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fancy of mind and matter.*’ Will the author tell us what hemeans by this! Does he know how old matter is, and espe-r.nd chilly mind? And can he inform us when we shall lie in the1 bechildhood and manhood of “mind and matter” ? We truessof the community, and will be discussed with par-j righ to himself, his own soul and body, in particu-lligiousticular reference to that part of the community who; lar. The slaveholder wrests from him this natural! provide-forthe author meant to have said that our knowledge of mindlUSlOb-and rnattKr was yet in its infancy.have derived no benefit from the existence of slave- rigl t'to himself, and compels him to serve without6. 11*ry. In joining issue, the following proposition will wag«,and the government not only neglects its lextra tibe submitted.natunl obligation to restrain wrong, but it sanctionsIt gives us the greater pain to make these remarks, inasmuchI as the moral tone of the articles written by the editor, as wellThe slaveholder is not entitled, in point of moral the w-ong by enacting and executing laws of trans-burtheiTheright, to compensation for the slaves he holds, in fer aid deed, similar to those which protect land or dividuaas the principles of educatiou which he adopts, arc such as case 0j their emancipation ; therefore, the govern-| otherproperty; and this is what is termed the own*i meet with our heartiest and most cordial approbation. Butthe “Academician” ought to le not only a text-hook of sound ....... . „ . . , I non.ment is not under obligation to make compensa- er's irvested right to his slavesbut it is nothingwas buof thisprinciples in the science of instruction and education; it9.should also present a model of line composition and correcttout inrested wrong. And the wrong, although less iclergviTo defend this proposition will require an ex- awfolfo severe, is not much less clear, if the slavet!7.1style. This* in the hands of its present edkor, we are satisfied initiation of the first principles of civil govern- be emtncipated by compensation, for, in tiial case, lar linejit can never do. We should be sorry to see the rising litera- ment, and the moral character of slavery. The; the; government withdraws from the slaveholder, jelse\vhIture of the West fashioning itself after the manner of thearticles in the present number of the “Academician.” Evenfollowing propositions respecting government will notwkat he has a right to retain, but the investedProfenaor M’Gufley, who is writing a series of school booksbe submitted :I. The foundation of all government is in right;Fact‘‘Up which he never had a right to receive, and j men arfor children, concludes an essay on “Philosophical Education” -MlJfrBituOaa/’ywm'IWWK of aB nght, requiresiwhich it never had a right to confer; and taxes the jdicatiocord has not found, and may we not hope, can find no en- nothing of his creatures but what is perfectly suita- earn money for the community, hut to be restored boatscommunity to pay for the slave, not to serve and be witntt.trance.”or.For the? Alton Observer.hie, in the nature of things, and necessary for thejto himself. The owner never had any right to the iBuffahCOMPENSATION.Mr. Lovejoy: After writiig my former remarksO *good of all, and therefore perfectly just and right, slave, but he has worked him a part of his life, and the wlPerfect obedience to God is therefore right.pocketed that which was justly due to him for wa-2. All men being subjects of God’s government,'ges, and he estimates his labor for the rest of hisstood !lar limupon the pra cticability of Mu Smith’s colonization it follows, of course, that all civil government, o? life to he worth a certain sum, and for that he will8. 'jproject, 1 entertained a half-formed design of writ- government instituted by men, is subordinate to iht give rp his slave. The government has promised iv leading again upon the moral right ot compensation, government of God, consequently civil govern* him impunity in extorting labor without wages, and ly, perThe appearance in your columns ot “An Ameri- ment cannot rightfully require that of any' of iu t) cancel that promise, which it never had a right vancecan” has induced me to attempt an answer to both! subjects, which is contrary to God’s requirement^ to make, it compels those members of the commu-I9. II.at once, upon those points in vhich their views co- nor prohibit any which he requires.incide. The claim for compensationas u rgednity who earn their property by honest industry, to the tra3. The design of civil government, asfounded pay money to add to that which is the price of contag*against the Northern States in particular, having upon natural right, and recognized by God, is to to wages unjustly withheld inthe hands of the posedbeen discussed in the piece ot correspondence com- good; and, by restraining its subjects from doiig slaveowner.It st-al- principally to the more general claim as founded general good, or from injuring each other, to p?e- government, the writer, as well as thousands of mentsmunicated to you, 1 will now confine my remarks that whichis wrong and calculated to injure tieThe above views of the principles and rights of such afilis upon the plea of invested right.ieofvent evil; and every subject is, by moral obliga- others, conscientiously' entertains, and is in the con- j them aand, ji will first state the claim urged byr those gentle- tion, bound to do right, and refrain from wroig, slant habit of applying, not only’ to slavery, but to lianpriuca-men, as 1 understand it.whether the government forbid the wrong or nut, every other subject. Their practical application to10.and IMr. Smith says, “Might not right first established and its neglect to forbid the wrong cannot justify slavery, in the slaveholding States, is a subject of drinkiijjjer the accursed system of slavery.” “American” says the subject in committing it.4k• kvast importance. The white population being di- Dees aitute of slavery', “that i‘s foundations were laid in vio* 4. An act of the government, or of an individual, vided into the slaveholders, and that large propor- and criic’K-jlence, sword in hand, and that the same means are in itself wrong, cannot become right by being re- Bon who, trom conscientious scruples, poverty, or °r hellcu-indispensible to its perpetuity.” Also he says, peated or long persisted in; nor can doing wrong, other causes, do not own slaves, and who liaire not cling.11 U1the sword must he the arbiter in our social rela- or neglecting to do right, in one thing, justify do- been benefitted, but vastly injured, by the existence11.tan, tions till B. is paid his hire at the hands of A.” Mr. ing wrong or neglecting to do right, in another thing, of slavery in the community, the simple question means!c weSmith also admits that “what is morally wrong can-In applying these principles to the subject under is whether it is right for them to pay the owners for Sabbat\?ICI_ not be politically right”, and that “all men ate born discussion, we come to the following conclusions:their slaves in case of their emancipation. If there othertjudi- free and equal.” To these views 1 most cordially 1. Slavery being in itself wrong, it is therefore is one who ran show that these views are not cor- Bible c©subscribe.»wrong For the government in any way to sanction rect, not by’ casting dust and creating fog, but byj*en£erto'The following passages express the plea of in- or protect it.Iclear, candid reasoning, from first principles, does 80,18 01 lie yggted ri»rht:To prove “that slave owners oughtfan-2. For the government to countenanceor pro- he not owe it to the community to do it?be open isnot to lie minus one solitary cent in their invested tect one part of its subjects in oppressing another Hitherto, 1 have spoken of the government asctar wesn it property in slaves”, Mr. Smith states as a fact that part, is not doing good or restraining evil, but is distinct agent, but in a future communication 1 pro-I!•* +* •on slave owners are not the cause of slavery but the doing what the government has no right to do, and Pose 10 discuss the subject in connection with the 10 111311less cifects caused bylaws legalizing that which the is usurpation. Therefore, the protection which the slaveholder as a constituent of the government, to-The*acelaw of morality and nature proclaims illegal, unjust government hai afforded to slaveholding is usurpa- gether with a more critical examination ot the mo- Princ,lwilland ruinous. And he assumes that “since laws tion and wrong, and cannot become right by repe- ral character of slaveholding.T.Sabbatpatronising slavery have caused investments of cap- ti tion or coniiniance.or|c lt d, under legislative assurance of protection, it is 3. The individual subject being under obligationFor the Alton Observer.; for a vTO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.113.rsv,right that the same power should reimburse the to refrain from oppression, his engaging in slave Reasons in favor of commencing a line of Sabbathwouldter.theowners of tlvat capital, in case th t protection is holding was therefore wrong, and was what the keeping and Temperance Steam Moats on theaddilicwithdrawn.” “American” says, “that any* plan of government ought to forbid. Consequently, for theemancipation whi.-h is not based upon compensation subject ;o hold slaves can neither make it right forIOhio and Mississippi Rivers.crease1.14.It would tend powerfully to promote the oh- ,, . . ' . . the clisci- 10 ^ie holder ot the slave is impolitic and unjust”, hint to continue to hold slaves, nor for the govern- SPrTance Gf the Sabbath, /»/ removing temptationaiwith and that “because the government sanctioned the ment to refrain from forbidding slaveholding.from professing Christians. The peculiar powerno I plan of making property of the African race.wit,iAgain, the government being under \w OLetkjibligation to j0f temptation to the violation of the Sabbath on thetormetIFrom the above passages from those gentlemen, restrain slaveholding, the neglect to restrain was western waters, by traveling, arises from,—reluc-thev hhool, jt W0ll]j scem that the following propositions wouldpan* be a fair expression of their views :wrong, and therelore cannot make a continued ne- tance t0 ,riVP Up accommodations already secured.their cutiongleet right. Likewise, the sanction and protection por gucj1 as might fall to the lot of way passengers;more 1rcne-1. Slavery originated in violence and wrong, and afforded to slaveholding by the government, being inconvenience of leaving one and taking anotherces: an:litercan onlv be continued by the same means.!at one time wrong, must forever remain wrong.boat, together with the consequent real or appre-these2. Emancipation without compensation would be and its existence at anytime cannot make it right hended delay;—difficultyof securing aecomodn-agent.par- unjust because the government sanctioned slavery, for it to continue such protection, or discharge it tions on shore, and the depraved character of publictempobut,Both gentlemen strongly deprecate the effect up- from the original obligation to restrain slaveholding. I houses;—greatly increased expense;—diminished15.’ on society of emancipation without compensation, Nor will the question ol invested capital make any gfnse of responsibility as Christians, because among uun) and both propose projects which, if successful at difference in the question ol moral right, lor the, grangers; Sic. Sic. Various considerations fre-showbringrealmanall, must, at the best, require a great number ot subject is under the same obligation to lefraiu from qVientlv contribute to give power to these circum-prcvebe- years for their consummation. It is therefore im- a wrong investment ot capital, that he is to retrain glances—such as long absence from families andard wplied, that the master must continue to hold his from any other wrong act. More or less capital is friends;—fear of being unable to reach distant pointssent nThnresslaves as property, until something embracing the 1 usually invested 111 all those kinds ol systematic at specified times state o! navigation and thelledfundamental principles of their schemes can he car- wickedness that the law punishes.weather; and pecuniary condition of the traveler.manyting ried into effect; and their views undoubtedly sub-jTo express the whole, in short terms, right can- \jany 0f these difficulties will be overcome by ini- l°nUtroy stantially coincide with the views of that large class no.be acquired by doing wrong, nor obligation by provements in navigation; others will be as penna-strentof our fellow-citizens who, for distinction, may beorldcon-termed Compensation Colonizationistsneglect.nent as themselves. ’Flic tone of piety in themgrThe mistake of these gentlemen, and others who church, therefore, must be raised immensely, beforetheirdis-The following propositions, although not directlyron expressed, yet the principles which they containno- are implied in the views that are expressed :heirhold similar views, arises from not distinguishing tbe niass of journeying professors will resist theseterintjbetween the rights that are acquired in pursuing a!temptationsBut w hat will become of the Sab-aney.kind of business that is right, just, and useful, bath, if habitually violated by the multitudes called110,1. Slavery being anevil, it is the duty of the which the government may rightfully sanction and abroad by the astonishing facilities for travel?the Sgovernment, for the purpose of effecting its remo- protect, and another kind that ii? wrong, unjust, and2. Wherever such boats should move or stopandis of vah 10 ,ax l*ie community, those who have never , injurious, which the government has no right to^ their very presence would testify to every behold-Itt is derived any benefit from it as well as those who sanction or protectFor illustration, let us com- , er tjlat there (8 a Sabbath, and that there are thosethis cin«i- have, to pay the owner for his staves. Because,1 « ^2. When the government permits its subjects toh a en£a£e *n a Purt^cl^ar business, and, by legislativee in enactment, protects that business, the governmentpare the subject of holding land with that of slave-holding.The earth is the gift of God to the human race,and the first principle of property in land is thevs- cannot rightfully withdraw that protection, without gift of God, and in any particular piece of land, itwho fear to violate it by the prosecution of theirmg,worldly businessflametureTwo professors ol religion went 011 shore at one ^ ^of the principal landings on the Ohio not long since ^hem compensating those engaged in it for the loss of the is the right of occupation, every individual havingto keep the Sabbath, and the act caused 110 littlesetk °[ pursuit even when that business is immoral and | any piece of land not occupied by another.11 (It t 9 j 1_____ ...L l 4 fnrolils they had the prospect of realizing from its j a natural nght to take possession of, and occupy,A « 11__ - 4 In a« . 1 Wl /V# « *11 /Vsl L «» M»ls«vlL AM | | |ilain- unjustTherefore,laws, therefore, which respect occupation, transfer,astonishment among the people, as it w as the firstof soiof the kind they had evor known.tract!3. It would afford abundant opportunity to pas-insr fisengcrs and crew-s for attendance upon public wo»-timeii3. It is better, until compensation can be made, and deed of land, only confirm and regulate an shipf eilher otl board or 0n shore, and create a probat prrh in por government to permit the master to extorttruthunpaid labor from t!ie slave, by the chain and whipand back up his authority by the sword and gibbetl^j |0infjer. than for him to fail of the profits of the business;social and to permit him to enslave, anil hold, and sell,original natural right. But the original right the ability that the gospel would not be preached ingovernment can neither confer or take away; but byits right to regulate the possession between individuals, it takes possession of a piece of land which isvain to those who so much need to leel its power.A case of conversion or conviction on board athe emuclandSabbath-breaking steam boat has never come to thelax nintrol- children born free, and to continue to legalize themish- transaction, rather than he should lose the profits ofin possession of one, for a road. The individual writer’s knowledge. A preacher under such cir-had from God a right to hold land, and from thegovernment an invested right of deed to that particular piece; therefore the government must makeell becompensation for withdrawing its invested right;departures at the different ports, which now’ call outirit of . an(] tbe master may rightfully continue the bus-C*1CS iness, until compensation is made for abandoning it.What would he deemed right in the case of the and as the land is usefully occupied as a road, the multitudes 10 gaze—interrupt public worship—excommunity can afford to he taxed to pay for it,cuinstances is too much like a temperance lecturerer, ocratii17in a grocery. an ^4. It would diminish the number of arrivals andpectins ofact icefailure of all projects for compensating the masternurse*and coloi izing the slaves, is not stated ; yet that isand it would be unjust not to pay for that which isa seriousquestion that the advocates of all such taken from the just possession of an individual forDo not these the benefit of the communityIt is, therefore, ai sunk projects would do wrell to consider, chin- gent|emen recoil in view of the mere statement, invery position they laboriously the community, the original natural right of the intransfer of the invested right from the individual tolicinalsmihpose to constant labor the ke«*per8 many taverns jsue aTIand forwarding houses—and in a variety of waysdisturb the quiet of die Sabbath.Gale5. It would afford Christians an opportunity of■ C hriinvesting their capital in boats, without doing vio-teraryplain tern. i is,ol thelence to their own or the consciences of othersj such uCloudwhen staled somewhat more obscurely? dividual to occupy that land for his personal benefitrceive*Dare they apply these principles to other subjectsIfboats r.rc owned exclusively by men destitute1.enterand of the community to occupy it as a road, being of religious principle, nothing is to be expected butFning ______ - „ - , . . , i clicinal der do it, and thereby perceive the uproooting of invested right ot deed, must be paid lor its sur-besides slavery? Will they do it, and will the rea- equal; but the individual, being possessed of anat’not all solid foundation of moral right, and every clear j render.Not so, in the case of slaveholding; for everyig(;a8 distinction between right and wrong, which would“ be the natural consequence of the general applica- man has trom God a natural rig t o iimselfauniversal desecration of the Sabbath—at least till i uponprofessing Christians compose so large a portion olthe traveling public that it becomes the interest ofof Clmustowrners to consult their wishes rather than those ol reactnot*t.article h011 of such principles ?»d, al- The question at issue is, whether the slaveholdermerely a general right to some human soul and bodv, that might be found not in the possession ofbe in- i8 entitled to compensation from the other portions) another if such a thing could be, hut an inalienablethe ungodly, and till these Christians too have so mor*dmuch piety that they will abstain from all violations to thof the Lord's day by traveling. But infinitely bet-t2.ter that the stock should all be in the hands ol irre-[pies
Newspaper Details
Alton Observer
Alton, Illinois, US
Thu, Mar 30, 1837
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Hayner P.
IL, USA 22 Jul 2020
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