The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-03-29
Bold Vindication Of slavery.

Tho political philosophy which undorlios
the secession movement IA we'll exprcssod
bv the lato Mr.. T. s. Goufdin of Florida,
editor of tho Southern Confederdcy ono of
the hblest wriiors of tho now nation
"With tho formation of tho Confederate
States OF Amerci new ora In civilization
has commonced-an era in which, if wo hope
to gain the respect of tho civilized world. We
must abandon the old idea ol our 70 ofatbers
that "aH men lCere born free md equal"
and teach the doctrine of tho diversity Of
hSracos and Of tho supremacy of tho Anglo.
Saxon raco ovor all others. We must take
tho ground never dreamed of by tho men
Of '76. that African slavery is right in ITSELF
and. therefore, should bo preserved. African
slavery is oithor morally right, or it is NOR
ally wrong. If wrong. no excuse will suffice,
in the Dyes Of tho Almighty, for its contin-
uance. lIo is perfect, aud cannot tolerate
iniquity. Tho samo moral and physical
laws which in tho beginning (of this oarth)
He laid down for tho government OF this
world in which we live, woro, arc, and will
be right, yesterday, to-day, and forcvor.--
Earthly legislators may change their laws
to suit tho emergencies of tho time-for
they are fallble; but tho AImighty-"that
great Bcing whom the heaven of beaycns
cannot contain"-noyer. II, therefore, we,
after duo investigation of tho subject, hon.
estly como to tho conclusion that slavery
per Sc is morally wrong lot US, as honest
men and Christians, abolish il at onoe, with
out regard to cost. Thore can be no such
thing as "nscessary cpii." Evil is tho mis-
application or poryorsion of what 10 good.
But it, on tho other hand, wo believe slavery
to be morally right, and, in addition thoreto,
find it to our intorost to keep up tho insti-
tuition, lot us be manly onongh to maintain
our principles in opposition to tho rest of
the world. But. for Gods sake, and tho
sake of consistency, do not let us form n
Union for tho express purpose OF main
tanning and propagating African slavery,
and then, rs tho Southern Congress has
done. confess our error by oraoting con.
stitutional provision abolishing tho African
slavo.trade. The opening OF tho African
slsve-trado is q moro question of cxpodoncy
to DO determined by Legislative enactment
hereafter, but not by a constitutional pro-
vision.
Tho fact of tho matter is this. All these
erroneous ideas of tho rights of man, and
the equality of the races, wo dorivo from
our ancestors of tho Revolution. We blame
them not for tho ideas which they enter
tained we honor thom for tho valiant man
ner in which they contendod for what they
believed to be tho truth. But. it docs not
follow that because our ancestors enter
taincd, fought, and bled FOR certain princi
plos, we, .hoir descendants, should bo com
peicd to eutortain, fight and bleed for tho
same principles No! far from it! Our
ancestors claimed tho privilege of thinking
and acting for themselves, without regard
to the opinions OF their forefathorG. We.
their descendants, claim tho same privilege.
This is all fair and above. board. Let tho
issue be mot as thus boldly but truthfully
presented. ....