Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-07-05

norance,i and while God himself. is de-
filed in the pretension that man can
have property in his fellow man: il
all these things are present. not mere
ly in images and pictures, but in real
ity. their influence on character must
be incalculable. Ii is according 10
irresistible law that men are fashioned
by what is about them, whether eli
mate, scenery, life. or institutions.
Like produces like, and this ancient
proverb is verified always. Look at
the miner, low down in darkness; and
the monntalneer. ranging on airy
nights. and you will see a contrast in
character, and even in personal form.
4 The difference between coward and a
hero may be traced in the atmosphere
which each has breathed and how
much more in the institutions under
which each has been reared. If insti-
tutions generous and just ripen souls
also generous and just, then other
institutions must exhibit their in
fiuence also. Violence, brutality, in
Justice, barbarism, must he repro
duced in the lives of all who live
within their fatal sphere. The meat
is eaten by man enters into and be-
comes part of his body; the madder
which Is eaten by dog changes his
bones to red: and the slavery on
which men live, in all its fivefold foul
ness, must become part of them
selves, discoloriag their very souls,
blotting their characters. and breaking
forts in moral leprosy. This language
is strong; but the evidence is even
stronger. Some there may be of hap
by natures-iike honorable Senators
who can thus feed and not be harmed.
Mithridates fed on poison, and lived;
and it may be that there is moral
Mithridates, who can swallow with
out bane the poison of Slavery. In
stead of "ennobling" the master,
nothing can be clearer than that the
slave drags his master down; and this
process begins in childhood, and is
continued through life. Living much
in association with his slave, the mas
ter finds nothing to remind him OF
his own Deficiencies, to prompt his
ambition. or excite his shame
Without these provocations to virtue,
and without an elevating example, he
naturally shares the barbarism of the
society which he keeps. Thus, the
very inferiority which the slave-mas.
ter attributes to the African race ex-
plains the melancholy condition of the
communities in which his degradation
! is declared by law.
A single false principle or vicious
thought may degrade character 9th
crwise blameless; and this is practl
cally true of the slave master Accus
toned to regard men as property, hi
sensibilities are bluntel and his mora
sense is obscured. He consents t
! acts from which civilization recoils
$ The early Church sold its property
e and even its sacred vessels for the re
, dem ption of captives This was don,
5 OR a remarkable occasion by st. Am
brose, and successive canons confirmed
the example. But in the slave State
S this is all reversed. Slaves there ar
e often sold as the property of tn
r Church, and an instance is related o
\ slave sold in South Carolina in or
e der to buy the plate for the commu
1 Mon table. Who can calculate the eff
: feet of such all example? Surrounde,
= by pernicious influences of all kinds
Y both positive and negative, the frs
e making him do that which he ough
!, not to do, and the second making hin
: leave undone that which he ought t,
V have done, through childhood, youth
S and manhood, even unto age; unabl
while at home to escape these influen
/, ces, overshadowcd constantly by tn
: portentous barbarism about him, tn
n slave-master naturally adopts tn
: bludgeon. the revolver. and the bowie
h knife Through these he governs hi
t plantation. and, secretly armed will
f these he enters the world. These ar,
a his congenial companions. To wea
t these is his pride; to use them becomes
{ passion. almost a necessity. Moth
: ing contributes to violence so much a
h the wearing of instruments of violence
{ thus having them always at hand t.
r obey the lawless instincts of the indi
y vidual. y barbarous standard is es
l tablished; a contest peculiar to on
S slave masters. known as a stree
d fight" is not shameful; duel is TO
e dishonorable, and modern imitators q
! Cain have mark set upon them; o
;. for reproach or condemnation. but 70
;. compliment and approval. wish t
= keep within bounds. but unanswera
t. BILE facts, accumulating in fearful
i quantities. attest that the social sys
It TEN, so much Wanted by honorsbl
$ Senators. and which we are no,
n asked to sanction and to extend
/. takes its character from this spirit
4 and, with professions of Christianit
rs on the lips, becomes Cain-like. An
6 this is aggravated by the prevailing ie
N norance in the slave States, where on
) in twelve of the adult white popula
.e tion is unable to read aud write.
"The boldest they who least partake Il
$ light,
v As game cocks in the dark are trained {
is fight"
IN OF course. there are exception
A. which we all gladly recognize, but
is..this spirit which predominates an
De gives the social law. And here mar
D. an important difference. Elsewhe
in violence shows itself in spite of Law
lg whether social or statute. Elsewhe
o. it is pursued and condemned; in Il
ut slave States it is adopted and honore