. It might be found necessary, when once embodied, to keep them
so, and subject to military discipline--a permanent standing army. This
in time of peace would be expensive, if not dangerous. Or if at any time
we should be engaged in hostilities with our neighbors, and it were
thought advisable to send such an army abroad to conquer settlements for
themselves, the invaded regions might have occasion to think that the
scourge of God was again let loose to afflict the earth.

President Dew has very fully shown how utterly vain are the fears of
those, who, though there may be no danger for the present, yet apprehend
great danger for the future, when the number of slaves shall be greatly
increased. He has shown that the larger and more condensed society
becomes, the easier it will be to maintain subordination, supposing the
relative number of the different classes to remain the same--or even if
there should be a very disproportionate increase of the enslaved class.
Of all vain things, the vainest and that in which man most shows his
impotence and folly, is the taking upon himself to provide for a very
distant future--at all events by any material sacrifice of the present.
Though experience has shown that revolutions and political
movements--unless when they have been conducted with the most guarded
caution and moderation--have generally terminated in results just the
opposite of what was expected from them, the angry ape will still play
his fantastic tricks, and put in motion machinery, the action of which
he no more comprehends or foresees than he comprehends the mysteries of
infinity. The insect that is borne upon the current will fancy that he
directs its course. Besides the fear of insurrection and servile war,
there is also alarm lest, when their numbers shall be greatly increased,
their labor will become utterly unprofitable, so that it will be equally
difficult for the master to retain and support them, or to get rid of
them. But at what age of the world is this likely to happen? At present,
it may be said that almost the whole of the Southern portion of this
continent is to be subdued to cultivation; and in the order of
Providence, this is the task allotted to them. For this purpose, more
labor will be required for generations to come than they will be able to
supply. When that task is accomplished, there will be many objects to
which their labor may be directed.

At present they are employed in accumulating individu