The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-08-17

| mas been Wnen HeeLS ana armies, anu SuDSl0
ers were the principle reliance even in tn
best cause" This remark is predicated on tn
same principle in human nature to which MI
Winthrop alludes, and which he denominate
''the non-expectant system" 1t is grounde,
on the rant Of faith an the truth itself In Al
human progress, there are but two agencies
and they are, the free agency of man, and tn
truths that theoretically regulate the socia
state. Now the office of reformers is very
plain one. They have to work in strict sub
ordination to the supremacy of the truth it
self and in subordination to the free agency
of man, which free agency becomes an obliged
and improperly obliged agency whenever re
formers urge moral progress by other means
than the truth itself-especially when they
urge it by 'bludgcry. or bowie knives, thu
revolver, or the rife
That reformer acts as a tyrant--acts witt
intemperance-acts with intolerance WHIT
seeks to advance his race in the scale of be
ing by temporal agencies that interfere witt
their fTCe agency and the legitimate sssi1encs
of the truths of the social state.
The duty of reformer in the social rela-
tions of life, and the duty of civil govern
ments while operating in the same relations
is altogether different. Hence, l justify sla-
very as civil relation-as the agency of civil
authority in the social relations of life.
There is no excuse for individuals who de-
part causelessly from the voluntary system,
on which the moral government of Heaven
4 reposes, while, if the civil authority were to
rely upon such principle, civil government
would be nulEty-Would be without avail
in the social state. Hence, it has valid ex-
cuse for resorting to bodily pains and penal
ties to advance the general welfare, that does
not pertain to individual reformers Hence,
the state can justify slavery, while without the
sanction of the civil authority, or rather
against its authority, it would be without JUS
| tification.
But Mr.. Webster thought that happily for
mankind great change had arrived. 'Moral
causes" said he in continuation come into
consideration in proportion as the progress of
knowledge is advanced, and the public opin-
| ion of the civilized world is rapidly gaining
an ascendency over mere brute force
This truth is fairly illustrated by what the
Hon. Alexander II. Stephens said in his
speech Of the I'd July, there are more think
ing men at the North" said he 'now who look
upon our system of slavery as right, socially,
morally and politically, than there were at the
North thirty years ago"
Men should be taught not to distrust the
truth and its force and agency, in the social
state. AS Mr. Stephens says, so think that
''the question Of slavery is still problem in
process of solution We at this age are but
at the beginning of it. We are just becoming
fully to comprehend its permanent character,
its philosophy, its end and design in the econ
omy of Heaven.
In my deliberate judgment it is the purpose
of God to act towards his savage descendants
of Ham, as he does with respect to the infant
generation of men, and that is, to bring their
wills, in the social relations Of life in subjec-
ton to- those Of more civilized and matured
race, thus disentangling the more elevated
race, from the discharge of duties in the So
cial state, only calculated to retard them,
while their discharge by the barbarian race is
calculated to advance their state. Hence, be-
nevolence characterizes the institution, while
its philosophy is plainly written out by the
authors of the Christian scriptures. Hence,
the man, though fool need not err therein.
"This question" continues Mr.. Stephens "has
to be grasped and comprehended in all its vast
much as thinkers, not declaimers, SO much as
reasoners. We must stand on the higher law
as well as upon the constitution
Who now doubts the truth of the philoso-
ply that it is unjust in the social relations of
life, to tax people without giving them rep
resentation in the law-making power, and yet,
if we will carefully study our past history it
will be found that this great truth was once
beyond the range of the observation Of our
wisest statesmen Edmond Burke says in
his speech on American taxation that when
the first American revenue act (the act of
1894 imposing the past duties) passed, the
Am94cans did not osiect to the principle"
The time has been in the history of slavery
when our leading men, even at the South, did
not discern the principle on which it reposed.
As consequence, as Mr.. Stephens says "Jef-
ferson was against it, Madison was against it,
nearly all of theI.. were against it,. As rev.
olutions never go backwards, better future
is in store for the benign institution, on which
our happiness both black and white, and our
material prosperity and that Of a, very large
portion of the civilized world repose.
In my next number | shall examine the
question of the supposed natural equality of
man, and shall show the distinction between
natural and moral truths.
YAZO0.