Influences Adverse To Slavery

We have read many articles in anti-slavery publications concerning the power of slavery. There can be no question but that Slavery is powerful, and by adroit management, for years past, it has governed the nation; and yet, at the same time, it may be absolutely sinking under the weight of influences and circumstances which it can neither control nor resist. Let us look, for a moment, at some of the circumstances which indicate the speedy downfall of the system.

1. The number of slaveholders in the United States, compared with the remaining population, is small. They are estimated at 250,000. Among these are many females, minors and aged persons. Some also are desirous of emancipation. There are many who have bought one or two slaves for domestics, merely as a matter of convenience, and who have no permanent interest in the continuance of slavery. Contrast the number of slaveholders with the million and a half of voters in the free States, and the difference is great.

2. The number of slaves, compared with the number of their masters, is about ten to one. The interests of ten slaves, then, in all respects, are directly antagonist to those one master.

3. The influence of the free blacks, both in the slave and free states, in some respects, operates against slavery.

4. In the slave states, a great majority of the white population do not own slaves; and it is for their benefit that slavery should be abolished, because the slave laws and institutions are disastrous to the prospects of the white laborer.

5. The increased facilities for the escape of fugitive slaves. They find friends almost as soon as they enter a free State. There is reason to believe that some thousand escape every year, and the number is perpetually augmenting. In 1839, it was estimated that 800 passed through Ohio alone, on their way to Canada.

6. The laws that have been passed in several States granting a trial by jury to fugitive slaves. These laws are exceedingly annoying to the slaveholder. He might as well relinquish the hope of regaining possession of his slave at once, as to attempt regaining him through the verdict of a jury of twelve freemen. According to the tenor of the law recently enacted in Vermont, the slave is nearly as safe in that State as he can be in Canada.

7. The increasing difficulties between the free and slave States, which are aggravated by the absurd and insolent conduct of the slaveholders.

8. The moral and political elevation of the colored population in the free States operates unfavorably on the perpetuity of slavery.

9. The petitions on slavery that have been presented to the National and State Legislatures, and the discussions and resolutions thereon, have done much too keep up an interest in the public mind, and to bring to light the abominable principles of slavocracy.

10. Anti-Slavery societies, by means of the press and of agents, have been very efficient in spreading information through all classes in community, and in associating and directing the wide-spread anti-slavery influences, and bringing them to bear effectually on the institution.

11. The practice of Independent Anti-Slavery nominations has aroused the fears of the South, quite as much as any measure that has been used.

12. The discussion of the subject in the various Ecclesiastical bodies, together with the rules which have been adopted in some of them, excluding slaveholders from the churches, has also been very unfavorable to the claims of the peculiar institution; for slavery always suffers by discussion. It seeks for darkness, "neither cometh to the light because its deeds are evil."

13. The Anti-Slavery truths of the Bible. It begins to be felt both at the North and South, that the Bible is an Anti-Slavery volume.

14. The general literature of the world, as well as the natural feelings of humanity, are adverse to slaveholding.

15. The influence of Foreign Philanthropists is not in vain. The World's Convention at London has produced quite an effect on the more intelligent and influential slave holders.

16. The discussions on slavery perpetually progressing to a more or less extent, in the fifteen hundred newspapers in the United States, are gradually undermining public confidence in the institution: for slavery cannot endure discussion.

17. The public documents, showing how thirty or forty million dollars have been expended in catching slaves in Florida, will be used with much advantage by the abolitionists.

18. The poverty, general bankruptcy, and slow increase of population and wealth in most of the slave States will cause them to lie entirely outstripped in the National councils by the gigantic growth of the free States, particularly of the north-west.

19. The results of emancipation in the West Indies, showing that it is perfectly safe, and for the mutual benefit of the master and slave.

By this enumeration, which includes only a part of that great combination of forces which are marshalling for the overthrow of slavery, we see that the slaveholder is hemmed in on every side. Whichever way he turns he meets with adverse influences. If he looks at home, the interests of the slave, the free negro, and the white laborer are all arrayed against him. If he visits foreign nations, he finds that being a slaveholder is a poor certificate of character to take with him. If he sits down in his library, or takes up a paper, he is still reminded of the odiousness of the patriarchal institution in nearly all the civilized earth. If he visits Washington, he hears the thunders of Congressional eloquence for days and perhaps for weeks together, "doing battle" on this mighty subject. If he says, "surely I shall find refuge in the church, there I will have peace and quiet," he finds, alas, that there is no division of the church wherein the sinfulness of slaveholding is not discussed and argued to a greater or less extent. We see no other resource for him but to do, what some of the slaveholding members of Congress have threatened to do, go home and emancipate in self-defense.