Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-13
Partial Degradation But .Asgresute De-
velopementN

the exaggeratlons which always attach 10
traditions, which make it easy to believe that
few centuries ago men were giants or demi-
gods, or lived a thousand years-form the
basis Of the popular idea that mankind is
degenerating. If the common idea of the
prevalent decline in any age, had been the
ratio of degeneracy, mankind would have de-
generated into reptiles before the earth had
been Eve hundred years old, and instead Of
our proud descent from the monkeys, we
should have had an ignominious descent to
the monkeys.
The same delusion prevails in regard to
political parties in this country. The per-
sonal ambition, jealousies, hates and quarrels
of politicians, are forgotten, while their
virtues are exalted until they appear super
human. We are all disposed TO believe that
political parties have been debased within
our own observation. Probably it is only
the ancient delusion. The United States
Senate is universally adduced as an illustra-
ton; but while different parties and sections
decline in the ability or civilization. of their
representation, it is probable that the aggre-
gate ability of the Senate was never greater
than now. Even if it was, the marked in
crease in ability in the House over the time
when Clay, Webster, Hayne and Calhoun led
the Senate, maintains the average develop
ment and improvement of the whole repre-
sentation. ., -......
In nothing is the decline so manifest as in
the representation of the peculiar interests
of the South. In former times these Repre-
sentatives were distinguished for courtesy,
good-breeding and culture, as well as for
craftsmanship. Then it was that the South
ern character for chivalry was established,
which is now only traditional. Itwas under
this regime that the South acquiaed its pres
tige in the nation, which it is now rapidly
losing. Chivalry and courtesy are Just as
nseperable as chivalry and courage; but
Southern chivalry, as exhibited by those who
assume now to be its peculiar representatives,
has neither good breeding nor courage. 1t
va nts itself on its aptness oquarrel with
non-eombatantsi on its willingness to give
offense with its hand on revolver ready to
shoot down an unprepared man if he shows
signs of resentment; and it even justifes an
assault of superior numbers ON an unsuspect-
ing man, contrived with all the care and pre-
meditation, and calculations how three fully
armed persons might assault one defenseless
man without danger, that would characterize
paid assassins; and it in one word defines its
own idea of chivalry, by pronouncing this
act chivalrous. .'
There can be no question that Southern
power and influence have been sacrificed by
this debasement of the character of its repre-
sentation in Congress. But it would not be
fair to infer that Southern character has like
wise degenerated. The excitement on the
negro question has been used for political
effect in the South, even more than in the
North. This being the readiest means for
promoting the ambition of INSCRIPTIONS poll
ticians, it has been agitated to the top of
their bent; while the fact that throughout the
South the great majority of the most substan-
tial shareholders never belonged to the Demo-
cratic party, has to a great extent retired
them from political prominence, and left their
representation chiefly in the hands of men of
less character, and who had little or no inter
est in the institution which they professed to
be so rabidly infected with. This is probably
the explanation of the rapid degeneracy of
the Southern representation, and of the in
PRODUCTION of the manners of the sIave-driver |
into Congress in the place of the ancient |
courtesy and high-breeding of the slave
owner.
The ill-effects of this fall chiefly on the |
South. 1t is natural that they who observe |
super6cially, or whose observation is coored |
by anti-slavery sentiments, should attribute |
this to the degrading effects of slavery. 1t |
make this state of things charge against
slavery ITSELF as he did in the following ex-
tract from his speech, although if he were
better acquainted with Southern politics he
would find it due to the facts to which we
have referred, that the course of party poll
tics has crowded out of public life large
portion of the most substantial slave
holders who are naturally those of the most
liberal culture
Slavery is founded on violence, as we have
already too clearly seen; of course it can
only be sustained by kindred violence some
times against the defenseless slave, sometimes
against the freeman, whose indignation is
aroused at the outrage. 1t is founded on
brutal and vulgar pretensions, as we have
already too clearly seen; of course it can
only be sustained by kindred brutality and
vulgarity. The denial of all rights in the
slave can be sustained only by a disregard of |
other rights, common to the whole commu-
nifty, whether of the person, of the press, or
of speech. Where this exists, there can be
but one supreme law, to which all other laws,
legislative or social, are subordinate; and this
is the pretended law of slavery. All these
things must be manifest in slave masters,
and yet, unconscious of their true condition,
they make boasts which reveal still further
the unhappy influence.
"The swagger Of a bully is called chivalry; /
u swiftness to quarrel is called courage; the |
bludgeon is adopted as substitute for argu-
ment, and assassination is lifted to be one of |
the fine arts. Long ago it was fixed certain |
that the day which made man slave took |
half his worth away-words from the an |
cient harp of Homer, resounding through |
long generations. Nothing here is said Of |
the human being at the other end of the |
Chain. To aver that on this same day all |
his worth is taken away might seem in
consistent with exceptions which we gladly |
recognize; but, alas il is too clear both from |
reason and from evidence, that, bad as slavery |
is for the slave, it is worse for the master"
1t was unfortunate for the South that at
the close of this elaborate effort to illustrate
80 t.