The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-01-02
{ For the Star Of the North ]
Equality.

Equality.
AS some persons have fancied that Socie-
ty could realize stae Of absolute equality,
could be attained, it is said in the Declara
ton of independence that, call mankind
are created equal';; and this has ofien been
taken as literally true. But absolute equal
i,y, is as impossible as absolute liberty. 10
the first place, mankind are not born equal
in respect 10 civil condition. Some, as the
surfs of Russia, are born slaves in this coun-
try, and in some of the States certain indi-
viduals are born 10 seivitude, while others
are born to enjoy freed ON. There are other
grounds of inherent and nece ssary Unequal
iiy. One person is born with good con.
stitulion; another is sickly from the cradle.
One person is endowed with strong mind,
and others with weak ones. One person is
gifted with beauty, another with deformity.
One person has natural grace, another awk'
wardness.
The surface of the earth, thrown into hills
and valleys, with mountains whose tops
mingle with the clouds, and ravines that
never see the sun-light-meadows that
bloom with flowers, and deserts that know
no living thing-plains and soping hills,
covered with forests-and rocky regions,
where no Tree can root itself-all this diver
sity of nature present no more inequality
than the conditions in which mankind are
born. The whole system of nature and
Providence, shows it TO be the design of
the Creator and moral Governor that there
shall be diversity in human society as we'll
as in nature.
Besides, even in those countries where
there is the greatest freedom, and the near
est approach to equality in society, even
there, mankind are neither born Tree nor
equal, 10 the view of the law II we take
no account of slaves, still the children of
white persons are not born free; they are
unde. the control of their parents till they
are tweniy-one years old. Females, who
constitute part of mankind, and whose
natural rights are the same as those of men,
are never placed on an equality with men
before the law. They are never permitted,
even in enacting the laws, nor in choosing
rulers, 10 use the right of voting. They are
excluded from all share in the government,
BY the stronger sex, who proceed to make
such laws as they please; and in all countries
these laws exclude women from political
power.
1t appears. therefore, that mankind are
not born free and equal, in literal sense.
Ia what sense then, can il be truly said that
men are created equal? only as meaning
that all the members of society are born
with Just claim TO civil liberty 10 that
freedom which is compatible with the
general good, and 10 the equality of rights.
Ii means 10 say that, those laws which make
one man a lord and another serf-which
make one a citizen and debar another in
the same condition, from The righ, of voting
ARE violations of the principles of JustIce
a nd the rights of man. While, therefore,
equality OF condition is out OF the question,
one thing is plain that, equal rights, equal
laws, and an equal administration of these
laws-so thai the rich and the poor, the
| high and The lowIy, the citizen and The of
fee holder, shall all stand on the same foot
ing-are the ends and designs of a good
government; and every person should so
use his power as 10 establish such ends and
! designs.
Equality does not mean that woman
shall be equal 10 man, or child the same
as a man but that all woman, all children,
all citizens, shall enjoy the same relative
rights, privileges, and immuni,ies.
YoUNG AMERICAN.