The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-20

Az uaII-paSL O'CLOCK tne IreSlQenC ln-
troduced DIR. James Bolton, who was
elected to deliver the annual address.
The Doctor had selected as his subject the
Unity of the Human Race" ON which he
delivered an able and interesting address,
which was listened to with deep attention
by his audience.
| The following is q brief synopsis
DR.. BoIton's AddreSS.-The first part
of the lecture consisted of the considera-
tion of the various theories in regard to
the origin Of the races of mankind: whe-
ther all were derived from single pair or
several different pairs; whether mankind
is of one single species consisting of many
varieties, or originally Of distinct species.
In the course of this investigation he re-
viewed the theories of Eamarck and Oxen
and of the author of the s'Vestiges Of
Creation" by whom it is maintained that
a simple microscopic apimalcule may be
developed to fish, q frog, lizard, a
quadruped, monkey, an ape, an ourang-
outang, a chimpanzee, gorilla, negro,
a Malay, an American Indian, q Monga-
liam, and, finally, for the present, Cau-
caSsan.
The speaker next showed that all the
elements of matter are immutable and in
destructible and next, that all the origi-
nal organized forms of matter, both vege-
table and animal, are immutable.
The speaker next treated Of the classii-
cation of plants, from the highest to the
lowest forms, and showed that these CLASH
fed groups are incapable Of transmutation
one into another; that if any change was
produced by natural causes the plant
would revert to its original condition on
the withdrawal of these causes.
The classification Of animals was next
discussed; and it was shown that all the
groups thus formed were incapable Of
transmutation.
| The Doctor 5hen laid down the great
fundamental principles Of all organized
forms:
First. That in regard to the two great
functions Of life, the preservation Of the
individual and that of the species, all are
constructed upon the same matter, which
is modified SO as to adapt it to each Pc
culiar mode Of existence; that the seed of
plant is constructed upon the same plan
as the egg of bird and the unborn young
Of higher animals; so with the functions
Of digestion, respiration, and circulation.
Plants, as animals, have their sexes, some
times existing upon the same plant, and
sometimes Of different plants, as the male
and female Alamphos and Otaheite null
berry-common shade trees Of our city.
Secondly. The system degradation, which
exists from the highest to the lowest forms
of organism. The moss is constructed upon
the same plan as the oak to which it clings,
and it is exceedingly difficult to trace the
line which divides the animal and the vege-
table kingdom. The polyt may be re-
garded as link between animals and
vegetables. The whole forms a link be-
| tween land and water animals, and the
duck-bill plotypus of Australia forms q
wonderful combination Of the characteris-
tics of the bird and the quadruped. All
these groups are attached to each other
like links of chain.
Thirdly. Every animal, from the earl
lest stage Of its existence until it arrives
at its maturity, passes through every grade
of animal organism below it. 1t is almost
impossible to distinguish one germ from
another, but each has capacity for
development only to certain point, which
is the perfection Of the germ. This is
illustrated by the butterfly, the frog, etc.
Fourthly. That all inorganic animals
and organic forms arc capable Of certain
changes by physical forces, but only to
certain limit, and the essential character
istics are never destroyed. For example {:
The sheep, carried to the tropics, drops it's
wool and becomes hairy like dog; but if
restored to its native land, is again covered
with wool. I
Filthy. Every organized being has its
habitat or natural place of residence. All
plants and animals are distributed over the
earth according to this law. Some are
readily naturaliZed in other countries !;
others cannot be. The indigenous Flora
and Furine of different countries differ in
the same latitudes.
Sixthly. The distinctions of species are
often exceedingly trivial, but are perma-
nent under all circumstances. This is
illustrated by the slight differences which
exist between the two species Of sloth.
Seventhly. Hybridity.-Some hybrids
do not propagate their species among
themselves, and rarely with their parents
others propagate readily with their pa
rents; and others with themselves.
The speaker next proceeded to show
that all the principles he had laid down in
regard to organized forms applied also to
man. That man is readily gathered into
groups, which consist Of regular grada-
tions, from the lowest types Of humanity
which are closely assimilated to the orang-
outang, up to the highest types Of man,
The marks of this gradation may be traced
throughout the whole anatomical struc-
ln 70 hn
specimen of man. These physical pecu-
liarities have existed from the earliest Pc
riod to the present time. That physical
causes have never changed one race into
another; that the negro, in his perfect
state of development, never reaches the
level of the Caucasian, but, ina state OF
perfection, is on level with Caucasian
child, or, as it isslegally termed, minor
and that, therefore, he should be kept in a
state of subjectiop, and deprived of the
right of franchise and other rights OF Cau-
cassian adults. The African has never
reached a high state of civilization; that
if raised to higher standard. than that OF
bis native land, and if left to himself, he soor
falls back into barbarism. This has been
; fully shown by the recent traveller, DR..
Chaillu, And now in the southern States
he is relapsing into a state of barbarlsm.
Each race of man has his habitat, and II
placed in regions not adapted to him, he
becomes deteriorated, both physically and
mentally. Some diseases are exceedingly
fatal to one race, from which another en-
| ioys almost an immunity. The negro race
is steadily decreasing in this country and
even in his native land, and this decrease
has been going on more rapidly in the
southern States since his emancipation
The unftness of the negro for the life OF
ali;a. iS stronnlu contra sted with its adam