Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-09
PR0-sLAvERY CAsUIsTRY.

supposed interest, may blind him in the DER.
ception OF the plainest truths Because Mr.
Glidden and DR.. Mott have gagged the ne.
gro's Uranium with small shot, and inferred
from the measurement mental fnfer1oriey as
compared with the Caucasian race the advo.
cate OF human slavery claims the right to en-
slave the black man, and hold him and his of.
spring IN perpetual bondage. We might well
admit the premises and yet deny the conclu-
sion. 1t is a horrid perversion Of right rea
son to argue from the supposed fact to the in
consequential result. The plain and honest
man, whose judgeme mt is guided by the clear
| est dictation of common sense, perceIves the
1aiiacy In moment, and rejects it unhesita-
tingly. He discerns that the sophistry might
lead to his own enslavement by some large
headed claimant to intellectual superiority.
The enlightened and logical humanitarian
perceives at glance the hollow pre.ension
which would invest such q collocation of
| words with logical force authority.
o tear human being by brutal force and
violence from the original seat of his tribe or
nation, against his will and agonizing suppl-
| cations, is indeed a cruel and wicked act If
MS captor really intended to civilize and chris
tianlZe the slave, the transportation would
scarcely be justi6able. But we all know what
| the slave dealer intends, and see that when
ne mas sold his victim to the planter, and tor
lures his bondman often unto death, in the
| edeavors to acquire ease and enjoyment at the
1
slave owner for Christianity or civilization He
manifests precisely his regard for both by
| prohibition of even the rudiments of educa-
ton, aud doOms his bondmen and their pos
| terity to hopeless ignorance.
| But, urges the doer of iniquity, the world
wants cotton, and cannot dispense with it.
The negro alone can cultivate the plant but
| he will not labor unless coerced, aud therefor
must we enslave and lash him. The answer to
'nese propositions is, that the world got
along with but moderate supplies before our
slave States gave forth unusual quantities and
could much better do so now, when other
textile Materials more abundant than former
y 1t is also untrue that slave labor is indis-
pensable in its cultivation, since in many re-
gions free labor is employed in the task and
does it well. The experiments now in progress
on the sea islands of Georgia and South Car
oina, as well as on the Mississippi, tend to
enforce the same truth, and toreshadow the
approaching time when the curse of slavery
shall entirely disappear.
1T is by no means SO manifest that cotton
from our southern plan tations Is thing Of
absolute necessity to fhA World. With ito s.b
traction from her store of raw matarials |
Britain still prospers in her remaining resour- |
ces, with commerce expanding and revenue |
increasing. France, too, finds her trade as |
extensive ever and boast a national income |
larger than usual. Both nations may congratu-
late themselves that they forbore take open
P"'h III Oui UouiSotIC quarrel, LOT tU6 dDtlCl-
pated evils which so shocked their nerves and
disturbed their diplomatic propriety never
came TO any serious elimination.
these northern States also weathering
.he storm much better than was expected.
cotton being scarce and dear. substitutes have
been sought and found. Wool has been large
ly used Tor many articles. and other materials
are coming into use. Nothing checks this
tendency up to point that would speedily
bring down the price of cotton, except that |
the prospect of sudden collapse of the re-
be lion prevents the investment of capital in
enterprises of this character. The culture of
cotton elsewhere than in the southern States
Is checked by the same uncertainty. Capital
lists fear to embark in large expenditures, when
a contingency by no means unlikely may re-
store cotton supply from the accustomed
locality.
Were all this otherwise, and we're cotton.
rice and tobacco henceforth to rule at higher
prices because men were longer ensIaved,
the Inconvenience might we'll be endured for
the establishment of righteous principle.
The world would thrive Just as well. We
ourselves would pay our balances to Europe
in some other mmodties, if the gold of
and Nevada were Inadequate
Most probably, under the influence Of causes
now in operation, we shall turn the balance of :
rade in our favor, and work up our own raw
Material. thereby multiplying to all this sup
Ily of ommodities.
That the slave proprietors would themselves :
'e benefited morally and materially, by a :
,hange which should let their bondmen go =
rec, is result in the highest degree probable. =
t is found that, under the stimulus of indi- =
'idual advantage, the labor of the freedman on !.
he Mississippi estates is far more productive =
han that of the slave, and doubtless in all
her fields of labor similar result must be e
erceivabe. II with plantations worked by !.
reedmen, where humane and equitable treat =
nent shall take the place of cruelty and injus. !;
ice, the proprietor shall find himself more !,
than ever before what happy u
might result from this sanguin-
~ strife! ! Then the ethnologist need no lon :,
er burrow amongEgyptian monuments for OBJ :,
cure deductions that the negro was always a :,
lave. and must necessarily continue SO to the
nd of time. The southern clergy need not
ack their brains with stultfying casuistry to .
rove that the scriptural slavery is divine =
whilst poygamy is to be condemn =
and discontinued. Passion, vituperation 4
nd bloody violence may all abate, whilst the :,
lsane idea of overthrowing human freedom -
self, substituting therefor the forms of mon
rchy and aristocracy, will only recur to the
lind of the regenerated southern one of 81
is widest day dreams. al
--.~ d.
In handling greenbacks ook out for de- l
and notes. A leading business house in 1
afayette, Ind. has taken over $500 of them,
ordinary legal tender. in the course of
ade, within few months. The demand &C