Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-12-10

al
les, familiar to many Of our readers, But
in view of the tremendous events now
occurring in this country, they assume
new Importance, "a prophetic meaning
The baleial influence Of this " institution
upon the shareholders, one of the worst
among its many evil effects, was plainly
marked by Jefferson, at time too when
slavery was comparatively mild in oper'
alton. The natural fruit of this intu-
ence which has become more visible In
the events transporting since Jeherson's
day--in personal outrage in the halls of
| of Congress by the upholders of slavery
upon those disagrseing with them, in re-
/ peated fraud and violence for the extern
sion of the institution, HAS ripened into
the willing sacrifice of all things else, even
the Union itself, and precipitation of a
happy and prosperous country into all the
horrors of bloodshed and civil war, to sat.
isfy the craving appetite and ambition of
shareholders " nursed, educated and daily
exercised in tyranny and stamped by its
odious pecularities." How clearly JEFF
ferson foresaw to what this influence of
slavery must lead, is manifest from the
concluding paragraph given below; and
although the attempt against " the liber-
ties of the nation " may not have come in
/ Just the form anticipated by him, the "rev-
olution of the wheel of fortune " is takiug
place, and we reverently aud solemnly
believe, in the language of jefferson, that
the Almighty has no attribute which can
take side with the STAKEHOLDER in such a
contest. - ss. lwa.-.' ST..
A man who now, after the effects OF the
institution of slavery have become more
, visible in their enormity than they were
in Jetfersons day, talks as Jefferson did,
IS called by certain class Of politicians
: fanatic and abohtionst Yet this same
e class of politicians profess now to inherit
the principles of this same Jefferson,
The following are the passages referred
0 to, from Jefferson's Notes on Virginia:
e alt is difficult to determine the stand
e ard by which the manners of nation
: NAV be tried, whether " catholic" or par
: ticular. 1t is more difficult for native
TO bring to that standard the manners o
5 his own nation, famiharized to him b,
= habit.
There must doubtless be an unhappy
If influence on the manners of our people
b produced by the existence OF slavery
|. among us. The whole commerce between
$ master and slave is perpetual exercise
= the most bosterous passions, the most un
remitting despotism the one part, ant
e degrading submission on the other.
Our children see this and learn TO imi
tate it, for man is an initiative animal.
This quality is the germ of all educa
6 ton IN him. From his cradle to his grave
he is learning to do what he sees Others
do If a parent could find no motive, Ell
= Their in his philanthropy or his self-love
4 for restraining the intemperance OF HI:
passion towards his slave, it should Away.
t be sufficient one that his child is pre-
sent; but generally it is not sufficient,
!, The parent storms, the child looks on
n catches the lineaments of wrath, puts Oh
8 the same airs in the circle of smale
slaves, gives loose TO the worst of passions
: and thuS nurSed, educated and daily ca
n ercised in tyranny, cannot bat be stampet
J By it toith odiouS pecttldrfties.
= The man must be a prodigy who cal
retain his manners and morals undeprsvet
bv such circumstances and with wha
o execra'ion should the statesman be loaded
V who, permitting one half of the citizen
e thus to trample on the rights of the other
: transforms those INTO despots and thes
]. into enemies, DESTROYS the morals OF III
o one part and the amor pdtrfe OF TN
d other.
For if slave can have a country IL
;, this world, it must be any Other in pre-
ference to that in which he Is born to lly'
: and labor for another in which he mus
: lock up the faculties of his nature, con
, tribute as far as depends on his individual
! endesvors to the eyanishment of the hu
man race, or entail his own miserable con
dtion on the endless generations proceed
: ing from him.
u With the morals of the people, their IN
e dustry also is destroyed. For in wart
q climate, no mar will labor for himsel
E who can make another labor for hin
d This is so true, that Of the proprletors (
slaves very small proportion indeed ar
le ever sen to labor.
ID And can the Liberties of nation ,
Sc thought secure when we nave remove
as their only firm basis, conviction IN %
It, minds Of the people that those hbertl'
is are of the gift of God--that they are NJ
to be violated but with his wrath Il
- deed tremble for my country when r
- feet that God is just; that his justice ca
: not sleep forever; that cons idering nun
: beers, nature and natural means only,
II rayoution of the wheel of fortune. an G.