Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-09-23


Pun tau aud the defendants of the Eng
lish gentry and the French Huguenots.-
All this. to one who has travelled as often
as have, from local prejudices is the
veriest nonsense. Yea, and wicked van.
ity. Rring the Puritan, the English
gentry. and the Hugueuot under the 10.
huence Of the grace Of God, aud the devil
whispers no more Of such folly. m
pass to your second question. do
not consider the institution of slavery, or
any other institution Of mere human orr
gin, 50 necessary feature Of social life as
to challenge the providences Of God
But suppose I take more worldly view
Of your inquiry.
am and have been for some time, as
sured in my mind that the mission of Al
rican slavery has been accomplished in
America, and that the institution in the
United States will soon cease to exist. |
form my conclusion from the progress of
events in the civilized world and the won,
derful Developments Of Christianity
within this century. The politico-econo.
mic view Of this question has been well
taken by Mr.. Fox in the exhaustive is.
bate upon the question Of emancipation
before the British Parliament. No un>
prejudiced MUD can follow that debate
and fail to recognize the finger Of God
indicating to man this duty, and urging
him to act in direct opposition to his per-
soDal interests. An institution so long
grated upon the body polite of a nation,
such as Great Britain, could have been
overthrown in no other way than by the
mysterious working of Providence.
1t is simply ridiculous to charge the
New England Aboltiouists with having
originated the idea of Negro slavery, and
with having inaugurated the agitation Of
emancipation. Certainly, no educated
person would 80 charge, unless he was ap.
ppaliug to human passion upon the huS"
tings. African slavery originate in
man y natural eupidity, aud was an inst.
tuition of Great Britan's before there was
a New England known in America
Emancipation came first to be discussed
in England as an adcaacei idea Of
Christian ci0ilizatitm, and can be dis,
tinctly traced to the most evangelical Of
the Christian Church in England. Such
at any rate, is my view of this whole
matter, in this. my sixty fourth year,
after having examined the question in
every way it presented itself to my mind.
So far, then, from regarding the ins'i;u.
rion as permanent, | do not recognize tue
first feature Of genuine vitality in it,
How it is to transpire, whether by grad.
ual system of emancipation, Fixed in our
organic law by amendments or whether
in the storm Of revolution. l know not
but as sure as | am now writing to you,
my dear brother, the institution Of slavery
in these United States is doomed. do
not think that any candid student Of his,
tory, or any unbiased observer of events
as they are now tralspiring. can resist
this conclusion.
Why, man alive, there is now abroad
in our land the very spirit which, if en-
couraged. will lead to the overthrow o {
the institution Of the wreck and the aw>
ful ruin Of revolution. My opportunity
for observation in the South and West
| for the past ben years assures me that
unless our madcap politicians adopt some
more conciliatory position and cowpro>
/ mise their extreme partist views, the
two great parties of principles. fixed in
State economy, will be lost in sectional
bitterness, and Az early Presidential
election secure the triumph of the Abo,
!itiOu Party. This viii bring about Sc.
cession on the part Of those States who
are unwilling to compromise the pride of
abstract rights; and then-I sbudder at
the thought bloody revolution, accom-.
panied by the material ruin OF the south.
Slavery. if this comes to pass. will be
abolished by the decree of military tri.
bunal. and the pride of my people fear
fully BUNDLED before God.
This is an awful picture for me even
to suggest, but as ! contemplate it, my
soul sickeus within me. Repel it as |
may; Danish it from my mind as mere
fancy yet it grows upon me as hideous
reliity, which may q nerciful God spare
me the pain Of realizing,
Since the death Of Mr.. Calhoun there
seems not to be n statesman le in the
South Of sufficient powe. to control the
storm. which his States right theory has
provoked. The public men seem to me
L. :,h.. H. il:.