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ner, that, by multiplying the physical disabilities in the way of obtaining the necessaries of life, as well as by multiplying the causes tending to the abbreviation of human life, there would be a diminution in crime individually and collectively: and as in wisdom and benevolence, he inflicted the fist curse on the earth, so also in wisdom and benevolence, he inflicted the second, because the first was insufficient. And after the infliction of the last curse on the ground, he tells Noah that he would no more curse it for man’s sake.
When God determined to destroy the old world by a flood, and to change the character of the earth, by increasing or creating physical disabilities not existing before—he would find it necessary to change also the physical economy of the human family, or at least a part of that family, in order that they might be prepared to meet this contemplated contingency. And it is a well established fact, which the science of physiology fully explains, that the negro, in virtue of his peculiar constitution, color and temperament, is well adapted to the tropical and torrid regions. And this we conceive to be the reason of his color and temperament. This argument will have due weight with the honest and intelligent physiologist. But perhaps some who cannot perceive, or will not admit, the argument, will smile at such an exposition: to such I would remark; if God accommodates the polar bear to his habitation of endless ice and snow, and qualifies the stormy petral for its ocean home, would he show less wisdom and benevolence in fitting man by temperament and otherwise, for a residence under the burning line?
But perhaps some will think that I would infer from the preceding argument, that Ham and his posterity were created for slavery: to this I indignantly answer, no—no more than I believe and teach that God created the antediluvians for the pleasure of drowning them, or the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorah for the pleasure of burning them, or a part of the human family, for the pleasure of damning them. There is a very great difference between what God desires and commands men to do, and what they perform: and his will and purposes are not always fulfilled. His will is that man should keep his commandments and love one another, which is not always done; and his pleasure is that all men should be saved through his son, who has tasted death for every man, and who offers pardon, life and heaven to all—for all are under condemnation; and yet many will go away into everlasting perdition. Men who talk and write in magnificent phrase about the omnipotency, omnisciency and omnipre-
