The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-14

n
pr.rIrATIoN OF SLAVERY, THE VITAL AND
ANINATING SPIRIT OF THE NATIONAL GOV
FRNlIENT JOHN GUIScY ADAMS.
No. 3.
With the rapid increase in the number of
slaves, there had kept pace, step by step, the
development of a wide disparity, in position
onJ in character. between two classes of whites
IN the Southern States. The comparatively
small number who held bondmen became a
compact and well-organzed aristocracy, band
ed together by an esprit de corps, which gave
immense force and directness to their joint &C
lion. Their nonslaveholding neighbors kept
on sinking deeper and deeper into the condi-
tion of ignorant, spiritless, and dependent serfs.
identical. OF course because, even if man
made his fortune from small beginning, con-
venience and ambition would both prompt him
"a become a stakeholder, as soon as he was
able. Monopolizing the property, the slave
holders Of course. all but monopolized the
mental culture. They could command books
and naster. for themselves and their children,
which the mass of people around them could
cation conducted at the public expense, as in
ihe Northern States, that was out of the oues
ton. on account of the division of the territory
into large plantation estates, even if the class
which held the purse-strings had not esteemed
1t to be their interest to keep their neighbors
unnsructed, so as to keep them contented and
p,werles5 in their abject position. The poor
and irnorant non-slaveholder lost his remain
ing chance of becoming anything better, by
means of one more operation of the horrible
system. Labor was despoiled of dignity. Where
Slavery exists, work is degradation for the free.
Now and then, natures peculiarly well constitu-
ted might rise from the slough. But, in such
social state. prodigiously- powerful influence
WAS at work to make the mass of non-slave-
holders-;hat is, the great majority of free peo
pie in the slaveholding States-lszy, reckless,
incapable, vicious, and servile.
The votes of these incompetent and abused
men have created and maintain the Oligarchy,
which grinds them even more impudently than
1t Insults and Expresses us. Sedulously using
the arts which every Oligerchy seems thorough
IL yersed in, by an instinct of its nature, it ca
ioes and intimidates them, by turns; it buys
their GOODWILL by little kindnesses and conde-
scensions; it talks loudly the language of their
senseless prejudices; it plays on the pipe of
their vulgar passions; with its command over
their precarious means of living, it gives them
sharp lesson, if they show signs of contuma-
cy. What shall the poor non-slaveholders do,
but vote the privileged class into power, just as
often as election day comes round? They have
no knowledge Of public affairs, except what
comes to them through the distorting medium
Hi the policy Of their masters-no general in
cert with each other, and present fit candidates
srom among themselves. Incapable of indie
dependent action or thought, they have no po-
hlca Junction but to place in Office one or an
other of those who have stepped forward from
The slaveholding ranks to claim, by cunning or
gross appeals to some caprice of the hour, the
Preference of their doltish suffrage.
30 those who represent in public station the
SIX or seven millions of free people in the fifteen
slave States are invariably taken from among
The one or two hundred thousand shareholders
OF those States. If there has ever been some
SINGLE material exception TO the letter of this
remark 1t has been no exception to its spirit,
ior IT has been of some non-slaveholder. whose
devotion to the Slave Power Oligarchy was alb
solutely beyond suspicion. The Representatives
81 hiieen States, in the lower House of Congress.
'hosen under these circumstances, represent
Uat Ohgarchy. The Senators Of fifteen States
IlFly Senators out of sixty-two-chosen by
legislatures proceeding from such constitu-
ehcy, represent it. One hundred and twenty
voters, OF the two hundred and ninety six in the
'.ecioral colleges which choose President. rep
resent IT. With snch strength of its own in
these councils, it effectually and irresistibly
commands allied strength. Everywhere, as
Pranls Tor Federal office must bow down to 1t.
" give up their aspirations. Presidents must
squeeze into their place through its narrow door.
'abmet ministers, foreign ministers. Judges.
collectors, and so on. must have earned its good
Will by some recognised service, or they would
"ot have got nominated by the President, or
confirmed by the Senate. Twenty-odd thou
SANDS OF postmasters must have served 1t in
HGr respective neighborhoods, or be prepared
- iUSe their stlpends; and a host, that no man
"a" number, OF editors and their attaches, or
..ney VIII get no profitable contracts for print
ng' stationery, and sundries. And so IT comes
" pass that there is no village corner so remote
:" ule iand, where Its cheating and emasculating
power IS not In vigorous activity. In the North
~I' IN The South, IN the East and West, by an
n potent agency running into infinite details.
e most adTolt practical talent of the country
> subsidized to do IFS work. Its hirelings throw
's' IN me eyes OF their well meaning neigh
1T, IVY and the deluded become in their turn the
Il. s:. The honest citizen is outraged by
~ Ie Hhtelisence OF some new enormity of the
Have Power; but his newspaper tells him that
opposition would embarrass his party. and his
~ rlnis'er that it would endanger the Union.
lHe Wlre-pnIlers at the Conventions hint that
&c nad better be quiet, if he, or his son, or
eOIsil' wants crumb from the Treasury table;
a'i Inc same caution is suggested by the Di-
,'V'ofS OF the Bank, if it would be convenient
MN 10 have discount of a business note ::
'u ny the regulators of society, if he is averse
- excursion from the circles for the Money
over OF the North, which controls the saloons
- well as the exchanges, has itself sank into
;.s silehf OF that Slave Power, which, at Wash
ag'oh' arranges the tariffs of custom house du-
ahd grants and revokes Bank charters.
7, ~ perfect system did not grow up at once.
al was the capital result of long contrivance
NJ experiment.. The astonishing issue of the
0Iurl question, in 1920, showed the Slave
sarchy Its powers, and gave it great les
as 10 the means of future security and en-.
H. selnent. From the time of the passage of
,be n narih Act, nearly contemporaneous with
~, NliSSonn Compromise, the Northern people
tsn. 80 busy getting rich, that they had no at.
,4Ih 10 spare for the tolls which the South
tasnters were weaving. SO the latter con-
me- ed their opportunities, and matured their
In al leisure, pursuing the even tenor of
M nj way IN taking possession of the Govern.