The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-09

bp0Cs among INC representatives OI the uatiOn,
the best thing they osn possibly do is to retire
into that obscurity from which they have
emerged only to cover their country with
shame.
An Appeal to the Philosophy, Common
Sense and Patriotism OF the American
People.
Tbs dissemination of the incendiary volume
Of Southern renegade, the reasonable and
bloodshedding foray Of John Brown and the
| assertions of VIM II. Seward that the conflict
between slavery and freedom il irrepressi-
ble," have brought the Union to the verge of
dissolution, and are likely to destroy the grand-
| est confederation that ever yet existed. The
happiness of at least twenty millions of white
people is about to be exchanged for anarchy
and confusion, our strength to become weak
ness, our commerce to fall into decay, and the
rule of eontending and ambitious States, like
those Of ancient Greece, temporary, unstable
and bloody, to usurp the benignsnt sway of
peaceful and liberal institutions. Is 1t too late
to interpose fraternal hand and separate the
thoughtless and irritated combstantsf
What Is this slavery which Is made the basis
Of our present political confictss and what the
is oocasioning, we are ready to massacre each
other?
This race is one marked by the hand of God
with peculiarities which render it totally un-
able to assume or maintain any national charac-
ter. In their native land, where these negroes
enjoy freedom in its widest sense, they have
never emerged from barbarism. If the power
to WELD our own physical and political strength
is freedom, if the absence of restraint
is the highest gift to man, then why
have not these negroes with such privileges be-
come great nation? Why, II human nature
alone and of itself is capable of the greatest
and happiest achievements, why do we not find
this result in Africa? On the contrary, we
know the negroes in their native land, from the
earliest periods of their history, have been di-
vided into petty tribes, under petty chieftains,
ignorant stupid, barbarous and cruel, engaged
in continued strife and bloody expeditions
against each other. Providence has, in its ply
Biological influences upon these individuals,
given them muscle, length of limb, oblique po-
sition of the head, elongation of the heel, pecu-
liar texture of skin for purposes suited to their
condition, or else given them in vain. These
plainly indicate servile labor and protection
against tropical sun. With regard to their
mental endowments, we affirm that among the
millions who have lived and died in their own
country, or in other lands where they have
been introduced and increased in numbers,
there has not existed, ct any time these thou
sand years, score Of distinguished authors,
poets, historians, or men of letters, or
even intelligent Christians, Whenever
they have gained political ascendancy,
as in the Caribbean seas, or on their
shores, they have uniformly shown themselves
cruel, ferocious, disorderly and incapable of
regular government In the United States,
whenever they have become freemen, or wher
ever they live in groups together in our cities,
they have in general adopted the lowest grade
of pursuits, and seem to live in conteAted SUBJ
serviense to the white population. Oar free
schools and Sunday schools, founded and sus-
tanned for the education of their children, are
rarely fall, and the attendance of the scholars
is uncertain and temporary.
At a general convention held by them few
years since in Philadelphia, it was ascertained
that out of considerable number who had
learned mechanical pursuits, but very limited
portion cared to practise them. 1t is quite un-
necessary to refer to their position and career
in ST. Domingo, or jamaica or Venezuela, but
one curious fact may be stated in relation to
the French island of Martinique, that the beau
tiful towns, dwellings and public works former
ly existing there under the French dominion
are now in ruins, while the colored population
throng the streets in idle mirth, and sleep in
the midday sun, with wooden blocks to serve
as pillows to their heads So much for the
race and its characteristics.
Now what is freedom, that cabalistic word
which is sounded from the tribunes of dema-
gogues, and the pulpits of fanatic priestsf It is
no more nor less than q system of wise and
universal restraint, 90 that no man may use his
natural rights irrespective Of the rights Of
others 1t is the system of God himself Order
is Heavens first law; by this the planets are
governed, and limits and spheres, and attrac-
ton and gravitation, and the other great ar
rangements and forces Of nature, remain undis-
turbed. principle Of personal restraint
which lies at the foundation of all good laws,
which regulates the relations and subordina-
tons Of child and parent, servant and master,
the soldier and his chief, ward and guardian,
and maintains the position that things innocent
in themselves shall not be permitted when
they lead to the injury Of others This alone il
freedom, and the freedom ofcivilization and Of
religion; tits the freedom ofchecks and balances,
and is worthless in any other form.
The slavery which we zee in the Southern
States is precisely the result Of the necessity Of
restraint upon . class too ignorant to exercise
self control, brought into this condition by q
foreign Power and against the wishes Of the
early colonists-upon class which has In