Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-01-11

III If Qff1cuit 10 say Wuelncr the W est
India propriefors. the negro population in
the islands, the sable inhabitants of Africa.
or tie manufacturers Of the mother country
have suffered most from the change. 1t APP
pears from the parliamentary returns. that
the produce of Jamaica, within three years
alter emancipation took effect, and The APP
prentice system was introduced (January list,
1891 had decreased third. and within ten
years that of the whole West India Islands
had fallea of Bolf.ss ~
AS might be expected, with so prodigious
decline in the produce of these once mag
nificeBt settlempnts--tbat is in the means
their Inhabitants enjoyed of purchasing lux
uries and comforts-the exports of British
manufacturers to them underwent at the
same time similar dminuiion- So great
did it become, that within less than fifteen
years of the period when emancipation took
effect the exports of British manufacturers
and produce to the West India had diminish
ed halt. while those of the slave States OF
Cuba and Brazil, which had risen on the
ruins of their less fortunate neighbours. had
largely increas, d. Perh0ps there ntrer fras.
in the srhole history Of Aun70n coiys, arg change
against 7elaich erpaiasce has so ueqsRrocdtiy de-
ei0red This. acAch introduced srith sueh be-
ntpoient intentions aid transports Of Jog IN The
British Islands.
sBut disastrous as the results Of The change
have been to British interests both at home
and in the West indies, they are as nothing
10 those which have ensued 10 the negroes
themselves, 10th in their native seats and
the Transatlantic Colonies. The fatal gift y
premature emancipation has proved as pernicious
to race as il always does to an individual /;
The boy of seventeen sent out into the world
has continued a boy, and done as other boys
do. The diminution of the agricultural ex-
ported produce of the islands to less than a
half, proves how much their industry has
declined. The rCduciiCn OF their consnmp-
ton of British produce and manufactures in
similar proportion tells unequivocaliy how
much their means of comfort and enjoyment
have fallen off. Generally speaking. the in
cipient civilization of the negro has been ar
rested by his emancipation with the eessa-
tion of forced labor, the habits and tastes
which spring from and compensate it, have
disappeared, and savage habits and pleasures
have resumed their ascendency orer the sable
race. The attempts to instruct and civilize
them have, for the most part, proved fail
-ure /: the doIcp far Hteste, equally dear to the
unietieied savage as 10 the effeminate Euro
pean. has resumed its sway. and the enamel
patt d Africans, dispersed in th" woods, or in
cabins erected amidst the =uin plantations
are fast relapsiDg into The state in which
their ancestors we're when ihey were torn
christian avarice.'
Alter arguing from statistics To prove that
emancipation in the British IL was pro-
dnctive of an alarming increase of the slave
trade to those Colonies where slavery still
existed, the author comes to the following
just and sensible conclusion
I'VE are not TO imagine. from this ca
lamitous and melancholy result that phiIan-
fhroplc measures necessarily terminate in
disappointment, and that nothing can be re-
lied ON as likely TO lead to the desired effects
bat what is based on selfish desires.
Negro emaI PATTON has not fai hecansc
1t was prompted Ey benevolent motives. or
directed to pbilanihropic ends. but because,
In the prosecution Of these ends, the lessons
OF experience and the observation of facts
were utterly disregardcd.
1.-The latter were brought before the people
in the most torcihle manner, but met with no
sort of attention, The public mind being en-
tIreIy carried away 10y the Glluring phantom, of
destroyed slavery Iu pursuing it, the heated
enthusiasts forgot altogether the condition
precedent requisite TO render freedom either
practicable or beneficial 10 mankind. viz: dc-
CURED habts Of labor. They made the savage
free, without bis having gained The faculty Of
Sc. f-7iTectiOH thence the failure of the wboe
measure, and the nnuiterable miseries with
which 1t has been attended.
The apprentice system worked so i'll that
in four years after it was found necessary to
abolish it. 1t came into operation on LIST
August 1884. aud was celebrated with ami
versal and touching r,joicings among the ne
groes over the whole West Indies; but At is
not thus that great i0,0 Of nature be SET ASIDE
In 1888, after tour years. experience OF the
working OF the measure, the governmt mt was
compelled to abandon it, and venture on the
h<a1r. oh hoe
completed the ruin of the West Indies. Such
have been the consequences of see king pre-
maturely to emancipate man, of forgetting
the words OF God. In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread"
Here, MIR. Speaker, we have graphic aud
true statement OF the deplorabe consequent
ces of Abolition policy and il affords us some
insight into the condition of our own country
il lie counsels of heated enthusiasts are fol-
lowed, instead OF the lessons of history and
experience.
Far better wonld il be for our beloved
country--better for the interests of both Ia
ces, if we would leave this problem to be-
solved by those natural laws which are as inn
mutable a. the God who made them, and IN
the meantime do our duty as rational and
accountable beings. The great law of chari-
ty, ofchristian philanthropy is as binding on
the muster as the servant, and under It's ST.
lent aud peaceful operation, all men are ex-
allied 10 a station only "a little lower than
the angels
Ii is not our duty to change the relation
which men sustain o each other, but to teach
the responsibilities which attach to their va
red conditions. If were in Utah. although
opposed to polygamy. would not conceive
it my duty to exhort Brigham Young to put
away his harem, flr this might be heartless
aad cruel in the extreme. Men cannot thus
easily be rid of the consequences of th, ir
acts; but all men may endcavor 10 perform
the duties, and discharge the obligations
which attach TO their several conditions.
II slavery did not exist IN the United
States, and the question was upon its intro
dGction, would have no heEitancy in decid-
ing upon the course to be- pursued. This
question was, however. decided for me. and
the cons; quences OF sncb decision cannot
avoid. il so inclined. and wonld not escape, If
the means were within nv power.
The truth is, Mr. Speaker. the relative du-
ties of master and slave are so simple, that
a wayfaring man. though Il fool, ured not err
therrin.~ To the one attaches the duty OF
protection and discipline. and to the other
suborlinniion and cheerful service.
But we have among us an intermediate
class-the free ncgro-a man between the SUI
perior and the servile races. and our enquiry
il in reference to our duty towards him.
1t Is clear that slavery is the normal conds-
ton OF the African race in The United States;
If therefore he has any rights, snch rights
have been the free gilt of The dominant race,
and their charter is Ia be found in our Con-
stitution or laws. Wherever these rights are
tn be found. there is the express obligation OF
the grantor TO defend the title. And this OBJ
LEGATION is only the more wcighty 90 account
of the 6efenseless condition of the negro.
desire to examine first whether The State
Of Tennessee has the power to free the nFgro.
This however, take il for granted no one
will deny. II j. power which has been sx-
etcised in all countries and In every age
where slavery has existed. In this Slate the
supreme judicial authority has decided the
question OF the right under our laws. Of the
master 10 manumit his slave, so repeatedly,
that The meRnest tyro in the law would not
dispute il.
II therefore the State has the power 10 in
vest the negro with tho right 10 Freedom