Page:An essay on the origin and relative status of the white and colored races of mankind.djvu/16

 intellect, there is a universally admitted difference in favor of the white man. In regard to religion, the black man, in his own country, is a heathen; and so of other colored Races; and the white man, in his own country, is a christian; and, hence, it is clear that the Apostles' expression was only applicable to the Races as Nations. But, if it is construed to apply to a common destiny, my views thereon will be found farther on, in their appropriate connection.

Assuming as a basis of argument, the fact, that when God created the world He stamped upon the face of creation His immutable laws, that every living thing should bring forth after its hind; I proceed to investigate the fact, according to that standard, whether both the Black and White man could possibly have lineally descended from Adam? and in doing so, the first inquiry that presents itself, is this:—Was the complexion of our First Parents white, yellow, copper colored, brown or black? As these, with their various shades, are the known complexions of the five different Races, or varieties into which the most eminent Naturalists have divided mankind, it is fair to presume that his complexion was like that of some one of their's. But the learned Theologians say that Adam's name imports that he was a red man. For my part I propose to compromise with the Theologians, by calling him a white man with a reddish complexion—because that is really the natural complexion of white men, generally: but there are some of them who are naturally of such a reddish hue, that it would be no mistake to call them red men; and for aught we know, Adam might have been of that class.