Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-10-31
FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER
PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF SLAVERY
Bf W. A. SMITH, D. D.,

FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 81,
PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF SLAVERY,
By W. A. SMITH d. D..
President OF Randolph Macon College, Va.
Machuiay somewhere makes q remark TO this ef-
feet: "Ihc foremost minds Of the world proceed
abreast, and are ever employed in the solution Of the
same moral, social end physcal problems" The re-
mark is true far it extends bu omits the larger
and better part Of the truth.
The practical men OF the world, in matters of moral
and political science, are always ahead Of the ure.
most minds the philosophers. The former begin TO
act and tile latter begin to think. The unconscious
iutuitive aud Involuntary beliefs Of practical men,
bsget action proceeding from those beliefs long be.
fore philosophers dstect, expose aud generalzs the
REASONS which Justify their conduct.
For several Years pat the slave trade has been
prosecuted with renewed vigor and in new and nul.
| Piled orms At the South we have the Chinese
Cooley aud African apprentice slave trade, added to
- the old and orthodox Guinea trade; whilst, at the
North, nearly half million Of white immigrants are
imported annually, valued by Mr. Greeley at a thou
sand dollars head; and besides, the Emigration
Aid Society is carrying on slave trade TO Kansas,
which, according the lucid account of Senator Sum.
ner, would, but for the Border Rufiians prove more
lucrative 10 tie kndhocrs than African slavery, be-
cause free labor is cheaper than slave labor
Border rutnan aud Southern fbuoerng philan.
thropy, are sraning every nerve to improve the con-
dItion OF the white man by extending the arena Of
African slavery, and thus re lderng cheaper and
more plentiful the products Of negro slave labor,
OpCOna ner nj tI,o
eat OF the whites. Abolition 6ibusternc phan.
throp!, with more OF zeal and less of chivary would
free all the blacks, in order to obtain wider OPEN
Ing for American white slavery capital, which they
may truly contend, is for the present, far better than
slavery to capital in Europe. Mr.. GreeIey's white
slaves to capital no doubt as much improved in
Condition by removal to American slavery to capal
as Africans are, by exchanging slavery to negro
masters a, home for slavery to white masters in the
South. The same moral and intellectual movement
is. however impellnC to action the saints Of Boston
sni the siuners al the South, and each equally
concious Of the conviction that propsis them.
The Government Of England quite as distinguish.
I'd for its instructive and intuitive Common sense,
as for its want Of philosophy. has caught the intec
ton, and after 10 vain trying the African and Cooley
slavery extension" backs out Of the ls,hmus en-.
courages Walker, curses the log cabin, aud hopes
| Cuba will soon be annexed to America. The border
States becoming the friends Of the peculiar i'll
| ,titution" and abolition, seeing all ChrstendOm turn
inc against them has become reckless and desperate
and refuses IN give the immigrants from all Chris
| endon voice in determining their social system,
alleging reason that if permitted to do they
would introduce negro slavery into al the territories
now and probably into the free States hereafter
| A great reaction the whole slavery subject is in
pusy operation butt did Rot begin with the philoso'
piers. II bogan with politicians and other practical
| men, who were impe!led by involuntary and uucon
| S ,ous belefs Siuce the death of Mr.. Calhoun, we
10 not think word has been uttered in Congress In
justification OF the Slavery Principle, yet Southern
members have been zealousy advocating its eIen-
sion operated on BY convictions of which they were
| unconscious.
II ia fine high time, however that should
n .h,o - rive q reason "for the faith that is in us
md show the principles which our conduct is found
| ed, and by which it is us,ifei. The pseudo "rose
water philanthropy, taught first by Py:hagoras,
and revived By philosopher Greeley, tho. would feed
poor whites, like the pslasg and other
setable diet in order that negroes may revert to
wage dlenes. paSsnism and cannibalism, is going
of fashion. a broader, robust aud healthy phi.
antbropy, iuducted into the world by F!ibu.ters and
Border Rnfians, is actively engaged in e1pelng the
useless nuxious and irreclanabe Indian, and in en-
forcing labor and civilization on tho negro. Tins
they advancing not only he greatest good of the
greatest number, but at the same time advancing the
cause OF Christianity morality aud enlightened civlli
zatou.
We welcome DR.. Smiths book, not only because it
supplies desideratum in moral, social, ethical and
political science, but because it does honor to the
nascept literature of the South. 1t will compare very
fayorably with any philosophical work that has issued
from the American press. 1t is alike distinguished
by its lucid order its terse concise, yet comprehen
siye dction its fervd eloquence, ts metaphy scal
scumen, it's profound and original thought, and its
cose consecutive aud inexorable logic Pure robust
and healty morality and orthodox Christianity are
seen aud felt throughout its pages. In politics it il
conservative but not timid. It's distinguishing char
aceriscs we think, are its consciousness Of moral
rectitude and of intellectual power; and tho con.
sciousness is justly founded for the reader always
feels that he is in the company and under the guild
ance of Just, benevolent, upright and strong man.
Power great power, is the distinctive feature Of this
work. On first perusal we have found but single
blenish. The Doctor no doubt conscienousy thinks
the influence Of the Catholic Church antcnnserva.
i've We think the influences of that Church. and OF
all the orthodox and we'll established Christian
Churches, enncn!ly conservative Ignorant Cutho.
lies migrate to this country. The Church keeps
Il. IL -, ovda ~ Ib,>l;o
thew would be more rotou., radical and dangerous
We will not say this book should be in the hands
OF every one for every one would not read it, But
il should be carefully read and studied by every legs.
lator, every politician, every LAWYER every divine,
and by every thinking man. Many persons fond of
reading are aversc to thought. To such. we recon
mend Miss Murray Travels, Rev. Nehemiah Adams
"South. Side View OF Slavery" and c. Edward Les
ter's"Glory and Shame of England" They are all
well written books but are what is called eight read
ng," and yet convey much valuable information as
to the relative merits OF slave and free society.
Dr. Smith has written we'll and done much service
to the South and to the cause OF sound morality and
social science but he has not done enough. He has
given the affirmative proof that slavery is right
full institution He should write another book and
give us the negative proof His recent addresses
throughout portion of Eastern virgin:a show that
he can demonstrate theoretically, that SO called free
socety il, in the long run, inp7ac,icabls nnd iulce.
rab!e aud clinch The proof Of his theory bv citation
Of facts and statistics from the history and experience
of such societies. This negative evidence is abun.
dant, easy OF access, more readily comprehended and
far less difficult to handle than the rigid philosophical
demonstration which the Doctor has employed in the
work OF which we treating.
THINGS IN TENNESSEE.
The following telsgraphc despatch, dated at Mem
phis, Tenn. Oct. 2Sth waa ,eceived at the ENQUIRER
office yesterday morning: