The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-08
AN ENGLISH VIEW OF AMERICAN SLAVERY.

An English gentleman James Sterling) has
written a volume, giving his experiences in the
slave States of this country. He is candid in
his statements, evidently an unprejudiced tray
eller and spectator, and inclined to apologize
for the slave-owners, as the readers will learn
from the following paragraph, extracted from
his volume:
"Let us be Just to the South. Let US not
wrong the slave-owner in denouncing Slavery.
The system is a vicious one, but there are con-
scientious men who regard it as a good institu-
ton, and yet more who look on it as a neces.
sary evil. We must not forget that the slave
owners of these States have been born and bred
in land of Slavery, and that they inherited
the prejudices with the property of their fathers
" If we take generous view of the position
of the South, she will appear entitled to our
kindliest sympathies. Herself high-spirited
and refined community, she is brought into
antagonism with all civilized society. The
convictions of the world condemn her. She is
the Pariah of civilization. The consciousness
OF this moral outlawry gals a people at once
sensitive and proud and hence those out
bursts, which seem to US to partake almost of
the character of frenzy, are but the exacerba
tons of that chronic irritation which is gnaw-
ing continually at its heart The South, too,
knows full well the evils connected with her
social system. Who should know them better {?
In her secret heart, she feels and deplores the
plague that is upon her, but is too proud to
confess her pains. With Spartan fortitude, she
smiles in the worlds face, while her inward
vitals are consumed"
This volume has already attracted consider.
able attention in England, and also in America
from the fact that it is so candidly and impair
TALLY written. The author, after travelling
slowly through the slave States, converting
with the planters, and mingling with all classes
in the South, the slaves not excepted, comes to
the conclusion that Slavery is impoverishing
the South and destroying her best interests.
He agrees exactly with Mr.. Olmsted, in his
opinions Of the workings of the institution. He
says:
"The truth is, Slavery cannot continue in
the South. The governing class Of the South
is too highly civilized to co.exist with Slavery.
The incongruity is too great between a barba
rous institution and a refined people. Slavery
and high civilization are contradiction a
monstrosity, an absurdty. The South has not
had Justice done her by the world nor has she
done justice to herself. Strangers have con-
cluded that the South was barbarous, because
she holds by q barbarous institution, while the
South herself exalts Slavery as a powerful ele.
ment of her high civilization. Both are wrong
the South is refined community, but it is In
spite of Slavery; and the contradiction between
her social system and her state of culture is so
gross that 1t cannot long continue. Slavery
may subsist in Brazil or Cuba, among degene
rate, sensual races, but it cannot exist side by
side with AngloSaxon civilization. Whether
viewed geographically or historically, Slavery
and civilization are manifestly incompatible
The course OF all modern civilization has been
from sertdom to freedom. Are the Southern
States OF the American Union to exhibit the
sole anomaly? Are they alone. of all nations.
to reverse the course of history and eiviliza
tion2 Or is it not more probable that thew
too, ere long, will follow the usual course Of
human progress, and rid themselves of this fatal
anachronism? L respect the people of the
South too highly to doubt it."
This English view of Slavery we commend
to the attention of intelligent Southern gentle
men. The South cannot afford to laugh at the
honest opinions of the civilized world respect.
ing her favorite institution. 1t must seem To
the most ultra Slavery defender, to say the
least, a little strange that the civilized world
agrees in condemning her I" social system.n II
should at least provoke thought, and a susui-
cion that there is something wrong in the pe-
culiar institution.
Here is view in perspective worth looking
at-indeed, it strikes US that it is much better
looking at it in this way than as a present re.
ality. Says Mr.. Sterling:
"The slaves of the more northern States
have somehow become more intelligent than
they were. have been quite struck with the