involved, and a brief application of them, will laws of society, necessary to its own preservashow that the same great truths are concerned tion, without the consent of the parties, so that in slavery and the stability of property, and will the slave may be born to a deprivation of his natprove that Dr. Thornwell uttered no paradox to ural right to control himself, just as others are captivate by the brilliant density of his polished born to a deprivation of their natural rights to and nervous antithesis, but a truth full of mean- equal possession in the soil and its fruits. The ing, when he declared that it will be seen here- slaveholder is charged with violating the rights after that in defending slavery in the South, we of man; and he replies with triumphant success are really defending the great principles of all that the rights of man in the abstract have been regulated liberty. superseded by the rights of men as members of The discussion has informed us of the fact, that society; and in the case of our slaves, we find the abstract rights of a state of nature have them born to a deprivation of their abstract rights been so disturbed by the events of life, that the made necessary by the exigencies of the case. inflexible application of abstract maxims is ab- It is obvious that no man has a right to seize surd in point of reason and oppressive in point upon a freeman and reduce him into slavery; of justice. Nay, so thoroughly has this distur- this supposes him as in actual as well as abstract bance taken effect, that it may become an abso- possession of his right to freedom; but suppose lute requirement of justice to set aside those rights some disturbing cause should so subject him to of nature, which are in one sense inalienable. the control of another, that the very existence of We have also seen that the peace of society and society and the claims of positive justice demand the security of life demand that some of these that this suspension of his right should be conrights may be suspended from the control of the tinued upon himself, and transmitted to his chilindividual without his consent. It has also ap-dren. This essentially alters the case; the freepeared that in the confusion of metaphysical man originally enslaved would have far more equalities produced by the anomalous condition right to complain than his descendants, since of this present world, rights grow up under the what he once possessed has been violently relaws of society, conflict with the abstract rights moved from him; but his descendants have been of society to coincide with the abstract rights born to a deprivation of their abstract right under of nature, and supersede them, on the ground a law which makes it absolutely necessary to that man is not living in a state of nature, but in transmit that suspension which originally begun a state of association. This supersedure of ab-in wrong, according to our supposition. It is as stract right does not annihilate them, but suspends unfair to charge upon slavery the inheritance of them from taking a direct and controlling effect a title founded in wrong, as involving the inheriin practical affairs; and it is the great law of tor in the guilt of the original kidnapper, as human progress to push back these positive rights it would be to charge a child with a guilt for of nature; while it is the perfection of civil gov-inheriting an estate won by the fraud of his anernment to effect this union with as little violence cestors, equal to the guilt of the first wrong-doer. to existing rights as is possible in the case. Be- This plausible, but really absurd objection, is tween these two great laws regulating the jus- based upon a confusion of an evil and the contice and security of human right, there is a vast sequences it produces.* The original wrong can arena for the discussion and adoption of neces- never be made right, but wrong may lay the sary and just reforms; and it is the duty of those foundation of relations and institutions which to whom the management of civil society has are lawful in themselves, or by the effect of cirbeen committed by the providence of God, to cumstances, and are therefore to be treated with keep the advance of society towards a state of all scrupulous regard to moral law. The slave ideal equity continually in motion; at the same trade is as detestable to a Southern slaveholder, time that it is a duty of equal solemnity to keep as it is to an abolitionist of the North; but he this advance in check by the judicious applica- who confounds slavery with the slave trade, tion of positive law, and prevent the movements perils his reputation for discrimination in a fatal of reform from rushing into the madness of a degree. The simple fact is that some forms of speculative enthusiasm, and tearing down all the slavery are wrong, and others are not; and the institutions and rights of associated life.

It will be seen at once that the application of these general principles deal death alternately to the aims of abolition and the theories of socialism. We may fully admit the abstract right of the slave to control himself, and of the socialist to an equality in the gifts of nature, and yet this abstract right may be suspended by the positive

VOL, XVII.-52.

individual or the religion which condemns one, is not inconsistent in approving another; circumstances control the moral complexion of slavery, and it is to be condemned or approved as that complexion appears. It is one thing to destroy the liberties of a freeman; but it is another and a very different thing to inherit a right to services *Thornwell's Sermon, p. 45.

to which the right of the slave has been suspended from practical effect by the laws and necessities of society.

maintain their just discrimination of their own and the rights of their slaves; aud while living in the effort to do their duty to their dependants, they can front with undaunted courage the rage of the civilized world. Smiting with equal.

NORMAN MAURICE;

OR,

THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE.
AN AMERICAN DRAMA.

IN FIVE ACTS.

BY W. GILMORE SIMMS, AUTHOR OF "THE YEMASSEE," &C.

Such are the principles upon which the slave holders of the South are accustomed to defend the lawfulness of slavery and yet maintain the promptness those who deny the theory of freeconsistency of their republican principles; and dom, and the lawfulness of slavery, hurling equal the identity of these principles of defence with defiance to the enemies of republicanism and the those necessary to the management of the so- foes of the gospel, and trusting with unshaken cialistic theories, proves that the Southern States faith in the providence of Him who rules the stand before the world as the maintainers of all armies of Heaven and the inhabitants of the just and conservative views in the political spec-earth, who confounds and distinguishes accordulations of the times. In truth these States oc-ing to the dictates of an infinite and unerring wiscupy a position of a peculiar and most marvel- dom, we shall calmly await the issue of events, lous description. The signs of the times display convinced that our cause is identified with the a degree of confusion on the agitated theatre of truth of God, whose power and wisdom thus behuman affairs, unexampled in any previous pe- comes the guarantee of our final victory. riod of history. The spirit of investigation, and the discoveries of science have stimulated the most unchastened activity of inquiry into every imaginable subject to which abstract theories of preconceived opinion can possibly be applied. This is the form in which infidelity is beginning to ride rampant across the best interests of man for time and his hopes for eternity; men determining beforehand what it would be proper for God to reveal, have thus completely subjected the Revelation of God to the merest whims of their caprice, and levelled its honor in the dust. The same daring and dangerous spirit has presumed to attack the rights of property, the principles of wages, the sanctity of marriage, the inviolability of duty; and unless it is checked by the operation of some large and commanding force, no imagination can conceive the epic grandeurs of that universal ruin that will surely ensue. In the prostration of private property and the ruin of public credit, in the corruption of morals, in the destruction of law, in the universal arming of individuals for personal defence, in the utter destruction of all social and civil blessings, will be seen the fatal triumph of an infidel philosophy; and in the wild and thrilling groan of a world crushed into the chaos of undistinguishable ruin will rise the song of praise, which will greet the elevation of an atheistic negation of a personal Deity to the throne of Jehovah. Appealing to the simplest teachings of an acknowledged revelation for the lawfulness of our institutions, and standing upon the broad doctrines of civil liberty taught by a reason guided by that revelation, the Southern States of the American Union stand like the ark of Noah on the heaving wilderness of waters, bearing the defence of Christianity, and the doctrines of social order, high and triumphantly through the thundering torreuts of speculative madness which threaten the highest parts of all established opinion. The slaveholders of the South mean to

COPY RIGHT SECURED.

ACT IV.-SCENE I.

A Garden in the rear of the house of Norman Maurice. Walk through a thick shrubbery. Enter Robert Warren and Mrs. Jervas.

Warren.
Mrs. J.
Warren. Glorious! But how did you conceal yourself?
Mrs. J. An ante-room conducts us to the hall

So! So! You heard it all then?
Every syllable.

Where they were secretly at conference;
Thither, when she descended from my chamber,
I softly follow'd. The convenient key-hole
Gave me the means, at once, to hear and see them.
Warren. Your foresight shames my thought! And
this Maurice

80,

Denies that you shall harbour in his dwelling?
But this you must do! Your security
Lies in his household only! He might promise
You lodging in St. Louis,-board and clothing,
But once you free his threshold of your presence,
Ample provision for your state in future,
He whistles you down the wind. No obligation
Would bind him to the care of you hereafter!
Mrs. J.
What then?
Warren. Why, to be sure! The very thing, dear
madam-

Your sickness will not suffer your removal:
Fatigue of travel, grief, anxiety,

First grew the passionate hate I bear thy husband!
"Till thou, with fatal beauty, came between us,
He was the twin companion of my pleasures;-
My first associate in each boyish frolic,
We still together went, by hill and valley,
Beside the stream, and through th' untrodden forest,
Having no faith but in our youthful friendship,
No joy, but in the practice shared together.
'Twas thou that changed my kinsman to a rival-
'Twas thou that changed our friendship into hate;
We fell apart, suspecting both, and loathing,
When first our mutual hearts inclined to thee!

Clarice. He did not hate thee-had no jealousy,
But still confided to thee, even his passion,

And thou-alas! audacious that thou art,
How canst thou still forget that I too know thee,
A traitor to his trust.
Warren.

Have I denied it!

Warren. Auspicious! Here, away; and, while you I would have won thee from my dearest kinsman.

leave us,

I'll open a brief conference with her.

Meanwhile, 'tis well you put your scheme in progress ;
Take to your bed, and get your nostrums ready,
Spare not your groans and sighs-a little faintness
Might well arrest you suddenly in speech!
And-but enough. The thicket! Here, away!
[They retire behind the copse.
Enter Clarice.

Clarice. Now all my sorrows sink into the sea,
Since Norman rises to such noble height,
The first in his desert and his desire!
Methinks, till now I doubted of his fortune,
Nor ever felt secure from sad mischance,

The gibe of envious tongues, the jeer of malice,
The snares of bitter foes, and those dark meshes,
That still the treacherous hands of Warren spread.
These do not fright me now, and though his presence,
So apt with coming hither of my aunt,

Would seem to shadow forth an evil purpose,

Yet can I not esteem it cause of fear,

Since it were vain for such as he to struggle

Against the noble fortune of my husband.

Warren.

Nay, to your thought,
Look for the answer to this teeming question.
You know me well-enough of me to know,
Whate'er my vices or deficiencies,

I am no simpleton, but have a cunning

That scarce would keep me profitlessly working,
Still drawing fruitless waters in a seive.

That I should press upon your husband's footsteps,

Warren, [coming out behind her.] Indeed! and yet Would prove I still had hope of my revenge!

Warren. If but to teach in thee philosophy. A pebble in the hand of shepherd slinger,

Smote, so we learn in Sacred History,

The proudest giant in Philistia's ranks.

Clarice. And he whose presence still offends a woman, But little dreams what champion she may call.

That I should seek thee in thy secret bower,
Would show me still not hopeless of thy love!
Clarice. Oh! vain and insolent man!
Warren.
Hold a little!

If hopeful still of you, 'tis through the prospect
Of vengeance on your husband.

When you remind me of the frequent struggle,

Which ended in my overthrow and shame.

Clarice. Is't not enough, thus baffled and defeated,—

Warren. I knew your champion absent ere I ven- Why thus encounter still the shame and danger?

Warren. And if my hope lay only in my fortune-
If still my vengeance waited on my strength,
And to the skill and vigor of mine arm,

I looked to win the vengeance that I covet,

I should forego the conflict, as you counsel,
And leave your world in peace, concealing mine!
Clarice.
Well, sir-you pause!
Warren. I would have had your thought
Supply the words of mine; but as it does not-
Know that I look to other means of vengeance;
Not through my strength, but in his feebleness-

Clarice. Who wrongs the husband cannot love the Not in my virtue, but your husband's vice! wife!

Warren. Clarice, 'twas in my passionate love for thee,

Clarice.
Oh! Hence!
Warren. Hear me! at this very moment

Clarice. Oh, false as hell! These eyes beheld them And yet confound the keeper when he wakes!

Yonder, with Matthews and the stranger, Warren. Blasinghame. Well, if all fails to bring this Maurice down,

That fellow has a secret.

Savage.
Blasinghame.

What is it?

Warren. Only to him; and he will keep it safely,
'Till comes the proper moment for explosion;
When our young Senator, in public meeting,
Rises to answer to the public summons,
And take the coveted laurel to his brow,

Why, something that should please Then will we loose our thunderbolt, whose bursting you,-quite pacific

Enter Ferguson with books and papers, accompanied by
Warren.

Warren. You have it all, sir. At the public meeting
You boldly challenge him with forgery,
Call on me to produce the fatal papers,
And summon Richard Osborne to confirm them.
Ferguson. We'll crush him at a blow.
Warren.
"Till then, nothing!
The shame must be complete, beyond recovery.
Let him stretch forth his hand to gain the station,
In sight of all, then in remediless ruin,
Hurl him down headlong.

Ferguson.

Tears him to atoms.

Osborne.

What am I to do?

What wretched part must I play in this business?
Warren. A minor one, 'tis true, but quite important.
You'll be my echo. When I give the signal,
Confirm my statement and complete our proofs.
Osborne. Are you not under pledges to his wife,
To yield her up these proofs ?

Whither would you carry me-where go yourself?

Warren. To hell, if need be, so I gain my object,Achieve the conquest that to me is heaven,

Comprising as it must in equal measure,

At once the joys of passion and of hate!

For you, remember Osborne, no more scruples,

You are mine-soul, body, thought and feeling, mine,

And these shall ply as still my passions counsel,
Or wo betide the rebel.
Osborne.

Better slay me!

Warren. Nay, you're not fit to die yet; nor could

serve me

Hereafter half so usefully as now.

At dusk, I keep the meeting with our beauty-
Go thence with Matthews to a secret meeting.
Look for me home at midnight, and to-morrow-

Warren. As true as need be for a lawyer's purpose, Remember! no evasion. Fix'd as fatal,
As for a foe's.
Ferguson.