The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-09-22
Irefiueuce of Slavery upon Public and Indi-
yidual Character.

So long ago as 17Ss, in letter from Paris
speaking OF the intercourse between master
and slave, Mr.. Jefferson said:
The parent storms the child looks on catches the
lireaueuts of wrath, puts on the same airs in the
circle of smaller slaves GIVES LOOSE TO HIS WORST
PAssIoNs and, thus nursed educated and daily er-
sycised in tyranny cannot but be stamped by IT with
odious peculiaritses.
In 1882 Judge Summers of Virginia, said
in q speech before the Legislature OF that
State, as qnoscd by the Richmond Wing Of
Jan. 10Th of the same year.
;afuence upon the manners, habits, aud character
of those among whom il exists. Lisping infancy
learns the vocabulary OF abusive eplthes ana struts
scousnes of superior destiny takes possession of his
mind at its earliest dawning and lore Of poioer and
rule grows with his growth and strengthens with
his strength Uuless enabled TO rise aboyethe oper-
alton of those powerful causes, he enters the word
NTH miserable notions Of seifimportance, and an-
der the government Of an UNBRIDLED TEMPER.
II such is the influence of an institution
upon child brought in contact with it, what
parent, who is unwilling to educate his sons
to be tyrants, would not see it blotted out /;
and if its influence upon the habits and char
acter of people is such as described by
Judge Summers, himself a STAKEHOLDER, where
is the statesman, worthy of the name, who
will not welcome its peaceful abolition as one
of the greatest blessings that can come to a
free nation.
In the early and better days Of the Repub-
lie slavery was universally acknowledged to
be social, moral and political evil, tolerated
but not approved, whose extinction was de-
voutly desired, and whose long continuance
could not fail TO be attended with mischief to
tile nation. Such were democratic views.
Jefferson did not disguise his opposition to it,
and Madison was SO opposed to it that he
would not have it named in the constitution.
lest the name should become a monument of
the fathers wrongs that should cause their
children to feel dshonored.
To-day, however, democracy has so changed
that the support of slavery is its highest mis-
sion. On no other question is it so sensitive;
of the rights of nothing else is it half SO jeal-
Gus. To oppose slavery is the only sin for
which democracy has no forgiveness; to be-
come anti-slavery is the shortest cut for
one TO put himself beyond the pale of demo-
cratic fellowship. But the institution is
doomed. Gods justice is opposed to it. Eter-
nal righteousness condemns it, The logic of
events is against it. The great tidal wave Of
Providence is submerging it, and he who at
tempts TO resist that tide, aud to stem the
current of Gods providence, will find an up
hill work, but reap no success. As well at
tempt to dam Niagara with rushes, or to stop
the revolutions of the earth. Time and tide
wait not, neither do they step aside to accom-
modate the whims or the caprices OF men.
Onward they 60, and wo to him who builds
his hopes on their delay.
The mower mows on though the adder may writhe,
And the copperhead curl round the blade of his
scythe."