The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-01-21

YReeARss eE1n.EDeas-sss
M. BucnAxAx in his late message, speak
,ng IL the cendition Of the American slave
says:
ssPor period n more than half centu-
~ there has bsepno perceptible addition %
the number Of our domestic slaves. During
this period their advancement in civiIisatlon
has far surpassed that Of any other portion
Of the African race. The light and bless.
ines Of Christianity have been extended TO
them, and both their moral physical condi.
ton has been great J improved"
A message from the highest functionsry
Of our Nation, should, above oil things,
contain living truths, and We cannot see
why James Buchanan should make the
statement that, ssfor period Of more than
half century there has been no perceptible
addition to the number Of our domestic
slaves"
According to the census reports OF the
United States, we had in the year 1900,
only 1893, O4l slaves; in 1910, wehad l,l9l,-
1854; in 1850, they hds increased to S,2O3,-
3l3, and will now exceed 1000, 900.
sTheir advancement in civilizations" il
owing to causes which it might be well to
consider, prominent among these, humilia-
ting as it may be, il the mixture OF the
Anglo Saxon blood with that Of the African.
All over the South. in every slave kennel, We
behold marked evidences Of the lecherous
tendencies Of the institution of slavery,
growing out Of the power to compel sub.
mission to mans yilest passions; hence, in
this respect there is great advancement
towards civilization; and, wherever and
whenever the American blood predominates,
servituds must of necessity be-
come irksome, and when the bleached Afri-
can feels and knows that his fathers voice
is heard in the councils Of our Nation, be
cannot but feel that he too is man.
The eight and blessings Of Christianity"
potent as it is, has done but very little for
the American slave. The truth is, the
moral elevation Of man depends mainly up
on his intellectual advancement; and so long
a. it is q penal offence to teach the slave to
read his bible, or ever to attend church
service just SO longwill he grope in ignorance
and superstition; President Buchanan to
the "contrary Notwithstanding"
One great cause of the slaves advance
ment, is his physical adaptation to the eli
mate in which be lives. These, and other
causes which might be enumerated, are con-
tinually elevating the slave, AMI giving him
higher and nobler ideas of the greatness of
the human mind, and its right to control the
of its own body, these are ex-
erting a powerful influence in making him
loathe his servile condition, and when he
arrives at that full dignity Of manhood
which time aud circumstances must develop,
you might as well think of successfully
the TEMPEST and make 1t subservi-
ent to mans will as to bold the elevated
man in bondage. There ever has been a
tendency among the blacks to raise ipsurrec-
tions-oppression always, sooner or later,
bring about revolution.
Fifty-six human beings kidnapped on the
coast of Afrioa-after enduring the horrors
Of the middle passage are at length brought
together in the town of Port au Prince, in
Cuba, and shipped on board the Amisted
for another port on that Island. They rise
upon their masters and take possession of
The vessel-after wandering for weeks upon
he ocean, land at last at New London, are
seized upon by the officers of governm Mt,
.aken to Nev aven and committed to pris-
On a. piraso Ind assassius, and so strong
was public sentiment against them, that
put few could be found to vindicate their
,ause, while the public press denounced each
Is worthy felon's doom.
The whole power of the government
although pledged by the treaty of Client to
Use their best endeavorsso promote the entire
abolition of the traic in Slaves rs being at
,ariance and irrec oncilable with the princi.
,lss of humanity and justice put forth by
is constituted organs their best efforts to
.gain reduce these self-emaucipated Afri-
,ans to bondage and surrender them into
he hands of their kidnappers.
What prophet of earth. bound vision could
orsee, in this conflict of power with wrong
u and helpless innocence, in this triumph
If slavery, victory for freedom. Yet SO
I was.
The excitement and discussion which
rev out of the Imprisonment. and repeated
rials of the Amisted Africans, extended to
III parts Of the land, and reused the dor
nant energies of the Mortimer to sense
# their own servile condition. Friends
we're multiplied in every quarter, and 80
trong was the sympathy enlisted, and 80
intense the excitement manifested in their
,ehalf, that during the last trial, all eyes
we're turned towards Washington; even
news was forgotten, and the
irst question asked on the arrival OF the
eastern mail was, WHAT is the decision OF the
Supreme Court in the Amisted Case? There
tool the victims of oppression before the
Nations tribunal pleading in silent eloquonce
nth looks alone, for the recognition of
heir manhood, and asking for justice in
he name of humanity and of the living
Sod.
The trial proceeds, ono of the Judges VA
,nown to be opposed to the claims of the
,aptives, and had 80 expressed himself. He