tell them that the
races differ in every bone and muscle, and in the proportion of brain
and nerves, yet there are some who, with a most bigoted and fanatical
determination to free themselves from what they have prejudged to be
prejudice, will still maintain that this physiognomy, evidently tending
to that of the brute, when compared to that of the Caucasian race, may
be enlightened by as much thought, and animated by as lofty sentiment.
We who have the best opportunity of judging, are pronounced to be
incompetent to do so, and to be blinded by our interest and
prejudices--often by those who have no opportunity at all--and we are to
be taught to distrust or disbelieve that which we daily observe, and
familiarly know, on such authority. Our prejudices are spoken of. But
the truth is, that, until very lately, since circumstances have
compelled us to think for ourselves, we took our opinions on this
subject, as on every other, ready formed from the country of our origin.
And so deeply rooted were they, that we adhered to them, as most men
will do to deeply rooted opinions, even against the evidence of our own
observation, and our own senses. If the inferiority exists, it is
attributed to the apathy and degradation produced by slavery. Though of
the hundreds of thousand scattered over other countries, where the laws
impose no disability upon them, none has given evidence of an approach
to even mediocrity of intellectual excellence; this, too, is attributed
to the slavery of a portion of their race. They are regarded as a
servile caste, and degraded by opinion, and thus every generous effort
is repressed. Yet though this should be the general effect, this very
estimation is calculated to produce the contrary effect in particular
instances. It is observed by Bacon, with respect to deformed persons and
eunuchs, that though in general there is something of perversity in the
character, the disadvantage often leads to extraordinary displays of
virtue and excellence. "Whoever hath any thing fixed in his person that
doth induce contempt, hath also a perpetual spur in himself, to rescue
and deliver himself from scorn." So it would be with them, if they were
capable of European aspirations--genius, if they possessed it, would be
doubly fired with noble rage to rescue itself from this scorn. Of
course, I do not mean to say that there may not be found among them some
of superior capacity to many white persons; but that great intellectua