ed as the most intolerable of social and political evils. Its
existence, and every hour of its continuance, is regarded as the crime
of the communities in which it is found. Even by those in the countries
alluded to, who regard it with the most indulgence or the least
abhorrence--who attribute no criminality to the present generation--who
found it in existence, and have not yet been able to devise the means of
abolishing it,--it is pronounced a misfortune and a curse injurious and
dangerous always, and which must be finally fatal to the societies which
admit it. This is no longer regarded as a subject of argument and
investigation. The opinions referred to are assumed as settled, or the
truth of them as self-evident. If any voice is raised among ourselves to
extenuate or to vindicate, it is unheard. The judgment is made up. We
can have no hearing before the tribunal of the civilized world. Yet, on
this very account, it is more important that we, the inhabitants of the
slaveholding States of America, insulated as we are, by this
institution, and cut off, in some degree, from the communion and
sympathies of the world by which we are surrounded, or with which we
have intercourse, and exposed continually to their animadversions and
attacks, should thoroughly understand this subject, and our strength and
weakness in relation to it. If it be thus criminal, dangerous, and
fatal; and if it be possible to devise means of freeing ourselves from
it, we ought at once to set about the employing of those means. It would
be the most wretched and imbecile fatuity, to shut our eyes to the
impending dangers and horrors, and "drive darkling down the current of
our fate," till we are overwhelmed in the final destruction. If we are
tyrants, cruel, unjust, oppressive, let us humble ourselves and repent
in the sight of heaven, that the foul stain may be cleansed, and we
enabled to stand erect as having common claims to humanity with our
fellow-men.

But if we are nothing of all this; if we commit no injustice or cruelty;
if the maintenance of our institutions be essential to our prosperity,
our character, our safety, and the safety of all that is dear to us, let
us enlighten our minds and fortify our hearts to defend them.

It is a somewhat singular evidence of the indisposition of the rest of
the world to hear any thing more on this subject, that perhaps the most
profound, original, and truly philosophical treatise, which has
appeared withi