The Continental Monthly, Vol III, Issue VI, June, 1863 | Page 4

all nations), each consisting of numerous parts,
performing distinct functions; yet so organized harmoniously that each
part shall preserve all the freedom that it requires for its utmost
development and happiness, and yet depend for its own life upon the
life of the entire national body.
It may also be concluded that this capacity of men so to organize is just
in proportion to the development of the higher elements and faculties of
the mind, the religious, moral, social, and intellectual, and the
diminished influence of the lower, animal, and selfish nature.
Consequently, when in such a large and harmoniously organized
nationality as the American Union, there arises a movement which,
without the slightest rational or high moral cause, aims to break away
from this advanced, this free and humanizing political organization;
and not only to break away from the main body, but also maintains the
right of the seceding portion itself to break up into independent
sovereignties; then, the conclusion is forced upon every impartial mind
that the spirit which animates such a disruptive movement is a spirit
opposed to civilization, since it runs in precisely the opposite direction;
as, instead of tending to unity, to accord, to a large organization with
individual freedom, it tends to disunity, separation, the splitting up of
society into many independent sovereign states, or fractions of states,

certain, absolutely certain to clash and war with each other, especially
with slavery as their woof and warp; and thus bring back the reign of
barbarism, and the ultimate subjection of these warring little
sovereignties to one or more iron despotisms.
The inevitable tendency of the rebellion, if successful, and its doctrine
of secession ad libitum, is (even without slavery--how much more with
it!) to hurl society to the bottom of the steep and rugged declivity up
which, through the long ages, divine Providence, the guide of man, has
been in the ceaseless and finally successful endeavor to raise it. The
American republic is the highest level, the loftiest table land yet
reached by man in his political ascent; and the forces that would drag
him from thence are forces from beneath, the animal, selfish, devilish
element of depraved human nature, which so long have held the race in
bondage; and which, now that they see their victim slipping from their
grasp, and rising beyond reach into the high region of unity, peace, and
progress, are moving all the powers of darkness for one final and
successful assault. Will it be successful? We cannot believe it.
* * * * *
What is the cause of this wicked, heaven-defying, insane movement on
the part of the South? The answer is written in flames of light along the
sky, and in letters of blood upon the breadth of the land. Slavery first,
slavery middle, and slavery last. Accursed slavery! firstborn of the evil
one--the lust of dominion over others for one's own selfish purposes, in
its naked, most shameless, and undisguised form. Dominion of man
over man in other modes, such as absolute monarchy, aristocracy,
feudalism, ecclesiastical rule--all these justify their exactions under the
plea of the welfare of the subject, or the salvation of souls. Slavery has
nothing of the kind behind which to hide its monstrosity; nor does it
care to do so, except when hard pushed, and then it feebly pleads the
christianization of the negro! A plea at which the common sense of
mankind and of Christendom simply laughs.
Now slavery, we know, is just the reverse of freedom, and hence it is
only natural to expect that the fruits, the results of slavery, wherever its
influence extends, would closely partake of the nature of their parent

and cause. Slavery, then, as the antipodes of freedom, must engender in
the community that harbors and fosters it, habits, sentiments, and
modes of life continually diverging from, and ever more and more
antagonistic to, whatever proceeds from free institutions.
Let us look at some of these. There are four points of antagonism
between free and slave institutions that seem to stand out more
prominently than others; at any rate, we shall not now extend our
inquiry beyond them.
Slavery, then, begets in the ruling class:
1. An excessive spirit of domineering and command;
2. A contempt of labor;
3. A want of diversified industry;
4. These three results produce a fourth, viz., a division of slave society
into a wealthy, all-powerful slaveholding aristocracy on the one hand;
and an ignorant, impoverished, and more or less degraded
non-slaveholding class on the other.
It is at once seen how slavery develops to the utmost, in the master and
dominant race, a habit of command, of self-will, of determination to
have one's own way at all hazards, of intolerance of any contradiction
or opposition; of quickness to take offence, and