The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-04-29

We alluded recently to one Of the dark
est features of slavery-its humiliation OF
the marriage relation. No slave woman
in all the South has ever been, or can be
married. She lives with man Just so
long as it suits her masters pleasure, and
no longer. Many Ministers of the Cos
pei at the North, who are horrifed at the
idea Of church members dancing, have
not word to cay against this open and
shameless adultery which the Southern
church sanctions and defends. What kind
of revival would SUCH minister be like
ly to awaken?
But We sat down to call the attention
of our readers to another darl. feature of
American Slavery. So far as it has the
power, it destroys the intellect Of the slave
In most of the slave states it is q crime
TO teach slave to read the Bible. Why I?
Because the body can only be enslaved
by surrounding the spirit with mental
darkness. Permit man 10 understand
the duties which he owes to himself, to
mankind, and to God, and be cannot be a
slave"
Hence, said the Hon ]. R. Giddings.
in his grand speech in the House Of Rep
resentatiyes, Feb. 26:
The whole policy Of slaveholding Govern
nents is arranged and adapted 10 the purpose
of first enslaving the minds Of their bondmen.
In most slayeholding communities. il is a stat
utory offence, punishable by fine and impris-
-onment, TO teach slaves TO read the gospel
They are not permitted to read the words of
" Him who spake - never man spake :" who
declared His mission on earth "to proclaim
hberty to The capfire;" to raise up the bowed
down; enlightcn the ignorant; who taught
His disciples and followers to do unto 9th
erE as they would have others do unto them. ="
4 distinguished jurist OF North Carolina, while
dischaFging his official duties declared, a
slave IS one doomed in lis own person and
posterity 70 iics 1-ttoU iR0clsdge" He is not
permitted TO understand the object Of human
existence He can have no conception Of jus
.I'ee, or ac'tdoR or purify or truth. Slaves can
nave no correct idea Of the duties which chill
.dTen owe 10 their parents, nor Of those which
are due from parents 70 children. The parent
rs not permitted TO teach or govern his child
nor is the chila permitted 10 honor OF obey his
parent
The right Of legal marriage Is unknown
Ano&E thS slaves. They are not permitted to
unders.an9 the relation nor the duties Of hus-
band and Rife. The master sells him who is
called has5Gnd or her who calls herself wife.
while he retains the other, tie sells the pa
rent, and retains the child or he sells the child
and retains the parent, These separations are
but the practical workings of that inddelity
which denies to parents and children those in
alienable rights which God and nature have
bestowed upon them,
"Ihe Legitimate heir Of a plantation. on COM
ing into possession of his estate. often sells
the children of his father-his brothers and
sisters Of the half blood-GepviDr thai tbev
:" have any rights which white men are hoprd
10 respect. This inhdelity denies the right
OF sI hundred thousand females Of our Land
10 protect their own virtue, and consigns them
10 practical prostitution. This state Of soc;e-
" Is but the outworking of that infdelitv
winch denies the existence of mans inaliepa-
oie rlgat to liberty and to moral elevation.
IL would be in vain for US 10 saw 70 the
Shfistans Of Europe, or even the Nohammed.
'HA Oi turkey, that religious men OF our conn
=. support such system OF pollution. Yet