Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/252

Rh sunshine, flower odours, birds' songs, and delicious fruits; and, in the midst of this beautiful natural scenery, the negro people, with their peculiar life, which slavery cannot obliterate; their religious festivals, hymns, and cheerful songs;—the traveller is not edified and animated, as in the North of the Union, by noble and magnificent efforts and institutions, but he rests and enjoys, when he is not disturbed by any new, bitter experience of that injustice which the laws here give rise to, or provoked by persons who, contrary to truth and sound reason, justify it as a good and allowable thing.

The contest respecting slavery is the great contested question of America, and will continue to be so, unless slavery ceases to exist there; because this institution is too evident a lie against the American social principle, too crying an outrage against justice and humanity.

Still it must be conceded that the social spirit of America has of late years tended greatly to ameliorate the condition of the slaves, and it may with truth be stated that this improves year by year. The nobler popular feeling in the Southern States is doing, at this moment, a great deal towards raising the condition of the black population, spiritually as well as temporally. The gospel is preached more and more generally to the slaves—especially in those States where the religious life was strong of old, Georgia and Carolina—and wherever it is preached, there is the slave elevated; there he forms religious communities, and there he himself preaches the Saviour and redemption with joy and with power, and sings in honour of the Saviour hymns, of the beauty and the harmony of which no idea can be formed by those who merely judge of the musical talent of the African from the songs and screeches of his wild condition. Yes, if the legislation of the Southern States would follow in the steps of the gospel, a great work would then be accomplished and they would prepare for themselves a great future.