Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-03-09
COMMUNICATIONS.
FOR n SPIRIT or ran AGE.
The Origin Of the Human Family.

WI. GDIIOh {. uO ASso 4
origin of mankind, has been a subject OF
controversy aud disputation among those
who have devoted much time and atteu-
ton to the physical history of man, and
vet seems 10 be unsettled. The last pas
SAGE at arms which | ~recollect Of seeing on
this subject, was between the late Rt. Rev.
Bishop Meade and Mcmahon, the author
of Cause and Contrast. The one sustained
the Bible account of the ~matter-that the
great variety of the human family had
one common origin the other, doubted
whether the white man and negro descen-
ded from the same stock. l do not feel
qualified to settle the point in dispute, but
will offer some few reflections on the sub
iect and leave the reader to determine for
himself. Different nations present the
human race in a great variety OF forms,
color and popularity. These people speak
different languages, showing, l think, be-
yond all doubt, that language is an inven-
ton. There is no written record present
ing q different account. We have no &C
count upon which we can rely, off radical
change in the external peculiarities of par
ticular n~atioos. The white man in all bis
physical relations, is the same now that be
was FIVE thousand years ago. So it is with
the negro-indeed there is no peculiar race
of the human family that Goes not peril
~naciously persist in the preservation OF its
original type, insomuch that an admix-
ture of different descents will become OBJ.
liberated in a few generations.
The whole human family have been
classified under the following heads: The
Caucasian ; the Magnolian the Malayan f;
the Negro, and the Indian or aboriginal
American. The peculiarities of these ra-
ces, SO different iroin each 10 features, col
or and other marks, have led to the opln-
ion that they must have had distinct orr
gins. Two Of these at least, the white
man and the negro, arc so opposite 10 eve'
~ respect, particularly in color and fea-
lures, that many believe tn, y had different
origins.
The solution Of this question has occu-
pied the labor and investigation of many
learned meu-lcadiRg them to the conclu-
sion, that, notwithstanding the great dl-
Gersity of extreme appearances, the whole
human race might have had a unity OF
origin. Those who. have labored in this
field seem to have discovered, at least to
their satisfaction, that the physiological
characters of the races, SO very different
now, are more the result of accident thar
was at first imagined.
In illustration or support of this theory
it is alleged that there are nations, known
In history to have had one common de-
scent, presenting all shades and color, an
a great discrepancy in other importan
features, which at one time confouuded tn
whole subject. In reading the history c
Africa, we learn that there are in tina
grand division of the earth, negro tribes
black as the crow, whose forms and con
formations, features and limbs are equal t
those of the best in this or any othe
country. Whilst the history of the Who'll
human family, from the beginning to tn
present time, affords no evidence of ne
groes becoming white in the course {
time and generations, it is a we'll know
fact, that Arabs and Jews who settled
Africa many years ago, have become
black as the negro-and their descendan
partake of the same color. Some WI
ter mentions the fact of black children b
inp born to an Arab family in the vail,
of the Jordan in whose ancestry no SUI
blood intermingled. 1t is well know
that the Arab population have fiat nose
dark skins, coarse hair and inelegant lei
lures, totally unlike the white race In E.
rope and America. Perhaps it is up
this fact, the Yankees rest the opinion
the equality of the negro with the VIII
man. but until they can show the possib
ity of a transition from the black to {
white, | must suppose that their opinion
the baseless fabric of fanaticism. | hs
no objection, however, to their becomi
NEGROES in color as well as in ignorar
and principle, for there is already q gr
similarity between them-both will ste
Ideny that there is an Instance of
cord of a negro becoming a white man
if some Of the Arabs became black, it
owing to the yankee blood in their vel
The p%lentifsl supply of good and who
some food we'll. prep AIRED, the necess
clothing according to the demands of
climate, the style of living, exert a We
derful influence ip the modification of
human figure. All people who are
fed, half clothed, badly shcltered-pres
some deformity 10 limb, form or feature
The effect of these agencies, good
bad living, are always In every age
country, but they do not entirely obi
ate that persistency in national charaC
form aud feature. In the vegetable