Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-05
THIRD LETTER Of BISHOP MEADE ON A WORK
ENIITLED "CAUSE AND CONTRAST"

ENIITLED "CAUSE AND CONTRAST"
To tks EIiiOr Of tie Whg:
Dear Sr-l propose in this, ny list communication,
very briefly two Of the arguments generally used
10 favor Of the unity Of the human race in opposition
those who msutaio its diversity and who especially de-
light dTcll the pecularies Of the African prov
ing him to he OF the loNes Of the various groups created
or sprngrg up a. different periods and blt little raised
above the ape monkey or gorilla
This subject has bean much discussed Of late years.
Anl Il ingenious and jealous sceptcs hsve adduced
hcs and specllAtoEs the side, they have been
met BY men far mere learned and sound minded on the
Other who have defended the scipural vsE by an ap
peal history aud philosophy, as TO COZ irn
the candid inc lire into truth 10 the belief OF the
oiiyia OF the whole human 1t should be suf
fcent TO mention amcug the advocates OF unity the
nam,s OF Sir Matthew Hale, Prcbard, Lyel, Chevaer
BIuseu and our oWu Sohoolcroit To the latter tAe
Congress Of the United States committed, years
s-ee the inpOragt task OF iUQTirng into the history
Of the AtOngines Of America, aud, in various pars 0f
his six folio volumes he has established not only the
Identity OF Al the tribes of Indiana but their descent
ON European Asiatic and African nations by showing
how the elementary words OF all their languages point
umes more recently put forth in the State of Virginia by
our own citlsns aud which credAbls to their
psty learning aad lsborious research The fist Of these
IS entirely devoted to the establishment. o. the unity Of
the human rscs, BY D.. Cabs Professor Of Medicine CT
Anatomy in tho University OF yirg nis The argument
Il coaAi1ei IN a duod elmo volume of modcrae sEe
aad rili am y repi, the reader Tor oieiul perusa
Toe second IL sl-o a dioiecino OF larger sz, entitled
"Sci,rce a Wi..ess TO the Bible" in which arc nun
Der OF wclstu lied articles corresponding with its title
aud amoag them Of considerable length on the origin
OF the human family by Inc Rev. William n. PendetoD
minister Of the Episcopal Church in Lexington, Va,
though now most eli ionty serving Southern Con
fedcracy colonel Of artillery his military talents bsv
ing been impe-orsy c,led for, he having been a dis
,inguisbci graduate, and for tms adjunct prOies
sor, OF Wes; Point Tnis ok, and especially the ar;i
Gle specified, also recommend to the attention OF the
public.
Isl TIE rs, proof Of the descent Of all the tribes and
nations OF earth from one common eek 10 which
fer land We can ony aade to l ia the admirable adap
ttion Of the religion Of Bible 10 the whole human
family and the Of is eA.o. wherever it is
known and embraced Eseh tho resemblance between
the great principles and sots and instruction Of the Bi
bic TO the religious opinions aud traditions and csremo
uies of all Nations withstsndng the shameful cOrrup
tons of the latter furnishes proof of one common re-
Ngion, which was delivered by God himself to common
ancestry lst as the resemslEca between the form and
features OF all tribes and naou-, notwithstanding their
many varieties, osolsioEed by climate, modes of life
&C. establishes a common origin. In every age of
Christianity an argument has bssn drawn in its behalf
I & ~. and "A
bond aud free Jew and Gsntile, Of every shade and
color bagr when instructed in the sia and receiving
i, into their hearts, agreed IN declaring their happiness
n possessing IT, aud in exhibiting the fruits Of In
their tempers and lives believing that they were thus
md rgong preparation for one common abode above
TIE Christian ministers 4ad pious owners Of slaves In
the South are continually Witnessing the evidercse Of
this in the power of Divine grace through the Word,
over the hearts and lives Of numbers, Who by their pors
conduct show that az in Adam they died. so in one
Christ they have been madi alive. The most learned
ministers aud weahesl delight to feel that they
aad the pou, negroes to whom they preach, or whom
hey ing.us are brethren 10 Christ aud viii one day oc
cupy the same Heaven. Odr author does, Indeed, In
one place, seem to adni; the morality of the negro
slaves by contrast nc least with the immortality OF the
white slaves Of the North he speaks Of some slaves In
the South whoss honesty tested by their owners in
ArOppng pieces OF mOnsy upon the door, and which
were faithfully brought 10 tue mslters but even tbs
praise is soon withdraw or tlsted by the following
ovldheartcd words "Psrh1ps indeed, this honesty OF
theirP Instead OF b,iag ntuvs and founded on a's1
lutte rec.tude ia rather intellectual and the result o
cunning sp oulAoa" Tha; H. thsy are, in this respect
also like Monkeys who, W. all know, are notoI'usly
cunning rogues.
We Of the South, who, from childhood. are accus
toned 10 see these vfsd 10 the persons 3 our faith
fu nurses and homes. pymates and afterwards in the
character OF plous members Of the Church. are happily
assured tha. their aiei'y rests the same ground
with that OF the most upright OF their owners-on thu
Divine Word which bids them ''no to be eye.serVsnt
as men pleasers bu in sngeness Ct heart fearing God
Bu. our space will allow us to dEell longer on th
point We will only say, far more do we prefer Il
these grovslng views the elevated ones Of the Roman