The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-16
GREAT CHANGE IN PUBLIC SENTI
MENT IN MISSISSIPPI.

|
GREAT CHANGE IN PUBLIC SENTl-
MENT IN MISSISSIPPI.
The Brandon Miss Republican, which
seems to be opposed to the revival OF the ATT
can slave trade, reproduces, from the lGSoo
Democrat, the proceedings of public meet
ing held in Madison county, in that State, IN
l849, which presents a strange contrast to the
tenor of similar assemblages at the present day.
1t will be seen, by turning to the fourth page,
that the meeting in question earnestly protest
ed against the introduction of more slaves into
the State, from those north of it. 1t is very
evident that the people at that day were very
far from approaching the blessings of Slavery,
as they now do. Then, they seemed to think
that there was possibility of having too much
of the blessing, even without resort to for
eign source of supply.
We learn that the Yazoo paper which then
sympathized with the objects of the meeting
was edited by the same gentleman who now
conducts the Mssissippian, warm advocate
of the foreign slave trade. What is still more
singular, the editor insists that he is entirely
consistent His object in l849, he says, was
to prevent the northern slave States from be-
coming free, by selling their slaves to the peo-
pie of the planting States To effect this OBJ
iect he, in common with his fellow citizens,
demanded laws prohibiting the further import
alton of slaves But the demand for labor has
been too great to be held in check by legal en-
actments and the Mississippians now call for
the revival of the African slave trade, in order
that the demand may be supplied on terms at
which the northern slave States cannot afford
to sell.
This looks reasonable. But the editor fails
to explain another point. If Slavery is such
a great blessing as he and other friends to the
institution pretend, why are they not willing to
enjoy monopoly? Massachusetts, is not par
ticularly anxious to diffuse the manufacturing
system over the whole country. On the con
trary, she is charged by her enemies with la.
boring sedulously to maintain her monopoly
The same may be said of New York, in regard
to her commercial monopoly and of the South
in regard to cotton, sugar, and other monopo
lies, with the singular exception of negroes
In that article, the South is not only anxious
that all the States shall be equally blessed with
herself, but there seems to Turk under her jeal
Gus care for the institution a latent apprehen
sion that it is fraught with danger.
The plan of the Mssissippian for preventing
the drain of slaves from the older States, by
! supplying the demand in the South at cheaper
rates, directly from Africa, would seem to be
to that intent simply, very good; but as q
means of preventing emancipation in those
States, we doubt its feasibility. The effect o
importing cheap slaves must be to reduce the
value of the article on hand and if the foreign
importation should be carried on to the extent
desired, viz: that of completely supplying the
demand, it will at once break down the price
Of negroes, not only in Virginia, but in the
whole country. The editor of the lNissiSsipia'
is too much an economist to question for mo
~. tie correctness of this proposition; anC
at once that the institution will fall to the
ground. 1t is not patriotism, but individual
interests, which uphold Slavery and when in
dividuals find it at once announcement, unproit
able, and dangerous, they will abandon it
The slaves will be permitted to take care Of
themselves, when they cease to bring in reve.
nue. to their masters. The lands will be farmed
out to them, as they are to the serfs in Russia,
or else they will be literally driven from the
plantations.
The MtsStsstpptdR must be aware, also, that
in proportion as Slavery ceases to be valuable,
the vigilance of the Oligarchy will relax, the
spirit of Freedom and free discussion will rise
higher among all classes, North and South /;
and in this country, above all others in the
world, the power of the Press and of public
opinion will demand, with irresistible force, the
emancipation of the negroes.
There is no hope for Slavery. The hand
writing is on the wall. The propagandists and
supporters of the system are bold, ingenious,
and fruitful in expedients; but the hand Of
Providence, which ever educes good from evil,
turns their councils against Thorn. Their la
bors for the perpetuation of Slavery but serve
to hasten its overthrow. The moral and eco
nomical laws of the universe are against it.
| ENLARGED AND LIBERAL VIEws.-A Mssis-
the slave trade, speaks of the enlarged and
liberal oie'os which are beginning to privail in
the South. The editor says:
"A few years ago, Slavery was regarded in
a very different light from the one in which it
is held now, even here in the South. And even
here IN Mississippi, about twelve or fifteen years
ago, we believe, minister excited the indigna-
ton of his congregation by defending the nst
tuition. What has produced the desired change?
The light Of reason and the ddudnce of intelh-
gence and affirmation Men hare been made to
think, and as a natural consequence they have
more enlarged and liberal Uieoos. As they have
investigated the subject, they have learned that
the institution is not only right politically, com
mercially, and socially, but also n1oralIV that
it is sanctioned and approved by the laws of
God"
In other portions of the world, the effect of
reasoning and thinking, and of enlarged and
liberal Uie'os," upon the minds of men, is to
make them tolerant of each others errors 1t
was maxim of Jefferson, that "error may be
tolerated, while truth is left free to combat it."
The idea is universal among liberal men, out
side of Mississippi, that truth is an overmatch
for error and has nothing to fear from it.
Hence, IN the free States a man may with i'm
punity discuss any question, and take either
side of 1t. But, in Mississippi, the men of en-
larged and liberal views have short method
with those who presume to question their theo-
ries. The mildest argument which they ever
think OF addressing to confding Abolitionist,
who is seduced, by fair words like the above,
10 AAD fall. e