North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-08-12

OBEY the laws and honor the magistra tes-.
that the powers that be are ordained of God,
and he that resisteth the power shall receive
condemnation--that we may not covet the
property of others-that having food and raj.
ment, we should be Herewith content-that
we must avoid strife, contention and railing,
accusations, and follow peace aud charity, and
good will, remembering that the service O:
Christ is the only perfect freedom, and that
our true happiness depends not on the meas.
ure of our earthly wealth, on social equality,
ON honor, our on or relative position in tho
community, but on the fulfllment or our per-
sonal duty according to our lot, in reliance ON
His blessing?
have no more to add, with respect to
this most popular dogma of human equalit y,
and shall therefore dismiss it, as fallacious in
itself, and only mischievous in its tendency.
As it is the stronghold of the ultra abolition.
ist, have devoted large space to its examia
nation, and trust that the conclusion is SUN.
ciently plain. Happily it forms no part of
| our Constitution or our laws. 1t never was
intended to apply to the question Of negro
slavery. And it never can be 80 applied with.
out tot al perversion of its historical mean.
| ing, and an absolute contrariety to all the
facts of humanity, and the clear instruction Of
the Word of God.
The next objection to the Slavery of the
Southern States, is it's presumed cruelty, be.
cause the refractory slave is punished with
corporal correction. But our Northern law
allows the same in the case of children and
apprentices. Such was the established ave-
tenn in the army and the navy, until very
ately. The whipping post was fixed insti.
tuition in England and Massachusetts,, and its
discipline was administered even to free citi-
zens during the last century. Stripes, not
exceeding forty, were appointed to offenders
in Israel by divine authority. The Saviour
himself used a scourge of small cords when
he drovs the money-changers from the temple.
Are our modern philanthropists mols merci s
ful than Christ, and wiser than the AL
mighty
But 1t is said that the poor slaves ars
treated with baT54rity and doubtless il NAV
sometimes be true, just as sulders an1 sailors
and even wives AMI children, are shamefully
abused amongst ourselves, in many instances.
1t is evident however, that the system or
slavery can not be specially liable to reproxch
on this score, because every motive of inter.
est as we'll as moral duty must be opposed to
It, The owner OF the horse and the or rare
iy treats his brutes with severity. Why
should he The animals are his property.
and he knows that they muct be kindly
and carefully used, if be would derive advan.
tage from their labor. Much more must the
master of the slave be expected to treat him
with all fairness and affection, because here
there are human feelings to be influenced, and
ii the servant be not oontentsd and attached.
not only will he work unwillingiy, but hs
may be converted into an enemy and an ayen.
ger When the master ia a Christian. tho
principles of the Gospel, as laid down by st.
Paul, will operate, of course, in favor Of ths
slave. But even when these are wanting, tbs
mo tives of interest and prudence remain.-
And hence | can not doubt that the examples
of barbarity must be exceedingly few, and
ought to be regarded, not as the general rule
but as the rare exceptions. On the whele,
indeed, see no reason to deny the statms.
mt OF our Southern friends that their slaves
are the happiest laborers in the world. their
wants are all provided for by their mastsr'
Their families are sure of home and mainte.
nance for life. In sickness they are kindly
nursed. In old age they are affectionatsiy
supported. They are relieved from all ankle
ty for the future. Their religious privileges are
generously accorded to them. Their work is
light. Their holidays are numerous. And
hence the strong affection which they usually
manifest toward their master, and 1.-The earnest
longing which many, who were persuaded to
become fugititives, have been known to ex-
press,that they might be able to return.
The third objection is, that slavery must bs
san, because it leads to immortality. But
where is the evidence of this ? I dispute not
against the probability and even the certain
ty that there are instances of licentioususss
enough among slave holders, just as there are
amongst those who vilify them. It would DO
difficult if not an Impossible task, howeve E,
to prove that there is more immortality
| amongst the slaves themselves than exists
amongst the lower class of freemen. In Sab
bath breaking, profane cursing and swearing,
drunkenness and quarreling--in brutal abuse
of wives and children, in rowdyism and OBJ
scenity, in the viiest excssses Of shamelsss
prosttution-to say nothing of organized
bands of oounterfeitsrs, thieves and burglsrS
Il doubt whether there arm not more oxen.
| the single city Of fNew-York than can be found
amongst ths slave population Of all the Attss1
States together. The fact would rather seem
to be that the wholesome restraints Of slavery.
as general rule, must he. to great ATteu&