Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-07


this city been more largely attended, or greater
enthusiasm manifested, than was the case las,
evening. After the transaction Of the customary
preliminary business, the Glee Club. composed OF
lmembers OF the Association. sung in a spirited
manner some Of the choicest republican anthems
after which, IL was announced that Mr. Bent f.
wilkins, who was present, would address the
Mr.. Benjamin F. wilkins, of Va, was intro.
duced, and proceeded TO address the Associa on
He alluded to the fact that too little attention had
been paid, In the contest between parties to the
degradation of free labor consequent upon the
composition in the same branches between that
class OF laborers and slaves The recorded ex-
Pressions of human-hearted and hberal-minded
statesmen and philosophers in every age had
spoken with mighty voice for the dignity of
labor. Common sense, moral feeling, humanity
ana reflgiqn recognized and approved these ex-
ntesslons, and no man or party could obliterate
The statement might seem strange, (the speaker
sald but was not less true that ninetenths of the
non-siavehofdeu Of the South occupied the same
ground upon the question of free labor an the re-
publican perty. They would deny 1t possibly
but the denial would only prove that they did not
understand the matter properly. Many Of them
believed the republicans to be rank aboltionists.
who would, upon the election Of Lincoln, make
war upon the South, liberate the negroes and
make them our equals. Yet nevertheless there
were many sympathizers with the republicans
there though their personal safety demanded their
silence.
The dignity and respectability Of labor was a
price OF
cotton or the execution of the fugitive slave law
The philosophy Of Shylock's obser walton that his
house was taken with the props that supported IT.,
ana his HE taken with his means Of living,
applied precisely TO thiB matter; for your labor
was degraded when the means whereby you live
were degraded, and the lsborer also followed in
The same descent. IL the freeman did the work Of
the slave, and the slave that of the freeman they
were equals to the extent OF their occupation
The distance between the two conditions must be
overcome and twasthe part ofthe freeman to do it.
me Pnysleai and mental chains of the slave pre-
vented bis advance and in closing up the distance
befween, the freeman advised and consented to
hs own degradation and that of his family and
friends
Der OF our people az are at the South uninterested
IN The preparation Of negro slavery, would be
unanimous In support Of a system which strikes
a. tne root Of their own liberties. IL the standard
q American citizenship had sunk so low, then
tne lamb, as an emblem Of innocence, should be
displaced, and In its stead enthroned an Amer
lean citizen: The greatest argument in support
OF The republican position was here obtained
p. that contact with the slave, in a Condition OF
equality, would degenerate and lessen patriotic
feeling; for the revolutionary sires of these doce
mission so degrading. Opposition by them to a
les objectionable princi pie made our soil to reek
with the blood Of heroes
Here was the '.irrepressible contict'' about
which 30 much had been said. III you make the
slave and the free work together YOU must stri ke
the shacklcs from the one, or bind the limbs of
the othef- There was no truth in the idea that an
unraWmable spirit in man would force him to
rise superior TO the accidents Of condition-in
nonely phrase, that one may handle pitch and re-
main indebted, or be a modern democrat and re-
tain bis purity of conscience. For il was Just at
tnls very point Of contact that the southern rich
aud the southern poor found their nearest connec-
uon-the highest point the slave may attain In the
scale OF humanity, "a condition Of equality to the
Tree; and the lowest at which free man NAV
exist, bis connection with the slave and reduc-
non In all but the name of bondage to that level
The limbs and the spirits Of free white men
was not Mt evil upon which slavery should trail
us poisonous and obscene clusters. w hoover
aided In any manner In the perpetuaton of a sys-
tenn fraught with such danger TO themselves were
onnd to their greatest blessing. They were at
tempting to Endle a beacon Of liberty at the
names proceeding from the shrine Of that divinity
winch tneir own incendiary hands have rendered
wreck and a ruin.
There was result growing out Of this conflict
between two antagonistic elements, which re-
qnlred an allusion. MANY southern MECHANICS
Feeling sensibly the estimation in which tbey
were held by their more fortunate fellow-citzens
determined to save their sons from the obloauy
attaching to their position by thrustina them into
she Learned professions" md the result was thst
many young man who would have made a ca pi-
fal carpenter, an admirable blacksmith or yrry
capable hod carrier, drag out a weary Ell stence
Dy me pursuit OF profession for which their edu-
cauon and their mental capacity renders them
unnn Trades, and learned professions as well,
are Thus degraded in the standard Of their superb
otity, by admitting incompetent persons who can
bring to their pursuits nothing but reproach.
u was sometimes asked IL the republican party
was not opposed to slavery, why did all of their
speeches hinge upon that question. The speaker
said that they Uere opposed to the extension of
slavery over another acre Of territory now free:
bot 1t was also part of their doctrine that the
states bad an entire control over the matter I'm
Their own limits The general argumen Mt in favor
OF ne dignity of labor and desiring its separation
from competition with slaves was not an exposi-
ton OF what we wished 10 do for ourselves go
much as marking out the course we would have
those pursue who have the control of the matter
Slavery would exist at the South as long as IL was
profitable, and no longer.
During he course Of his remarks, Mr. wilkins
introduced q touching episode Of Melzar Gard
ner, who was murdered some years since In Ports
mouth, Va, for uPholding the dignity or free
white aoorers. Mr.. Gardner was editor of the
Portsmouth Chronicle and Old DoIninion In
view OF tie causes which Led to bis sacrifice. the
speaker happily denominatedr him as s.the frst
republican martyr" ..s -..--1 aEsrTS
Z The MARKRT LIsr-The prices in the Centre
Market have not changed materially since the list
was published a week ago. In some articles the
inferiorty Of quality makes a slight difference in
the price, bat the general price list remains about
as follows: ---|-N
Beef, fresh, Yb sd12, EGG plants. zach o6Io