In a certain degree, indeed, the same remark applies to the main argument of the work; for, in spite of elaborate attempts at mystification, the real cause of the war and the real issue at stake are every day forcing themselves into prominence with a distinctness which cannot be much longer evaded. Whatever we may think of the tendencies of democratic institutions, or of the influence of territorial magnitude on the American character, no theory framed upon these or upon any other incidents of the contending parties, however ingeniously constructed, will suffice to conceal the fact, that it is slavery which is at the bottom of this quarrel, and that on its determination it depends whether the Power which derives its strength from slavery shall be set up with enlarged resources and increased prestige, or be now once for all effectually broken. This is the one view of the case which every fresh occurrence in the progress of events tends to strengthen; and it is this which it is the object of the present work to enforce. But, although the development of the movement may have deprived the following speculations of some of that novelty which they might have possessed when they were first delivered, still it is hoped that they will not be without their use-that, while they will assist honest inquirers to form a sound judgment upon a question which is still the subject of much designed and much unconscious misrepresentation, they may possess a more permanent interest, as illustrating by a striking example the value of a fruitful but little understood instrument of historical inquiry-that which investigates the influence of material interests on the destinies of mankind. CONTENTS. Causes of the War. -The popular view. Its superficiality.-Slavery the central problem of American history. The commercial theory. The claim of independence: how to be estimated. ---Real cause of secession.- True origin of the war obscured by its proximate occasion.-War the only arbitrament.- Views of the North: The Unionist sentiment; The Anti- Slavery sentiment. ---Rapid growth of the Anti-Slavery sentiment.-Present Different fortunes of slavery in the North and South. - Various explanations of the phenomenon: Theory of diversity of character in the original founders; Theory of climate and race; The explanation of climate inade- quate; Alleged indolence of the negro groundless. --True solution of the problem-Economic.---Merits and defects of slave labour.-Merits and defects of free labour. -Comparative efficiency of slave and free labour. Agricultural capabilities of North and South.-Slave and free products.- Further conditions essential to the success of slave labour: Fertility of the soil; Extent of territory.-Exhausting effects of slave culture. General Economic success of slavery, in what sense conceded. -Structure of a slave society moulded by its economic conditions. - Agriculture the sole career for slavery.-Exigencies of slave agriculture. - Results: Magnitude of plantations; Indebtedness of planters; Unequal distribution of wealth.- Waste lands in slave countries.-Social consequences. equences. -The -1 ' mean whites.'-Industrial development of Slave States prematurely arrested.- Net results of slave industry.-Constitution of slave societies essentially oligarchical.-Baneful influence of the slave oligarchy falsely charged on democracy. Each principle to be tested by its proper fruits.-Character In what direction are slave societies moving?-Importance of the question.- force of the analogy: I. Difference of race and colour; Its effects. of population; The analogy of cattle breeding CHAPTER V. • INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT OF SLAVE SOCIETIES. 64 Outline of the economy of slave societies. They include no element of pro- Its aggressive character.---Twofold source of the aggressive spirit: The • CHAPTER VII. THE CAREER OF THE SLAVE POWER. 93 Position of slavery at the Revolution. - Rise of the cotton trade. Early pro- First trial of strength of the new party. ---Hopeful prospects.-Southern Attempt of John Brown. Its place in current history THE DESIGNS OF THE SLAVE POWER. Essential character of Slave society unchanged by independence. - Inherent powerless before the exigencies of public policy. -Results Duty of Europe, neutrality.- Impolicy of intervention. Obligation to render moral support. ----Two modes of settlement equally to be deprecated. Practical issues at the present time: I. Reconstruction of the Union; Subjugation of the South, how far justifiable; Subjugation of the South, how far practicable; Reconstruction of the Union, how far expedient; Necessity of a recourse to despotic expedients; Plan for dispensing with despotism by reforming Southern society; The condition of time ignored; Disturbing effects of immigration. II. Secession under conditions: Two cardinal ends to be kept in view; Peculiar position of the Border States; Mr. Lincoln's proposal, its opportuneness; Free cultivators in the Border States; Facilities for incorporation; The line of the Mississippi; The negro question, three conditions to be satisfied.-I. Immediate and whole- sale emancipation; main difficulty of the problem; The West Indian experiment; its lesson; Natural difficulties enhanced in the South; Im- possibility of protecting the negro; The 'mean whites'; their corrupting influence. II. Progressive emancipation: Advantage of dealing with the evil in detail; Facilities offered by society in the Border States; Opera- tion of natural causes in the more southern states; Prospects of the ulti- |