Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-28
Book Notice.
MODERN REFORM EXAMINED; OR THE UNION OF
NORTH AND SoUTH ON THE SUBJECT OF
SLAVERY. By JOSEPH @. Stiles. PhiEa-
6eLDhin IL B. Li7pincOtt q Co.

NORTH AND SOUTH ON THE SUBJECT OF
SLAVERY. By JOSEPH @. Stiles. PhiZa-
delphia &: d. b. LippineOtt & Co.
The first portion of this title gives one the
idea Of all the " isms " which in this our day
arrogate to themselves the name of Reform"
but at the latter clause all this multitude
of /" black spirits and gray, " from the vastly
! deep " Of fanaticism vanish into air, as at the
! touch Of the enchanter, and in their stead re-
mains but one hideOus monster, the half hu-
! man BALI iendish Caliban of AbOLitiOnisma. In
| his examination of this particular phase of ia
naticism, this Soidisaat "RefOrm," the author
has addressed himself to three-fold work
1st, to inquire into and refute e1trens Anti
slavery views,-2nd, to place upon liberty and
slavery more just and proper estimate, than
now exists in most minds, and 3rd TO press
home to the thinking portion of both North
and South the duty and necessity of coDcia-
tory feelings and measures. He characterizes
this species of "Reform as arrogant, malig
naut, beligerent, impracticable, and deslruc-
tive, and his moral estimate of it is that in
conception it is a mistake,-in spirit it is an
immOrality,-and in operation il is a mischief"
1t has, he says, undertaken to accomplish a
work in the kingdom of God, while in itself it
lacks the very first essential of the spirit of
God 1. 6. the spirit of lore. Let it not be
supposed however, from this, that the work
before us is written in the same embittered
spirit of recriminaton and antagonism which
is so characteristic of the subject of which it
treats,-by no means. Tie writer does not
arrogate to himself iufallibility, nor pour down
anathemas upon the loathsome Caliban,-his
animadversiOns are made in the spirit of hu-
mility, and "in his tongue is the law of kind
ness" His idea is neither eternal slavery, nor
immediate emancipation, but he nationally
considers that to make freedom practical and
available benefit to the slpve he must first be
prepared TO receive it, which in his present
state of advancement he is most certainly not
In the existing aspect of things he sees, like
true philosopher, all for the best" He adopts
tie opinion Of WIiteiield that slavery has not
only been permitted, but especially ordered by
Providence, for the ultimate benefit of the At
rioan race. The earnestness with which he
gives expression to this idea, may be inferred
from the following brief extract: ITO this de-
graded, perisling people, the alternative was
this, slavery, or no Christianity. Savage
slavery at home, without the religion of Jesus,
or American slavery with it. Thu was the
issue which wicked men called upon God to
decide. Who doubts this factl What if Aboli-
tion intelligence had been called to the helm
at this time7 Why, think, my fellow men.
If the population brought TO our shores had
been placed 10 any other-yes, in any other
posi- BILE position than this very relation of
master and sLase, they would Lave persisted
from the earth 10 the first generation, aud the
multitude OF them who have gone to heaven,
had never sung its songs, and Gods great mis-
sionary enterprise have long since been recor-
ded failure. / boldly affirm that in any
other possible relation than the relation of mas
ter aud slave, the imported population could
no more have clothed, and fed, and housed,
and stimulated, and restrained, aud guided,
aud taught, and improved, and preserved, aud
multiplied themselves from the date of their
Introduction into the country, than they
could have bailed out the ocean aud gone back
to Africai"
On the whole we think this q work written
in the right spirit,-the spirit of kindness and
brotherly love. We can oonscientiously re-
commend IL to the consideration OF every
Abolitionist, FIR we believe that a careful pc
rusal Hsust unfold to him the fallacy Of his
reasoning, and the impractcability Of his sys-
TEN, aud We would slso commend il to the
slave holder, since We deem il must arouse him
to new life in regard 70 his duties, and res
possibilities while it will be advantageous
TO both, from the kindly spirit and oonoiliatory
feelings which il ineuleaIes, aud which
must leave their good impression upon every
uuprejudieed mind.
This work is for sale at the bookstore Of ".
7. Berry &Co.