Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-25
BLEDSoE ON LIBERTY AND SLAVERY.


ordained social state, like that Of bees and auts is
the only busis on which any of the institutions Of
government can safely rest for defence. Man and
society are congenita He is born in society, does
not originate and form it. lie may change, modify,
improve AMI adapt it, but cannot make it, out and
| out.
Society is q being, and men are its members. Not
members, however, merely as the hand and foot are
members Of the physical body, for men have ndiri-
dual rights aud existence we'll social rights and
existence. This theory of society is as old the days
OF Aristotle but seems to have been forgotten for
the last two centuries, and TO have given way for
Locke's theory Of the social contract. Locke's doc.
tripe begins by dsnegratiug society, aud then bring
ing the separate monads or human atoms together by
social contract under which, each surrendering
equal amounts of rights, all would continue III q
state of equality 1t has been prolific 80 far, IN Eu'
rope, Of political revolutions, and now threatens the
world with social revolution, Mormonism, lnhdelIty
Free Love and Nogoverumeut.
! We have frequently recommended Aristotles Poli'
tics and Economics textbook tor our colleges-
We rejoice that work containing in the mau the same
theories but more fully elaborated aud better adapted
| to our times and circumstances, has appeared, and
especiaily that il has emansted from our University.
On pages 80 and a. he thus admirably describes tie
origin Of society: "Sot only the law, but the very
necessities uf nature, enjOin the institution OF civil
government God himself hHs thus laid the ounda-
tions Of civil society deep in the nature OF man.
it is al ordinance Of Heaven, which 10 human arm
can reverse or annul. 1t is not thing OF compacts
bound together by promises and paper but s itself
law of nature rrcversible as any other. Compacts
NAV give il one form another but in one form or
another it must exist 1t is no accidental or artificial
thing which may be made or unmnde, which may be
set up or pulled down, at the mere will or pleasure OF
men. Ii is decree Of God the spontaneous and lrre'
sstible working Of that nature, which, in all eli.
| mates throughout all ages, and under all clrcum-
Stances manfssts itself in social organic zstions.'
The breadth and scope of Mr.. Bledsoe's work have
not been appreciated and comprchended by careless,
and hasty readers. lie is modest a. he is learned
and Ingenious and does not push his theories to their
ultimate but legitimate consequences. Probably
his course is the most prudent and wise one for the
! time. Possibly he saw that lie would mar his book
as work of art were he to attempt TO cover too
much ground. He carries on no offensive war
! fare. He does not employ history aud statistics
to detect and expose the general failure OF emancpa-
ton, and the universal deterioration Of the human
condition, where laborers without property have been
released from slavery to humane masters and remit
ted to the more selfish, uufeclng and exacting des.
potism Of capital He lays down principles that JUS
tfy slavery in the general and leaves their appllca-
ton to the exgencies of times, circumstances and
race. He only specially defends negro slavery, and
shows only the failure Of negro emancipation He has
probsbly left that offensive warfare which the starv-
ing rotous infdel and revolutionary state OF free so.
cety invteso other hands, reserved for the sub
iect of another book His work is "totus, tcres, ct r0-
tondus" 1t attempts enough, and does thoroughly
what it attempts.
The whole of his work, from page l02 to page l37
ia q powerful refuation of the doctrine OF human
equality aud argument 10 show the necessity o
adapting the degree of government, be it slavery o
what else, to the moral and intellectual wants an
capacities of the individuals to be governed. This
the doctrine Of eavery in the ABSTRACT the on
true scientific defence OF that institution. He hold
that slavery is neither right wrong per Sc, and MAJ
be imposed, or withheld, Just as the necessities o
society of the individuals to be governed or re
straired, requires. Slavery 10 but, "thst social sta
ton in which the will Of the superior stands for Law
to the inferior" The right of the weak to have
guardians or masters, is not less sacred right thar
that of the wise and prudent to command
1t is clearly the duty of society to reduce Il
slavery las have defined slavery its veal
aud dependent members as to invest its pru
dent ones with office and command. Anarchy, chao
and social discord, would otherwise reign supreme
He says, on page l2S: can equality Of conditions o
political powers and privileges, which has no SOLE
basis in oh equality Of capacity or fitness, is one
the widest and most impracticable Of all Utopal
dreams. lin the divine government such equality wer
to prevail is evident that all order would be over
THROWN all justice extnguished and utter confusion
would reign" &c. Again, page is: "lt were mucl
nearer the truth to say that al! men have an equa
right not to act as one wills, but to have their will
restrained by law. No greater wants known to man
indeed, than tho restraints of law and government
Hence, all men have Gil equal right to them
but not to the same restraints, to the sam
laws and governments. All have an equal rIgh
to that government which is the best for them
But the same government is not best for all a des
potism is best for some; limited monarchy ia bes
for others; while, for third people, representative
republic is the best form of government"
Page 1872: THE truth is, that all men are not bor
equally free and independent, but equally withOu
freedom and without independence" This is admi
rably said. Social and gregarious animals, are b.
nature not free and freedom, in the popular sense
the term, is an unnatural and painful state to them
1t is only consistent with the isolated and SECLUDED
life Of birds and beasts of prey, and OF hermts. ii
berty of the parts cannot consist with harmonious &C
ton of the whole hence the very existence of socle
presupposes the absence of liberty-of liberty, W
mesn in the popular Of the term; and it is eas
to talk about it, but hard to define or comprehend
in any other sense. The liberties OF masters an
ruers are more restricted than those of childre
and siaves The difference consists in the charactc
of the restrictions. Law religion, public opinion an
custom and fashion, crcumScribe and hem III NOR
narrowly the field of liberty Of action OF masters AM
rulers, than slavery and parental authority do fhHt
children and negroea The former are new"
free never exempt from duties to perform ana oolg'
ons to discharge. The birds Of the air ana te oeas'
of the field, enjoy not larger liberty ana aoanu'N
than is practced by s!aves and children during TWO
,b;rds NJ tb,ir time. Good government, popular 60
vern,nent government suited to the governed, is wha
rho world wuuls-no: mere freedom from restraint.
60
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT BY THE HOUSE
In the election OF President By the House of Rep
re,entstiv.s each Stale has one vote given by ma
o;,v of the delegation from that State. The election
# there is failure by the people. would go the pre-
ssnt House in February next Fremont has majori
~ of the delegation, Of the States Of Maine New
+ Iiampshire Vermont, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island
Connecticut, New York, New jersey, Pennsylvania
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan aud Wsconsn-in all twelve
sixteen being necessary to Il choice The States Q
Delaware Maryland and Kentucky have majori
of Fillmore members. The Shte OF Tennessee Id tied
haviug FIVE Democratic and five Americans, as ar
Illinois, Missouri, Texas and Iowa. In Illinois ther
ia a vacancy TO he filed, which will decide the vote
that State between the Republicans and Democrats
and in Missouri member is to be elected in Augus
where the delegatson now stands three Democrat
aud three Americans. In Texas there is one Demo
=. ..l a,., Ir,arirop apd in Io,va ona DemOcTa