Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-22

or fanatic priests, or more learned and ra-
Gonal divines may preach. whatever they
may affirm of Christian precepfs, or moral
and religisus duties and responsibilities;
whatever Interpretation of the law of ma
ture. or of Almighty God, they NAV an
nounce; whatever doctrines or theories of
the equality of human rights, and of the diff
ferent races of mankind, Diversified as they
are by complexion, by physical formation
and mental development. in6del phiIanthro-
pists. or the disciples of transcendeniaI
creed of any kind, may hold or teach; how
ever they may dogmatize upon this hypoth-
esls. and 1cclare il to be violation Of the
law Of nature, for any one race, with what
ever superiority of mental or physical faeul-
ties they may be endued. TO subiugat those
OF an inferior grade, and make them the in-
sirumrnis OF Improvement and amelioration
In their own condition, well as in
that OF their masters cOnqnerors. in car
rying forward the great work of civilization,
until we shall be enlightened by revelation
from hi CHER source than themselves. must
clam hieTrigilege Of interpreting the taO of nature
By aohgt I see TeredLed IN the history Of mankind
from the earliest period Of recorded time, ,ncontrd-
dcted by Dtri7e dutitoTBy l must interpret
that law according to the prominent facts con-
nected with the subject, ns they have stood
out in the past, and they stand out before
us ut this day. Looking through the eyes
-
scrvitude, the handmade OF Hindoo, Egyp-
iian, Assyrian, Jewish, Creek end Roman
civilization. / have seen the institution re-
cognised by the theocratic government of the
Jews-the chosen depositaries OF the Wore
OF LIFE;-by democratic Athens, and repubIi
can Rome | have seen. upon the overthrow
OF Roman civilization by the savage hordes
OF the north, that those new masters of west
ern Europe and their successors, adopted,
and continued TO uphold the same institu-
ton, under various notifications, adapted to
the Changing condition of both slave and
master, and still under an advancing civiliza-
ton, until comparatively recent period. l
see the same institution tolerated and main
tanned in eastern Europe, at this day. l see
the native race OF all British India, at this
moment, bowling the neck under a system of
9ddSl slavery. But above all, / have seen
here,-on this continent, and in these United
States, the original lords of the soil subdued
some Of btent subdusd 10 sLdveyy, others ex-
PEELED. driven out, and the remnant still held
in subordination; and all his, under an inttrpre-
tafIOa Of Tie kQI0 Of nature tchlch holds good at
this day among our northern brethren: aud l have
yet ia reserve that great fact TO " hich have
already alluded three millions of the Afri-
can race, who,e labor is subject to the will
of masters, under such circumstances LtGt their
condition cannot be changed. though their masters
should tDH II, ulthouf destruction ALIKE 10 the inter
oSS uHu Ut.IuTc OF OOfH UtdSteT ana SGuUe IUeSe
are the light by which 1 read and interpret
the law of nature.
Now. sir. permit me to say few words up
on the effects of this institution upon the
country which tolerates it. To the great fact
TO which have more than once alluded, con
Joined with the system of equal laws, which
our ancestors brought to these shores. per-
fect,d and consolidated at the Revolution,
and by the adoption of the present form of
l.I.t.
I'd for that other great phenomenon in the
history OF the rise and progress OF nations;
phenomenon in all it's bearings, not yet fully
Compounded by the nations of the Old
World. nor even by ourselves; and which
in all future time, will be the study and adj
miration of the historian and philosopher; |
mean, not The founding of a republic on these
shores, so recently the abode only of savage
and nomadc tribes. but its nmaz ng growth
aud development; its magic-like spring from
small egnnings-rlsing, as IL were, by a
single effort, by one elastic bound, into all
tn; attribut of first-rate power; great
republican empirc-able not only to maintain
its rights of sovereignty and independence,
by land and sea, against hostile world; but
at the same time, by its example, shaking TO
their foundations the despolic powers of the
earth; great Incorporation of freedom, dis
pensing its blessings to all mankind. SIR,
tie failed birth Of Minerva, Leaping IN fuH panopLy
from The head of JOUe. If truth, and no Jfciioa,
,cOlitd scarcely Be wonde fuL, greater mys
teTy rdt0W the clue tchich AFRICAN SLAVERY
FURNISHES for tie solution of 1t.
Sir, making all due allowances for Ameri-
can enterprise and the energies of free labor,
with all the inspiring advantages of our IA
voriIe system of government, doubt lchetIter
The pOcer and resources Of this country tCoud hare
attained than haif thar pTesem extraordinary
proportions, but for ls so much reUitef Institution
Of slavery. SIR, your ricn and varied conf
merce, external and Internal; your naviga-
ton; your commercial marine, the nursery OF
The military; your ample revenues; the pub
lIc credit; your manufactures; your rich,
populuus, and splendid cities-all all Bigy
trace 10 this institution as The UeLi-sprtgg Of thar
present yigdRtI; proportions; -nourlShed aud
built up their present amazing height and
grandeur by the great staples OF the South
the products of slave labor.
Yet, slavery, in every form in which it has
existed from the primitive period of organi-
zed socie.y--frOm its earliest and patriaTchal
form to this time, in every quarter at the !
glube-and all it's results--cven the m ,gniti- |
cent result Of African slavery in the United
States, are declared to be against the law of
nature. Though contributing in a hundred
varied forms aud modes. through period OF
thousands ol years, to the amelioration of the |
condition of mankind generally; though some |
times abused aud perverted, "a all human |
institutions, even those OF religion, are-still |
TO advance the cause of civiliZa |
ton, though, if you please, having its origin |
in individual cupidiy, still mysterIou,ly |
working out general goOd;-yet slavery |
and all its beneficenl Results are pronounced |
to he against the will of God, 10y those who |
claim a superior illumination uponthr suo- |
jent. This may be SO; but must say that his |
oonciusioH confidently announced, not arriUod
LII
souiag BIZ trhich tlisght, thai from a great
many pIYti-liGr and treN established tslcts IN ue
skysicIi economy. may safely deisee general
tatc Of physic1t nature; AID so Of morals and GOO
ernDlept. Ii seems To my weak faculties, That |
il rather aTrvga,A and presDspiloILs aTraign-
Hstnt Of the s00ys Of ProUadenee, mysterious ms |
We know them TO be, for feeble man To de- !
clare, that that which has been permitted to |
exit and prosp-r from the beginning. among |
men aud nations IS contrary 10 ns oiH
But whoever has stndied. the history of !
civilization, the progress OF socI5ty--of laws
and govrrument--must have perceived, that |
certain abstract or theorrtic truths. whether |
in civil or religious p0liiy, have been, and |
can only, with safety to the ultimate ends If |
ali sot ietie- and governments, be unfolded |
by degrees, aud adjusted at ey,ry step, ac-
cord.ng TO the advance OF society from its |
infancy 10 n higher civilization aud a more |
enlightened cumprehensiOn-such the |
equality of natural rights of seii-goverument. |
and freedom Of speech and opinion. Thee |
general truths, though they cannot be sue
cees;uily eontrovertd At this day, yet. as |
they have been seldom admitted. in their /
length and BREATH in the practical opera
tions of government. with success, aud |
some Law g.vers have been led 10 deny that /
they are founded IA reason; and when they l
have. at any tune. been suddenly EN- raced |
by the controlling minds among n people, |
the misfortune has been that thry were APP |
piled Ia excess. and without due T, gard To |
the actual condition II the people Who were |
To be affected: and hence they have. 30 far, |
failed OF success in sumo Of the ulost highly /
L. !. 1