The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-03-08

u
Ir is wonderful what confusion of
ideas is prOdisced in the popular mind in
respect to any subject, by bringing it into
the field of party politics. Its aspect is
totally changed. 1t tbecemes amenable to
an entirely new system Of laws. The
light that falls upon it is refracted and
thrown in every direction but the true
one, and, in thousands Of cases, the rules
of right and wrong are made to undergo
complete reversal This is especially |
the case with that class of subjects touch
ing which there are set up considerations
of philanthropy. When the charities are
introduced as motives of political action,
it Is time to begin to dread the reign of
false reasoning, and of conclusions ad-
hered to with pertinacity equal to their
falsity. OF these, slavery is the subject,
in modern times, most fruitful in unsound
reasoning and incorrect conclusions This
is almost equally true of both sides of the
slavery question; and >, consequently, so
illy-adapted has been the policy of both
parties to the. ends in view, that, if we
could see the whole field as it really is,
we should probably discover that the most
efficient practicsl nboiitiunists have been
the pro-slaSery men bf the South, while
those who have, in reality, done the most
to spread and perpetuate slavery, are men
professedly devoted to its destruction.
This looks paradoxical; but there is in
it more truth than many people suppose.
Let us cite case: Mr.. FRANCIS P. BLAIR,
Of the St Louis District in Missouri,
Member of Congress, is devoted to the
expulsion of slavery from the State of his
residence. He goes to Boston, is received
there as a philanthropist engaged in the
business of giving practical force to the
maxim that all mankind are born free
and equal, re-delivers his Congressional
speech about neTo-colonization under
the name of a lecture, is accepted as a
champion of universal human liberty,
and by some foolish people, who suppose
r that Republicanism and anti-slavery are
identical, and have no notion of the diff
ference between one anti-slavery, and
another, set up as the Republican candi-
date for the Vice Presidency. Now, what,
in reality, does Mr.. BLAIR want2 Simply
to make Missouri free State-to get the
slaves out of it. And whathas this to do
with anti-slavery or abolition? Not any
, thing, necessarily. To outlaw slavery
/; within the State of Missouri, and to dis
solve the relation which exists between
the masters of Missouri and their human
property, are two things essentially diff
ferent When the former is done and all
its effects realized, there may not be one
; bondman the less in the entire Union
r not one.
I 1t is true that Mr.. BLAIR has plan fc,
q the disposal of the negroes of Missouri
y and the other States, if they should hap
D pen to become emancipated, Of which h,
!; is greatly in favor-the principal difficult,
8 with which is, that it is mere vision ant
totally impracticable. He would hay'
d them colonized to some part of Centra
!, America, under the auspices of the ma
a tional government, there to make sur
. prising advances in civilization and re
: fnement What constitutional power th'
q government has to undertake such an en-
!. terprise is an unsettled question; ant
= how the negroes-suppose they are mad
y free-are to be prevailed upon to inhabi
s. their Utopia, does not appear. This, how
ever, is incidentalp the principal thin,
D being to put an end to slavery in Mis-
2, souri,.
. Now there is no objection to this, s
T that it is properly done, and the rights O
sr none are unjustly invaded. 1t is prope
: that citizen of Missouri should desire t
l6 have his State numbered among the fre
., members of the Confederacy; but VIII
: such man-however much of philar
o. thropic finery he may hang around hi
!" propositions---is to be considered an apo
m tie of the doctrine of human equality, it
az al not easy to see. His anti-slayery in Mi
e. souri, is simply, in its practical effect, pr
ch slavery somewhere else. The State
p.s bettered, her economical condition in
1s' proved, her inhabitants made to bear
more thriving appearance; but her n
Pc groes, with here and there an exception
Ill -r ~ =, 10.
ise have gone South, to more severe ar
%: hopeless slavery. b. t'
BY ,-.,... Mn,,.I aIstak. ~. fa'