OCR Text |
Show (! >1(:--- ·_ ~. -~· '\• 104 opinion that they are incapable of filling a higher rank than slavery, and showing that human nature is too generous and hardy to be wholly destroyed in the most unpropitious state. We also witness in this class, and very often, a superior physical development, a grace of form and motion, which almost extorts a feeling approaching respect. I mean not to affirm that slavery excludes all good, for human life cannot long endure under the privation of every thing happy and improving. I have spoken of its natural tendencies and results. These are wholly and only evil. I am aware that it will be replied to the views now given of slavery, that persons living at a distance from it cannot comprehend it, that its true character can be leamed only from those, who, know it practically, and are familiar with its operations. To this I will not reply , that I have seen it nea~· at hand. It is sufficient to reply, that men may lose the .power of seeing an object fairly, by being too near as well as by being too remote. The sla veholdcr is too familiar with slavery to understand it. To be educated in injustice, is almost necessarily to be blinded by it more or less. To exercise usurped power from birth, is the surest way to look upon it as a right and a good. The slaveholder tells us that he only can instruct us about slavery. But suppose that we wished to learn the true character of despotism; 105 should we go to the palace and take the despot as our teacher? Should we pay much heed to his assurance, that he alone could understand the character of absolute power, and that we in a republic could know nothing of the condition of men subjected to irresponsiule will? The sad influence of slavery , in darkening the mind wilich is perpetually conversant with it, is disclosed to us in the recent attempts made at the South to represent this institution as a good. Freemen, who would sooner die than resign their rights, talk of the happiness of those from whom every right is wrested. They talk of the slave as " property," with the same confidence as if this were tile holiest claim. This is one of the mournful effec ts of slavery. It darkens the moral sense ofthe master. And can men, whose posi· tion is so unfavorable to just, impartial judgment, expect us to acquiesce in their views? There is another reply. If tile slave-holding States expect us to admit th eir views of this institution, they must allow it to be freely discussed among themselves. Of what avail is their testimony in favor of slavery, when not a tongue is allowed to say a word in its condemnation ? Of what use is tile press, when it can publish only on one side ? In the slave-holding States freedom of speech is at an end. Whoever should express among them the sentiments respecting slavery |