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

pie of property in man, Yet have never eeen
able to underst and what it is that isgusts them
No STAKEHOLDER pretends that this property extends
any farther than the right to the ta60r Of the saue
II is obvious to the slightest reflection that slavery
can not bind the intellect or the sou' These which
properly constitute the IAN, are free in their own
nature, from all human restraint. But TO have a
property in human labor under some form, is m
essential element in all the work of civilized society
The toll of one is pledged for the service of another
In every rank Of ife and 10 the extent thus pledged
both parties have property in each other The
parent especially has established property in the
labor of his child to the age OF twentyone, and has
the further power of transferring this property to an
other by articles of apprenticeship But this. 1t
may be said, ends when the child is Of age. True ;
beausc the law presumes him to then fitted for free
DOM Suppose, however that he belonged to an in
Serior race which the the Lac did not presume to be
fitted for. freedom at any age whst good reason
could be assigned against the continuance of the
property? Such, under the rule of the Scriptures
and the Constitution of the United States is the case
of the negro. God, in his wisdom AMI providence,
caused the patriarch Noah to predict that he should
be the serrant of servants the p1sterity of Ja-
phet. And the same almighty Ruler, who alone
possesses the power, has wonderfully adapted the
race to their cond ton. For every candid observer
agrees that the negro is happier and better as
slave than as a free man. AMI individual belong
ing to the AngIo-Saxon stock would acknowledge
that the intellect of the negro is equal to his own
There have been philosophers and Psychologists
who contendei that the African were not strict
iy entitled to be called men At ALL but were sort
of intermediate link between the baboon ani the
human being And this notion is still maintained by
some at the present day. For myself, however, l
can only say thai I repaiiate the doctrine with my
whole heart The Scriptures show me that tie ne
gro, like all other descends from Noah, ana
hold him to be MAy AND \ BROTHER. But though
he be my brother, il does not follow that he is my
equal. Equality can not be found on earth between
the brothers in one little family. Il the same
house one brother usually obtains a mastery over
the rest, AMI sometimes rules them with perfect
despotsm In England, the elder brother inherits
the estate, and the youny ycr brothers take lower
rank, by the Slarery Of circumstances. The eldest
sou of the royal family IS in due time the king and
his brothers forthwith become his subjects. Why
should not the same principle obtain in the races of
mankind, if the Almighty has so willsd it The
Anglo-Saxon race is king, why should not the Afr-
can race be subject, aud slbiect in that way for
which it is best adapted and in which it may be
more safe, useful, and more happy than in any
other which has yet been opened to it, in the annals
of the world
know that there may be exceptions, now ami
then, to this intellectual nfererity of the negro
race, though believe it wouli be very difficult to
find one unless the intermixture of superior blood
has operated to change the mental constitution of
the individual For all such eases tho master may
provide by voluntary emancipation, AMI it is notor:-
ious that this emancipation has been cheerfully gver
thousands upon thousands Of instances, IN tlg
majority (which the gift Of liberty has failed tc
benefit the negro, anl has on the contrary, sunk
him far lower in his social position. But no reflect
ing man can believe that the great mass of the
slaves, amounting to nearly four mjlli)ns are qua
flied for freedom. And therefore it is incomparaby
better for them to remain under the government OF
their masters, who are likely to provide for them
so much more benefcally hen they could provide
For themselves.
The difference then, between the power of the
Northoan parent and the Southern slave 3oier, i:
reduced to this namely, that the master has a
ropert in the labor Of his Stare for life instead Of
having it only to the age of twentyone because the
law regards the negro as being always child in un-
derstandng: requiring superior mind to govern and
direct him. But, on the other hand the slave has
just as really property for life in his masters sup
port and protection, and this property is secured to
him by the same law, in sickness AMI in health in
the helpessness of old age we'll as in the days of
youthful vlgor, ineludd3, besides, comfortable
maintenance for his wife and family. Can any ra-
tional Judgment devise a fairer equivalent?
The fifth objection, which often meets the North
ern ear, proceeds from the overweepin- value at
tached in our age and country to the name of iber
ty since it is common to call it the dearest right
man, and to esteem its loss as the greatest possible
calamity. Hence we frequently fnd persons who
imagine <hat the whole argument is trinmphantiv
settiep by the4usstion; hOo rrould you like 10 be
stare?
In answer to this very puerile interrogatory !
should say that whether any condition in life is to be
regarded as loss or an advantage depends entirely
on circumstances. Suppose, for example that the
-M0yor of NewYork should ask one of its merch mt
princes How would You like to be POLICEMAN -
doubt whether the question might not he taken for
an insult, and some words of iriignation would
probably be uttered in reply. But suppose that the
same question were addressed to aQ Irish laborer
with what feelings would he receive it a? AssuredIy
with those Of gratitude AMI pleasure. The reason
of the difference is obvious because the employment;
which would be degradation to the one, offers pro.
motion and dignity to the other In ike manner,
slavery, to an individual of the Anglo Saxon race
which occupies so high rank in human estim alton
would be debasemeHt not to be thonght of will
patience for a moment. and yet, to the Guinea
negro, sunk in heathen barbarism, it would be a
happy change to place him in the hands Of South.
err master. Even now, although the slaves have nc
idea of the pagan abominatons from which the
foreathers were taken it is notorious that they us
naly value their pri vilegeg being far superior t.
the condition of the free negroes around them, and
prefer tho certainty Of projection ard support TO
life to the hazards Of the liberty on which the abo
ItlOniStS advise them "a emit u,rr -