Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-03-21
STEPS OF PROGRESSION.

STEPS OF PROGRESSION.
lFor IA. Vermont Phcnirl
The condition of the United States at the
present juncture appears to be like that of ev
cry country when about to take new step in
advance. We are doubtless upon the eve of
entering upon new stage Of human progress.
Our southern brethren declare that their slaves
have become largely christianized; and il this
is the case, we cannot wonder that they are on
the point of also becoming enfranchised for
this is an inevitable step in Christian progress
sion. 1t is impossible to give the slave chris
tianity without also giving him the elements of
liberty; for Christianity is the essence of Lib
erty. 1t would be as impossible to imrart TO
water the temperature of 2l2 degrees Fabren-
heit without generating steam, as it would be
to Christianise the slave without giving him
properties that will lead to his liberty.
The South claim to have christiansed their
slaves and as practical proof Of this fact
they now find themselye compelled 10 raise an
army in order to restrain those tendencies to
liberty which christianiza,on inevitably begets
1t is the rising condition OF the slave-race that
causes the present disturbance in the South,
rather than the political attitude of the North
The slave-race have received the leven of chris
tianty, and they are now quiet claiming its le
Ultimate consequences. They ask, as Paul
asked for Onesimus, that they may be consid-
ertd as brothers, not a few Of them having
double claim to that relation, carnal as well as
spiritual.
Our southern brethren have always held negro
preachers in high estimation, and have paid
higher prices for them than for other male ne
negroes because these preachers, by admins
tering the consultations of religion to planta-
ton hands, tended to reconcile them in a meas
ure to their unfortunate lot, that the planter
could sleep in greater security, feeling that the
holy sanctions of religion would keep his slaves
free from the evil spirit of hatred instruction
and death.
The planter has never seemed to reflect that
it is dangerous thus to make use of the pre-
cepts of religion, and to buy and sell preachers
of the gospel from motives of earthly policy
He has become blinded from the traffic, and
cannot see that he has been fostering spirit
a spirit of FREEDOM, that, when full hedged,
seorns the constraints of human policy and
scars above all earthly consi erations
The United States, in political point of
view, contains four millions of christian sub
jects who are in a condition of slavery, but
who are nearly, if not quite, as well prepared
for Liberty as the serfs Of Russia We
see that Russia, convinced by the results of the
Crimean war, has found herself compelled to
adopt a system of manumssion for her slave
population because her greatness and DRY
demand it and why should not the United
States be compelled to similar course? Is it
because we have among us a majority of men
whose spirits are so weak and timid that they
fear and quail from the busting steps of human
progress? Is it because we begin to distrust
our political creed in the freedom and equality
of men, and are ready to fall back faint heart
ed, upon the soul-crushing castles OF Hindos-
tan?
1t has at length become plain to every one,
that the institution Of Slavery in the United
States has powerful influence upon the lives
and fortunes, the hopes and prospects of every
one in the country, and it cannot be admitted
that our government has no control over an in
stituion that seriously affects its subjecs /;
for this would be tantamount to admitting that
our government is no government at ALL and
could not ensure the rights of any one. We
must then either abolish slavery, or else be
governed by it.
If in the attempt to abolish it the slave-states
should draw a chalk line between themselves
and the free-states, making out where Liberty
shall end and Slavery begin, this will not stop
the lermenting elements which are now a, work
to produce abolition. The stronger par should
not fear a chalk line, for such line would but
hasten the end that is inevitable. A strong,
free republic, strong in the hearts of its subjects,
need not fear weak slave-empire. The Amer
lean Navy did not fear the save-caching Bar
, barry powers which held all maritime Europe
in awe; nor should twenty millions of freemen
fear the slave power OF the gulf state.
, No what We have to fear is, that our people
may not prove true and loyal to the republican
: form OF government which we have adopted,
$ and that for the sake of present case. We may
!, of reconstruction, and ruinous compromises
y that we may admit into our political system
e the idea that labor is degrading, ard that the
d laboring man should be classed with slaves We
o have to fear that by dint of disorder and con
fusion, and bare faced treason, we may lose
confidence in our ability for selfgoyernmenr
e and be ready to surrender our liberty for the
i sake of order and peace.
l. There is but one hope for the poor man, and
that lies in the determined support of our gov
eminent. He must now assert and maintain
is the progressive character of the human race
- black OF white, or else fall back in helpless de
S pendence upon the wealthy, the vicious and thu
"a designing. J. w. L.
!, MAcAULAY's HIsToRY.-The multitude o
readers of the early volumes of Macaulay'
h History of England will be gratifed to Learn
J. that the publication Of the fifth volume, edited
L.. a. \ "a. 10 xa1 for h,