The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-04-19
AFRICAN SLAVERY.

I IElir1ei froDi ou dddreo 8chrerod Al
B,an1airr .Ja,y i&, 1851 iy Jos
w. PHhr
The mind readily turns 10 African
slavery. and the diversity of sentiment
and interest in relation thereto prevail
iug among our people as the chief cause.
or prctcz, Of our national troubles To
arrive at the truth IN regard 90 this
question. lee us oudrayog to view il ia
the light Of reason aud commou sense.
aud with the ramc spirit Of justice with
which the pen Of impartial hisiory Will
hereafter record the important events
which are now transpiriog II b. con
f.sscdly difficult question for au Amer
lean 30 decide Europeans. who have
realized much of their capital. from the
rroG,s of the slayoiradc, but wlr are
exempt irom IT. attendant evils can
readily condemn. with affected horror.
the atrocity ui human slavery; but our
citizens. who know that 20 large q pro
portion Of the wealth Of cur Southern
people consists in slave property aud
that II, j. utterly impossible 20 eradicate
the system at once, without iUaiciing
unnecessary evil. upon both thc master
and servant. must decide, after an hon
est investigation, that African slavery,
as IL exists IN osk kcountry can be some
how excused.
There are three prevailing opinions
on the subject The Grsi Is that Of the
Abolitiuuist, who clamors for the abso-
Iutc equality Of the races aud demands
immediate emancipation.
The second is that now very general
Is entertained By the ultra South that
the African race are incapable Of ciNIli-
zcd freedom that they attain 10 their
highest destiny in state Of ofsoryItudc to
superior race aud that they best sub
serve their own temporal and eternal IN
tercsts an well as the general welfare
Of mankind, by perpetual bondage 10
the christian white races, in the cotton,
sugar and rice growing regions Of the
world
The third is the opinion Of those who
take the middle ground between these
extremes. where truth is ever to be
found. aud maintain that slavery is one
of the necessary evils incident 20 human
impcriccton that it is not TO be pcrpct-
uai that il willonly be permitted to last
IA long as il subserycs the Divine pur-
pose, aud the highest development Of
the colored race requires.
Discarding the first, as unreasonable
and impraeticablc loathe to entertain
the second. ms repulsiyc to the natural
instincts of mankind accept the third
as less derogatory to Divine Providence,
and the most honorable to our common
humanity. | am aware that this is en-
tering the domain Of speculation but
feel confident that a thorough inyestiga-
tion will satisfy any candid mind Of the
most probable truth of our accepted the.
ory.
The equality Of the human races has
ever been ycxcd question. The Dec
laration of independence, a document
which speaks in every line, with the
voice of inspiration almost, boldly as
serts "hat all men are created equal
that they are endo,oed by their Creation
vih certain dpalienoJie rights hdt a
mong these are life, liberty, and h'
pursuit Of hoppness' Here is q
seeming paradox, When VIC survey the
various races of men scattered over the
earth, it is apparent that they are NOT
all equal, or alike in complexion, form
or size, or in physical or mental capaci
| ty Nature, in that as in all her de.
partments, aims at variety. The signer'
of the Declaration were well aware o.
the inferiority of the subject black race
here, and never could have meant to as
sert the absolute equality of the subjec
and dominant races in this country, j
must then have higher meaning. l
means that all men, of whatever race o.
color, are equally dear to their Creator
that homogeneous people, in their owl