Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-30
The Institution and the Government.

History aches ui that whenever people are inya-
d. aud likely 10 be over-run and subug led, Their
chief aud last resource both for resistancs aud rseupe
ration is their perm nen Institutions and Ira 1itiOns
Is would require volume to cite the proofs. few
EJrds u ausser all that Can be said against this popo
s,on AL the nations which have been subjugated by
oilers have had no malursd Institutions as England
before the conquest The Aborgines Of Aneriol, &c
their IastituiioUs have decayed, as in Asia, Greece
aud Rome; or as in the of Poland Their In stitu
ions rested on absu' disy which would not stand
plno.urRg-an Elective King, and to be elected uLan
nsu.ly.
IL Amsre0 the result Of near four centuries Of Gel
olzalol has established but one fixed utilized aud in
iispensabe IasituiOn, aud may add Tradition
African Slavery. Tee Empire of Brazil that and
the Traditions Of the Count. In all the rest Of South
America and Mexico anarchy is the chronic condition,
because African Slavery is abolished. The cOsditiOn
Of the Non SlavehOlding portion of the old United
States would have been the same long years ago, but
hat the sAvsbOldi2g portion constituted. at once.
cOnceIvi aud sustaining power.
l. these view approx mate truth. it is well worth
Ehie to irquire what has b,en the policy of the Coz
derate Government in regard to this Institution, which
p.ese the only solid ground which fall back in
the extremity Our sagaeiOus enemies ascertsned
this fact aud it is not fanatics than sound poll
cy which has made them tdrn all their batteries upon
lis our base Of operations.
The tru use Of African slaves after the prestige Ct
owning them, is to till our masmatc lands, and feed
and elOhe Ourselves aud large proportion of the
tons Apparently, God brought them here, in His due
tine through the deadly pestent boundaries OF their
country Vhch have forever amid al the vieissudes Of
unknown ceaturies, saved hem from conquest, and
placed them where, and with whom, they could at
length contribute TO the civilization and progress Of the
imam family. Bus for the African slave vastly a6-
va cd himself in physeh and moral eOndi ion by be-
ing brought here cot. n sugar, coffee, tobacco and
many oher prime requirements of life now would have
e as GU, OF the reach of any but the very rich as
they were three hundred yeArs ego, Save grown col
Ton brought about Whitney's gp; Z made useful seam,
aud covered the civilized world with factories and the
oceans with commercial vessels la due time i: give the
world Railroads., and then Electric Telegraphs. Nothing
bat The labor OF African slaves under the control Of
Southern masters would havs accomplished these thpg
Geea Batan, France and all Earope would have n
introduced the Dark Ages at the close Of the French
Revolutionary War, but for cotton, the prOdecs Of
African slaves in the Confederate Safes OF America
Lei Europe look and thai institution animated
l. will then be seen tina. the Dark Ages have erriisd
again. Unless our war is settled on the bass OF SOu.h
ern independence, with Gu: institution and soil intact
all nations will share equally with q common rum.
But to return, how this, great institution, our
sheet anchor and last hope managed by the COniede
rae Government IL too appalling to dwell on. The
Government dsloJsl to its only institution, invades
aud undermines it All planters aud mInsg RS except
those past the age of full physical efficiency,
scrpttd for The army. Their entire property is placed
a. the mercy Of Two irresponsible C atOrs, cased
Commissioner in each ate, whose schedules, almot
entirely imperative upoa other elias es hE passs upon
all agricultural productions at fOu th and less what
they would erng in opsn market in the same currency
Thus planters discOuragei from growing crops be-
yond their actual wants, and in many initances are
buttIg their negroes to Othe' employment In add
ton to the seizure of the fruits Of their lab Sr without
just compensation, tao frequent mpressment Of their