The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-04-19
Objections 10 Bishop Hopkins View Of
slavery in the South.

We should never shrink from opposing
any kind OF evil doctrine, though II may be
supported by great men; and though Bishop
Hopkins IS my superior in age. talents, rx.
perience. al position, yet would as soon
object 10 a.S views, when | think them
wrong, as those Of an obscure indlyldual.-
And IN examining his views. as set forth IN
the Courier OF a recent date, find many
things that | object 10, in the apparently
far pro slavery hlrrangue, which will now
proceed TO enumcra,e
FIRST, you otiec! TO the expression "rhat
slavery, as existing IN tie South. may b.
PHYSICAL but not a m)E,L evil" ConsiJar.
lns II as physical evil, il is bal enough;
hut Il rs a moral evil. and ou. of ~. most
t"muraiz.ng IN oar land, We will first quote
the op"'gns OF mea as talented and well
informed on this point unAouhtedly as Blsh.
op Hopkins. Judge Tucker, Of Virg!n a,
said IN lNo!:-'I say nothing Of the haneiul
Effects of slavery IN our moral character.
because know / have long been sens hie o {
this fact"
The Presbyterian Synod OF South Carolina
aul Georgia saId IN their report Of 1884: -
"Ihose only who have the management Of
these servants know the hardening effect 1t
eSerts upon their feelings towards them"
Judge Nichols, OF Kentucky, Said:-"The
deliberate convictions Of my most matuIed
considerations are, that the institution of
slavery IS a most serious injury to the man
neIs, habits and morals Of our white popula.
ton; that 1t lea IS TO sloth. Incidence, LiSsl
patton and vice"
Said the illustrious Jeifrrson:-"The man
must be a prodigy, indeed. who can retain
his manners aud morals unoontamnatel in
the midst Of slavery
4. is necessary that the slave should have
but little knowledge, and where that is not,
We find that vice and superstition take the
sway; hence we find the unenlightened minds
olthe slaves to foster immoral principles and
supeIstitious ideas. Then look at its infu.
ence upon the white population ofthe South.
The poorer class, who have no. the means mp
on which to subsist without labor, and looks
upon himself as being superior to the negro
slave, will endure hunger and suffering be
fore he will submit to be placed on equality
with them and compelled to labor with them
At last he is driven to the only alternatives
10 die or resort to vicious ways TO gain
living, and hence will live by fishing, hunt
ing and petty crimes; his children are suffer
ed TO grow up in idleness and dissipation
ignorant and vicious; and the capital OF th
rich engaged in slave labor; no time to st
tend TO school or educational pursuits; tn
slave absorbs all thin attention; they neve
: put on foot any scheme to better their coudi
ton, and they grow up only pests to soclet
Z and scourge to any community.
+ Take the next class above the unemploy
ed, that is. the negro -catchers, negro. buy
ers, oyerseers, auctIoneerS, &c. And vii
i any dare say that occupation does not niur
theirmor They are constantly surround
ed by heart'renalng scenes, beholdrng tor
tuIs, tears, blood. agony, shackles and IA
liar with the use Of the lash, and huEtin
y the runaway as they would the savage bea,
is Of the forest. HeIps most august conclay
could not concoct an employment mo-
10 hardening. more brutalizing, more inhumar
= more 6end-like than this; and you cannC
~ find body of men engaged in any emplo
IN ment, that are so lost to humanity, to mora
!, ity, and so hardened as is the class we hay
b described. Examine the higher class. wh
M lie on luxrious aowery beds of ease, an
70 live in idleness and inactivity: what ell.
u. could it bring but lowering of the NOR
10 standard! The idle mind is the Devil
n, workshop; and most wretched man is Il
i. one that has nothing to do, And how {
y. they while away the timel At the gamll
table, at the horse-race. or occasionally in
slave hunt, or TO oust some poor scrub
10 the fun Of the thing. No one pretends
- deny that dissipation is universally pIeva
ent among the higher classes of Southe
rs society, and it will continue to be SO,
long as they have slaves to work and alic
them to court incidence.
And Bishop Hopkins will, in the face
all our high authority. and all the pla
10. statements Of facts. and opinions OF a,
rs. men who have seen its damnable effec