New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-13


Ieoes attached thereto in other words, they are
"adscripti QleJe"-the tenaLts Of the sol; but INC
white population Of toe South, oher tnan .ne gisss
land propretos, have no interest IN Ine soi DOT aovs
il appear what GRO orietary interest they have 10 any
sort Of property. Manufactures scarcely exist ~ tno
South mechanical industry, distinct from agriculture,
has hardly any existence.
II is difficult TO see how five millions OF people ma
subsistence when they almost wholly excinded
from labor upon the soil, and where other mammal
occupation is encouraged Doubtless those who can
find the means enigrate "a more congenial part Of
country as to those who remain who can suppose
that they retain the essential qualities OF free people,
IL such supposon were admissible would il not be-
wholly refued by the fact tina nothing in the
legislation Of Southern States nor in the claims and
pretensions Get up by Southern Representatives in
Congress- but what relates to the maintenance of the
exclusive domination Of the owners of lands and
slaves. What public acts can be pointed out which
provide for the education and elevation of the common
people, I say nothing of the positive prohibition Of
Intellectual culture TO three millions Of slaves. IL
seminaries of learning have been established is any
thing else had in view than what IL called the liberal
education of the sons Of wealthy parents Were 1t in
deed true that common schools were fostered and tss
the instruction of the children Of all classes was pro-
vided the benefit might be questioned so long as the
entire constitution of society preciudes the exercise Oh
honest industry and the proper use OF knowledge.
The question may now be properly asked, now was
IT, then that in the war of our Revolution 80 much
military renown was achieved BY the army on tne
SOUTH an.wer, that We should LOOK 10 Nandeh ior
the true specimen of Southern soldery. There were
otfcers Of biOb merit at the South, but the soldiers
who fought the battles of the Cowpens, Guiiioru
ourt.house, and Eutaw Syringe, were detained rom
the Northern army commanded by perhaps the BEST
officer in the service Gen Greene oil Kbede Island
would indulge in no invidious comparison, Dat must
be allowed TO speak Of wellesablished facts material
| to the question In issue.
| If am correct that there is strictly no common
people at the South meaning by that people com
posse of individuals having OF personal rghts
and spirit OF Independence which will NOT be en-
| he'd by
sion then this result follows that in the confederscy
BY which we are bound, two heterogeneous elements
action is possible in body polite composed Of such
heteroclte constituencies, viz: the one hand COM
psrativeIy few families holding all the wealth OF their
seotion Of the country, neither requiring nor giving any
support to free labor, but being served by menals
having no will of their own, and the other OF men
accustomed to consider labor as honorable, and all
whose pursuits industrial yet measured by the Just
return which shall be educed therefrom
have sometimes thought TAT least IN former tmesl
that there was something in Mr.. Cahouns theory OF
advantage from the opposite character OF the people
in different sectons of our country and II the question
were to be decided upon former state OF thngs,
should be willing to admit that there might be pohti
cay benefit in having aristocracy in one part OF
the country check upon the too greatly preponder-
atng democratic tendency OF the other; or perhaps
might be more Justly stated, ofhereditary possession OF
wealth and power in the one, against the free comPe-
ton, native and foreign, for the acquisition OF for
tune and distinction in the other. The theory main
former is merely conservative, not aggressive: When
ever seeks shacke any way 70 impede the Tree
course of enterprise without It's own territory, DO
comes inevitably subject TO indignant and even re1rou-
tive resistance. 49,,
The question, however must always be one IN which
proper regard must be had to the consistency and per-
manency of the constitution OF society IN both parts Oh
the country and the patriotic tone OF feeling actaang
the minds of those who have respectively the political
power in either section.
NV present view is that society," constituted az
the South there is self.conservation that can Do
the basis of perpetuity-On the contrary thst mere ~
q tendency to emasculaOD, both physically and NOR
ally by which, as a natural consequence, an exoibisant
preebson is induced just in proportion TO the inherent
weakness.
The great question now involving the peace, and
ultimately perbsps the very existence Of our present
form of government does not seem TO me directly " m
woke the discussion of Slavery in It's religious and moral
ASPECT The assertion, indeed that Slavery is q: aeeor-
dance with Just and human views OF civil society too
repugnan to the principles we have been taught IN th
part of the country TO be entertained with any otnef
feeling than that Of charity for the alteration OF the
human mind. - -
The mantle of charity, however, with all its plati-
tude would need to be stretched in order to such
views have been expressed by President LORD
OF Dartmouth College. We find proof of the humanity
of Slavery in the practice OF the jews That pracace
was restrained, not instituted by the Mosaic laws,
and wholly opposed by the spirit OF the Christian
religion, which has, in fact, gradually, unobtrusvely
but with efficacy, been working al determination OF
the evil.
1t is more easy understand how our eminent civil
IAN Geo. Wood, esq., has been led into similar course
of argument. by his habit of mind as q lawyer, he
naturally looks at precedent; and IL Is not too muchto
saw that by that mode of reasoning, he would subvert
the basis of all the civil rights provided for by the Eng
hsh Bill of Rights which has been lncorPor Ated into
the Constitutions OF laws of the several States OF the
Confederacy Wrong precedents are far more numer-
Gus than right and the world would fare but lndffer-
emily in the of reform If an appeal TO funda-
mental principles should be precluded.
But MI, Wood saws that ii man will visit South
ern famy-of course be assumes that the visitor is
man of come consequence professionally or politically,
like hmsef-he will find quiet, wel-ordered domesu1
establishments In other words brutal violence toward
the slave is not exhibited before the eyes OF such VS.
itor. So. Iapprehend, in the age of Augustus man
might have visited family in Rome and seen nothing
but entire subordnation. But was it without some
meaning that Horace speaks of crucfying slave for
dipping his fingers in the broth Inis 70 be sure,
would not have been done before distinguished gues o
living at their at the luxurious. three hours'
''canu." OF all crueties would be infctedin
some remote ergastersun, where the sight hearing
of any noble inmate Of the house would not be Of
Tended.
But all this sort of argument is entirely aside from
the real issue in which national well-beng is in
volyed Let il be proved that domination over slaves
tends to make the master benetcen just and patriotic,
and for one would be willing 10 concede that We have
hand us incompetence, and reckless defiance Of the
laws of the country should be found TO be the natara
results of the system, then becomes matter ofpubhc
consequence that there should De connteracton, re-
strain prophyacc measures at eas. so lar as 10 de-
fepd the body polite from injury.
l have stated what, in my Judgment, Is a far esu-
mate of the prevailing temper OF large proportion OF
IL e people of this country. Does II follow that the
constituents Of political association are too uncon-
genial permanently TO cohere believe, the con-
trary that by benign Providence 1t 70 gwen 70 the
wise and good 10 the true-hearted and thoughtful 70
exercise powerful influence over community FOR