north america-2-第18章
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r wealth will have been wasted。 I think that history will agree with me in saying that the Northern States had no alternative but war。 What concession could they make？ Could they promise to hold their peace about slavery？ And had they so promised； would the South have believed them？ They might have conceded secession； that is； they might have given all that would have been demanded。 But what individual chooses to yield to such demands。 And if not an individual； then what people will do so？ But； in truth； they could not have yielded all that was demanded。 Had secession been granted to South Carolina and Georgia； Virginia would have been coerced to join those States by the nature of her property； and with Virginia Maryland would have gone； and Washington； the capital。 What may be the future line of division between the North and the South； I will not pretend to say； but that line will probably be dictated by the North。 It may still be hoped that Missouri； Kentucky； Virginia； and Maryland will go with the North； and be rescued from slavery。 But had secession been yielded； had the prestige of success fallen to the lot of the South； those States must have become Southern。 While on the subject of slaveryfor in discussing the cause of the war； slavery is the subject that must be discussedI cannot forbear to say a few words about the negroes of the North American States。 The Republican party of the North is divided into two sections； of which one may be called abolitionist； and the other non… abolitionist。 Mr。 Lincoln's government presumes itself to belong to the latter； though its tendencies toward abolition are very strong。 The abolition party is growing in strength daily。 It is but a short time since Wendell Phillips could not lecture in Boston without a guard of police。 Now； at this moment of my writing； he is a popular hero。 The very men who； five years since； were accustomed to make speeches； strong as words could frame them； against abolition； are now turning round； and； if not preaching abolition； are patting the backs of those who do so。 I heard one of Mr。 Lincoln's cabinet declare old John Brown to be a hero and a martyr。 All the Protestant Germans are abolitionistsand they have become so strong a political element in the country that many now declare that no future President can be elected without their aid。 The object is declared boldly。 No long political scheme is asked for； but instant abolition is wanted； abolition to be declared while yet the war is raging。 Let the slaves of all rebels be declared free； and all slaveowners in the seceding States are rebels！ One cannot but ask what abolition means； and to what it would lead。 Any ordinance of abolition now pronounced would not effect the emancipation of the slaves； but might probably effect a servile insurrection。 I will not accuse those who are preaching this crusade of any desire for so fearful a scourge on the land。 They probably calculate that an edict of abolition once given would be so much done toward the ultimate winning of the battle。 They are making their hay while their sun shines。 But if they could emancipate those four million slaves； in what way would they then treat them？ How would they feed them？ In what way would they treat the ruined owners of the slaves； and the acres of land which would lie uncultivated？ Of all subjects with which a man may be called on to deal； it is the most difficult。 But a New England abolitionist talks of it as though no more were required than an open path for his humanitarian energies。 〃I could arrange it all to…morrow morning；〃 a gentleman said to me； who is well known for his zeal in this cause！ Arrange it all to…morrow morningabolition of slavery having become a fact during the night！ I should not envy that gentleman his morning's work。 It was bad enough with us； but what were our numbers compared with those of the Southern States？ We paid a price for the slaves； but no price is to be paid in this case。 The value of the property would probably be lowly estimated at 100l。 a piece for men； women； and children； or 4；000；000l。 sterling for the whole population。 They form the wealth of the South； and if they were bought； what should be done with them？ They are like children。 Every slaveowner in the countryevery man who has had aught to do with slaveswill tell the same story。 In Maryland and Delaware are men who hate slavery； who would be only too happy to enfranchise their slaves； but the negroes who have been slaves are not fit for freedom。 In many cases； practically； they cannot be enfranchised。 Give them their liberty； starting them well in the world at what expense you please； and at the end of six months they will come back upon your hands for the means of support。 Everything must be done for them。 They expect food and clothes； and instruction as to every simple act of life； as do children。 The negro domestic servant is handy at his own work； no servant more so； but he cannot go beyond that。 He does not comprehend the object and purport of continued industry。 If he have money； he will play with ithe will amuse himself with it。 If he have none； he will amuse himself without it。 His work is like a school…boy's task； he knows it must be done； but never comprehends that the doing of it is the very end and essence of his life。 He is a child in all things； and the extent of prudential wisdom to which he ever attains is to disdain emancipation and cling to the security of his bondage。 It is true enough that slavery has been a curse。 Whatever may have been its effect on the negroes； it has been a deadly curse upon the white masters。 The preaching of abolition during the war is to me either the deadliest of sins or the vainest of follies。 Its only immediate result possible would be servile insurrection。 That is so manifestly atrocious； a wish for it would be so hellish； that I do not presume the preachers of abolition to entertain it。 But if that be not meant； it must be intended that an act of emancipation should be carried throughout the slave Stateseither in their separation from the North； or after their subjection and consequent reunion with the North。 As regards the States while in secession； the North cannot operate upon their slaves any more than England can operate on the slaves of Cuba。 But if a reunion is to be a precursor of emancipation； surely that reunion should be first effected。 A decision in the Northern and Western mind on such a subject cannot assist in obtaining that reunion； but must militate against the practicability of such an object。 This is so well understood that Mr。 Lincoln and his government do not dare to call themselves abolitionists。*
* President Lincoln has proposed a plan for the emancipation of slaves in the border States； which gives compensation to the owners。 His doing so proves that he regards present emancipation in the Gulf States as quite out of the question。 It also proves that he looks forward to the recovery of the border States for the North； but that he does not look forward to the recovery of the Gulf States。
Abolition； in truth； is a political cry。 It is the banner of defiance opposed to secession。 As the differences between the North and South have grown with years； and have swelled to the proportions of national antipathy； Southern nullification has amplified itself into secession； and Northern free…soil principles have burst into this growth of abolition。 Men have not calculated the results。 Charming pictures are drawn for you of the negro in a state of Utopian bliss； owning his own hoe and eating his own hog； in a paradise； where everything is bought and sold； except his wife； his little ones； and himself。 But the enfranchised negro has always thrown away his hoe； has eaten any man's hog but his own； and has too often sold his daughter for a dollar when any such market has been open to him。 I confess that this cry of abolition has been made peculiarly displeasing to me by the fact that the Northern abolitionist is by no means willing to give even to the negro who is already free that position in the world which alone might tend to raise him in the scale of human beingsif anything can so raise him and make him fit for freedom。 T
