Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-10-09
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER g, 1860.

thousand natives of Africa, in form and minC
stamped only with the coarsest rudiments o
the Caucasian race; scarcely bearing an impress
of the human face divine; savage in their hab-
its, both of war and peace ferocious as the wild
beasts in their own native haunts, were caught
up, transported to these shores, reduced to a
state of bondage, and they and their descend
ants held in slavery until this day. But what
do we behold now2 These few thousand saw
ages have become great people-numberlDg
three millions of souls; civilized, christianized,
features, mental and physical, and indicating
some further approximation to the race Of their
masters Search the annals Of all history, and
where do you find fact so striking and won
derfsl, and one so worthy the contemplation of
the philosopher, the statesman, the christian
and the philanthropist9 This fact stands out
boldly before the world; and in the impressive
language OF the Senator from Missouri, (Mr.
Benton,) it stands for an answer; and it must
ever stand for an answer. Sir, it can never be
successful Eanswered. Has humanity cause to
drop tear over the record of this great fact?-
Has Africa any cause to mourn2 81 Aae IS
But there are some other and subordinate
facts, fairly deducible from the greater and more
prominent one, which may likewise defy con-
tradiction or answer. The rapid multiplication
and improved lneaments of this people attest
the fact, that the yoke of bondage has pressed
but lightly upon them and that they have
shared freely, with their masters, of the fat of
the land 90, repeat, and search the pages of
history, and where will you find fact COM
parable to this2
The history of the Hebrew bondage presents
no parallel-nothing 50 wonderful. The family
of Jacob (the gem Of the Hebrew nation) were
of a superior race, and civilized. There is one
singular analogy, however, besides that of bond
age, which may be traced in the history of these
two people. While the religious institutions of
the one forbade any alnalgamation, social or po-
lltcal, with their masters and surrounding ma
tions, nature, by laws more stringent and inexo
rable, forbids to the other any equality, social or
political, with the race which holds them in
bondage.
SLAVERY RIGHT MORALLY, POLITICALLY, AND
RElIGIoUsLY.
As to the lawfulness or sinfulness of the insti-
tuition OF slavery, whatever phrenzied or fanatic
priests, or more learned and rational divines may
preach, whatever they may affirm of Christian
precepts or moral and religious duties and re-
sponsiblities; whatever Interpretation of the
law OF nations, whatever doctrines or theories of
the equality of human rights, and of the different
races of mankind, diversified as they are by COM
plexion, by physical formation and mental de
velopment in6del philantbropists, or the dici-
Piles of a trascendental creed of any kind, may
hold or teach; however they may dogmatize
upon this hypothesis and declare it to be vic.
lation of the law of nature, for any one race.
with whatever superiority of mental or physical
faculties they may be endowed to subjugste those
OF an inferior grade, and make them the instru.
ment of Improvement and amelioraton in their
own condition, as well as in that OF their mas
ters or conquerors, in carrying forward the great
work of civilization, until we shall be enlight-
ened by revelation from higher source than
themselves, must claim the privilege of inter-
preting the law of nature by what see revealed
in the history of mankind from the earliest Pc
riod of recorded time, uncontradicted by Divine
authority. must interpret that law according
to prominent facts connected with the subject.
as they stand out before US this day. Looking
through the eys of history, | have seen slavery
or involuntary servitude, the handmaid of Hin
doc, Egyptian, Assyrian, Jewish, Greek, Roman
civilization. | have seen the institution recog-
nized by the theocratic government of the Jews,
the chosen depositores of the word of life-by
democratic athens and Republican Rome |
have seen, upon the overthrow of Roman civii-
zation by the savage hordes of the north, and
those new masters of western Europe and their
successors, adopted and continued to uphold the
same institution, under various notifications,
adapted to the changing condition of both slave
and master, and still under an advancing civil-
zation, until comparatively recent period. l
see the same institution tolerated and maintained
in eastern Europe, at this day. / see the native
race of all British India, at this moment, bowing
the neck under system of quasi slavery. But
above all, have seen here--on this continent,
and In these United States, the original lords of
00II hrl I'D <~Ek L.
slaves, Others expelled, driven out, and the rem
nant still held 10 subordination and all this un-
der an Interpretation of the law of nature, which
holds good at this day amoug our Northern
brethren; and have yet in reserve that great
fact to which have already alluded-three mil
lions OF the African race whose labor is subject
to the will of masters, under such circumstances
that their condition cannot be changed, though
their masters should will it, without destruction
alike to the interests and welfare of both mas
ter and slaves. These are the lights by which
read and interpret the law of nature.
THE GREATNESS OF THE COUNTRY OWING
TO SLAVERY.
Now, Sir, permit me to say few words upon
the effects OF this institution upon the country
which tolerates it. To the great fact to which
have more than once alluded conjoined with
the system of equal laws which our ancestors
brought to these shores, perfected and consoli-
dated at the Revolution, and by the adoption of
the present form of the Union, we are indebted,
the world is indebted, for that other great phe-
nomenon in the history of the rise and progress
of nations; a phenomenon, in all its bearing, not
yet fully comprehended by the nations of the
Old World, nor even by ourselves; and which,
in all future time, will be the study of the hsto-
rian and philosopher; mean not the founding
of republic on these shores, SO recently the a.
bode only OF savage and nomadic tribes, but its
amazing growth and development; its magic
like spring from small beginnings-risng, as
it were, by single effort, by one elastic bound,
in all the attributes of first rate power; great
republican empire-able not only to maintain it's
rights of sovereignty and independence, by land
and sea- against a hostile world; but at the same
time, by its example, shaking to their founda-
tions the despotic powers of the earth; great
incorporation OF freedom, dispensing its bless
ings to all mankind. Sir, the fabled birth of
Minerva, leaping in full panoply from the head
of Jove, if truth and no fiction, would scarcely
be more wonderful, or greater mystery, with
out the clue which African slavery furnishes for
the solution of it.
So, making all due allowance for American
enterprise and the energies of free labor, with
all the inspiring advantages of our favorite sys-
tenn of government, doubt whether the power
and resources of this country would have at
tanned more than half their present extraordina-
ry proportions, but for this so much reviled in
stitution of slavery. Sir, your rich and varied
commerce, external and internal; your naviga-
tion vOur commercial marine tha nursery of