7. Notes on our Army-No. V. To the Hon. Thos. H. Benton.... EDITOR'S TABLE. 372 8. A Native Literature. By "A Friend to Letters."..378 19. Notes on our Army. Official remonstrance, &c...387 9. The Annexation of Texas... 10. Desultory Notes on Desultory Readings. By Holgazán..... 383 20. Editorial Remarks.... 21. Notices of New Works... .388 .389-92 LIV PAYMENTS TO THE SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER. Received since the publication of the May number. If any names should have been omitted, they will appear on the cover of the July number. No order hereafter (come from whatever quarter it may,) for the Messenger, will be attended to unless the money accompanies it, nor will any Bank Bills, other than those which are current at par in the States where they are issued, be received in payment for subscriptions. Armistead, Dr. M. L..IEJ..Quincey, Florida......vol 9 Lockett, N....TLJ.... Perry C. H., Alabama...vol 9-10 Laws, David....TLJ....Gaston, Alabama......vol 9-10 TO CORRESPONDENTS. The following will appear. "Sonnet on reading the Odyssy;" "An Evening Walk;" "Letter from Lisbon," from the French; "May Day," and probably "May Day Addresses," (which could not appear in June ;)-" The Forsaken Irish Girl;" "A Bivouac in the Desert;" "The Schoolmaster among the Dutch;" "The First Schoolmaster;" "Profane Genesis." The following are respectfully declined., "Mr. Davis;" "To My Wife;" "Death," by "F." "F." deserves much credit and must try again; "Pencillings of Lonely Hours;" "The Song of the Jacobins," &c. "Tom Moore, Jr. ;" "The Neglected Street." Being altogether local and having been published, alone exclude it. Our thanks and compliments to the gifted writer. "La Tortola," and "Charles Sedley." The authors, to whom our compliments, will see the propriety of sending more of their productions before we can decide. "The Road Side Inn" received; more anon. Others have also been received and are sub judice. To EXCHANGE PAPERS.-Not being allowed by the present defective Law, to receive any thing through the mails free of postage, we are compelled to stop receiving many of the very large number of our Exchange papers. Even now the Messenger goes to many papers that we do not receive, except when they contain a notice of the work. As often as any paper to which the Messenger is sent, contains any notice of it, we would be glad to receive it. When the Law is amended, as it should be, we will welcome them again, as cordially as we now thank them for their high commendations. SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER. JUNE, 1844. TO THE EDITOR OF THE S. L. MESSENGER. With assurances of the highest respect, I beg leave to subscribe myself of which it treats. It is so convenient to let prejudice supply the place of information; so easy to censure what we The following Essay was prepared to be read before the do not understand; so pleasant to magnify faults which we National Institute, at their meeting of April 1st, 1844. The have no temptation to commit; and so consolatory to rewriter, having been invited to deliver an address, or to pent of the sins of other men, that he who magnanimously read a paper before that assembly, accepted the invitation, denies himself these cheap enjoyments, well deserves to and announced that his subject would be "the Moral and receive some equivalent therefor. I have nothing better Political Influence of the Relation between the Caucasian to offer than my poor acknowledgments. I beg you to acMaster and the African Slave." He was aware that apcept them, and with them the assurance that the people of prehensions might be entertained, that, in the angry and the South are not insensible to the candor, justice and huexcited state of public feeling, this subject might be brought manity which characterize your conduct in regard to an forward by a Citizen of the injured and insulted South, interest which lies not nearer to their purses than to their with some purpose of recrimination. Hence he took the hearts. precaution to assure the Secretary of the Institute, that he intended nothing of the sort, and that the views he proposed to present could not, by possibility, give offence to the most sensitive. Still he was not surprised at receiving in reply a letter advising him to forbear the subject. He had learned indeed that "a soft answer turneth away wrath," but he knew, too, that there are circumstances under which every attempt to soothe does but exasperate. There are some substances which, in combustion, decompose and convert into explosive gas the water that is used to quench them, and Philanthropy, it seems, is supposed to possess an analogous property. He therefore readily accepted the advice so kindly given, and forebore to press the claim of the South to plead at the bar of public opinion against the charges on which she had been condemned unheard. Rhadamanthus castigat, auditque. He punishes first, but, if the victim has any thing to say, he will then hear him. The methods of philanthropy are yet more stern. She will not hear even then. The writer on his part, delighted at an opportunity to plead the cause of Humanity at the bar of Philosophy, and before a Jury de medietate, had immediately addressed himself to his task, and before the receipt of this discouraging letter, had written more than half the following Essay. Having begun, he determined to go on with it, and, in handing it to the Messenger, sees no need to throw it into a dif ferent form. It will be seen that he has treated only the moral part of the subject. He soon found that he could not do justice to the whole in a single essay of appropriate length, either for a public audience, or the pages of a periodical. At another time he may ask you to give place to his thoughts on the political effect of domestic slavery. TO THE HON. CHARLES J. INGERSOLL. Sir: I am happy in an opportunity to dedicate the following Essay to one who has shown a wish to know the truth, and to judge with candor and justice on the subject! VOL. X-42 AN ESSAY On the Moral and Political Effect of the Relation between THE CAUCASIAN MASTER AND THE AFRICAN SLAVE. Intended to have been read before the National Institute at their meeting in April, 1844. Gentlemen: I am not sure but that some may think that I owe an apology for introducing the subject to which I invite your attention. Did I propose to treat it in the angry and contentious spirit it so often excites, no apology ought to be received. I beg leave to assure you, in advance, that I have no such purpose. The subject is one intimately connected with the happiness and the duties of a large portion of the inhabitants of the United States. It is at least important that they should understand it rightly. These, on their part, have reason to wish, that they whom it does not so immediately concern, and who judge of it at a distance, should see it in its true light. The love of reputation is natural to man, and it is not easy for any one to sit down under the reproach of the world, entirely satisfied with the judgment of his own conscience. This indeed is indispensable, but this is not all. In this assembly, devoted to the cause of science, the discussion of a subject connected with the two, tion of this enlightened assembly to what I shall important sciences of Government and Morality offer, concerning the great moral and political phecan not be out of place. In a catholic association nomenon which forms the striking and peculiar intended to harmonize the feelings and judgments feature in the character and history of some of the of those who have so much in common, it is desi- States of this Union. rable that every thing possible should be done to I am aware I may be met with the sound legal convince all of the wisdom and justice of opinions maxim, "Nemo in propria causa Judex." But and conduct which, though confined to a part, that my business is to reason and to testify-not to depart can not be expected to change. In an asso- cide. Reason stands for itself resting on its own ciation intended to collect, as in a focus, the light strength; and in an assembly like this we owe it emanating from every part of this extensive Union, to each other to receive testimony as true, and it would seem the duty of each to bring forward even judgment as candid. Why should it be otherhis ideas on subjects which he most particularly wise? No claim of right, no interest is involved understands, and these are the very subjects to in any discussion here. Elsewhere, unfortunately, which others, possessing less means of knowledge this is not the case. In the only other place where may be expected to give the most willing attention. this topic can be discussed between those among In an assembly, so enlightened as this, I should whom the institution of domestic slavery exists, not presume to open my lips on a subject of gene- and those who are strangers to it, it is so blended ral science. To attempt it, would be but to give with questions of political power and individual inback to the sun a dim reflection of his own light. terest, that it is always a subject of altercation, and And this society itself-what is it, but a member not discussion. Do not the very bitterness it exof that great society of scientific men throughout cites, the angry crimination, the fierce recriminaChristendom, which is in perpetual session for the tion it provokes, demand a calm and candid invesdiscovery of truth, and for so disseminating it, as tigation of its real merits? Shall I not stand exto make the knowledge of each the knowledge of cused for offering the results of a life's experience all? It is true that the sun of science has but lately and reflection on a subject so differently understood risen on this Western world; and it is not to be by those who, it is to be wished, may be brought expected that much will be discovered here in de- to see it in the same light? Shall I be blamed for partments which the learned of Europe have been offering to pour oil upon the wave which is beating long exploring, with all the advantages that we against the foundations of the Union, and threatens possess. Although something of this sort has to wash it from its base? The empire of opinion occasionally been accomplished, yet Europe may has its tribunals before which all are liable to be be expected to look coldly and discouragingly on arraigned, and none should deny their jurisdiction, such researches. The praise due for discoveries who do not desire to see that mild and ameliorating and improvements actually made has been grudg- authority exchanged for the restored empire of the ingly awarded. But let us speak of what is pecu- sword. The spirit of our institutions and the liar to our own country and straightway the jeal- spirit of the age alike demand an account of every ousy of our European masters in art and science thing which seems like a disturbance of the natuis appeased, and the most learned are the most ral equality or an invasion of the natural rights ready to become our pupils, and to increase their of man. Our large experience of the blessing of ample stores of knowledge from our authentic ma-personal and civil liberty awakens in every benevoterials. Cuvier himself would take instruction lent mind a desire to see that blessing extended to from the illiterate miner, and draw from his facts every individual of the human race. But what conclusions to elucidate the great marvel of CREA- is liberty, and how far it may be enjoyed by all, are questions of acknowledged difficulty. While To the great marts of science, where its votaries we believe it to be the will of God that the life he congregate for the exchange of knowledge for know- has given should be a life of happiness to all, and ledge and thought for thought, each man should come that the sources of happiness distributed throughfreighted with that which his own country yields, out the earth should be enjoyed by all, we can not and especially that which can not be found else- shut our eyes to the fact that he himself has where. Should there appear among us an inhabi-thrown obstacles in the way of that equality of entant of the interesting but unknown country of joyment which we have assumed to be his general Oregon, professing to tell us of its soil and climate, purpose. He has made the sources of enjoyment its streams, mountains and minerals, we should lis- more accessible to some than to others, and He ten with patient interest to all he might say con- has endowed different individuals with capacities cerning these, though, on any other subject, his for enjoyment yet more various than the faculties best thoughts might be unworthy of notice. In and opportunities by which its means are to be like manner, gentlemen, I, who, on any other topic procured. These two points of diversity in the hubut that I have selected, should sit in the place of man race have led some to charge their Maker with a learner, venture respectfully to claim the atten-partiality: while others, well pleased to observe TION. that whatever advantage is allotted to some over the, and active service in the cause of humanity-these rest, is in their favor, are quite ready to acquiesce are the instincts of greatness. Turning from the in the justice of the arrangement. low pursuit of wealth, it is with these that minds Both are in error, and the error in both is proved of a high order satisfy their natural cravings. by the false corollaries they themselves deduce Disdaining to scramble for the draff and husks from their reasoning. In the first it leads to envy, that fill the common trough, they take nothing from hatred and malice, and to all those crimes which it is the fund that supplies the enjoyments of others. the office of Government to restrain and of law to On the contrary, the fruit of their labors is to repunish. In the last it stifles sympathy; it nour-plenish that fund. The rich man is made richer, ishes false pride; it engenders false appetites and and the comforts of the poor are increased by stimulates to indulgence and excess, by which the their discoveries in art and science, and the hapmoral and intellectual man is transformed from the piness of all is secured by their wisdom and jusimage of his God to that of a beast. These in- tice. Is it the worse, or the better, for those deed are not denounced by law as crimes, for no who court wealth; for those who delight to revel law can reach them. But they are not the less in the pleasures of sense; for those who wisely evil because incorrigible. limit their desires to moderate competency; or But how shall we vindicate the justice of the for those who find their happiness in the bland Creator, unless we find some principle of compen-sweets of domestic life, that God has been pleased sation for these glaring inequalities? And where to endow each man here present with faculties of shall we find one, unless indeed one of these inequalities affords a compensation for the other? Let us see how this may be. a higher order than theirs, and to implant in each bosom a source of enjoyment which would be ill exchanged for the mines of Golconda ? Money is the common measure of values, and I am persuaded, Gentlemen, that there is not wealth supplies the fund with which most enjoy-one member of this assembly, who does not bear ments may be purchased. There are few sources within his own breast a witness to the truth of of happiness to be explored and appropriated, to what I have just said. It would be superfluous to which wealth will not procure access, while it fur- add examples to illustrate the means devised by nishes the price we must pay for them. The facul- the Creator for equalizing the opportunities of hapties which are most rare and most valuable to piness among his creatures, and multiplying the others, afford the possessor the surest means of sources of enjoyment in proportion to the number acquiring wealth. Foremost among these, be- who partake of it. But other instances abound in cause rarest and most precious, are the powers of which the very antagonism of tastes, capacities the mind, knowledge, genius, readiness of compre- and powers is made reciprocally a source of haphension, originality of thought, soundness and so-piness to all concerned. I beg you to observe the briety of judgment, and all that marvellous combi- multiplied diversities between the male and female nation which chiefly distinguishes man from his fellows, and to which collectively we give the name of talent. These have but to name their price, and it is readily, cheerfully, thankfully paid. character, contrived with a view to the happiness and to the moral and intellectual excellence of both. Is it by chance, or by any necessary consequence of his sex, that man is bold, hardy, enIn this assembly I see myself surrounded by those terprising, contentious, delighting to struggle with whose presence here is a proof of high excellence difficulty, delighting in contests with his fellows, in these endowments. But are these the wealthy and eager to bear away the prize of every strife? of the land? By no means. And why not? There Woman, on the contrary, timid, feeble, helpless, is not one present whose consciousness will not tes-shrinks within the domestic sanctuary, and feels tify to the truth of the answer I am about to give. that the great want of her nature is security for It is because the gift of intellectual superiority herself and her offspring. This she owes to the is, by the wise dispensation of the Creator, asso- exercise and indulgence of the distinctive powers ciated with peculiar tastes and desires. The gifted and passions of him to whom she looks for protecson of genius does not so much as stretch forth tion, while he, in her trusting helplessness and his hand to take the wealth that courts his accep- grateful love, finds the reward of his toils, the tance, because his thoughts are fixed on some of crown of his triumphs and the consummation of the few sources of enjoyment that wealth can not his felicity. purchase. The delight of revelling amid the crea- So far, without any stretch of presumption, we tions of fancy, the hardy joy of tasks of thought, may venture to believe that we understand the dethe love of knowledge, for its own sake, the desire sign of the Creator. But the world is full of pheto diffuse the light of truth, and to advance the nomena, physical and moral which admonish us empire of mind, the desire to promote the welfare that many of his ways are "past finding out." We of our country and the happiness of the human every where see a sort of affinity of opposition, a race; above all, the love of honest fame, the just sympathy of antagonism, a combination of incomreward of intellectual excellence and moral worth, 'patibilities, while one strange wild strain of harmo |