Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-01-24
NEGRO SLAVERY PROTECTED BY
HEAVEN.

Who can doubt that negro slavery as estsh-
lished in the Southern States is under the d.
rect care and protection of an over-ruling Provi-
dence? For the first quarter of the present
century, there were few men South of the Po-
tomac even, who did not regard our "peculiar
institution" in the light of necessary evil
False notions of equality and sickly sentiments
ofphilanthropy were taking possession ofminds
the most practical and sensible, in every part
of our country; and this pressure opinion had
nearly resulted in convincing shareholders
themselves that they were the instruments Of
unchristian oppression. About this time God
in His wisdom saw fit to originate the-society
of Abolitionists, whose part it should be to
wage most, bitter opposition to our Southern
system of domestic servitude. The history of
this fraternity, both in England and America,
has been too often told to require repetition.
1t is clearly deducible from that history, that
the Abolitionists were led on by Heaven, for
purpose not then manifested, to the promul-
cation of principles the most exaggerated and
schemes the most seuseless. We maintain that
this purpose is now made clear, and was moth
ing less from the first than the moral compul-
sion of holders to examine thoroughly
the grounds upon which their mathematical
institution rested. Did consequences ever more
entirely vindicate the means employed? What
are these consequences Briefly as follows ::
Whereas, African slavery was once looked up
on with many colorings of doubt by slave-own-
ers themselves, it has now been proven by the
soundest deductions of reason and philosophy
to be the hest and most righteous condition of
servitude ever established among man; and
Southern masters have embraced it anew with
their understandings enlightened and their
consciences justified. Whereas, twenty-five
years ago, there was not one man in thous-
and outside of the Southern States who did
not believe holders to be race of cruel
task masters, now there arc numbers every
where who have seen the fallacy of such an
opinion exposed, and, seeing, have had the
fairness to admit their error. Whereas, not
many years since Southerners were looked up
on as but the Sodomites of modern days, now
discussion is illustrating the truth that they
are the favored agents of Heaven in dispens-
ing among the nations of earth the most valu-
ed Of the varied productions Of human indus
try Whereas, it was assumed that the career
of the slave States would speedily be tcrmina-
ted by the retributive vistations of an incens-
cd Providence, it is now argued, with a pow
ertu display OF reasons aud facts, that their
system is just such as the old Testament scrip
lures recognised aud the Savior Himself ap-
proved Thus, the spirit Of Abolitionism has
been permitted to institute its hostility and to
gather power through series of years. for the
evident purpose of drawing forth from the ad-
vocates of African Slavery triumphant vindi-
cation of the soundness of the 'institution,"
socially, politically and religiously. And the
result has been that it is now impregnably sur
rounded by the affections and convictions rs
we'll as the interests of the whole Southern
people. Is there anything short Of Providen-
tial agency in this?
Again, the fate of St. Domingo has been
pointed to repeatedly, as the one which the
slave States of the American Union are likely
to realize. But there is very different inter-
pretation that may be given to this terrible
chapter of the worlds history. The rational
and unbiased mind sees in it demonstration,
by the Almighty's own hand, adverse in every
point of view to the prospects Of Abolitionism.