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like humanity, but in this, there was a total absence of them. It was a scene of uniform, unadulterated, unsophisticated wickedness. But. whilst we condemn the ill-starred policy which burthened us with slavery, let us not be misunderstood. It is a common, we might almost say, universal, fault, with moralists, to consider actions only in their general effects, without reference to particular cases. They lay down a general principle, and making a sweeping anathema, include in the scope of malediction, equally, the wilfully depraved, and those whom impracticability ties down to its sufferNone but the visionary theorist can fail in observing, that this is equally opposed to human nature, and the merest common sense. Justice cannot be obtained immediately, but must await the award of time. Great reformations have never been effected in a day, but have been gradually brought about by the revolution of ages. Men on this subject declaim in vain. High sounding epithets and polished phrases may charm the car, but cannot convince the understanding. That system, which best provides for the safety of the majority, can never be considered unjust, if the term be not a new abstraction, disconnected with human affairs. Men always require some preparation for their future situation, and must be gradually moulded to their destiny. Else the novelty of their new state will introduce anarchy and confusion. The slaves through long disuctude to equal participation of rights, with the white population, would be unfitted to enjoy, and use with moderation the blessings of liberty. If turned loose they would over-run the country-an idle, encumbering mass---like the wretched Lazaroni of Italyincapable of obtaining subsistence, and unwilling to embrace their ancient servitude. To expel them from the U. States, would be literally to devote them to all the tortures of a lingering death by famine. A manumitted slave (despite the opinion and fervent aspiration of visionary and heated moralists) can never become

the recognised equal of his quondam sovereign. You may suspend over his head the shield of liberty-you may tear off his manacles and hail him by the epithet "Freeman;" but ("can the leopard change its spots, or the Ethiopian his skin?") you cannot make him a white man. The memory of his former situation-is late degraded state-his disgusting appearance, and grovelling habits---his ignorance, and the indelible stamp of divine wrath scaled upon his forehead---create an impassable barrier to his amalgamation with the whites. The space we have already occupied, precludes the introduction of the remarks we intended to have made upon the Colonization Society, the proposition recently laid before Congress, and the Resolutions of the Virginia Legislature. Meanwhile, we would, in conclusion, enquire what, after all, is the crime of the South? That we live in a land that cannot be cultivated by white laborers---that our fathers discovered this and were supplied up to the act of prohibition with Africans by British and Northern slave traders---that they bequeathed to us an evil of which we cannot rid ourselves---and that all we can do, is to perform the duties of the station in which our lot is cast, in the best

manner we can.

TURKISH CIVILIZATION.

The Sublime Porte appears to be deviating from the uniform policy of every preceding head of the faithful," and seems determined to produce a substantial and thorough revolution in the modes of acting and thinking of his subjects by introducing European improvements of a civil, as well as military character. Two newspapers have been established at Constantinople, one in the Turkish the other in the French lan guage. His error appears to be that of our "whole

system” men—a hot-house experiment of forcing upon a people habits of living and employment for which they are not yet prepared. His course should be to aim at a steady, but silent approximation—to force nothing-to excite no dread of innovation-to arouse no long cherished prejudices-to tamper with no rooted prepossessions lest he should excite a tempest he may not be able to weather. He has already raised a storm" among the Mufti-but has not yet reaped the whirlwind," being a favorite with his subjects, and having acquired, by his prompt and energetic measures, an influence over their minds, and an independence of their prejudices, never before enjoyed by any Soldan. The bowstring perhaps would have been the reward of less determined measures, and in playing for so high a stake as his Crown-natural and artificial-Mahmoud probably relies much upon his knowledge of the temperament of his singular people. If, however, he is not immolated upon the altar of his patriotic temerity, it will singularly belie the Turkish character and prac tice, and form an exception to the fate of all anterior reformers of barbarous or half civilized people.

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To understand the features which distinguish man as a rational being, and consequently, the laws by which his nature is governed, is indispensable in forming cor rect ideas of the tendency and guidance of his actions.

If the end and aim of education, be (as it has been defined,) to bring all our faculties to the greatest perfection of which they are susceptible-to investigate the powers we are called upon to improve, is of preliminary and momentous importance. Among the moderns (especially at a later date, and even in the present enlightened age,) the science of metaphysics appears to me, to have experienced a neglect, unmerited and injurious to the welfare of society. To it, has been erroneously attributed the thraldom and debasement of the human mind, the contraction of our powers, and the gloomy horrors of a confined and moody religion.* Every philosophical writer has but too sadly experienced the truth, that where one will understand and appreciate his labors, many will despise his efforts. more pervert his principles, and thousands, incapable of understanding, will misrepresent his reasoning.†

*Or, as some more sagacious have assured us the study of the mind is the chief promoter of infidelity!

"Truth, (says Locke)-scarce ever yet carried it by vote any where at its first appearance; new opinions are always suspected, and are usually opposed without any further reason, but because they are not already conimon." The conclusion of this paragraph is so beautiful that we cannot forbear transcribing it, though not immediately applicable to the point in hand. "But truth (continues this writer) like gold, is not the less so for being newly brought out of the mine. It is trial and examination must give it price, and not any antique fashion," &c.

But of the numerous body of those who sneer at the word "philosophy" and overrun the world with what they absurdly term "practical principles," many, I am fully persuaded, would, on the slightest investigation, retract their anathema, and readily admit that knowledge of self, is especially worthy the attention of the politician and moralist. The chief source of error to man, is the hasty admission of plausible principles; and one, of which the prevention is easy and evident; the removal difficult and obscure.

"If a perplexed reasoner, (says Drummond-Acad. Ques. Intr.) puzzle himself and his audience, we are always sure to hear his subtility reproved or lamented; and he, upon his part, seldom fails to ascribe the confusion of his ideas to the abstruse nature of all speculative doctrines. If a pert rhetorician gets entangled in his own sophistries he is ever ready to accuse himself of having too much of that very logic which he wants."

It is thus that the noblest and purest of knowledge is termed subtle and deceiving-useless and mischieVOUS. That the disputes of the learned on these points are crowded with unnecessary prolixity, and in a great degree, concerning terms, I am willing to admit; and I have often (in the few hours I have spent upon the pages of these disputants) had occasion to regret, that a few perspicuous and authenticated definitions had never been agreed upon as the basis of their investigation.+

*Merely speculative, philosophical principles have seldom had any sensible effect upon the conduct of educated men, yet they MAY do much harm, in practice. When, for instance, they are promulged in times of trouble and excitement, and are preached to the men in a popular and plausible style, as in the first French Revolution-they shook all the institutions of society to their foundation. So in the case of an individual—if his taste be perverted, if his temper be bad-if his natural propensities be base and grovelling—a theory of morals, which is at all jesuitical, may lead to the worst crimes." So. Rev. No. XIV. Art. 1, Jeremy Bentham and the 'tilitarians.

+Though it may render us obnoxious to the charge of pedantry (in its strict and original meaning,) we will offer in support of our opinion, the brief and comprehensive (though trite) saying of Seneca, "Philosophia non in verbis,

sed in rebus est."

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