Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-12-29
The Negro Problem.

Slavery was not less q crime against the
soul than against the body It would take arch
angelic skill aud power to portray adequately the
horrors evoked by the foulest, most heinous sys-
TEN that ever stained earth OF shocked high
heaven. The fervent eloquence Of n Phillips and
the mighty fancy Of a Stowe have dimly Swallowed
forth the moral turpitude and inhumanity Of the
atrocious institution. But It was beyond the
power Of human genius TO grasp the whole. The
embrutng power OF centuries had completely OBJ
liberated the God-like In the race, and when free
dom came, 1t found the great mass cropping In a
moral and intellectual darkness that could be
felt Gods image was defaced and defled and
the people left almost totally unfit for the prvi.
lege and prerogative Of American citizenship. The
moral obliquity to-day is simply appalling, and
until the whole man has been regenerated, we
look for but an imperfect and tottering character
Thousands are now cropping and hoping amid the
elements and badges Of former disgrace and OPP
preston. Handicapped by these conditions up
ward advance Is slow, and, at seasons, almost i'm
perceptible although occasionally coruscatons OF
something noble, grand and cheering may be
seen. These alas are transient as summer mists,
for they spring not from any root deeply i'm
bedded in the soil Of the moral constitution.
Lifted by the stroke OF the pen from chattelhood
into manhood, they entered the promised land ;
OF citizenship without any wanderings 10 the will
| derness' They manifest OF the traits engendered
in the house Of bondage, and too often long for
the flesh pots Of Egypt The fundamental
principles OF Christian morality have not become
enfibred in their nature, not part and parcel
OF themselves, but are plastered on and may be
| truthfully styled n,oUdb'e. The south was never
the abode of that stern, incorporating moral
ty so tenaciously held by the Puritans. This
| never permeated the dominant class, and hence
not copied by thei, -iavos. The want vf tho
| high and beautiful character OF sef-respect and
fidelity to themselves and race, is noticeable
and glazing defect. The years of servltude ere
ated superstitous and sacred reverence for the
master class and the whites in general The me-
gro in the wids Of Africa had his fetch; he has
one in America, and it is the ,ehite man Should
an angel from heaven come with a message,
1t Is a question whether he would be received and
credited unless he presented credentials signed by
white man. This fact accounts for the wide
spread lack Of concert OF action among them, the
impossibility Of holding any secret meetings, and
creates disintegrating tendency and precludes
race unity and feeling. The apotheosis Of the
Caucasian is the dry rot among the vast rural
population scattered over the interminable sa-
vannas Of the south. A manly independence and
inclination to defend to the utmost the dearest
rights and interests OF life, are felt and crying
needs. There is higher freedom than mere free
dom Of oppression from his feow-man. This ex-
allied idea Of freedom has not taken fast hold OF
the great body Of the negroes. The animal in
stinct Is yet above reason. The grim, ghostly
forms Of the terrible past still stand athwart the
road to a higher life, and will not down. Millions
toll, hardly conscious that the emancpatng pen
has ever been grasped and welded by the mar
tyred Lincoln, and that In theory, at least. the
panopy Of the constitution and laws has been
stretched over them. IT'S the policy OF some in
certain localities to benighten their minds and
shut out the rays from the sun OF liberty. Few,
indeed can Tread their title clear" to a manhood
that has rights, and knowing dare maintain them.
One white man can "chase a thousand" You
who have breathed the vital air Of freedom from
the CRADLE an air uncontaminsted by slavery s
foul and noxious breath, can but family realize
how small minority can 80 completely suppress
the voice Of an overwhelming majority.
THEFT and lying, the offspring of bondage,
are conspicuous. The distinctions between n,eun'
and tuum fade away. Truth is habitualy disre-
garded, and certain obtuseness in regard to the
| Nervousness OF falsehood and deceit is often no
ticed. The herding aud budding together in
plantation quarters like sheep in a cot, are the
bane OF virtue and morals. This gregarious life
leads to frequent and fragrant violations OF the
seventh commandment. In glorious New Eng
land, where every man lives under his own vine
and fig-tree, we behold independence, manlines,
and integrity. Not possessing land this is the
only mode OF life left them, and, as long as Il
lasts the seeds Of vice and RIGHTEOUSNESS in thei
most oathsome and revolving forms will be scat
tered broadcast among them. Purity OF thought
chaste conversation and elevated social inter
| course are well nigh impossible. The dvorc,
between religion and morality is complete, man,
holding that Christian is not necessarily mora
man. Intemperance is a dangerous and growing
evil and stigma rests upon those who thu
bestialze themselves Church-members and min
listers are no exception. 10 fact, many Of tn,
most influential preachers are notorious tpplers
often being too full for utterance, while in tn,
sacred desk They walk not only after thu
spirit but also after the flesh Very natura
that both should fall into the ditch. We hav'
pondered long and silently on these giant evil
and feel deeply on them. Christianity not heo
reticd but intensely and overwhelmingly practical
will cure them. Living, breathing examples o
Christian piety must go in and out before them
We, Notwithstanding we have acted the pessms
in writing this are not without hope for 'futur
grand and great 1t is In the moral and reli
gous feelings OF the race that the broad and dec
foundations Of race and national prosperity mus
alone be laid and every attempt to attain durab
greatness and permanency on any other basis viii
prove nugatory. All honor to the noble men An,
women Of the north, who, actuated by that sub
lime charity and self-abnegation engendered b.
the Gospel, have come here and entered the lionel.
log-cabins, like angels Of love and mercy, to poin
the oppressed to the true grandeur and impersh
able luster Of the Gospel"