To say, then, that it is JUST that barbarism should subserve
civilization is a laconical axiom, which decides a plain question of
right and wrong. The wrong is, that the African is a barbarian, and
devours his kind; the right is, that in his service due and rendered
to civilization, he receives its protection, and is compelled to
forego the, to him, exquisite pleasure of devouring his kind. It will
be observed that this view of the subject justifies, not only the
perpetuation, but the inception of slavery, and renders emancipation
absurd and cruel, and the inception of slavery just; leaving the
continued transfer of barbarians to the midst of civilized
communities, a right, the exercise of which could not involve or
sacrifice any right of the barbarian, but must depend upon the
enlightened decision of civilization, as to the reciprocal benefits to
be derived therefrom. The conscience of civilization is the tribunal
at which to try barbarism, as well as every other grade of inferior
subjective existence. It stands above and controls all below it. The
conscience of civilization decides both the right to summon the
barbarian, and to hold him subject to its dictates; to weigh the
benefits to civilization against the evils resulting from the adoption
of the element of this super-animal force as an aid to civilization.
Civilization deciding to take and hold the barbarian, it becomes right
by the decision of the highest arbiter. The taking of the barbarian,
and his employment as an adjunct of civilization, being in consequence
of his moral delinquency, and his consequent mental imbecility, is no
arrogation of right, because it is just; it is no assumption of right,
because the empire of right is universal; it is no violation of right,
because the act in itself is the exercise of the prerogative of right,
of justice, in civilization, to suppress wrong and compel it to
subserve right. In this view emancipation is no less unjust to the
African than opposed to the law of right. To seize him and drag him
away to barbarism, against his will, is an act in favor of barbarism
and in violation of right. It restores to barbarism its victim, and
robs the African of his supposed natural prerogative and choice, of
service to civilization. The act, of itself, is the abnegation of that
same right which it is designed or intended to assert.