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Show 102 one merit, and no mean one, must be accorded to him, that of having adopted early, and of having held fast through life, the most generous theory of Human Rights, and of having protested against slavery, as an aggravated wrong. In truth, it is impossible to study the great men of the South, and to consider the force of intellect and character which that region has developed, without feelings of respect, and without the most ardent desire that it may free itself by any means from an institution, which aggravates what is evil and threatening in its character, which cripples it of much of its energy, which cuts it off from the sympathies and honor of the civilized world, and which prevents it from a true cordial union with the rest of the country. It is slavery which prevents the two sections of country from acting on and modify ing each other for the good of both. This is the great gulph between us, and constantly growing wider and deeper in proportion to the spread of moral feeling, of Christian philanthropy, of respect for men's rights, of interest in the oppressed. Why is it, that slavery is not thrown off? We here ascribe its continuance very much to cupidity and love of power. But there is another cause which is certainly disappearing. Slavery at the South continues, in part, in consequence of that want of activity, of steady force, of resolute industry among the free white population, which it has itself produced. A 103 people with force enough to attempt a social revolution , and to bear its first inconveniences, would not endure slavery. ·we of the North, with our characteristic energy, would hardly tolerate it a year. The sluggishness, stupidity of the slaves would keep us in perpetual irritation. We should run over them, tread them almost unconsciously under foot, in our haste and eagerness to accomplish our enterprizes. We should feel the wastefulness of slave labor, in comparison with free. The clumsy mechanic, the lagging house-servant, the slovenly laborer ever ready with a lying excuse, would be too much for our patience. Now there is reason to think, that the stirring, earnest, industrious spirit of the North, is finding its way Southward; and with this, a desire to introduce better social relations can hardly be repressed. We believe, too, that this revolution would be hastened, if the South would open its ear to the working of Emancipation in other countries, and to the deep interest in the African race which is now spreading through the world. On these subjects very little is yet known at the South. The newspapers there spread absurd rumors of the failure of the expel ·iment of the West Indies, but the truth finds no organs. We doubt, too, whether one newspaper has even made a reference to the recent public meeting in England for the civilization of Ali·ica, the |