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Show 114 LIBERTY AND SLAVERY. if all this be true, is not the doctrine of equal rights, as held by Dr. Channing, a mere dream? If one man may have "a guardian," "an official authority," appointed by the State, to compel him to work, why may not another be placed under the same authority, and subjected to the same servitude? Are not all equal? IIave not all men an equal right to liberty and to a choice of the pursuits of happiness? Let these questions be answered by the admirers of Dr. Channing; and it will be foun<l that they have overthrown all the plausible logic, and blown away all the splendid rhetoric, which bas been reared, on the ground of equal rights, against the institution of slavery at the South. We are agreed, then, that men may be compelled to work. We arc also agreed that, for this purpose, the slaves of the South should be placed under guardians and friends by tho authority of the State. Dr. Channing thinks, however, that the owner is not the best guardian or the best friend whom the State could place over the slave. On the contrary, he thinks his best friend and guardian would be au official overseer, bound to him by no ties of inte!'est, nnd by no pe<'nliar feeHngs of ARGUMENTS OF ABOLITIONISTS. llfi affection. In all this, we think Dr. Channing greatly mistaken; nnd mistaken because he is an utter stranger to the feelings usually called forth by the relation of master and slave. But, be this as it may, since such are the concessions made by Dr. Channing, it is no longer necessary to debate the question of slavery with him, on the high ground of abstract inalienable rights. It is brought down to one of practical utility, of public expediency. And such being the nature of the question, we, as free citizens of the South, claim the right to settle the matter for ourselves. W c claim the right to appoint such guardians and friends for this class of our population as we believe will be most advantageous to them, as well as to the whole community. We claim the right to impose such restraints, aud such only, as the well-being of our own society seems to us to demand. This claim may be denied. The North may claim the right to think for us in regard to this question of expediency. But it cannot be denied that if liberty may be a curse, then no man can, in such case, have a right to it as a blessing. If liberty would be an equal blessing to ali men, then, we f,·cely admit, all men would hU\·e |