The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-02-18
fYoR The WESTERN DEMOCRAT.
The Humanity Of the Negro.

This is an age of development, if net of pro-
gress. The sea of public opinion is restless, and
is often casting up mire and dirt" Even after
the partial subsistence of the storm of revolution,
there is still much ''scum rising to the surface"
In evidence of this We see the old theory washed
up" and industriously circulated, that the negro
has no claims to humanity, and is simply a brute
1t is irrelevant to this discussion to inquire
whence he sprang, or whether he is inferior to
the white man the question is, has the negro a
souls he possessed of those qualities which
constitute humanity! If the negro is brute
he is of course, of class of creation totally dis
tnct from man. But it is fixed law of nature
that whilst two distinct classes of animals may
amalgamate, the product is incapable of repro
ducing its likeness. The offspring is barren
hybrid, upon which nature has set the seal of its
disapprobation. 1t follows then that the hybrid
znutato is infertile, which is contrary to facts
and daily observation. Any result of amalgama-
ton that can be perpetuated indicates oneness of
origin.
Again. Man is the only being known who
recognizes the Supreme Being. Of the Great
Iucomprehensible, or any of His Attributes the
brute knows nothing. He has no capacity either
to 'call on His name, which implies faith, or to
'profane" it, which implies unbelief. But it is
in evidence that where ever the negro is found,
there is conception like that of the red man,
OF a Great Spirit who is over all. His ideas,
just like other heathens, may be very vague, but
still these imperfect conceptions are found to
exist even among the wilds of his native land.
The negro may be proved the lowest of men, but
his recognition and devout worship of the true
God certainly entitle him to rank as a member
of the genus Homo. He may have less brain
and more skull than the white man, but if these
were the measure either of soul or intelligence,
many a Caucasian might be admonshed amman,
ne creGle coIori.
Again Man is the only being known who is
possessed of the gift of speech. Brutes have the
faculty of expressing their emotions by articulate
sounds, but it is the distinguishing characteristic
of man to express his emotions by the tongue in
the regular sequence of thought. No nation has
ever yet been discovered that has not language
capable of being reduced to some grammatical
order Even the Bushmen, who are esteemed
the most degraded and the least like men, have
had their language Systematically arranged. And
it has been found that these African savages ac-
qure other languages with facility. But where
was the language of brutes ever reduced to a
system? Whoever heard of a Monkey Alphabet
or Baboon Grammar, or a Gorilla Dictionary
Was it ever know that with all his powers OF
imitation, Apes spoke French or Arangs studied
English The very idea is ridiculous enough
Man, and man only is possessed of colloquia
powers. Language is the gift of the Creator tc
intelligent beings. Its acquisition is beyond tho
power of imitation. Has the negro the proper
organs of speech? Are his colloquial abilities
disputed Then he is man and no brute
then he has an immortal spirit which will rise te
its maker and not descend to the earth
But that which stamps the negro with human
ity, and unmistaby proclainls him living soul
is his power of abstract reasoning, or the faculty
of dedueing general truths, or laws from collec
tions of individual facts Animal instinct is Of
itself wholly irrational. 1t cannot be improved
by education. 1t has accumulated experience
either individual or traditional. Such is not the
case with the negro. He thinks and reasons
judges, imagines and compares. He has con
seriousness and reflection He is a proper sub
jeet of law, and all civil enactments in regard t.
him are based upon his capabilty of intellectual
obedience. The spelling of his goods and the
taking of his life, the law regards as theft anc
murder, and Furnishes accordingly. But the ne
gro recognizes moral as we'll as legal obliga
ton. He has conscience which accuses or ex
cuses. He is the subject of divine TRUTH d
moral Impressions, and moral accountability. HI
has borne every evidence not only that he un
derstood the gospel, but that he had yielded t.
the justice and the power of its claims Who
has not admired the simplicity of his faith the
nationality of his hope, and his joyous antcipa
tions of that "better country" which shall b.
composed of call nations, and kindreds. ant
tongues, and people," And when "Ethiopi;
shall stretch out her hands to God" who dare
doubt that that sublime act is included in tn,
great scheme of redemption. and that the negrc
Is proper recipient of its glorious realities.