercise the powers of the
former without inficting the lessons of the
latter 1t is not strange, then, that the South
has been driven, in the spirit Of retaliation, to
cupy extreme ground. Slavery is an institution
of their own, and is as old as the government,
which was organized in distinct recognition oft.
| Fifteen States Of the Union legalize the rela
ton of master and slave. The class 10 subjsc-
ton is ignorant, and generally regarded as
mentally and morally an inferior race 1t is
plan of servitude, however, and is not with
out its evils, ss no system Of labor is.
While the blacks are held in subsection,
| they are at the same time guarded
clothed and fed, and generally kindly treated.
1t is something more than q question Of interest
| with the master-it has worked itself into the
very texture of society. 1t has its kindly so
cial aspect as well as its severe feature Of de.
pendeDce. There are no in terests, passions or
affections that are not, Ito some extent, influ.
enced by it. In the domestic economy it is often
seen in spirit of Christian brotherhood which
We view slavery in the distance only in the
light Of abject submission by the weak to the
demands Of the strong. We see in it dominion
and subsection, and we infer from these pre-.
misses not only an antagonism of races, but
continued and watchful resistance. This is
the great error Of Northern men, except, per-
haps, that class who have sought the agita-
ton of the subject as q medium Of politi-
cal preferment. Slavery is thus made to as
sumo the character of a hateful oligarchy sus.
tanned by ceaseless oppression.
The social bearings Of the relation are care
fully kept out of view, or their existence
denied. This may be well enough for the
! Stewards, Wilson's aud Van Burens who expect
to derive personal advantage by exciting
Northern furoye against the South, but it is
in the highest degree disgraceful that men
whose character and pursuits disconnect them
from the honors and rewards of Office sh ould
be led to adopt such partial views of subject
Of SO much Importance.
That the most prominent feature Of slavery
is found in its social and domestic character is
evident in the fact that the relation is alto
| gether peaceful happy and religious one 1t
bears no disturbance, no tueds, no nsurrec-
tions. All is quiet happiness and con-
| tentment. While Europe is distracted by
revolutions and deluged with blood the
slave oligarchy" seems to work on
peacefully and tremendously. The products of
the slave States are constantly increasing, their
internal trade fourishes; and these are very
good tests Of order and Of the peaceful operation
OF AN the interests involved The moral atmos-
phere of the South is not overcharged with ma
laria They have not exported more Schuylers
than we-their catalogue Of crime is not longer.
| Is there no evidence in all this that the sys-
| tenn of domestic seryitude 80 bitterly demon ncad
by the Tribune and its crazy adjuncts, is some
thing besides mere exaction of labor from the
weak by the strong? Is 1t not apparent
that slavery in the United States, excusing
the paradox, is, to great extent, voluntary
1t is plan of subeisting two opposite races
| In usefulness and harmony and the onlu rnnana