Dr. H.A. Ramsay's letter to Dr. James Bryan, on the Southern negro, etc.

  • Ramsay, H. A.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. H.A. Ramsay's letter to Dr. James Bryan, on the Southern negro, etc. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    for it. It has existed in all ages, and in the South we firmly think it rests by irretrievable fate, and would only be blotted out to the injury of the colored race, who are incompetent, from all investigations of experience, to perform the duties of inde- pendent people, owing to their physical differences of structure. We are open to conviction. If the Negro is naturally my equal, in intelligence, etc., and is capable of self-government, why emancipate him ? But, until that can be proven, I maintain, as a scientific man, that I am morally bound to preserve him in humane servitude. This, Dear Bryan, is about the opinion of nine-tenths of our people; so go to work, upon a fair basis, and let us see who errs and who does not. But in examining this question of the races, we should not defend our points upon an isolated case, for there are modifying and exceptional circumstances in every condition of life. From the disjointed letter I have penned, you see I am not sufficiently posted to venture a categorical opinion upon the running out of the races upon the crossing of the blood of the white and black; but my positions may be reduced to the following order: 1st. That the crossing of the same species, disconnected by blood relationship, in man, animals and fowls, is essential to their perpetuation. 2d. That the crossing of the same species, proximately con- nected by blood, has a deleterious influence upon them. 3d. That the crossings of the white and negro might merge the black race into the white, but it would be infinitely worse for the negro. 4th. That the negro is physically superior to the mulatto, while the latter has more intelligence and prettier features. 5th. That amalgamation is objectionable, under any circum- stances. I might have added something more about the peculiarities of the morbid condition of the mulatto, but I have made this note already too prolix, and I shall reserve it for another time, should my leisure permit me to indulge in that way. Hoping this dull scroll may find you in the same conservative mood my pamphlet did, I subscribe myself with renewed assurances, in haste, Your friend, H. A. Ramsay.