The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-08-07

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est Of hypocrites.
1t Is very clear, and requires
no demonstration, that European nations did
not regard tho American declaration as en-
bracing the African"
This is what the erudite editor OF the
Democra, SAYS, and he does not say that
he has borrowed either ideas or words.
Now mark how great minds agree
After quoting the Declaration of indie
pendence, rs follows, I'VE hold these
truths To be self.evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable
rights, that among them are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, that to Sc
cure these rights, governments are instl-
tuted, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed" Judge fancy,
in the bred Scott decision, says:
Z" The general words above quoted, seem
TO embrace the whole human iamily, and
if they were used in similar instrument
ut this day, would be 80 understood. But
il is too clear for dispute, that the enslaved
African race was not intended TO DO includ-
ed, and formed no part Of the people who
framed and adopted this Declaration Tor, ii
the language, as understood in that day,
would embrace them, toe conduct OF the
distinguished men who framed the Declare
ton Of Independence, would have been ut
terly and aisrantly inconsistent with the
principles they asserted (; and instead Of the
sympathy OF mankind, TO which they %
confidently appealed, they would have dc
served and received universal rebuke and
reprobation.
Yet the men who framed this Declare.
ton were great men-high in their sense OF
honor. and incapable Of asserting principles
inconsistent with those on which they were
acting. They perfectly understood the mean.
ing of the language they used, and how II
would be understood BY others; and they
knew that il would not, in any part Of the
civilized world, be supposed to embrace tn:
negro race, which, by common consent, have
been excluded from the family OF nations
and doomed 10 Slavery. This state OF pub
lie opinion had undergone no change wher
the Constitution was adopted" (Dred Scot
Us. Sanford, 4lO.)
Such parity of reasoning and of idea'
is most remarkable. The editor of thu
Democrat says the signers OF the Decla
ration were either hypocrites, or they die
not mean TO include the black race within
the meaning Of the instrument, when the.
said, AL men are created equal, de- &C.
So does Judge Taney. The editor OF th'
| Democrat saws, that the European nations
did not regard the American declaration
as embracing the African; 80 does Judg'
fancy. The editor of the Democra
saws, when the Constitution was formed
nothing was placed therein to give colo
to the idea that the African had an,
rights; aud 50 does Judge fancy. How
great minds agree,
Our object being to show the co-inci
denccs of great minds, and not to answer
false assumptions, or explain seeming in
Inconsistencies between the preaching ant
practice of the siguers Of the Declaratic l
Of Independence, We might elcsc with tit
simple suggestion Of an opinion that ha
no%ncrit of originality, that the signer
OF the declaration, did intend to asser
principles of universal application to th'
whole human family, the black as well a
white, upon which they supposed all gov
emmeuts should be instituted, and upoi
which they meant to base the government
they were DESTROYS OF establishing; anc
they intended to say to the world, that a
Tar rs they could, and at as earl y perio'
as was consistent with the public safety
they would give them their broadcast ap
plication. They had not then heard tina
the scriptures justified aud upheld slavery
and in the simplicity of their hearts, be
licved that the teachings Of Christ an,
the promptings of humanity both agreed
in enforcing the great truths of the civ
equality of man and his moral accounta
1 L..
bilty. They may have been inconsistent
but were not hypocrites, nor would the
have been guilty Of asserting such practi
cal atheism, as is contained in the view
which federal office holders and Slave
holding Judges now take of the scope G
the Declaration of Independence.
Before closing We will suggest that tn
explanation of the Declaration given b
the editor of the Democrat and Judg
fancy, in their chapter of coincidence
suggests very convenient hypothesis b.
which men belonging to the church, AM
iuttItstcu III NhrlSuah a>roSn'iVhS an'
who believe in Slavery and apologize 70
its spread, may dispose OF it, quiet thei
conscienccs ii any they have prcserv'
their party relations and enjoy the per
quisi,es OF small or biz Office under thu
federal government. Nj that is necessa
y for them to do, is to place the blacl
mans soul out Of the range Of the gospel
assume that the truths OF Gods holy wore
and of his salvation have no applicabiit,
to the black man, that the promises o,
the gospel are not for him, its commands
do not rest upon him, and that he is tc
have no part in the resurrection,-tha;
the Bible was made by white men fol
II