New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-17
COBB on SLAVERY.

In former article, we have gwen az some length
our opinion oa Mr. C0bb's Historical Sketch of
Slavery, which forms the first part Of the above
volume. We now proceed to consider that part
Of il which relates to the Law Of Negro Slavery.
Mr.. Cobb proposes to consider that law as it ex-
ISIS in the United States to examine into its orr
gin, foundation and present condition; to note
the striking differences in the legislation Of the
slayehoding States, and occasionally to suggest
amendments TO the existing laws. The twenty
two chapters embraced in this volume include,
however, but part of this comprehensive design.
Tn his first chapter, Mr.. Cobb undertakes to re-
fute the doctrine, universally laid down both By writ
ers on civil and common law that Slavery is contrary
to natural law. He begins, as might be expected,
with learned and elaborate attempt TO confuse
and befog the minds of his readers and TO make
them doubt whether, after all, there is any such
thing as natural law: whether jurists in talking
about law of nature have had in fact, any definite
idea of what they meant by it, But, however
writers upon natural law may have bungled in de-
fning it, there cannot be the least doubt as To
what they mean by it, to witt the dictates OF a
sensitive conscience under the guidance of an en-
lightened understanding-the rule of conduct
! which just and intelligent man would prescribe
for himself and others, a. distinguished from those
fixed customs and special enactments which go to
make up all bodies of positive laval such bodies
Of positive law being, more or less, depraved and
distorted, on the one hand by ignorance, on the
other, by the selfisness and sefseeking Of the law
giving class. In the definition of natural law,
which Mr.. Cobb, after raising great deal of learn.
ed dust, finally condescends to adopt, thereis We
must say, most decided squint to the very prac-
ticc Of looking out for number one, in which ORR
ginatc most of the deformties OF positive codes
dctormties which Mr.. Cobb seems strongly in
cned TO saddle upon the law of nature itself He
defines that law to be 4" the obligation which rea-
son and conscience impose upon man, so to shape
his course to attain the greatest happiness and
arrive at the greatest perfection OF which his nature
is susceptible" Having thus defined natural law 10
suit himself and his occasions, our author pro-
ceeds at his leisure to demonstrate, first, an OBJ
legation imposed by reason and conscience upon
white men to make slaves of negroes-for he
takes specially to limit his proposition to the
relations of negroes and white men; and, secondly
an obligation imposed by reason and conscience
upon negroes to allow themselves to be made slaves
of by white men; whence he arrives most logically
and exultingly at the conclusion that the corpus
juris cirHis and the common lawyers of England
and America have fallen into total mistake-and
that negro Slavery, so far from being prohibited by
natural law, is specially enjoined by it.
The line of argument by which he establishes
4; e+o nj al
his conclusion rests, is this; White men are su-
perior race: black men are an inferior race. Left
to Themselves, black men don't like to work. Ii is
therefore, the right and duty of the white men TO
compel them to work-for which points he cites as
his only authority the learned DIR. Carlye-and, by
way of compensation, to appropriate TO themselves
the entire proceeds of that work, deducing there
from SO much thereof as may be necessary to keep
the negroes in working conditionas to which latter
point not even Or. Carlyle bears him out. Nor
have the negroes any right TO complain of this.
In fact they are bound in reason Of they have any,
ard conscience which Mr.. Cobb admits them to
have) quietly and gladly to submit to this dlsci.
pine; because they are not only thus secured in
livelihood, whereas otherwise, through their i'll
NlDClUt ldZiuteS uuluTlt, lutl Noulu Ut III
constant danger of starvine-(the interior of AZ
rica, according 10 al accounts has forty millions
of negroes, who, without any white aid, contriye
TO keep body ard soul together)- but because also
uIder the white mans tuition. they have improved
ply scslly, morally and r,ligiously and have been
carried on from state of utter barbarism to one
of comparative civilization. Comparative anato-
-, 81. 1aH 70 h.. al. 81.
negro peculiarly fits him for tlA endurance of the
heat Of long continued Summers therefore, con.
cludes Mr. Cobb, he ought to be compelled To
labor in the sun as the slave of somebody else
The "arched leg and receding heel [bcside af.
foIding so much matter for Southern witt seem
10 indicate natural preparation for strength and
endurance" Therefore the possesscrs ofthese legs
and heels ought Ia be obliged TO labor aud endure
for the benefit of master. The arched dome
of the head, and the perpendicuarty of the yerte-
bra column, are said by an ohseryant writer, To be
characteristic, and TO fit the negro peculiarly for
the bearing of burdens upon the head There
fore, he ought to be compelled to carry ience-ras
and other burdens for the white mans convenience
and benefit. Mr.. Cobb also insists that the negro
cannot reason. and that "a prominent defect in
his mental organization is a want of Judgment"
though il is conceded that he has tolera.
bic memory. This is delicate subject. Ii Mr.
Cobb Will allow us i'll sll kindness, 10 give hun
hint, il were best for him not TO dwell upon it,
There is an old and very discreet saying that those
who live in glass houses should not throw stones
1t is pretty plain from Mr.. Cobb's book though il
does show an e1ccllen. memory, that nciPacity TO
reason snd lack of Judgment are not confined to ne
eToes. SO long as be limits himself to airing his