On the other hand, suppose that, in such a rebellion throughout the South, the _whites_ were to conquer--this could not be accomplished without the destruction of vast numbers of the people of colour--nor without the loss of the lives of many whites. What then would be the condition of the surviving blacks? Common justice, and prudence, would oblige the white population to deprive the slaves of many of those privileges which they _now_ enjoy, and to rivet their fetters more securely--whom would they have to thank for all this? ABOLITIONISTS! Whom have they even _now_ to thank for the loss of many indulgences? The ABOLITIONISTS! And whom have thousands _now_ to thank for being still in slavery? ABOLITIONISTS!
Take a view of the subject in any possible way, let the black conquer, or let him be conquered, ruination to him is the inevitable result, totally independent of the awful calamities to which the white population would be subjected. Here is a two-horned dilemma: let the Abolitionist sit upon either horn so long as he can, consistently with his profession of charity--of philanthropy, of christianity!
Leaving this part of our subject for the present, I will ask any man of common sense, and of the least reflection, whether the means adopted by Abolitionists to enlighten the slave-holder, so as to make him emancipate his slaves, are the most judicious, or the most likely to accomplish that end? I will venture to aver, without fear of contradiction, that they are so far--very far, from being likely, in the very nature of things, to accomplish the _professed_ object (the emancipation of the slaves,) that no surer method could possibly be used more calculated to _increase_ their sufferings, and to rivet their chains! And so convinced am I of this, that I cannot conceive how any man of _intellect_, who has a _single eye_ to this object, would for a moment sanction such means! Let us place ourselves in the situation of slave-holders, and then see the effect such conduct would have upon _ourselves_; recollecting that _by nature_ all men are alike, for, "as in water face answereth to face, so doth the heart of man to man": so says the Bible at all events, no matter what _you_ may think to the contrary! Here we are then, a pair of slave-holders (not slave-traders). Our parents left slaves to us, as "_our inheritance_" (Lev. xxv. 44, 46). We are surrounded by them. The subsistence of our wives, and of our little ones, depends on their labour and exertion. We treat them kindly, and they have abundance of food and raiment. We instruct them--and pay a physician to attend them when ill.[30:A] A party has got up in the North, whose professed object is to enlighten _us_ slave-holders. Pamphlets and Papers in abundance are sent down to us. We read them--when lo! we find ourselves portrayed as Monsters! Our characters slandered. Our _legal_ rights denied. Our heads branded with the epithet--"Men stealers"--"Tyrants"--"Devils incarnate"--"Objects _peculiarly_ deserving the eternal wrath and vengeance of Heaven"--the world called upon to abhor and detest us, and we held up to public and everlasting infamy! But this is not all. The very persons whom the providence of God gave us--whom we feed, clothe, instruct, attend in sickness and in health, and who thus enjoy more comfort and happiness, than nine-tenths of the labouring class of white free persons in any part of Europe!--these very persons are, in said pamphlets, taught and encouraged to look upon us as their oppressors, as the only barriers to their wealth and happiness--as having no lawful right to possess them--and that all our substance--all our property--is in fact, not _ours_, but _theirs_! Moreover, that the Law of God authorises them to run off as quick as they can, and, if practicable, with as much of _our_ property as they can convey away!