Page:The Barbarism of Slavery - Sumner - 1863.pdf/70

 64 with pride, as Slave-masters with us regard Slavery, and

it

said that those who have no swelling are laughed at " goose-necked."

With knowledge comes of imperfection tations.

boasts. •

ble,

distrust

and

it is

called

and the modest consciousness

but the pride of Barbarism has no such limi-



It dilates in

the thin air of ignorance,

and makes

Surely, if these illustrations are not entirely inapplica-

then must

we

find in the boasts of Slave-masters

new

occa-

sion to regret the influence of Slavery.

same influence which renders Slave-masters insensiwhich are among the true glories of the Eepublic which makes them forget that Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, and Washington, who commanded its armies, were Abolitionists which renders them insensible to the inspiring words of the one, and to the commanding example of the other. Of these great men, it is the praise, well-deserving perpetual mention, and only grudged by a maIt is this

ble to those characters



lign influence, that reared amidst Slavery, they did not hesitate

condemn

to

it.

To

the present debate, Jefferson, in repeated

utterances, alive with the fire of genius

and

truth, has contri-

buted the most important testimony for Freedom ever pronounced in this hemisphere, in words equal to the cause, and Washington, often quoted as a Slave-master, in the solemn dispositions of his last Will and Testament, has contributed an ex-

ample which sir,

call

is

him a

beyond even the words of

Slave-master,

who

Jefferson.

Do

not,

entered into the presence of his

Maker only as the Emancipator of his slaves. The difference between such men and the Slave-masters whom I expose today The first looked down is so precise that it can not be mistaken. upon Slavery the second look up to Slavery. The first, recognizing its wrong, were at once liberated from its pernicious influences, while the latter, upholding it as right and " ennoThe bling," mult naturally draw from it motives of conduct. not misled by were Slavery, first, conscious of the character of

the second, dwelling in unconsciousness of its true character, surrendered blindly to its barbarous tendencies, and, verifying

it



the words of the poet, .

" So perfect

is

their misery,

Not once perceive their foul disfigurement, But boast themselves more comely than before."