120 Dr Emmons on the Influence, of 



Man, who is more susceptible of change in his physical na- 

 ture than any of the domesticated animals. Designed by the 

 Creator to multiply and fill the whole earth, we find that his 

 constitution is adapted to that end, to occupy all climates 

 and adapt himself to a scorching sun or the frosts of a polar 

 sky. Viewed in the extremes, the varieties in their physical 

 character present differences which are very striking ; viewed 

 however in their intellectual and moral aspects, the charac- 

 ters are those of a unity. Their power of speech and lan- 

 guage, the conveyance of ideas by speech is universal ; this 

 oneness of mind, which displays itself all over the world, the 

 religious sentiment which is universal, point with significance 

 to the singleness of the species. It must be so, or else Man 

 is an anomaly in creation. Those who have entertained the 

 theory of a plurality of species, which in their aggregate 

 compose the human race, rely wholly upon physical charac- 

 ters to sustain their views. Considered even in this light, 

 are the differences in the race so great that they would not 

 have originated in the progress of time 1 Are the differences 

 greater than in the breed of dogs and other domestic animals, 

 which naturalists admit are of one species ? In all cases 

 those differences are external ; they belong almost solely to 

 the skin. If the bony skeleton is examined there are some 

 differences it is true in their proportions, but those differences 

 are found in each of the races respectively. The blacks have 

 not all the flat noses, thick lips, and projecting jaws ; there 

 are whites with the same configuration of bone. But there 

 probably has not existed a greater error in natural history than 

 in classing man with animals, notwithstanding the fact that 

 in his physical organization he is not very dissimilar to them ; 

 yet, in the common classification, his least important charac- 

 ters are made the characteristics ; whereas really his higher 

 attributes, those belonging to mind, and his moral nature, 

 should have been made the characteristics. If this view be 

 correct, we shall be troubled no longer with perplexities and 

 doubts about the question of the plurality of species, inas- 

 much as there is such a perfect uniformity in the characters 

 of Man in his mind as to stamp the truth upon the heart of 

 every candid inquirer. The thoughts of Man are like one 



