I shall now lay before the meeting the sentiments of General George
M'Duffie, Governor of the State of South Carolina; as contained in a
message delivered by him to the two branches of the Legislature,
towards the close of the last year. I charge these sentiments upon the
State, 1st, because the representatives of its citizens, in a series
of resolutions presented to the Governor, unanimously expressed their
special approbation of them; and 2dly, because I am not aware that any
protest has been entered against them by any part of the Christian
community. Sentiments more atrocious were, perhaps, never penned.
The first extract, recommending legislation, has reference to the
diffusion of Anti-Slavery publications.
"IT IS MY DELIBERATE OPINION THAT THE LAWS OF EVERY COMMUNITY
SHOULD PUNISH THIS SPECIES OF INTERFERENCE BY DEATH WITHOUT
BENEFIT OF CLERGY, REGARDING THE AUTHORS OF IT AS ENEMIES TO
THE HUMAN RACE. Nothing could be more appropriate than for
South Carolina to set the example in the present crisis, and
I trust the Legislature will not adjourn till it discharges
this high duty of patriotism."
Let us look at the theological views of this profound Statesman on the
subject of Slavery.
NO HUMAN INSTITUTION, IN MY OPINION, IS MORE MANIFESTLY
CONSISTENT WITH THE WILL OF GOD, THAN DOMESTIC SLAVERY, and
no one of his ordinances is written in more legible
characters than that which consigns the African Race to this
condition AS MORE CONDUCIVE TO THEIR OWN HAPPINESS, THAN ANY
OTHER OF WHICH THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE. Whether we consult the
sacred Scriptures or the lights of nature and reason, we
shall find these truths as abundantly apparent as if written
with a sun-beam in the heavens. Under both the Jewish and
Christian dispensations of our religion, DOMESTIC SLAVERY
existed with the unequivocal sanction of its prophets, its
apostles, and finally its great Author. The patriarchs
themselves, those chosen instruments of God, were
slaveholders. In fact the divine sanction of this institution
is so plainly written that "he who runs may read" it, and
those over-righteous pretenders and pharisees, who affect to
be scandalized by its existence among us, would do well to
inquire how much more nearly they walk in the way of
godliness, than did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That the
African negro is DESTINED BY PROVIDENCE TO OCCUPY THIS
CONDITION OF SERVILE DEPENDENCE, is not less manifest. It is
marked on the face, stamped on the skin, and evinced by the
intellectual inferiority, and natural improvidence of his
race. THEY HAVE ALL THE QUALITIES THAT FIT THEM FOR SLAVES,
AND NOT ONE OF THOSE THAT WOULD FIT THEM TO BE FREEMEN, they
are utterly unqualified not only for rational freedom, but
for self-government of any kind. They are in all respects
physical, moral and political, inferior to millions of the
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