The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-09-09
SIayery--Its Influence.

We publish in another column, the
particulars of a horrid outrage committed
on a Save. We know it is unpleasant to
read of such brutality. 1t calls up feel
ings of horror, and disgust, and bitterest
execration. Had such an outrage been
inflicted upon white man by another,
had biroted fanatics in the frenzy of re-
ligious excitement so prosecuted a here
tic, christendom would speak its rebuke
in thunder tones, and staid, conservative
and godly journals, would have waxed
fierce with righteous Indignation" But
it is only '.nigger" who hasssnffered, a
faithful, grey haired slave, who had nursed
his master in infancy, and toiled for him
through the years of manhood, who has
been subject to such torture, and the mind
educated to indifference to the wrongs OF
the black man, Will feel momentary dis
gust and dismiss the subject. Now we
do not claim that Col. n. is q fair type
of shareholders. But he proves that the
character of Legree in "Uncle Toms Cab
in" is a verify, a portrait of living men,
and not monster existing only IN the
heated imagination of fanatical abolition
lists" But we do claim that the influence
of slavery is to produce just such charac-
ter, and Just such scenes as this. They
are necessary sequence. They follow
upon its existence as surely as coro lary
follows a mathematical demonstration.
The whole system is unjust, rotten and
superlatively sinful, and its corruption
will break forth in Just such blots and ex-
cresenees as this Instead of subdulng
and controlling the passions, 1t gives them
wider scope and power. Gentihtv and
refinement lose somewhat of their sweet
ness and charm, while the brutal by ma
ture become demons in practice. And
vet the pure and peaceful Church Of
Christ, the Church whose strength, and
grace, and glory is LOVE, shields such
monster in its bosom, and some of its
ablest Divines fear to rebuke the sin, and
its most powerful journals throw over the
cursed institution the mantle of labored
apology.
We are not an Abolitionist. We do
not unfortunately condemn all slave
holders. We believe mauy of them feel
the ininstice and impurity of the system,
and heartily wish to be rid of it. We
would not NEEDLE with them. We would
let them ''work out their own salvation"
But VIC arc a Prohibitionist. We would
say to slavery: come no farther, pollute
no. another foot of soil: and we have
nothing but severest censure, and stoutest
opposition for that man, or that party, or
that church, which defends the system OF
fails to oppose its farther extension.
We do not aim to be partisan poll
tician, but we rejoice that there is party
national and freedom loving, youthful but
strong, mighty in the justice of its cause,
the ability of its advocates, and the intel
Ggence of its supporters, which is pledged
to strive to preserve our territories inyio-
late from the concentrating influence and
bitter injustice of human servitude.
For the success of this principle and
the party which advocates it, we shall..ea
estly labor, and in every reverse Of for
tune VIC shall still look for future succe SIS,
for
Truth though crushed, will rise again,
The eternal years of God are hers