True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-07-08
For the True American.
Domestic Institutions.
DY ". 4. uRauHARE.

Mr.. EDITOR -
This article may be deemed an intru-
sion on your patience, and condemned for
occupyings SO much space in your columns
(ifit should be so truly fortunate as TO be
placed there, that might be filed with
more interesting and instructive matter.
But pardon the anxiety Of one that de-
sires 10 contribute mite in elevateing the
national standard of his country, by
asserting the divine rights Of mankind, in
opposition to human slavery, and all the
concomitant evils, attendant thereon.
It requires not the wisdom Of Solo,
mon, or The sagacity OF Pitt, nor the
impassioned eloquence of Wilberforce
to convince the Democratic power of our
Union, that slavery is curse of the most
fearful magnitude, or that it is their duty
to feaIlessly resist its farther extension
and influence over our destiny but with
u just conception of its enormity, cease
mol to battle the monster until every stain
is obiterated from the crest Of our ma
tional honor, and the hallowed songs Of
freedom be chanted from one extremity of
our Union 10 the o,ner. Such vices are
imposed upon country when its people
are comparatively ignorant of their inevi-
table consequences, and when they bow
to the shrine Of power, and tamely acqul-
esce IN the opinions of those in authority.
By reference TO the history of the past,
we will find that almost all the great so.
cial and political evils that affiict mankind
owe their origin 10 that period in the
worlds history when the masses were
swayed by superstition, and unconscious
of their own ability to resist, or yet assert
their rights as royal subjects.
1t has been remarked with peculiar
force and emphases, that the tremendous
power of The vatican, gave to that relig-
ion, every element Of strength and solidity,
and almost universally an influence over
the desinies of the world.
Hence, when we contemplate the an
cient history of Europe, the "dark ages"
are revealed before us pregnant with
all the vices and conspicuous for all
the enormties that an ignorant and en-
slaved people could possibly submit to,
by the Vaccinations and effrontery Of a
reckless and unprincipled prieslhood.-
But when Luther doff'd the ponti6cal
robes, and boldly and fearlessly waged
all uncompromiseing war against the gov
ernment of 81. Peters, faint ray of sun
shine began to penetrate the dark recess
es of Catholic barbarsm, and the flimsy
net of ponli6cial authority that had rested
upon the cupridity of The people so long,
gave way to the genial influences of chris
lianity and intelligence, and the dark por.
tentious clouds Of superstition dispersed
from the horizon of Northern Europe
the people rejoced for their timely de-
liverance from being bound 10 the "chari-
ot.wheels" Of Rome, and justly proclaim
ed Luther the "Re(ormer of the world" "
1t is remarkable truth of history, tha,
all these great nalionel evils were insti'
tuted and nourished when the masses
were entirely ignorant of the first princi
pies Of self.government, or at least wher
they lacked the foresight to trace out the
evils that would necessarily follow..to theil
own enslavement and disadvantage, and
what stigma it cast upon the nation
that with false notion of political and
national wealth, feslered the illegilimate
infant, until it reached an herculian man
hood of strength and Importance, when i
defed the ability 10 abolish, and ever
threatened the government with dissolu
tion, and the worst Of anarchy, II they
dared attempt to lop the disgraceful ex'
cresence from the body polite. But
christianity awakened the slumbering fac
ullies Of mankind, and by the knowledg'
of their own inherent strength. the popu
lar will assumed power that made thes,
tyrants Of the will, quail and trembl
with fear, and accede 10 them those lib
rites that their ancestors had submitte
TO be deprived of, through ignorance o
their natural rights.
Thus the institution of American sla
very was fastened upon our country
when our fathers were too feeble 10 re
sis. it, and even before they were .awar
of its dangerous and subversiye ,enden
cies. The North with a conviction Of il
wrongs, unloosed the letters Of her OF
pressed slaves and set them free. TIL
. South deaf to the appeals Of humanity
TO the agonies Of the suffering bondman-
to her own interest and emolument, sti
. holds on with bold and death-like te
h naciy. But thank Heaven because sac
evils have been endured for centuries,
no reason why they should be endure