The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-10-04

| LIE, every one read and digest vel the
following extracts from the writings Of
Thomas jefferson. He was born and raised
in tho very heart of a slave community
And If there ever was 3 man who July
comprehended the evil influence of this
great curse. upon the white race, it was the
apostle of American Democracy, the author
Of the Declaration of Independence. The
question nov before us is shall slavery,
which Jefferson. Washington, Madison and
all the early patriots looked upon a great
evil. foul blot and curse upon the coun-
try be confined to lis present limits. or shall
it be extended II you believe a. they did.
vote the Republican ticket:
Thomas jefferson on Slavery.
There must doubtless be an unhappy in
fluence on the manners of our people pro-
duced BY the existence Of slavery amongst
us. The whole commerce between master
and slave is perpetual exercise OF the most
boisterous passions. the most unremi,tipR
despotism on the one part. and degrading
this, and learn to initiate ii; for man is an
initiative animal. This quality is the germ
of all educaIi.n in him. From his cradle
to his grave he is learning to do what he
sees others do. Ii parent could find no
motive either in his phlanthrophv his
self love, for restraining the intern perance
OF passion towards his slave, it should al
ways be a sufficient one that his child is
mr.. ha no oh.
on. catches the lineaments of wrath. puts on
the same airs i'll the circle of smaller slaves.
gives bose rein TO the worst passions, and
thus nursed. educated. and daily exercised
in tyranny. cannot bat be stamped by it
with odious peculiarities. The man must
be prodigy who can retain his manners and
morals undepraved by such circumstances.
And with what execration should the states
man be loaded. who. permitting one half Of
the citizens thus to trsmple on the rights Of
the other. transforms those into despots and
those into enemies. destroys the morals Of
the one part. and the amor pdtriae of the
other. For II a slave can have a country in
this world. it must be any other in prefer
srence to that In which he is born to live
and labor for another IN which he must lock
up the faculties OF his nature. contribute as
far as depends on his individual enceavors
to the evanishment of the human race, or
entail his own miserable condition on the
endless generations proceeding from him
With the morals of the people. their indus
try is also destroyed. For in a warm ell
mate no man will labor for himself who can
make another labor for him This is SO
true that. of the proprietors Of slaves very
small proportion indeed are even seen to Ia
Dor. And can the liberties OF a nation be secure
when we have removed their only firm ba-
sis. q conviction in the minds of the people
that these liberties are the gift OF God?
That they are not to be violated but with
his WRATH Indeed tremble for my coun-
try when reflect that God is just; that his
justice cannot sleep forever; that consider
ing numbers. nature, and natural means on
ly a revolution Of the wheel OF fortune. and
exchange OF situation is among possible
events: that it may become probable by
supern atural interference. The almighty
has no attribute which can take side with
MS in such contest.
Jefersom's Writings. rol. 8, page 403-4
Whether further observation will or will
net verify the conjecture. that nature has
been less bountiful to them in the endow-
ments of the head, l believe that to those OF
the heart she will be found to have done
them justice. That di position to theft with
which they have been branded must be as
scribed TO their siua ion and not to any de-
pravity Of their moral sense. The man IN
whose favor no laws of property exist. prob
ably ieels himself less bound 10 respect the Sc
made in favor Of others. When arguing for
ourselves, we lay it down rs fundamental,
that laws. to be just must & i've reciprocal
ton OF right, that without this they are mere
rbitrary rules Of conduct, founded in force
and no, in conscience; and 1t is problem
which l give to the master to solve. wheth-
er the religious precepss against the violation
of property were not tram d for him as well
as his slave! And whether the slave may
not as iusti6ably take little from one who
has taken all from him, as he may Stay one
who would slay himl
Jeferson's Writings. col. 8, page 3s5.
The following Is an extract from letter
written by Mr.. jefferson to Dr.. Price who
had written work forcibly pointing out
the evils o! slavery in the Southern States.
and arguing upon the proprety and neces'
sity of abolish,ng it. DR. Prices work was
stronger argument against slavery than
Helpers. and yet Jefferson says to him
what you have written will do great
deal of good"
Your favor of July the End came duly to
hand. The concern You therein express as
to the effect Of your pamphlet in America.
induces me to trouble you with some obser
vations OH that subject.
From the mouth TO the head Of the
Chesapeake, the bulk of the people will sp-
prove It's theory. and it will fnd a respecta-
bic minority TO adopt it in practice; a mi
nority. which for weight and worth of char
acter. preponderases against the great mum
Der, who have not the courage to dives,
their families of property. which however
keeps their conscience unquiet. North Of
the Chesapeake. You may find. here aud
there an opponent to your doctrine. as you
may End here and there. . robber and muir
derer; but in no great number.
In Maryla | do not find such DISPOSE
ton to begin the redress Of this enormity
| AS in Virginia. This is the next State to