Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-02
Free and Equal.


The Louisville Democrat thus cOmbats the
Abolition idea of the equality of men as stated in
the Declaration of Independence:
"All men are created free and equal " What
did the authors of the Declaration of Indepen
dence mean by this declaration? We NAV take
it for granted that they didn't mean that individ
ual men were equal physically or mentally, or
that all races of men were equal in physical or
intellectual endowments. We may take it for
granted too that they did not mean to stultify
themselves before all mankind by asserting that
their negro slaves were free and equal to them
selves, or were entitled to the same freedom and
equality. Ii they meant that belieye ed and as
serted it. then they stand the most seli-con-
demned body of men in all history.
What they did mean, their condition and cir.
cumstances show plainly enough. They met to
assert their right to govern themselves and to
deny the right OF Great Britain to govern them.
The English Government that claimed their nj
legiance. was founded on hereditary rights. The
sovereign was born with the right 70 rule. The
House OF Lords WAS hereditary in its claims of
power in the legislative department of the Gov
eminent. The whole of the Governments of the
world at that day were built upon slender foun
datiOn
This declaration struck at the whole natural
right To rule derived from birth: it defed the
whole system of such Government. King George
K Co have no more right II rule than we have
One class of men not born with boots and
spurs 20 ride the rest. This was about the mean
ing OF Jefferson aud compeers; and they meant
no more.
This me .ning suited them. their condition and
circumstances, and the great purpose in hand. To
carry the meaning .urther does not accord with
the opinions practices of the men who made
the Declaration OF Independence
Tho Sfafas all exrent ono Dprhane racprrt
zed African slavery when the Declaration Of In
dependence was signed, although a majority who
signed il were anti-slaverv men. Ii they had un
derstood the Declaration be directed against
the institution OF African slavery, il would not
have been signel by a majority of the Conven-
ton, IL At all. No one will suppose that the
men of sexenty-sx intended to raise the slavery
question: it i. therefore. absurd to quote their
Declaration. and apply it as they evidently did
not intend TO apply it.
The men of seventv-six understood this mat
ter of government and the constitution of society
a. well n anv men that ever lived They knew
that the white man. the negro. and the Indian
would never live upon Il condition of equality in
the same community, upon the sane soil. They
all saw the necessity of African slavery At the
time None proposed TO abolish it Immediately,
although they were DESTROYS of some plan to Get
rid of what they held 10 be an evil-jhat i, they
wanted to Get rid of the negro race in communi-
ties OF white men II was not, however. because
African slavery was inconsistent With the decllr-
alton we have quoted They had made good
that declaration. far they meantit. Subse-
queatly they made Federal Constitution for a
more perfect Union. and recognized slavery in
the States where 10 existed; and the most anti
slavery amongst them never thought of quoting
the Declaration of independence 70 show that
they must, 10 carry it out abolish slavery.
Such men rs Washington. J eiler,on, Hamilton
and Others would have been amused At the sug
gestion of freeing all the slaves without the con
sent of the States They would have compre
hended its preposterousness in all It's length and
breadth at a glance Even with the consent OF
the States. they would have stood appalled, at the
task of colOnizing four millions of negroes. No
statesmen Of the world ever undertook TO accom-
plish such an undertaking. They would say at
once let Divine Providence do that, If II IS 10 be
done is Is out Of mans reach.