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FRERE ARE SAYI AROMAO PARAGUAY
INCIDENTS OF A SOUTHERN TOUR
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THE SOUTH,
prace.
AS SEEN WITH NORTHERN EYES.
BY REV. H, COWLES ATWATER. A. M.
کی کی۔
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* 'Tis hard to leave the South's inspiring sky,
From orange groves and spicy gales to fly;
To look on nature in her brightest dress,
Nor heave a sigh for her lost loveliness.'
BOSTON:
J. P. MAGEE, No. 5, CORNHILL.
1857
*****..
7
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213
A88
The noble horse,
That, in his fiery youth, from his wide nostrils
Neighed courage to his rider, and brake through
Groves of opposed pikes, bearing his lord
Safe to triumphant victory, old or wounded,
Was set at liberty, and freed from service.
The Athenian mules, that from the quarry drew
Marble, hewed for the Temple of the Gods,
The great work ended, were dismissed and fed
At the public cost; nay, faithful dogs have found
Their sepulchres; but man, to man more cruel,
Appoints no end to the sufferings of his slave.
MASSINGER.
Entered according to Act of Congress, by
H. C. ATWATER,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Rhode Island.
INDEX,
FAIRY LAND,
CHAPTER I.
CLIMATE OF THE SOUTH,
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
HOSPITALITY OF THE SOUTH,
The North, East, and West, equal it-Re-
fused shelter, and fire, in South Caro-
lina.
CHAPTER IV.
GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THE SLAVES,
Slaves cheerful-African scenery-South
Carolina Negress-Beauty of Southern
scenery-Cane fields-" Negro Quar-
-Questions for a New England
Clergyman to answer.
ters"
CHAPTER V.
THE DRESS OF THE SLAVES,
Neatness and taste in the city-Squalor and
rags on the plantation-Mistake of Rev.
N. Adams-Fashionably dressed slaves
on the Auction Block-Slaves buy their
own clothing.
8
6
9
13
18
iv
INDEX.
CHAPTER VI.
ARE THE SLAVES TREATED WITH CRUELTY?
Yankee slaveholders-Negro testimony-
Girl whipped to death in Texas-Fe-.
male garroting in New Orleans-State
Prison fare better than plantation.
CHAPTER VII.
IGNORANCE IN REGARD TO THE TREATMENT
OF SLAVES,
Whips on plantations-Humane planters.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE INTERNAL SLAVE TRADE,
Virginia, the great Slave Breeding State-
Manacled Negro in the cars-Poetry,
"Lament of the slave mother "-Fa-
thers sell their own children-Incident
at Flat Shoals Factory,Georgia-Poetry,
Sale of the Quadroon Girl."
CHAPTER IX.
DO THE SLAVES DESIRE LIBERTY?
Natural to be free-Why insurrections?
"Let them try us "-Dialogue with a
Negro in Louisiana.
CHAPTER X.
ESCAPE OF SLAVES,
Yankee skipper-Slave boy in Nashville-
In Alabama-Dismal Swamp-Dred's
home-Scenery-Hired slaves escap-
ing-Poetry.
CHAPTER XI.
COLORED PEOPLE SLAVEHOLDERS,
Mrs. Pope, Mobile-Frenchman's testi-
mony-Educated colored planters in
Louisiana-Beautiful ladies.
25
31
34
41
45
52
INDEX.
V
Maha
CHAPTER XII.
DOES THE SOUTH INTEND TO DIVIDE THE
UNION?
66
Fifty-four, forty, or fight "—South intend
·
to let the North die-Fiery extract from
a Southern Address-South no men to
spare for the "Border."
CHAPTER XIII.
A DIFFERENCE WHICH THE SOUTH, AND N.
ADAMS, D. D., OF BOSTON, DO NOT SEEM
TO BE ABLE TO APPRECIATE,
Southern wrongs, Poverty, ignorance, and
vice, sustained, and manufactured by
the law-Northern poverty, ignorance,
and vice exists contrary to law-The
sale of rum the cause of most Northern
evils.
BABY HOUSES,
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.
BEDS FOR THE NEGROES,
CHAPTER XVI.
A STRANGE THING,
Slave sale in Memphis-Hardening influ-
ence of familiarity with sin and wrong.
CHAPTER XVII
SOMETHING MORE STRANGE,
Poor whites in love with Slavery-Mrs.
Stowe's reason for this-A South Caro-
lina gentleman gives his opinion—A
N. Carolina, "Cracker," adds his testi-
mony.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A WAY SIDE FLOWER,
55
58
61
63
64
68
70
vi
INDEX.
CHAPTER XIX.
MISSISSIPPI BOTTOMS IN ARKANSAS,
Rich land-Freebooters-Cheap homes-
Chills and fever.
CHAPTER XX.
THE AUTHOR PREACHES THE GOSPEL IN THAT
REGION, RIDES, OR RATHER WALKS HIS
CIRCUIT,
Beautiful woods--Seized by a blood hound--
Rum selling Christian-Arkansas Jail-
or's hospitality-Meeting houses-Life
in a hunter's cabin.
CHAPTER XXI.
HUMAN NATURE THE SAME, WHETHER ONE IS
BLACK OR WHITE,
Dress balls among the slaves-Religion all
but the substance.
CHAPTER XXII.
WHAT HAS THE NORTH TO DO WITH SLAVERY?
Northern slaveholders-Treatment of do-
mestics at the North--Mrs. St. Clair's
in the Free States—South quails before
public opinion.
CHAPTER XXIII.
PIETY OF THE SLAVES,
"Uncle Tom," a reality-Excitement in
Negro meetings-" Dred's " brother in
Vicksburg---Poetry---Amelia Hern,
Florida-Class meeting in Mobile--
Slave woman, relates her experience--
Blind slave in South Carolina--Liberali-
ty of the slaves--Mistakes of Rev. N.
Adams, of Boston-Testimony of the
Synod of Kentucky.
CHAPTER XXIV.
GOOD WHERE WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT IT,
A gambler acts the part of the Good Sa.
72
74
82
85
90
101
INDEX.
vii
maritan-Liberality of a,
"Poor Sin-
ner "-Hard circuit for a minister to
travel, in Tennessee.
CHAPTER XXV.
ANECDOTES OF THE CLERGY,
A fighting Parson in Mississippi--Another
in Florida--Lady jilts a preacher--A
duel the consequence--New England
Clergy, and Sharp's Rifles-Baptist
Preacher feels like fighting--Aurt Mil-
ly's treatment, by a Washington Clergy-
-Readiness of Southern ministers
to endure privations, to meet danger and
death.
CHAPTER XXVI.
İGNORANCE OF THE SOUTH,
Suppose that Slavery can live, with the
world against it--Not aware of North-
ern resources--Weakness of the South,
by their own confession-Ignorance of
the spread of Free Soil opinions.
CHAPTER XXVII.
SLAVEHOLDING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD,
Men of half principles-All slaveholding
benevolent-Minister's testimony on the
Coosa Belle.
ره -
104
110
116
THE WARNING.
" BEWARE!
The Israelite of old, who tore
The lion in his path.--when, poor and blind,
He saw the blessed light of heaven no more,
Shorn of his noble strength and forced to grind
In prison, and at last led forth to be
A pander to Philistine revelry,--
Upon the pillars of the temple laid
His desperate hands, and in its overthrow
Destroyed himself, and with him those who made
A cruel mockery of his sightless woe;
The poor, blind Slave, the scoff and jest of all,
Expired, and thousands perished in the fall!
There is a poor, blind Samson in this land,
Shorn of his strength, and bound in bonds of steel,
Who may, in some grim revel, raise his hand,
And shake the pillars of this Commonweal,
Till the vast Temple of our liberties
A shapeless mass of wreck and rubbish lies.”
INTRODUCTION.
PROBABLY no one will deny that the question now
most emphatically before the American people, is that
of Slavery in its different aspects. Shall it become
one of our permanent and highly cherished institu-
tions, growing with our growth, and strengthening
with our strength, expanding with every acre of an-
nexed territory, or shall it be circumscribed, till it
starves itself to death? Since the formation of the
Federal Union, no question of such vital importance
in morals, or political economy, has so deeply stirred
and moved the hearts of the people. Conferences,
Associations, General Assemblies, organizations com-
posed of those whose mission it is to proclaim, "Peace
on earth and good will towards men," have been torn
assunder by it.
The excitement which has been, is as nothing (we
believe) in comparison with that, which is to be, and
must be, before the question is settled.
And the future must reveal whether there is
strength enough in the Union to abide this internal
pressure, this conflict of opinion.
It is a Moral, a Political, and Pecuniary question.
In one or the other of these aspects, it reaches every
person in the community.
No one can have marked the rise, and increasing
interest which gathers around this question, without
being convinced, that neither party will, "conquer
their prejudices." But the conflict between these
two opposing principles, Freedom and Slavery, Civi-
༡
INTRODUCTION.
lization and Barbarism, must go on, whatever be the
consequences, till one or the other bites the dust.
It is not the special object of these pages, to argue
this great question, either pro or con.
This has been already done, by some of the ablest
pens our country affords.
I desire to describe to the reader, as best I may,
scenes that were witnessed during a pleasant sojourn
in that land of sunshine and song, of birds and flowers,
and in many instances, of large hearted hospitality,
as well as the impression that those scenes made on my
mind. There is much ignorance in the Free States,
of the true condition of things at the South. This
results from various causes. One cause may be, the
perusing the works of superficial observers. A
"South Side view of three months," will be most
emphatically, a South Side view. The charm and
the novelty of ones situation, does not wear off in that
time, especially if our intercourse is with the hospita~
ble planters. It needs a longer residence, and more
extended opportunities for observation, to take the
true measure of the blessings, as well as of the woes
and sorrows of the system, than many writers have
enjoyed.
The author flatters himself that few ever had better
opportunities for looking at the subject. Though he
is deeply conscious of not being able to describe what
he saw, with that life-like and graphic power so nec-
essary in word painting.
A few, only, of many, "Incidents," are here pre-
sented to the reader. Others are reserved for a more
permanent volume.
If the facts here delineated, should enable the reader
to obtain a more just idea of what Slavery is, and of
its influence upon the community who tolerate it, I
shall not have used my pen in vain.
THE AUTHOR..
INCIDENTS OF A SOUTHERN TOUR.
CHAPTER I.
CLIMATE OF THE SOUTH.
FROM October till April, I can testify from expe-
rience, it is all that heart can wish. It is just that
medium between heat and cold, that makes it the joy
of one's life to be abroad in the open air. Out in the
glorious sunlight, where God intended we should be,
if we would enjoy health; rather than within, breath-
ing the vitiated air of our close rooms, as is the cus-
tom with but too many, in our bleak New England
clime.
They have not to wage a fierce and unequal war,
during half the year, as we, with storm and tempest,
—rain, hail and snow, when all the treasures of the
frozen north are being poured out-coming richly
freighted with rheumatic pains, influenzas, colds, con-
sumption and death. It is but the sad experience of
too many, that the hard earnings of six months are all
consumed, in furnishing a warm habitation, clothing,
and fuel, to keep them comfortable during the other
six.
All this extra expense is saved in that more favor-
ed clime.
2A
4
INCIDENTS OF
Months of their winter weather, might be compared
to the few days of our Indian Summer-the crown
that Autumn puts on, ere she resigns her sceptre.
Nor after diligent inquiry, did we find one to com-
plain of that heat, which so many suppose, makes the
South first cousin to the torrid zone.
Those extremes of heat and cold, which we must
endure, and which are so fatal to health, are there
unknown.
The thermometer here, as we know from expe-
rience, often ranging from forty to fifty degrees in
twenty-four hours.
No wonder that such changes, bring thousands
each year to a premature grave.
As we breathed their atmosphere, so soft, grateful
and healing to the lungs, as though manufactured to
order, of etherial oil; and walked in the shade of
water oaks, the China tree and splendid magnolias, at
a time, when stern winter was holding her iron
sway over the entire North, spreading ruin, desolation,
and suffering far and wide. We were led to doubt,
whether God ever intended this northern region to be
inhabited.
And we saw new reason for admiring the energy
and perseverence, found among the free born sons of
New England, that in spite of our rocky, sterile soil,
and bleak clime, had enabled them to build so many
great cities, cover the land with smiling villages,
erecting so many monuments to learning and the arts.
Let but the curse of Slavery be removed from the
South, and free labor develop her resources, she would
enter upon a career of prosperity, which would change
her present wilderness appearance, into a well watered
garden of beauty, fertility and profit.
The South is the land of fruits and flowers, sun-
shine, and song. From July till December, the most
delicious peaches are ripening. Figs abound, of a
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
5
flavor so rich—that when once eaten, they can never
be forgotten. June, the month of roses with us, flies
quickly past, and leaves only a pleasant memory of
itself.
But there, this queen of flowers may be almost said
to sway her sceptre for the entire year. In the beau-
tiful city of Vicksburg, in November, the sidewalk
was literally strewed with roses, which, in trimming
away the luxuriant growth, had been cut off, and
thrown into the street. In Natches, at Christmas, the
finest and fairest of flowers were blooming, as if await-
ing the hand of beauty, to weave them into crowns
and chaplets, fit ornaments for the temple of the living
God.
The grounds of a gentleman, whose hospitalities I
enjoyed, were adorned with more than one hundred
varieties of roses, with an uncounted number of other
beautiful flowers, easily cultivated in that clime, where
winter is unknown. But which few northern eyes
are allowed to rejoice in the beholding.
At Baton Rouge, the Capital of Louisiana, on the
first Sabbath of the new year, one of the fair wor-
shipers brought and placed upon the communion ta-
ble, in front of me, a splendid boquet of flowers,
gathered fresh from the garden. And, certainly, it
would take a sterner Puritan than myself, to condemn
or declare out of taste or place-the beautiful, the fra-
grant offering. Nor would we dare deny, but that
some of the inspiration of the hour, was derived from
that splendid gift.
6
INCIDENTS OF
CO
CHAPTER II.
FAIRY LAND.
PROBABLY no where in America, will a scene of
more quiet beauty be presented to the eye of the
traveler, than is witnessed on the Mississippi for one
hundred miles above New Orleans; extending also
below the city, towards the Balize. For richness and
fertility, this is the garden of the world. Man cannot
tell, for how many years the Mississippi, and its tribu-
taries have been bringing down, and silently depositing
in this extensive Delta, a soil, which seems to have
almost fabulous powers of reproduction.
Those magnificent Bluffs, which give such an air
of romance to the Upper Mississippi, looking in the
distance, like the ruins of old German castles on the
Rhine, and which, though decreasing in size, yet have
attended the traveler for nearly two thousand miles
from the Falls of St. Anthony, have now entirely disap-
peared. Those vast forests, through which you have
been steaming for a thousand miles below St. Louis,
no longer line the banks. Every rood of land appears
to be under cultivation.
This mighty river, almost the largest in the world,
draining well nigh a continent, bearing on its bosom
the products of all lands, is sweeping with resistless
power, onwards towards the sea. To rescue the soil
from an annual overflow, the inhabitants, at great ex-
pense, have built a levee, from five to twenty feet
high. While the overflow of the Nile brings wealth
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
7
and a harvest to the Egyptians, the same thing, in re-
spect to the Mississippi, would only bring ruin and
destruction. By thus restraining the river, it is high-
er than the surrounding country.
Every plantation fronts on the river, and extends
back, according to circumstances. The public road,
on each side, is just within the levee. And near it,
stands the mansion of the proprietor, almost smothered
in a grove of orange, lemon and citron trees, laden
with their golden fruit, together with roses; and myr-
tles, laurels, cape jessamines and oleanders, while the
splendid magnolia, the China, tree and water oak,
scattered thickly around, give an air of beauty and
grandeur to the scene, that once beheld, is never for-
gotten. Nestling in the same shade, are the long rows
of the white-washed cottages of his "people." But
a little distance removed, is the sugar-house, from
whose tall chimney stack, a dense volume of smoke is
continually ascending. It is the grinding season; and
everywhere is life and activity. No one seems to be
idle. There may be seen an army of blacks, with
their bright knives flashing in the sunlight, hewing
their way steadily through that forest of green cane-
that seems to be impenetrable.
Everywhere are teams hurrying to the field, or more
slowly returning, laden with that, which is soon to be
converted into an article, most indispensible for
the pumpkin pies and gingerbread-so esteemed by
the Universal Yankee Nation. The merry voices of
black and white children, joined with the feathered
songsters of the groves, fill the air with melody. At
night, the songs of the laborers in the sugar-houses,
softened by the distance, borne to us over the water,
produces a most charming effect. Back in the rear,
as a fit setting or frame work for this beautiful
picture, are the ancient forests, composed of trees of
gigantic size-magnolias with their glossy emerald
8
INCIDENTS OF
leaves, cypresses, live oaks, cotton wood, &c., covered
with the most luxuriant supply of the tillyndria, or
moss of that Southern clime, trailing from limb to
limb, and from tree to tree, glistening in the sunlight,
as though just dipped in melted silver. This moss,
hanging in folds and streamers from every bough, and
moved by every breeze, is, to a northern eye, a very
striking object, giving the appearance of woods dressed
up for some grand festive occasion.
Then over this industrial, quiet scene of Arcadian
beauty, the golden sunlinght is streaming, producing
an atmosphere, which the Italians themselves might
envy, throwing its robes of crimson and violet, of pur-
ple and emerald, over garden and meadow, cane field
and orange grove, making that full effluence.
"That tide of glory which no rest doth know,
But ever rolls and ever flows."
As though moving through air, from the splendid sa-
loon of the steamer, as she passes from side to side of
that noble river, to receive or discharge passengers and
freight, the enraptured traveler looks down upon that
scene of quiet beauty, as upon some fairy land. So
different is the landscape from anything witnessed in
his cold northern home, that he can hardly realize,
that this is a part of,
"His own, his native land!”
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
9
CHAPTER III.
HOSPITALITY OF THE SOUTH.
WE have most of us heard this lauded to the skies.
However great it may be, we do not think the East,
North, or West will suffer by the comparison. In
forming a right judgment on this matter, we are to
take into consideration the different circumstances of
the case.
In the Free States, in tens of thousands of instances,
the wife and daughters do the whole work, have the
entire charge of the family, with no hired servants.
Every guest, from one to ten, is so much additional
labor-which they cheerfully perform, and thus give
their friends a practical proof, that they are welcome.
At the South, all this is done by servants.
The num-
ber of guests does not add so directly to the cares and
labors of the mistress, as in the former case. Then,
they are very much isolated. On their lone planta-
tions, five or ten miles apart, they see, comparatively,
but little company.
The coming of one from the world outside, to re-
lieve the tedium and monotony of their life, is a most
welcome event. The planter has leisure. He is
glad to have some one come to ride, hunt, fish, and
smoke with him.
And the ladies of the family, are glad to have some
one to converse with, besides their servants.
It is a
still and quiet life they lead, on those great plantations,
A3
10
INCIDENTS OF
surrounded with the ancient forests-not a house in
sight.
The passing of one carriage, horse, or footman,
during the day, would be a great event.
The difference in this respect, between the active,
bustling, running to and fro in the free states, and
the death like silence and inactivity that reigns there,
strikes a stranger, as impressively as almost any thing
else.
In what free state would one have met with the fol-
lowing treatment? Not far from aristocratic Camden,
in South Corolina, after a weary day's travel—the
last half in a severe storm-at dusk, I knocked at a
planter's door to seek shelter. A tall, lean, lank
specimen of humanity appeared.
I told him I was
sorry to trouble him, but the circumstances of the
case rendered it necessary, that I should seek shelter
some where, and that I should be satisfied with
"common doings and plain fixings "-in short, would
make them as little trouble as possible.
He began to walk up and down the piazza with
heavy tread, and his shaggy brows seemed to grow
darker. He evidently was not in a very hospitable
mood. He began to mutter about its not being a
very pleasant thing to take in strangers. That one
did not know who they were entertaining under such
circumstances. Then he would look out into the
darkness, which was every moment growing more
intense, and at the rain, which was falling as if another
flood was coming. I saw it was a desperate case, and
that all the eloquence I was master of, must be em-
ployed. After further appeals to his better feelings,
he yielded, and said that owing to the severity of the
storm, he would depart from his usual custom and
give me shelter.
He invited me in, and asked if his servants should
provide supper, saying, they had finished their meal
A SOUTHERN TOUR,
11
some time since. But, considering my reception at
the door, I told them it was not necessary.
We
passed a pleasant evening around the cheerful fire, in
conversation. Was furnished with a good bed; a fine
breakfast was provided me in the morning, and,
though the rain still continued, I told mine host that,
perhaps, I had better start upon my journey. He
gave no invitation to tarry till the weather should be
more favorable; and as I parted with him on the
piazza, he gave me to understand, that the storm, alone,
procured me shelter at his hands the previous night.
Through deep mud and heavy showers, all that
day, I passed onward. About four o'clock in the
afternoon, the rain pouring faster, and so weary as
hardly to be able to put one foot before the other, I
turned aside to the fine looking negro quarters of a
splendid plantation, and entered the driver's large
house, at the same time with himself, as he rode up
from a hunting excursion.
After resting and drying myself, it being near sun-
set, I felt that it would be unpleasant to be caught, as
I was the night before, and asked the gentleman if I
could tarry with him, using the kitchen floor for my
bed, and the fire to keep me warm. He said, "No.
That there was a tavern three miles ahead, and I had
better go on. It was in vain that I told him of my
weary walk; that in the dark, I might not be able to
follow the direction to the tavern; that the storm
was severe, and that there was danger I might perish
in the woods. But I had a harder customer to deal
with, than the previous night. Nothing would avail,
but I must move on.
ور
I started, and was fortunate enough, late in the
evening, to bring up at one of the finest travelers'
homes that it was my, lot to find in the whole south,
Except, for the appearance of a few slaves, I should
have fancied myself in one of our most intelligent,
A4
12
INCIDENTS OF
New England families. While supper was preparing,
I related to the lady of the house, my treatment a few
miles back. That, tired as I was, and in that terri-
ble storm, a gentleman had refused me the privilege
of sleeping on his floor. That in six thousand miles
travel, in nearly all the States, I had not met such
treatment.
After using nearly all the proper adjectives, that
memory could call up, to express my indignation at
such treatment, she asked me to describe the planta-
tion, and, after I had done so, she startled me, by
coolly saying, "It was her honored son in law, who
had thus treated me.'
دو
I had gone too far to retreat. We had a hearty
laugh over the matter. She excused him as well as
she could. And such was the excellence of her cof-
fee, bacon, eggs, and other "fixings," with a clean bed
and room, that I forgave all; and only wished, if the
married daughter was like the mother, that she might
have been more fortunate in the choice of a husband.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
13
CHAPTER IV.
GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THE SLAVES.
""
If there are any left in the Free States, so verdant,
as one sometime since confessed he was, as to suppose,
that those in bondage, never smile, have no moments
of joy and gladness—when they bid dull care begone,
if he thinks to see the word "Slave " daguerreotyped
upon the countenance, in unmistakable characters of
the deepest sorrow, "indented on the faces, limbs and
actions of the bondmen," he will be most surely dis-
appointed on going South.
Such a person has evidently much to learn of hu-
man nature, and with what mighty power of endur-
ance, under adverse circumstances, God hath imbued
the heart of man,—a power to make the best of the
present, however sad, and,
Hope for brighter days,
Though they should never be."
(C
There is many a one, that has a heart like, Mark
Tapley, to come out strong under adverse circum-
stances,” and actually accomplishes it. They are “jol-
ly" under circumstances so disheartening, that we fear
Mark Tapley, even, would have failed.
And probably, there are more of this class, among
the African race, than any other. For their inheritance,
God gave them a land of sunshine and song. Where
it is one eternal spring, and the flowers never fade.
14
INCIDENTS OF
The earth produces almost spontaneously enough to
supply his wants. As a race, they are extremely sen-
sitive, being the true children of the sun; and living
constantly in the open air, they drink in bright influ-
ences from sunshine and flowers, and every thing that
is beautiful in earth or sky.
They are easily excited. The slightest thing exalts
them to a heaven of rapture, or plunges them into an
abyss of grief. In the grateful shade of their own
Palms, they lead a careless, happy life, full of mirth,
and dance, and song. There, in many a sylvan glade,
may be witnessed scenes, that would delight the im-
agination of a pastoral poet. They have naturally a
passionate love for music, which the sorrows of Slavery
have not been able to eradicate.
As the boat glides along their rivers and quiet
lagoons, with a music surpassing that of the far-famed
Gondoliers of Venice, the oarsmen keep time, with a
rising and falling strain. Thus, every where, in the
boat, or bamboo hut, in every scene of gladness, or
grief, at wedding, funeral or religious service, their
hearts find vent in song.
The negro has not, like those races who are less
favored with climate, to wage a continual war with
the elements, and be ever on the alert, lest destruction
come upon him.
Such being his antecedents, what wonder, even,
with the burden of Slavery upon his shoulders, that
he walks the earth with less of care upon his counte-
nance, than we might, at first, imagine. But suppose
that he, of all other races, is the least restive, and
chafes less, under his galling fetters, it does not afford
the slightest justification for placing them upon him.
To one, having a just regard for the rights of man,
and reasoning correctly, he will hate Slavery none
the less, because now and then, a smile, a gleam of
sunshine, flashes over the face of the poor bondman.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
15
The Slave is something of a philosopher; he knows
that there is no help for him, that "on the side of
their oppressors there was power." He therefore,
wisely resolves, to make the best of his condition, to
extract what of happiness he can, from his circumstan-
ces, and think as little of the future as possible.
The casual remark made to me in South Carolina,
by a very intelligent female slave, as at sunset, with
a heavy hoe upon her shoulder, she was passing to
the, "Quarters," from the cotton field, doubtless ex-
presses the feelings of thousands,-
"We, in this country, are nothing more than dogs
under white people's feet. What use to think?
Can't do any thing. No help. Might as well not
think." And on she went, humming some negro
melody.
The human heart, is a harp of a thousand strings ;
and while one is breaking, with the weight of sorrow
resting on it, and tears are coursing down the face,
by touching another, a gleam of sunshine shall pass
o'er it, and the countenance be wreathed with smiles.
The negro is doubtless freed from that carking care
and anxiety, which furrows the face of many an Anglo
Saxon, and leads him to become prematurely old.
Yet, what wise person would say, that for this, his lot
was desirable.
Again, perhaps, in no part of America, is there so
much in the external world, that is lovely and beauti-
ful, which would tend to beguile the hours of weary
labor, as in the slave holding States. Winter is un-
known; flowers ever bloom; and the woods and
fields are vocal with the song of birds from one year's
end to the other. And the glory of the evening
hour, when the sun sinks to rest, in the azure west,
with all the drapery of his clouds about him, tinged
with crimson, with purple and gold, equals any thing
to be seen in the land of the Orient.
16
INCIDENTS OF
I have seen. "Negro Quarters, so picturesquely
located, among grand old trees, sycamores, live oaks,
cypresses, pines,-the graceful magnolias, with their
large oval leaves, so highly polished, and of the richest
emerald green, where all that is to be desired in re-
spect to light and shade, shelter, coolness, freshness,
is most profusely furnished; and ever and anon, does
the restless air fill the whole space between heaven
and earth with melody, as it puts myriads of tongues
in motion, causing them to babble of pleasant things,
and sing songs of a land, where tears are unknown,
bringing on their ærial wings, dreams so sweet, so
soft, so soothing, that the one most faint and weary,
easily sinks to slumber. As I have looked upon such
scenes, I have almost wished one of those cabins for
my residence.
""
I have seen Cane fields surrounded with that most
beautiful of all hedges, the Cherokee rose, thickly
sprinkled with flowers, of the most pearly whiteness.
Mocking birds, from early dawn till late at eve, filling
the air with melody; while a sunshine more rich and
genial, than that which glows on northern hills, or
kisses the flowers to life in our sun-lit vallies, is like
a sea of glory, every where diffused. While I looked
upon those beautiful pictures, I realized that though
the toil of the slave was severe, yet the place, and its
surroundings, seemed next to Paradise.
The fashionable northern tourist, passing from one
southern city to the other, having constantly the well
fed and dressed house servants before his eyes, has
about as true an idea of the sufferings of Slavery, as
the southern traveler would obtain, of the wretched-
ness of those, who inhabit the cellars and garrets of
New York, by promenading, during the pleasant
part of the day, several times up and down Broad-
way.
But a certain writer, of some note, who has apolo-
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
17
gized for Slavery, thinks because we see not a,"cowed,'
haggard look on every slave, it must be, that what we
read about the horrors of the system, is all poetry, or
moon shine.
""
Will he tell us, how men are able to sleep, the
night before their execution? Or how the murderer
of Parkman, after a trial of the deepest interest, had,
so sadly, to him, closed late at night, with the verdict.
of guilty, that he could so carelessly tell the jailor to
see that a good dinner of roast turkey was provided
for him on the morrow, with a due supply of the
finest Havanna cigars. One might reasonably have
supposed, that with the skeleton figure of the gallows,
looming up but a little distance before him, all desire
for food or sleep would have left him, for at least,
twenty-four hours.
Will the same person explain, by what principles of
mental philosophy it was, that in 1855, in Lafayette,
Indiana, when three men were to be hung between
one and two o'clock, P. M., they should be able to
eat a hearty dinner at twelve, saying, that they were
not going to die hungry. Then dressed themselves.
with the greatest care, expending any amount of jokes
and witticisms about their death, and its manner,
which was so near?
Verily, the human heart is a strange enigma!
18
INCIDENTS OF
CHAPTER V.
THE DRESS OF THE SLAVE.
IN traveling, the dress of those we meet is one of
the first things that arrests the attention. And from
it, we are apt to form some opinion of the character of
persons; of their employment, or standing in society.
This is by no means an infallible criterion for forming
a judgment, but it necessarily has its effect-the same
as the general expression of the countenance.
Probably, in no part of the world-certainly not in
America—will one find that general attention to neat-
ness and cleanliness in dress, whether of the laboring
class or otherwise, which we see in New England.
Our railroad cars, thronged daily with passengers,
present the appearance of persons arrayed for some
festal occasion, instead of being-as it is-their ordi-
nary traveling attire. The contrast with some parts
of the country is most striking. When operatives
are dressed in squalor and rags, we at once re-
ceive the impression that their lot is one of great
hardship; and when the opposite is true, it gives a
favorable impression of their condition.
From the dress of the slaves, what idea would one
form of the institution of slavery, is a very natural
inquiry.
It would seem, as if some at the north supposed,
that every slave wore a kind of state prison garb, by
which he might be distinguished at once, from the free
black, and his condition read by every eye.
The author of, "A south side view of slavery,"
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
19
belongs to this class. Hear him: "To see slaves
with broadcloth suits, well fitting ;-fine shirts nicely
ironed, polished boots, gloves, umbrellas for sun
shades, the best of hats, young men with their blue
coats and bright buttons, white marseilles vests, white
pantaloons, all in the latest style; broaches in their
shirt bosoms, gold chains, elegant sticks, and some old
men leaning on their ivory headed staves, as respect-
able in their attire as any others, was more than I
was prepared to see. And if he witnessed, what I
often did, he might have described colored ladies ar-
rayed in the richest silks; a bonnet and plume that a
New York Belle might envy; a Canton crape shawl,
of dazzling whiteness, with jewelry and other, “fix-
ings," to match. Perhaps the doctor's wife herself,
would hardly present a more dashing or showy ap-
pearance.
ور
Certainly, so far as the dress of their house servants
is concerned, and many others, in their chief cities, the
traveler would see nothing so very objectionable in
the system of slavery. By their dress, whether on
the sabbath, or at other times, the free black and the
slave, could not be distinguished.
That human nature, which leads the northern aris-
tocrat, to furnish white kids to his coachman, and to
have all his servants, that his company will be likely
to see, dressed with taste, leads the southern gentle-
man, to be equally liberal in furnishing the wardrobe
of those, that are more immediately about his person.
The expenditures in this way, besides gratifying his
own artistic taste for the beautiful, and being a just
reward for meritorious conduct, will tend to give his
neighbors a higher opinion of the depth of his purse.
But if this gentleman, who, with so much of compla-
cency, calls the attention of his guest to the dress of
his servants, would only take him out into the coun-
try, to his cotton, rice, or sugar plantation, or that
20
INCIDENTS OF
of his neighbor,--and parade the operatives before
him, that vision of neatness, taste, and beauty, would
at once be dissolved. And we are to remember, that
the dwellers on the plantations are the many, and
those in the city the few. But a short time inter-
vened between a visit to the wild Indians of the Up-
per Mississippi and its tributaries, and the plantations
on the Mexican Gulf, and certainly, we saw little to
choose, between the dress of the Indian, and the plan-
tation slave.
The city slave holder, was ever ready to call our
attention to the well dressed slaves that thronged the
streets, as if this care for the body, would be a suf-
ficient atonement, for putting out the eyes of the soul,
leaving that unclothed, shutting and guarding with
Argus vigilence, all those avenues which lead to the
inexhaustable fountains of knowledge; or the depriv-
ing him of his wife and children at pleasure, selling
either in the market like a beast, to suit the conve-
nience of another.
The author of, "South side view," seems to have
been "carried away with their dissimulation." That
he saw so many well dressed-like the beast for the
sacrifice on heathen altars-seems to have been a
shield so broad, as to hide all the enormities of the
system. He says: "Then I fell into some reflec-
tions upon the philosophy of dress, as a powerful
means of securing respect, and thought how impos-
sible it must soon become, to treat with indignity men
who respect themselves, as these men evidently did.
Nay, rather, how impossible it clearly was for mas-
ters, who could so clothe their servants, to treat them
as cattle." And in different ways, with the greatest
complacency, he refers to this matter of dress again
and again.
But if, instead of spending three months at the South,
and glancing at the institution from one or two fav.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
21
crable stand points, he had taken a more comprehen-
sive view, and surveyed the country in its length and
breadth-had sounded down to the depths of sorrow,
covered by that fair exterior-which so held his atten→
tion that he looked no farther-he would have come
to very different conclusions. He would have seen, as
I did, men dressed, as he so graphically describes,
standing on the auction block, with the loud voiced
auctioneer crying-
"One thousand dollars bid! Who bids higher?
One thonsand dollars only-do I hear no more? One
thousand dollars, for that splendid specimen of bone
and muscle. Examine him, gentlemen, if you please.
His back is unscarred; sold for no fault; title good;
do I hear no more? Why, gentlemen, he ought to
bring at least fifteen hundred dollars. Ten hundred
-fifty, I hear-just in time; going! going!-do I hear
no more? Going! going! gone!-Step down, boy,
there is your master.
39
Furthermore, Dr. Adams might have seen ladies,
as fair as any that promenade Washington street, with
the same fashionable style of dress, flounced skirts,
flowing sleeves, embroidered bosoms, hair trimmed
with ribbons, &c.,—nothing lacking to make them
look attractive, in the full flush of their maiden beau-
ty, placed upon the auction block, surrounded by a
crowd of lecherous men, each anxious to obtain the
prize. And now a deed of shame is enacted that the
sun might blush to look upon. My pen cannot de-
scribe it. If we had stumbled upon it in some dark
corner of the Orient-in grand Cairo, or in Constanti-
nople, it would not be so surprising. But the won-
der is, that in free and Christian America, such scenes
should be matters of every day occurrence.
The bidding is most spirited. By fifties and by
hundreds, with gracious smiles and nods on every
side, the auctioneer mounts rapidly upwards. When
59
INCIDENTS OF
the first excitement of bidding had somewhat subsid-
ed, the auctioneer ordered a passage way to be opened
through the dense crowd, to the back part of the
building. Then the girl must descend from the
block, and walk up and down that terrible path—that
they might raise their bids, by a nearer view of her
beauty. Each one along the line, might stop her,
asking any indecent question that his foul heart might
prompt, and make such physical examinations as he
might choose.
-
-
Walking such an avenue, under such terrible cir-
cumstances, no wonder the modest maiden would fal-
ter, and it would seem as if she was about to sink on
the floor, when the rough, commanding voice of the
auctioneer, would be heard, ringing out over the hum
of voices.
.
"Walk pert now, as if you was going to church.
Hold your head up. Let us see how spry you are.
Notice that girl, gentlemen, if you please. See how
she walks. There is the true Baltimore step-as fine
a limbed girl, as you will ever see.
Twelve hundred
dollars bid!—who bids higher? A tidy girl; very
smart; a good chambermaid and seamstress; seven-
teen years of age; raised in a genteel family-one of
the first in Virginia; good size-beautiful form, as
you see. Notice the girl, gentlemen. Here, Nina,
step up once more. Twelve hundred fifty, I hear.
Twelve-fifty! Twelve-fifty! Thirteen hundred
—in time! Thank you, gentlemen. Going, for
thirteen hundred."
And thus, for the second time, the bidding goes
vigorously forward. As a final resort, and as if to ex-
cite the worst passions of the worst man, to become
her purchaser, the auctioneer himself makes some in-
decent exposure of her person, accompanied with a
fitting remark; and the bidding commences with new
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
23
interest. Fifteen hundred dollars is reached, by this
terrible process.
The auctioneer's hammer falls, and the fate of the
poor girl is sealed. Another quickly ascends the
platform, and a similar scene is enacted.
I stop not here to describe rows of beautiful boys,
from twelve to fifteen years of age, dressed with the
greatest regard to neatness and taste: blue pants, a
roundabout jacket to match, with a clean collar turned
over, a la Byron, fur hat, white stockings, and highly
polished shoes, with their faces so intelligent, making
a picture, when once seen never forgotten.
Instead, therefore, of its being impossible for mas-
ters to sell slaves, or in other words, "treat them as
cattle," as Dr. Adams affirms, I found but one thing
true in all the States, that if the master wished to sell
them, it was a great advantage to him, to have them
well dressed, and a point, they were not likely to neg-
lect.
But this question of dress, has another aspect. To
read Dr. A. one would suppose, that these fine clothes
were all the gift of their masters, whereas, if he had
made inquiries, he would have found, that the expense
had been met, in half the instances, by the hard earn-
ings of the poor slave, after his daily task for his mas-
ter was accomplished.
G
M
It is very common at the South, for slaves to hire
their time. They give their master as much as a
common laborer can earn at the North.
And no won-
der that they delight to dress, since this is almost the
only thing, in which they can resemble the white man.
They have not the incentives to lay by money, that
the whites have.
No wonder that they are pleased with gay colors,
for in Africa, their native land, bird, beast and flower,
all nature, is arrayed with the most gorgeous and
brilliant colors.
21
INCIDENTS OF
The slaves, in favorable localities, have more oppor
tunities for earning money to furnish themselves with
necessaries and luxuries, than one would at first sup-
pose. It is true of many, as one told me in the interi-
or of Georgia, “If there is any money in the world,
I must manage to have a part of it." Their masters
encourage their industrious habits, by purchasing of
them. A negro, that I met on the Alabama river,
had raised one hundred turkies that year; these
would probably net him, at least, one hundred dollars.
In cities, where they hire their time, the industrious
and hard working, especially, if they have a trade, are
able to earn a handsome sum, over and above what
they pay their masters.
ha
The slaves, in the tobacco factories, become very
dexterous, and earn great wages. One that I saw in
St. Louis, was earning three dollars a day. The em-
ployers in Richmond, told me that their hands, would
earn from three to eight dollars a week, for them-
selves, by overwork.
By some, it was spent in vice and dissipation, by
others, in comforts for their families.
If he chooses to spend this all in dress, no wonder
that he is able to make as respectable an appearance as
Dr. Adams describes.
Or array a loved child with a, "white dress, pro-
fusely flounced, frilled ankles, light colored boots,
mohair mitts and sunshade," &c.
Doing something for the body, while cruel laws
forbid, that the mind of that child, should be expanded
and adorned, with the gems of knowledge.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
25
CHAPTER VI.,
ARE THE SLAVES TREATED WITH CRUELTY?
THAT they are, is as strongly affirmed by abolition-
ists, as it is denied by the upholders of the system.
:
The question does not need any argument. Rea-
son teaches, that four millions of human beings could
not be held completely in the power, and at the will
of others, without the infliction of scourgings, bonds,
imprisonment, and often death. There is more or
less of a tyrant's heart beating under the ribs of every
man and if irresponsible power is committed to
men, there will be times, when they will use it as
they ought not. Hence, no man should be allowed
such power, but the rights of every one should be
protected by law. Southern laws were made by the
master for themselves, and not for the slave. And
they deliver the one completely into the power of the
other.
The exact amount of good or ill treatment can
never be measured or ascertained. That there are
cases of the most terrible severity, in moments of pas-
sior and otherwise, I have no doubt. And instances.
of great kindness, attachment, almost of parental af-
fection, are equally true. Human nature is the same
there as in other places. The justification or condem-
nation of the system, does not depend alone upon the
treatment, be it good or bad. My experience among
them led me to believe, that the slavehold by birth,
those brought up under the
system, pi kinder
.
Bl
26
INCIDENTS OF
masters than adopted citizens from Yankee land.
And this opinion might be confirmed by any amount
of testimony.
The negro usually dreads being thrown into the
power of a northern master. And there are more of
them held by northern capitalists, than one would
have believed without examination.
There are, in that country, a great number of steam
saw mills, owned and worked by northern men, with
slave labor. And they make their boasts that "they
whip them till their backs look like raw beef.”
A true native born southerner is horrified at their
cruelties.
An engineer in one of these mills, from Rhode
Island, talked as coolly about giving one of the slaves
under him, three hundred lashes, as of striking a dog.
that needed punishing. And then he had him chain-
ed to a heavy weight, before one of the furnaces, and
kept him on duty, till he thought he was sufficiently
subdued.
That negro, on a certain occasion, had once raised
his hand to strike him, and the law in that State is
that the hand must be cut off. But his master begged
him off from that punishment; not from its inhu-
manity, but because it would ruin the negro. This
engineer justified himself, from the fact, that when
once employed in a cotton factory in Rhode Island,
the stripes had been applied to his back, and he had
worn them for weeks.
<3
In the more northern Slave States, it is a standing
threat to procure obedience, that "they will be sold
to go South."
While, in the southern cities, slaves are sent by
scores to the Calaboose to be whipped according to
order.
In the Slave Market at Richmond, I asked a very
fine looking slave that was about to be sold at auction,
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
27
if I should purchase, and he should disobey me, what
punishment I should inflict?
"Put me in your pocket, massa.
Do what? put you where? not understanding
him.
"Sell me, massa.
That the whip is used freely, we infer from the fact,
that in slave barracoons and auctions, they were al-
ways stripped to see in what condition the back might
be.
Making some enquiries one day, of a negro in
Georgia, on this point, he remarked," A heap of
them have to be whipped. They won't mind their
work-neglect it once, and if not whipped, think
they can the second time. Massa must whip, else
careless all the time." He had been whipped several
times, once for fighting with a negro. "He was
not gwine to let any nigger impose on him," not he;
too much spirit for that. He had been sold four
times; three times to pay the debts of his master.
A white man in the same State, of much experience,
said, “There were but few but what had to be whip-
ped."
One might pass much time at the South, and no
cases of severe and cruel punishment, would come
under his own eye. They would take some pains
not to have a stranger witness any thing of the kind.
But the incidental proof will continually occur, that
such things are common.
Ascending the Alabama river on the steamer Coosa
Belle, there was in our company, a planter from Texas,
returning with his gang of negroes to North Carolina.
Talking with some of the passengers of his bad luck,
he incidently mentioned, that one very valuable slave
of his, had been whipped to death that summer.
Those with whom he was conversing, expressed no
surprise, nor made any inquiries as to the circumstan-
B3
28
INCIDENTS OF
ces. From their indifference, one might have inferred
it was not a very uncommon occurrence.
But I had been brought up under other circum-
stances, and my curiosity was aroused to know some-
thing more of the facts. A very intelligent negro,
who had been the play-mate of his master, had
charge of the gang on the lower deck. I had pre-
viously made his acquaintance, and now went to him
to ascertain the particulars. With deep emotion, he
gave me the following facts:
Her name was Lucy; about sixteen years old;
was not well, and could not accomplish her task;
blood rushed to her head; could not see to do her
work well; would stagger and fall.
The brutal and inhuman overseer, pretended she
was "possuming," (feigning sickness,) had the lash
applied to the poor girl's back, while prostrate on
the ground, with his foot on her neck, slaves holding
her extended limbs. When he had inflicted as much
as he thought she could bear at once, she would
be set at work.
By and by, the one that hired the slaves would ap-
pear in the field, and finding her lagging more than
ever, would order a second infliction of the terrible
lash. Poor Lucy's cries that they would have com-
passion on her, were heeded not, there was no eye to
pity, or sympathize with that young girl in her phys-
ical weakness.
This treatment was continued, till she was so weak
that her limbs refused to carry her to the field, and
she was left in the negro quarters to die. My in-
formant said she was a week dying-the most awful
death he ever saw.
In her friendless and sad condi-
tion, said he, I tried to tell her of heaven, and point
her to Jesus, the sinner's friend. "But it 'peared like
she could not sense any of these things, she had been
so abused. I asked her one day to uncover her back,
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
29
that I might see what condition it was in. There
were great holes, an inch deep, where the flesh was
rotted away, filled with worms.
And the women
that laid her out, after death, said, on her abdomen, was
the print of the overseers's shoe, where he had kick-
ed her, black and putrified, filled with worms."
.
Thus she died, and sleeps now in an unknown
grave, in that land, to acquire which, that it might
be cursed with Slavery, our nation poured out mil-
lions of gold, and sacrificed thousands of precious
lives.
C
My informant told me of a man that died on the plan-
tation that season, under the brutal treatment of the
same overseer. They saw him punishing one, who did
not return at night, to the quarters. The driver said,
he had probably run into the woods. But, a few days
after, they found him nearly rotton in the cornfield.
Probably, the incidental conversations that fall
upon the ear of the traveler, between planters, negro
drivers, and others, in bar-rooms, the saloons of steam
boats, and public places generally, give one as truth-
ful an idea of the horrors of the system, as
can be
obtained. In such places, among themselves, they
talk as coolly about going out to hunt, and shoot run
away negroes, as in other sections, about destroying
wolves and bears. Certainly, the feelings of the
community must have gone through a very hardning
process, or the burning of negroes alive, would not
be such common occurrences, as they are each year.
A high degree of barbarism must exist in a commu-
nity, to allow such a savage act of Indian cruelty to
be perpetrated.
Again, it is evident that persons in the State Pris-
ons of the South, are treated above par, have an easy,
jovial time of it, or that slaves have severe treatment.
For the officers of the Baton Rouge prison, assured
me, "that no slave ought to be placed in them,—
30
INCIDENTS OF
that it was no punishment at all, they fared so much
better than they did with their masters. And their
general appearance, when contrasted with those on
the outside, fully confirmed the truth of their asser-
tion.
They did not seem to realize, how this fact gave
the lie to their oft repeated assertion, "that the con-
dition of the slave, was far to be preferred, to that
of the Northern operative." We never heard it
intimated at the North, that they would have their
comforts increased, by partaking of State Prison fare.
Entering a house in New Orleans, to secure board,
the door being ajar, and my knock not being heard,
I passed to the parlor door, which was half open, and
there the reason was obvious, why my call had not
been answered. The mistress, a lady weighing a
little less than two hundred, had backed one of her
female servants into the corner of the room, was
choking her with her left hand, and grasping at her
protruding tongue with her right.
It was an instance of female garroting, which we
think Northern ladies will be slow to adopt.
me.
I started back, fearing lest I should be considered
an intruder, upon a domestic scene, that was new to
But she saw me, and releasing her hold,
without any embarrassment on her part, bid me walk
in, and be at home. Said she was only going to pull
out the minxe's tongue, for talking about the board-
ers, " for you know," she says, "that many things
occur in a boarding house, that must not be talked
about." And that this is so, I suppose all who have
had experience in such establishments, will admit. I
took up my quarters with her, and found that she
prided herself on being a model slaveholder. But
from what I saw, day by day, I thought if hers' were
treated in a model way, the others were surely to be
pitied.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
31
I was glad to find abundant evidence in the South-
ern States, that the treatment of the negroes is be-
coming more and more humane each year. They
are being treated more and more like human beings.
And this fact shows us the almost omnipotent power
of public opinion, in the world, outside of the Slave
States. And when, that hour comes, that we have
no apologists for Slavery in the Free States, no di-
vines preaching in cotton pulpits, or judges sitting,
and pronouncing judgment on cotton cushions,
Slavery will only be known as a matter of history.
CHAPTER VII.
IGNORANCE IN REGARD TO THE TREATMENT OF
SLAVES.
ALL sorts of contradictory assertions are made by
southern people, and persons who make a transient
visit to some particular section, on this subject.
I was very much surprised, at the ignorance, of
otherwise intelligent men, as to how negroes were
treated, in neighborhoods, or States, even adjacent
to that, where they were residing.
Different communities will have their own local
laws, or customs on this subject. And one must
32
INCIDENTS OF
visit all the States, to obtain the true bearings of this
question.
One day, examining some very powerful whips, in
a saddler's store, in Natches, a gentleman, who had
made his fortune at the South, mistrusting, perhaps,
the subject of my thoughts, he remarked, that over-
seers were not allowed to carry whips on plantations.
That the planter would discharge him, unless he was
able to govern without. But I seldom saw one, at
his duty, but an efficient whip was his constant com-
panion; and yet, there are plantations, where the
whip is not carried to the field.
Others would tell me, "that husband and wife
were seldom parted, that the slaves were well fed,
not over-worked, &c., &c." I would tell them what
I had seen, or ascertained, only one hundred miles
from them.
.
"Well, it may be so there," they would say, "but
in this region, it is so and so."
.
I asked but few slaves in the lower country, but
they would tell me of a husband, or wife, or parents,
that they had parted with, in the more northern slave
States. Tens of thousands, on those cotton and sugar
plantations, and among their house servants, have
been brought from the slave breeding States farther
north.
3
But there are kind masters, as well as severe,
persons that feel a certain degree of responsibility, to
make, "their people,” (as they call their slaves,) as
comfortable as they can, under their circumstances.
There is one McGee, in Mississippi, that owns five
hundred slaves. He builds a comfortable cabin for
each couple, on their marriage, giving the husband
a good broadcloth suit of clothes, and a correspond-
ing bridal outfit to the lady. He provides for their
moral instruction, by furnishing them a Pastor, at a
salary of eight hundred dollars a year, besides his
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
33
board, and the use of horses and carriages at his
pleasure.
He treats his slaves so kindly, that none of them
could be induced to leave him.
On a sugar plantation, that I visited in Louisiana,
the slave women, if their rations were not sufficient,
would go up to the, “Big House," and tell missus
they were hungry, and were sure to be rewarded with
something nice from her own stores.
Human nature is the same every where. At the
North, we have some that treat those employed by
them, with very little regard to their feelings, or
rights, while others are thoughtful, considerate, and
kind. But the employed here, can change employers
at will, and in other ways, have their rights protected
by law.
In regard to cruel treatment, it is enough to say,
that all, North and South, have read Uncle Tom's
Cabin. I found none to deny, that the terrible things
there described, are true,-have their counterparts.
Indeed, after her terrible, "Key," with names and
dates, no sane man could deny it.
B2
34
INCIDENTS OF
CHAPTER VIII.
THE INTERNAL SLAVE TRADE.
ONE of the sad sights which often meet the eye,
reminding the stranger that he is in a foreign land,
is the slave coffles, on their sad march from the blue
hills and sunlit valleys of Virginia, Kentucky, and
Tennessee, where they have spent their childhood,
and leave parents and friends, for the dreaded plan-
tations of those States, bordering on the Mexican
Gulf. The practice of collecting droves of cattle,
horses, and hogs, in the free States, for the great
markets of Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, is
just the counterpart of the collecting of these droves,
of human cattle, for the great markets, in the South
and South West. Speculators range the country,
and where they find a man in debt, or an estate to
be settled, they are on hand, to drive the best bargain
they can.
And such has been the high price of cotton and
sugar, for a few years past, that this trade, has now
terrible activity.
By the common consent, of the civilized world,
to engage in the foreign slave trade, is a crime worthy
of death. But good christian men, may engage in
the other, with no more compunctions of conscience,
than in selling a yoke of oxen, or a pair of blood
horses, to a drover.
Virginia-the mother of Presidents-is the greatest
slave breeding State in the nation. There is no slave
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
35
market in the country-and probably not in the
world-where the business is carried on so briskly as
in Richmond,—not thirty hours' ride from all the
glorious free institutions of the land of the Puritans.*
I was very much astonished, to find almost every
other negro, that I questioned, in the south, to hail
from Virginia.
"Massa was
Why was you sold? I would ask.
in debt-Massa wanted money-Massa died"—would
be the invariable answer. I remember, one beautiful
morning, in February-a tall, lank, tobacco chewing,
planter, entered the cars, followed by a negro boy,
hand cuffed, whom he seated nearly opposite me, him-
self taking a seat a little in advance, The boy was,
apparently, about twenty, and as fine, intelligent, a
looking negro, as could be found in a day's travel-
would bring a thousand dollars, in any market. As
the train moved on, his big eyes filled with tears.
He gazed intently, upon each receding object, as if it
was to be seen no more, and he would have it stereo-
typed upon his memory. I knew at once, that he
was not thus manacled for crime. One would trust
thousands, even life, to such an honest countenance.
Nevertheless, to ascertain the facts, I asked him,
what he had been doing.
66
Noting, massa." Where are you going? "'Spose
to be sold-massa told me, he wanted me to go to
village. It was to deceive me, and get me away
quietly. For when we got to de village, he put dese
irons on me, and he is gwine to sell me to get some
* Messrs. Dickinson, Hill & Co., negro auctioneers for Rich-
mond, whose sales I attended daily, while in that city, report the
amount of their business, during the year 'fifty six, as reaching
the enormous sum of two millions. The sales by other firms, in
that city, engaged in this terrible traffic, in human flesh, and the
souls of men, would carry the sum total, over four millions of
dollars.
36
INCIDENTS OF
money." As we neared, Richmond, and there was
less danger, of his running away, the master took off
his irons, that he might make, perhaps, a more re-
spectable appearance.
When the speculator, has thoroughly ranged over
a certain district, and collected a good assortment, for
the Southern market, arrangements are made, for the
long and weary journey, Southward. Mules and
wagons, are purchased, to carry a tent, and things,
necessary for the trip-food and cooking utensils,-
also, for the children, and such as may become foot-
sore by long travel. Where wood and water, may be
obtained, they bivouac, for the night, sleeping in their
covered wagons, and under a rudely pitched tent, or
in the open air, around the blazing camp fire.
The light of another day, after a hastily prepared
breakfast, finds them plodding, slowly, and wearily
onward.
The journey accomplished, they may not be thrown
immediately into the market, especially if they have
lost flesh by the way. But, are well fed, washed,
hair trimmed, new clothed, and great pains taken, by
making them as tidy as possible, to put them into
saleable order.
.
The collectors, of Southern statistics, those best
acquainted with this subject, estimate that one hun-
dred thousand, are taken yearly, from the northern
slave breeding states, to those further South.
Families grow rich, by slave breeding, in this
christian land-horrible as it may seem-the same as
the farmers of the Free States, by raising stock.
One man was pointed out to me, who began with
a small capital, in this way, and was then worth
But who shall estimate
twenty thousand dollars.
the tears, or the amount of sorrow, of broken hearts
and disappointed hopes, caused by this terrible con-
scription, of one hundred thousand, of the young,
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
3.7
driven to that region, which, in one sense, is like the
grave, for, from it, there is no return.
How many a Virginian mother, with her crushed
and bleeding heart, can claim as but too true, in re-
gard to her daughters, sold into Southern bondage,
the words of Whittier:
"Gone! gone!—-sold and gone,
To the rice swamp dank and lone;
Where the slave whip ceaseless swings,
Where the noisome insect stings,
Where the fever demon strews
Poison with the falling dews,
Where the sickly sunbeams glare
Through the hot and misty air,
Gone! gone!-sold and gone,
To the rice swamps dank and lone,
From Virginia's hills and waters,-
Wo is me, my stolen daughters!
Gone! gone!-sold and gone,
To the rice swamp dank and lone.
There no mother's eye is near them,
There no mother's ear can hear them,
Never, when the torturing lash
Seams their back with many a gash,
Shall a mother's kindness bless them,
Or a mother's arms caress them.
Gone! gone!-&c.
Gone! gone!-sold and gone,
To the rice swamp dank and lone.
O! when weary, sad and slow,
From the fields at night they go,
Faint with toil, and racked with pain,
To their cheerless homes again,-
There no brother's voice shall greet them,
There no father's welcome meet them.
Gone! gone!-&c.
Gone! gone!-sold and gone,
To the rice swamp dank and lone.
38
INCIDENTS OF
From the tree whose shadow lay
On their childhood's place of play;
From the cool spring where they drank;
Rock, and hill, and rivulet bank;
From the solemn house of prayer,
And the holy councils there,
Gone! gone!&c.
J
Gone! gone!-sold and gone,
To the rice swamp dank and lone;
Toiling through the weary day,
And at night the spoiler's prey.
O! that they had earlier died,
Sleeping calmly, side by side,
Where the tyrant's power is o'er,
And the fetter galls no more!
Gone! gone!-&c.
Gone! gone!-sold and gone,
To the rice swamp dank and lore.
By the holy love He beareth,
By the bruised reed He spareth,
O, may He, to whom alone
All their cruel wrongs are known,
Still their hope and refuge prove,
With a more than mother's love!
Gone! gone!"—&c.
But an element, of this internal Slave Trade, more
sad and sickening to our common humanity, than any
thing else, is the astounding fact, that fathers, not un-
frequently, sell their own children, or leave them to be
sold by others, and continued in slavery, after the
death of the father and master.
No one need travel far at the South, without
obtaining such abundant proof on this point, as to
feel there is no lower depth, to which a man may
sink himself.
One would naturally suppose, that the least repara-
tion would be, to emancipate both mother and child.
Passing through Georgia-not far from Flat Shoals
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
39
Factory-I was pointed to a place, by the side of the
road, where one of these droves from Virginia, had
been encamped for some weeks.
One of their number, a young lady of about
eighteen years, was not in a condition to travel; and
the speculator was very anxious to sell her, that he
might not be detained with the others. My infor-
mant said, "she was the handsomest woman he ever
Not a mark of negro blood about her. Plant-
ers came, and looked at her, but were unwilling to
purchase, she was so white.
saw.
One said, "he would not have her for any price-
that she was a heap handsomer than his wife."
The other negroes paid her the greatest defference,
and waited on her, in the most attentive manner.
As soon after the birth of the child, (which all said,
was the very picture of the owner of the lady), as the
mother was able to travel, the drove commenced its
weary line of march towards a market, where the
father doubtless found, that the fair complexion of
the mother, enhanced her value, instead of diminish-
ing it.
The sale of one, not as young, as the last mentioned,
but which had been allowed to grow up, under the
eye of the father, and ought to have found a high
place, in his heart's best and warmest affections, is
thus described, by another of New England's poets:
THE QUADROON GIRL.
The slaver in the broad lagoon,
Lay moored with idle sail;
He waited for the rising moon
And for the evening gale.
Under the shore his boat was tied,
And all her listless crew
Watched the grey alligator slide,
Into the still Bayou.
40
INCIDENTS OF
Odors of orange flowers and spice,
Reached them from time to time,
Like airs that breathe from Paradise
Upon a world of crime.
The planter, under his roof of thatch,
Smoked thoughtfully and slow;
The slaver's thumb was on the latch,
He seemed in haste to go.
He said "My ship at anchor rides
In yonder broad lagoon ;
I only wait the evening tides
And rising of the moon."
K
Before them, with her face upraised,
In timid attitude,
Like one half curious, half amazed,
A Quadroon maiden stood.
Her eyes were large, and full of light,
Her arms and neck were bare;
No garment she wore, save a kirtle bright
And her own long, raven hair.
And on her lips there played a smile,
As holy, meek, and faint,
As lights in some cathedral aisle
The features of a saint.
"The soil is barren, the farm is old,"
The thoughtful Planter said;
Then looked upon the slaver's gold,
And then upon the maid.
His heart within him was at strife
With such accursed gains;
For he knew whose passions gave her life,
Whose blood ran in her veins.
But the voice of nature was too weak;
He took the glittering gold!
Then pale as death grew the maiden's cheek,
Her hands as icy cold.
The slaver led her from the door,
He led her by the hand,
To be his slave and paramour,
In a strange and distant land!
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
41
CHAPTER IX.
DO THE SLAVES DESIRE LIBERTY?
"Ask not the shepherd boy, who, 'neath the hedge,
Sits linking cherry stones, how fair is freedom-
He was always free."
That
WE were constantly told that they did not.
they would not take it, if offered. "That a happier,
better used, or more contented set of operatives could
not be found." Indeed, the owners ever affirmed, to
me, that the care, the anxiety, the real toil was theirs.
While the negro had only to sing, rejoice, and drive
dull care away." Knowing that food, shelter, and a
home, were secured to him, as long as he should live.
To hear them talk, one was led to wonder, why they
did not propose to change places with the negro.
They would point, in confirmation, to some, that
had been offered their liberty, and would not accept
it; to others, who had been North, and voluntarily
returned.
•
Said a lady, in Savannah, to me, "Ask any of these
servants, if they will leave me, and go North with
you, and be free ?”
Their happy, well fed, contented condition, has
been, "the harp of a thousand strings," upon which
the Southern press, has played innumerable changes,
for years past.
Still we ask the question, Do the Slaves desire
Freedom?
You might as well, ask the herds of wild buffalo
42
INCIDENTS OF
and horses, that roam at will, over the flower gemmed
savannahs of the West and South, whose tread, when
aroused, is like the shock of an earthquake, whether
they would love the yoke and the harness, better than
their liberty, and the freedom of the plain, which is
now their birthright.
Could they understand its import, the scorn they
would visit on the presumptuous questioner, would
be more than his life would be worth.
If the slave is happy and contented, as we are so
often told, what means that cry of insurrection—re-
bellion, which echoes forth from Maryland to Texas?
Why is each white man armed to the teeth, and fear
drive quiet sleep from the eyes, and blanch every
countenance? Why are some whipped to death, and
others hung? Why should the, "Clarksville Jeffer-
sonian" use the following language, which is but a
sample of other papers :—
"Fearful and terrible examples should be made,
and, if need be, the faggot and the flame should be
brought into requisition, to show these deluded man-
iacs, the fierceness, vigor, the swiftness and complete-
ness, of the white man's vengeance. Let a terrible
example be made in every neighborhood, when the
crime can be established; and, if necesssary, let every
tree in the country bend with negro meat.
We must
strike terror, and make a lasting impression, for only
in such a course, can we find guaranties of future se-
curity."
While visions of burning dwellings, and slaughter-
ed citizens, keep them in constant fear and anxiety,
the Free State manufacturer sleeps in the greatest
quietness, without weapons, and with no need of locks
or bolts, in the midst of his operatives, who, if we were
to believe the South, are far worse treated, than the
slaves among them. Rebellion is only to be feared,
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
43
where there are wrongs to be redressed, and rights to
be recovered.
There is cause, why those masters should fear, and
will ever be, as long as slavery exists.
A slave in New Orleans wished me to buy him, and
let him work out his freedom, said he would work his
fingers off for that purpose. I told him the white
folks affirmed, the slaves did not wish for liberty.
"Hi!" he exclaimed, with a broad grin; "not
wish for liberty? Let them try us! Beast free;
bird free; fish free; everything want to be free. It
is kind of natural. Not wish to be free!" he repeat-
ed, and laughed heartily, as though it was the best
joke of the season.
And, in substance, I received but that one answer,
as often as I proposed the question.
And yet, it is true, that there are cases of favorite
servants, that for various reasons, would not accept of
liberty, precious as is the boon, if they must break up
all their associations there, and go North, to enjoy it.
Just as we have thousands in our cities, and manu-
facturing villages, struggling to keep themselves from
starvation, when, by going west, and taking up gov-
ernment land, they might soon be in independent cir-
cumstances.
The following dialogue, which Mr. F. A. Olmstead,
had in Louisiana, with a very intelligent, Virginia
born negro, both illustrates the desire of the negroes,
for liberty, and how groundless is the argument, so
much in vogue at the South, that the negroes would
not work, if the fear of the lash was removed, in other
words, if they were free.
William, the slave in question, acknowledged he
had one of the kindest masters in all that region.
OLMSTEAD. Well, now. wouldn't you rather live
on such a plantation, than to be free?"
WILLIAM. Oh, no, sir; I'd rather be free! Oh,
44
INCIDENTS OF
yes, sir, I'd like it better to be free; I would dat,
master.
OLMS. Why would you?
WIL. Why, you see, master, if I was free-if I
was free, I'd have all my time to myself. I'd rather
work for myself-I'd like dat better.
OLMS. But then, you know, you'd have to take
care of yourself, and you'd get poor.
WIL. No, sir, I would not get poor, I would get
rich; for you see, master, then I'd work all de time
for myself.
OLMS. Suppose all the black people on your plan-
tation, or all the black people in the country were
made free, at once, what do you think would become
of them? What would they do? You do not sup-
pose there would be much sugar raised, do you?
WIL. Why, yes, master, I do. Why not, sir?
What would de brack people do? Wouldn't dey hab
to work for dar libben? And de wite people own all
de land—war dey goin' to work? Dey hire demself
right out again, and work all de same as before. And
den, wen dey work for demself, dey work harder dan
dey do now, to get more wages-a heap harder.
tink so, sir. I would do so, sir. I would work for
hire. I don't own any land-I hab to work right
away again, for massa, to get some money.
I
OLMS. The black people talk among themselves,
about this, do they; and they think so, generally ?
WIL. Oh, yes, sir; dey talk so; dats wat dey
tink.
OLMS. Then they talk about being free a good deal,
do they?
WIL. Yes, sir; dey-dat is, dey say, dey wish it
was so; dat is all dey talk, master-dat's all, sir.
His caution being evidently excited, Mr. O. changed
the subject.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
45
CHAPTER X.
ESCAPE OF SLAVES.
THESE are are continually occurring, though sur-
rounded with such tremendous difficulties, and the
penalty so fearful, if they do not succeed. Over fifty
thousand dollars worth of this kind of property, es-
caped from the vicinity of Norfolk, Va., during the
year 'fifty five, as I heard a gentleman affirm, in the
Virginia House of Delegates.
They were engaged in passing that iniquitous law,
by which any Yankee vessel, that visits their waters,
must be searched, and then the Yankee skipper, must
pay five dollars, to the officer that does it.
This ought to be the last ounce, that breaks the
camel's back. For it is suffering ourselves to be
whipped or skinned alive, and then meekly bowing
the knee, and paying a man five dollars, for doing it.
I do not wonder the whole South, calls us, “A
miserable, money loving race. That, with hat under
arm, would most obsequiously bow, and kiss the
great toe of any slave holder, if we could only make
five cents by it."
They used to throw this in my face every where.
And I knew it was but two true, of many.
A lady living near Nashville, had a servant boy,
whose mother was dead, to which, for various reasons,
she was very much attached.
She dressed him like a gentleman, made him her
favorite house servant. When fully grown, she hired
46
INCIDENTS OF
him as a kind of porter and clerk, to a merchant, in
Nashville. In one of his visits home, he requested
her to sell him. She was startled, asked, "Why?
Have I not always treated you well? Dressed you
in fine style? Done every thing for you that you
needed? &c." "Yes! missus. All very true, no
fault to find. But I may die.
But I may die. Life is very uncertain.
And you cannot so well afford to loose me, as the
man I work for.
But she was willing to risk that contingency, and
replied, "No, James, you are too good a servant, I
can't think of selling you." At the proper time, he
left her, to return to his employer, as she supposed.
By and by, a letter came, asking why James did not
return. She thought he had already been there
weeks.
The sequel proved, that he had turned his course
towards the north star. After a while, a letter came
from Canada, stating that he had tasted of liberty, and
that it was so sweet, he wanted still to enjoy it. And
would remit her the price of himself, as soon as he
could acquire it. But she was in
But she was in easy circumstances,
and was so attached to him, that the money was noth-
ing, she was willing to give him his freedom, under
the circumstances.
Another case, that occurred in Alabama.
A negro
used to ride to school, with his young master, as a
kind of waiter, and for company, through the woods.
As he heard them recite, he would remember it, and
in regard to many of the branches, it was the same as
if he recited. He became quite a scholar, and de-
lighted in reading.
And it was no uncommon occurrence, for him to be
seen reading the papers, on one side of the lamp, and
his master doing the same on the other. By and by,
he took a horse and provisions, and put for the Free
States. Gained them, and wrote back to his master,
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
47
that he would send him the price for himself, as soon
as he was able to earn it.
But in this, as in the other case, the owner did not
lay it very much to heart.
There are more, or less cases, where they do not
take much pains, to recover them. And then a mul-
titude of others, when they would feign move heaven
and earth, to accomplish it. They must have them,
dead or alive.
M
Just before I arrived in Jacksonville, Florida, a
slave escaped, in a lumber vessel, North. His mas-
ter followed him to Baltimore, and if he had been two
hours sooner, would have secured him. A fine
A fine negro,
worth one thousand dollars, in that market.
Two others came very near escaping; were betray-
ed, by one of their own color. They were punished
awfully. Thirty nine lashes, for nine days in succes-
sion, till their backs were like raw beef.
A
The very intelligent slave, that gave me the infor-
mation, said, "that the fear of such terrible punish-
ment, was all that kept him from making the attempt,
to gain his freedom. He gave his master, a dollar a
day for his time, and boarded and clothed himself,
had what he could make over.
This, certainly, was pretty good interest, that the
master was receiving, on one thousand or fifteen hun-
dred dollars.
They will not give up a system readily, when they
can make such profits. This slave said, he meant to
so live, as to get safely through this wicked world,
and secure a home in heaven, where he could be
free.
And he had my best wishes, that such might be
the case.
Those acquainted with the physical geography of
the South, are aware, that it abounds with intermina-
ble swamps, impenetrable cane brakes, and inaccessi-
48
INCIDENTS OF
ble everglades. The safe and secure hiding place,
for Indians, run away slaves; also, being the natural
home, the paradise of bears, wolves, alligators, and
snakes of enormous size, as well as most virulent
poison. Here are thousands of acres, the soil com-
posed of decayed vegetable matter, saturated with
water, and one vast quagmire, shaking for roods around
to the tread of man. Besides those mighty monarchs.
of the forest-which the rich soil, the warm climate,
and abundant moisture, so naturally produce—there
is a most luxurious growth of canes, shrubs, vines,
creepers, briars, in short, every thing, that heat, rich-
ness, and moisture, can produce-forming a dense
brake or jungle. A person might pass within a rod
of another, and not see him. It would take a man,
hours, with a sharp cane knife, to work his way a few
rods. It was to such a hiding place, that "Dred,”
betook himself with his companions in tribulation.
If there are few that possess his character, neverthe-
less, there are many that dwell in such wild homes.
Here and there may be an acre or two, a kind of
island, raised two or three feet above the surrounding
swamp-where they build their cabins, and plant
their corn.
The creeks, or sluices winding through that tangled
sea of green abound with fish.
abound with fish. If one wished for a
quiet sylvan retreat, away from the noise and turmoil
of life, where they might be in communion with na-
ture only, it is here. "Where evergreen trees,
mingling freely with the deciduous children of the
forest, form dense jungles, verdant all the year round,
and which afford shelter to numberless birds, with
whose warbling the leafy desolation perpetually re-
sounds. Climbing vines, and parasitic plants, of un-
told splendor and boundless exhuberance of growth,
twine, and interlace, and hang, from the heights of
the highest trees, pennons of gold and purple,
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
49
triumphant banners, which attest the solitary majesty
of nature.
A species of parasitic moss wreaths its abundant
draperies from tree to tree, and hangs in pearly fes-
toons, through which show the scarlet berry and green
leaves of the American holly." The cold and barren
North, where the ice king reigns for half the year,
can furnish nothing like this feature of the Southern
landscape.
The poor slave, when his patience is clear exhausted,
and madened beyond endurance at the hardships of
his lot, betakes himself to these impenetrable fast-
nesses, to associate with wild beasts less savage than
man.
Then it is that,
Away to the dismal swamp be speeds,
His path was rugged and sore,
Through tangled juniper, beds of reeds,
Through many a fen, where the serpent feeds,
And man never trod before.
And, when on the earth he sunk to sleep,
If slumber his eyelids knew,
He lay where the deadly vine doth weep
Its venemous tears, that nightly steep
The flesh with blistering dew.
Nor can they well be secured, without those terri-
ble blood hounds, from whom there is no escape, except
the slave is able to swim, and there is a stream of water,
into which he may plunge, and foil them. Those
dogs are so well trained, that you have only to let
them smell of an axe helve, or hoe handle, that the
slave has been using, and they will get on his trail,
and are almost sure to find him. Like Davy Crock-
et's coon, the poor negro might as well give up at
once.
From those swamps, they issue out at night, and
cl
50
INCIDENTS OF
forage for provision, in the best way they can. The
slaves always divide their scanty supplies with them.
They become expert in trapping wild animals, and
eke out a precarious existence year after year. Pre-
fering such a wild life of freedom, to the merciless
crack of the slave driver's whip, over their backs.
They, in different ways, not unfrequently, manage to
obtain fire arms and ammunition, which places them
in quite independent circumstances.
The owner
often knows that the runaway, is in such a swamp or
woods. The same as when, in a new country, a man's
stock strays away.
He knows where it is, although he is not able to
secure it.
In such a case, he often sells the title to it, "Run-
ning." And the buyer takes the risk, of securing
the property. If secured, he is put into the slave
coffle, and marched South. And sold without any
very strong recommend of character, at the buyer's
risk.
•
-
On a sugar plantation, in Louisiana, I saw one such
slave, that had been in the woods a year; had volun-
tarily surrendered himself. He ran away, because he,
with other slaves of the plantation, were to be sold,
while his wife-belonging to another man—would be
left behind.
When he found that the running title had been
bought, by a man, that he liked, he willingly came,
and gave up his lonely, unsocial life.
But he had been so long without work, and so ex-
posed, that he had almost lost the use of his hands,
and in other respects, was disabled. The master, told
the overseer, not to give him hard tasks, till he was
limbered up.
Slaves are often hired out by their owners, to some
one that needs their labor, but has not capital to buy,
or, for other reasons, does not care to.
Pa
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
51
In such cases, if they are sick, or run away, the
one that hires must suffer the loss. And this class,
if they do not like their employer, are very apt to be-
take themselves to the woods; returning at the end
of the year, to their old master, to be hired to some
other person, that they may like better. He rejoic-
ing so much, that they did not betake themselves to
a free State, that they escape all punishment.
Those tangled thickets, Dismal Swamps, and reedy
fens, the homes of the runaway negroes, if it is right
to apply a word, so full of tender associations, to their
wild haunts, have been thus graphically described by
the pen of Longfellow :
"In the dark fens of the Dismal Swamp,
The hunted negro lay;
He saw the fire of the midnight camp,
And heard at times the horse's tramp,
And a bloodhound's distant bay.
Where will-o'-the-wisp and glow worms shine,
In bulrush and in brake;
Where waving mosses shroud the pine,
And the cedar grows, and the poisonous vine
Is spotted like the snake;
Where hardly a human foot could pass,
Or a human heart would dare,-
On the quaking turf of the green morass,
He crouched in the rank and tangled grass,
Like a wild beast in his lair.
A poor old slave! i.irm and lame,
Great scars deformed his face;
On his forehead he bore the brand of shame,
And the rags that hid his mangled frame,
Were the livery of disgrace.
All things above were bright and fair,
All things were glad and free;
Lithe squirrels darted here and there,
And wild birds filled the echoing air,
With songs of liberty!
52
INCIDENTS OF
On him alone was the doom of pain,
From the morning of his birth;
On him alone the curse of Cain,
Fell like the flail on the garnered grain,
And struck him to the earth.”
CHAPTER XI.
COLORED PEOPLE SLAVEHOLDERS.
I was not prepared to find this true, to so large
an extent as it is. Even persons holding them, who
have themselves tasted the sweets of Slavery. The
laws against emancipation, are not so strict in Ala-
bama, and Louisiana, and some of the States border-
ing on the gulf of Mexico, as in those farther North.
Cases of emancipation of favorite slaves, are not un-
frequent. Others, of enterprising habits, are allowed
to purchase their freedom.
Perhaps the master, owes his life, or that of a loved
wife, or child, in an attack of Yellow Fever, to the
careful nursing of a servant, who risked her own life,
to save that of her master.
In that fearful hour, when the dark wing of the
pestilence was hovering over them, that servant was
worth her weight in gold. Money could not have pur-
chased such services. While under the exercise of
this feeling of gratitude, he executes a deed of eman-
cipation, and that chattel, goes through the wondrous
transformation, of becoming a man, or woman, as the
case may be.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
53
In other instances, the woman, may have sustained
that peculiar relation to the master, which led him,
at his death, or before, to give her, or her children,
or both, free papers.
From various causes, take the whole State, through,
such free persons are found. And they, are more
likely to acquire property, than those colored persons
born free.
.
There is a Mrs. Pope, in Mobile, whose master
freed her when she was twenty-five. She was a lady
of enterprise,—opened a fashionable boarding house,
nursed northern folks, that were sick, and in differ-
ent ways, made money rapidly, till now she is worth
fifty thousand dollars, or more,―owns some twenty
slave girls,-hires out those she does not need, in her
own establishment.
They must all bring her six bits at night, or a tre-
mendous thrashing awaits them. Her daughters have
been well educated,-play beautifully on the harp
and piano. Are fashionably dressed, and make as
fine an appearance, as any that walk the streets of that
city. One of her daughters rarried a white man,
and they reside in New Orlean All gave her the
character, of being a very hard mistress.
In Louisana, it is not at all uncommon for colored
men to own slaves, and work sugar plantations.
Visiting the celebrated battle grov ad, below New
Orleans, I entered a sugar house, no ar, and, in a very
interesting conversation with a French sugar maker,
who, was entirely opposed to Slavery, I asked him
how the white folks liked to i. colored people
become the owners of slaves and plantations.
1.
"Oh !" he replied, "dey likes it first rate; it sat-
isfies dare conscience. If de black man can enslave
his own color, when he has de power, his own bred-
ren, den we are fully justified to enslave them too.”
#
54
INCIDENTS OF
Some of these rich, free colored persons, go to
France, or some part of the continent, marry a white
woman, return with her; and it is not uncommon,
for a pretty white woman, to be seen carrying a very
black baby through the street, or dandling it on her
knees at home.
These colored slaveholders, of whom I am speak-
ing, are of mixed blood, and the majority of them,
the descendants of the French and Spanish planters,
and their Slaves.
There is, of course, every variety of color among
them. When the State was annexed, they came in
as free citizens. Many of them are well educated,
and if you have occasion to call at their houses, you
will be received in a gentlemanly manner, and find
them living in the same style, as white people under
similar circumstances.
They will converse with you in French or English,
as occasion may require. In this class, are to be
seen, the most beautiful ladies in the world, probably.
A dash of blood from so many different nations, in
that genial clime, has produced a style of beauty,
that must be seen, in order to be appreciated.
In one Parish, in the last Presidential election,
over fifty votes were cast by these colored slave-
holders.
From what I was able to learn, I am inclined to
think, there is no State in the Union, where the rights
of all classes of persons, are better protected by law,
than in Louisiana, or where the colored man is more
respected.
A nearly full blooded negro, owning one hundred
slaves, has the most tastefully ornamented grounds,
and neatest cottage, that can be found in riding many
hundred miles:-is well educated, and keeps a pri-
vate tutor for his children.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
55
CHAPTER XII.
DOES THE SOUTH INTEND TO DIVIDE THE UNION, UN-
LESS WE LET THEM GOVERN US, AND HAVE EVERY
THING THEIR OWN WAY, IN YEARS TO COME, AS THEY
HAVE DONE IN YEARS PAST? OR IS IT MERE
THREATS, BRAGGADOCIO-AN ATTEMPT TO AWE THE
NORTH, AND INSPIRE FEAR?
1
.
I FULLY believe, they intend to do what they say.
It is, with them, "fifty-four-forty," or fight. There
will be no backing down, on their part. It is not
reasonable, to suppose, that those, who with such
iron sway at home-whose word is law, and wo have
always had what they demanded, will quietly yield to
those claims of equal rights, which the giant North
thinks she has a right to demand. Then they are en-
tirely ignorant of our strength, wealth, and energy.
They think the Free States are entirely dependent on
them, and that we could scarcely exist a day, should
they step out of the Union; that they have only to
raise the flag of a Southern Confederacy, and the
whole North, with tears, would be on their knees, at the
slaveholders' feet, beseeching them not to bring swift
and entire destruction, on the East, North and West.
Perhaps nothing astonished me more, than their ig-
norance of Northern resources. They used to entreat
me, with the greatest earnestness, to make known fully
to the North, that for our own sakes, unless we silenced
our presses, and ceased talking about the rights of the
Niggers," they would step out of the Union-have
nothing more to do with such villains; while we, on
our part, from that moment, would have nothing to
46
56
INCIDENTS OF
do, but to die, and obtain as decent a burial as possi-
ble.
I used to tell them, that whether it was life or death
to us, they might as well think of stopping the sun
from rising on the morrow, or gravitation from exert-
ing its power, as to suppose that this discussion will
cease, till every slave has the rights, which God has
given to every human being.
,
From free and familiar conversation, on this point,
in all the States, I am fully convinced they all have
the feeling of Mrs. S
a very intelligent widow
lady, of East Florida, a Methodist, who told me, "If
she had fifty sons, she would send them all forth to
fight for slavery; and, old as she was, she was ready
to go herself."”
Here was the true Southern spirit, cropping out-
in a lady, nearer sixty, than fifty, if I might be allowed
to, "guess."
Here is an extract, from the teachings of the South-
ern press, upon this point. And one must be very
ignorant of Southern character, and of the warmth of
Southern blood, to suppose that such appeals can be
made to their prejudices, their pride, their self in-
țerest, and not result in their drawing the sword :
"Will you submit to the oppression of the North? To
have your rights of private property violated by your crea-
ture, Congress? Will you submit to have yourselves and
your children placed on terms of equality with the Negio
race? Are you willing to leave your children to the curse
of a hostile, freed negro population! Will you submit to
be made an inferior, degraded caste in the Federal Union,
with Northern and Negro masters?
"Are you willing to witness a scene of perpetual and cruel
war of races, that would make your country a spectacle of
horror, desolation, and bloodshed? Are we so in love with
that Union, with our Northern masters, as to be willing to
sacrifice our dearest interests rather than sever it? Are we
willing to give up all, suffer all, sacrifice all? Is this the
spirit of Southern patriotism? Is this the end of Southern
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
57
chivalry? Will the fiery spirit of the South thus cower un-
der injustice and oppression? If so, they are cowards-
craven, and crouching,' and are worthy of no better fate!
Will the Southern people submit to the operation of a law
excluding them, with their property, from that territory
which they helped to purchase and win; for which they sent
their children out to battle? If so, they have yielded the
whole question, and emancipation becomes then inevitably
certain; and its accomplishment is only a question of ex-
pediency as to time.
"One inch of ground yielded, one principle given up, one out-
post abandoned, and we are crushed; Southern safety and
Southern prosperity are forever doomed! Will you fold
your hands to slumber? Will you sit still until the day of
danger comes? Then Sampson is shorn of his locks, and the
day of his humiliation is at hand. Nothing but an effort.
speedy, earnest, general, and powerful, can save the South
from a moral subjugation, and from miseries against which
it is the duty of wisdom and patriotism to provide."
Such is the language of the Southern papers, and
as far as read, will have effect.
.
But as we understand the subject, their doom is
sealed. They have awoke too late, to the peril of
their situation. They have no men to spare, to march
to the, “Border," and defend their rights, as the wri-
ter we have quoted, in one place, advises. All that
own slaves, will be needed at home, to guard that
servile population, that chafe so terribly under their
bonds.
Nevertheless, they have such extravagant views of
their own strength, and of the cowardice and weak-
ness of the Free States, that they will most assuredly
draw the sword, in defence of the right to enslave
men, and then, just as certainly, perish in the struggle.
We may be mistaken, in our opinion; but with all
the light we have been able to obtain, such a result,
seems to us, certain.
In their houses, are found plenty of books, demons-
trating, (to them) that the Bible endorses the "Pe-
culiar Institution." While ethics, metaphysics, law,
c2
58
INCIDENTS OF
jurisprudence, and political economy, are all warped,
welted, twisted and moulded to form buttresses and
supports for the system.
"If the North and the South ever do lock horns,
and push for it, there is no doubt which goes into the
ditch. One weighs seventeen millions, the other
eleven millions; but, besides, the southern animal is
exceedingly weak in the whole hind quarters, four
millions in weight, not strong in the fore quarters of
the same bulk; and stiff only in the neck and head
while the Northern Creature is weak only in the neck
and horns, which would become stiff enough in a lit-
tle time."
;
CHAPTER XIII.
A DIFFERENCE, WHICH THE SOUTH, AND NEHEMIAH
ADAMS, D. D., OF THE NORTH, DO NOT SEEM TO BE
ABLE TO APPRECIATE.
In all parts of the South, we were continually re-
minded of evils which exist, in the social condition
of thousands, among the operatives in the Free States,
and told that when we had ameliorated their situation,
and raised them in the scale of humanity, it would be
time to sympathize with, and talk about the suffering
in the Slave States. But so long as we have a vicious
and ignorant population, both white and black, in the
great centres of our population, it is down-right im-
pertinence, to mention any evils which exist among
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
59
them. The wonder is, that a man of Doctor Adam's
intelligence, could not see through such sophistry,
and should ever have penned the following sentence,
speaking of certain emigrants from Great Britain and
Ireland :-
.
"Human nature, in civilized life, seldom goes
down to worse degradation than in them, and the
land that suffers such specimens of moral deformity
to go from her, not in solitary instances, but in ship
loads, never should offer compassionating prayers and
exhortations, much less reproaches, with regard to
any other nation, until this class of her own subjects
is improved." He ridicules the idea of English
ladies, in their large hearted christian sympathy, show-
ing any feeling of pity, or commiseration for those of
their own sex, suffering undescribable indignities and
wrongs, in the legalized markets of American licen-
tiousness, till every evil and occasion of suffering has
been removed at home.
The Rev. Doctor, as well as the slaveholder, seem
to ignore the fact, that the evils, the sorrows, and suf-
ferings of Slavery, are the legitimate results of the
institution, its invariable attendant, sustained and
legalized by law; while the ignorance, vice, and con-
sequent suffering in the free cities of the North, are
incidental to man's free agency, exists, contrary to
law, and in spite of all the efforts, which noble heart-
ed men and women, by night and day, are putting
forth to remove them. Those Philanthropists, whom
the Doctor would cover with obloquy, for their efforts
to alleviate the sufferings in Slave land, are the very
ones that are doing the most at home. Wherever
rum is sold freely, there will always be untold suffer-
ing. But let a, "Maine Law," be sustained, and
those leprous spots of our great cities, would only be
known as a matter of history.
Besides, we acknowledge these evils and bewail them.
60
INCIDENTS OF
We open our churches, and light up our splendid
halls, and crowd them with an intelligent audience,
to listen to any one, who may have a good word to
offer, as to the removal of any evil that exists among
us. But the South unblushingly deny, that any such
evils as are charged, exist among them. They affirm
that theirs is the natural, Paradisean state of society,
and they show a guilty conscience, in that they will
allow no man, on their own soil, to speak publicly of
the evils of Slavery. It is too late in the day for them
to say, that all outside of Slave territory, have no in-
terest in this question.
The common brotherhood of man, is beginning to
be acknowledged, and in whatever part of the world,
one is being wronged by another, every other human
being, though separated by the diameter of the earth,
has a right to rebuke the oppressor, and say, "hands
off, that suffering one is my brother, or sister."
Should we ever legalize the evils of the North,
deny their existence, treat a man to a coat of tar and
feathers, who should dare to allude to them; then
would the taunts and the jeers, of the South, and
Doctor A., and the emphatic, "look at home," have
some point and edge, and be in not so bad taste.
Certainly, the love of man to his brother, human
benefactions and sympathies, do not so abound, that
there need be a word said to restrain their flow, either
Northward or Southward, or from those in the old
world, to us in the new. Let them flow far and
wide, for there is no danger that the earth will be too
soon relieved of her weight of woe and sorrow.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
61
CHAPTER XIV.
BABY HOUSES.
ON all the large and well conducted cotton, rice,
South, there is what is
and sugar plantations, of the
called a, "Baby House."
This is the only labor-saving institution, that we
remember to have met with. Not very much to be
commended for its humanity; but is in keeping with
the rest of the slave system. As soon after the birth
of the child as possible, the mother must take her
place in the field, and perform her allotted task.
While all the children, from a few days, to four or
five years old, are gathered into one cabin, and are
placed under the care of some of the grandmothers,
disabled or superanuated negresses, who are not able
to work in the field. I always visited these baby
houses, with a great deal of interest. For what on
earth is a more pleasant sight, than these buds of liv-
ing beauty, scattered around our pathway, fresh from
the gardens of Paradise?
G
If some enterprising Barnum could send to the
North, one of these, "baby houses," with its various
colored inmates, and all its fixtures, without the
slightest change, his fortune would be made.
66
Mothers of the,
upper ten," in New York, Bos-
ton, and other cities in the Free States, whose chil-
dren must be rocked to sleep, in cradles of the cost-
liest construction, would be not a little surprised, at
the rude structures, in which these children, obtain
so much quiet sleep. Instead of crying to have some
one take them up, cuddle, carry, or amuse them in
some way, which would be utterly impossible, so few
62
INCIDENTS OF
are the nurses, these children learn to amuse them-
selves, and that the exercise of the lungs in crying,
injures no one, but itself. The older children, are
fed with porridge, boiled rice, or mush and syrup,
from the sugar house. While, the mothers of the
nursing ones, are allowed to return to the cabin in
the middle of the forenoon and afternoon, to attend
to their maternal duties. Or, perhaps, at eleven
o'clock, and stay till one, P. M.,-leaving the field at
night an hour or two before the others, or, whenever
they have completed their tasks.
.
Custom, in different States and plantations, varies
in this respect.
While I was on one plantation, the mothers were
engaged in, "Shucking corn," near the, “baby
house," and were kept under lock and key, during
the hours of labor, lest the mother, hearing the cry
of her darling for that food, which she alone could
impart, would have her maternal feelings, so excited,
that she would rush to press her babe to her bosom.
Northern mothers, who are so ready to listen to,
and answer the child's first cry of distress, will think
that this feature of Slavery cannot be too strongly
condemned.
There was, in this last mentioned, "baby house,"
a child of one of the favorite servants, at the, "Big
House," as white, and beautiful, as any that were
found in Barnum's great baby show. Yet it must
take its chance, with the rest on the plantation, though
not so highly favored in parentage and color. It
seemed like a white rose bud, or lily of the valley,
strangely out of place.
As I bent over it, as it lay sweetly sleeping, smil-
ing, and dreaming of heaven, I could but think of
its sad future, unless God, in mercy, should early
transplant it to the gardens of Paradise.
Thus, being allowed so little pleasure in the society
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
63
of her children, is it to be wondered at, that the slave
mother's heart is so filled with sadness? And the
feelings of thousands, was doubtless expressed, in the
language of one, who said to me, "it is a heap of
trouble for slaves to raise children. It don't pay,
case not ours-dey belongs to massa; and when dey
gets big, massa sells them, and gets a heap of money.
De pain, de sorrow, de trouble, belong to us, not de
chil❜ern, to comfort us in old age."
CHAPTER XV.
BEDS FOR THE NEGROES.
THE whites, evidently, consider that it is, "of no
account," to provide such luxuries for them. It is
taken for granted, that they can sleep at any time, in
any place, in any way, if they have a blanket, or rug
to wrap around them.
House servants, as far as I observed, drop down
anywhere to sleep, if it is only in a place convenient to
be called. Beds for the plantation negroes, were of
the rudest, and hardest kinds.
The tyllindria, or moss, which we consider so valu-
able for beds, grows, in those lower States, in the great-
est profusion. The trees almost bend with it. Yet the
negroes are too indifferent to gather it for their own
convenience, though they bring it, in abundance, to the
market for sale.
Servants, traveling with their masters, on steam-
64
INCIDENTS OF
boats, must sleep where they can. One instance,
which met my notice, seemed hard. Passing from
Florida to Savannah, in the steamer, St. John, I no-
ticed in the saloon, a fine looking colored girl, who
had all the care, or "minded” a very troublesome
child, of about a year old, that belonged to her mis-
tress. All day long, with the most untiring patience,
without hardly a moment's respite, did she, a child—
for she was not more than twelve or fourteen-care
for her infant charge. By 11 o'clock P. M., the pa-
rents and child, were all nicely fixed for a good sleep,
in a magnificent state room. But no thought or care
was given, to provide a place of rest for that weary
child, who had been so faithful to her task all day,
and relieved the mother of so much labor.
She walked wearily up and down the saloon, for a
few moments, rolling her big, expressive eyes from
side to side, as if in doubt what to do. She was among
strangers, and evidently, in new circumstances. She
finally returned to the state room door of her mistress,
and in a most graceful attitude, which would have
been a study for an artist, curled or crouched down,
leaned her head against the door, and was soon, we
hope, in the land of dreams, of sunshine, and song.
CHAPTER XVI.
A STRANGE THING.
Is it not strange, that a system that allows the most
unheard of cruelties to be practised, upon four mil-
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
65
lions of native born Americans, barbarities that the
tongue would fain refuse to speak, and the pen to ut-
ter, is not at once condemned, by every follower of
the meek and lowly Saviour? That there are per-
sons and presses, to apologise for, and defend Slavery,
most strikingly illustrates how familiarity with wrong,
can paralyse the conscience to all sense of guilt-so
that, having eyes, we see not, and ears, we hear not,
the groans and cries for help, that fill the air around
us.
A heathen writer truthfully remarks, "That the
gods gave us a fearful power, when they gave us the
faculty of becoming accustomed to things.
""
It is past all question, that in the Free States, the
great source and fountain of our crime, poverty, tears,
and wretchedness-results from the retailing of ar-
dent apirits. And yet, we have become so accustom-
ed to the traffic, that most communities allow it, either
more or less openly.
me.
I shall, perhaps, never forget the impression made.
on my mind, in the city of M., of the first sale of hu-
man beings, that I ever witnessed. I had read of
such things for years, but now, the reality was before
A noble looking man, nearly white, was first
ordered to mount the auction block, that all might es-
timate the amount of labor, those bones and muscles
might perform. And then his place was occupied
with a mother, whose countenance betokened the
deepest sorrow, holding a beautiful child of three
years old, by the hand. It was with difficulty, that I
could restrain myself from mounting the auction block
by her side, and in such burning words, as I might
have been able to use, denounced a scene, that the
sun might blush to look upon. I looked around, to see
if others shared my feelings; but it was an everyday
sight with them. They evinced no more feeling, than
if it had been a sale of cattle or mules.
66
INCIDENTS OF
As I walked away, I hardly dared to look anybody
in the face; for it seemed as if I had been guilty of
some great crime, in even witnessing such a sight. I
seemed less of a man than before. Perhaps, one
caught stealing sheep, would not have felt much worse,
or more disgraced. But after witnessing such scenes
for months, I could realize something why it was, that
there was so little feeling among the bystanders, in
the case referred to.
Is it not owing, in part, to this hardening influence
of familiarity, which leads so many, from the North,
to become slaveholders, after a short residence at the
South?
The evil has so long existed among us, that the
conscience of the Nation, respecting the humanity, and
the rights of the colored man, has been well nigh de-
stroyed. We should as soon think of cutting off our
right hand, as of depriving the English, the Irish,
German, or Frenchman, of those privileges and rights,
which, without any scruples or qualms of conscience,
we coolly take from the Negro.
Truly has one eloquently said, "We have got used
to things that might stir the dead in their graves."
When but a tithe of the wrongs, the slave daily
endures, has been made known in England, France,
Germany, down-trodden Italy, there has been a per-
fect shriek and outcry of horror. America alone re-
mains cool, and piously lifting up her blood-red hands,
asks, "What is the matter?" Europe answers back,
Why, we have heard that men, women and children
are sold in your country like cattle.”
66
"Of course they are," says America; "but what
then?"
"We have heard," says Europe, "that in your
professedly Christian nation, you have millions, that
you keep, by fines and imprisonment, from reading
the Bible."
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
67
"We know that," says America; "but what is this
outcry about?”
"We have heard," says Europe, "that Christian
girls are sold for purposes of shame, under the very
shadow of your tallest steeples, with not a word of
rebuke from those who minister in the pulpit!"
“”Tis even so,” says America; "but still, what is
this excitement about?”
"We hear that four millions of your people can
have no legal, or scriptural marriage tie," says Europe.
"Certainly, we admit all that," returns America;
"but you made such an outcry, we thought you saw
some great cruelty, or moral wrong going on."
"And you profess to be a free and Christian coun-
try!" says indignant Europe.
رو
“Of course we are, the freest and most enlightened
country in the world; what are you talking about? "
says America.
ور
"You send your missionaries to christianize us,
says Turkey, and our religion has abolished this
horrible system.'
"You! you are all heathen over there—what right
haye you to talk, or ask questions?" answers Ameri-
ca, evidently becoming too much excited to allow of
any further conversation.
ور
68
INCIDENTS OF
+
CHAPTER XVII,
SOMETHING MORE STRANGE.
PERHAPS nothing in my Southern tour, astonished
me more, than to find, universally, that the poor class
of whites, upon whom the curse of Slavery seems to
rest with greater weight, than even on the slaves
themselves; bearing its burthens, but enjoying none
of its advantages, should be the most ferocious, and
vehement advocates of Slavery to be found. The
situation of tens of thousands of slaves, so far as
physical comforts are concerned, is altogether prefera-
ble. The poor whites are ground to powder, be-
tween the upper and nether millstones of its power.
And yet, of all persons, they are the least disposed
to listen to any argument for the abolishing of
Slavery. And if a mob is wanted, to drive from the
community, any one suspected of abolition senti-
ments, it can be raised at a moment's notice, by ap-
pealing to this class.
Mrs. Stowe gives this as a reason:
66
They feel the scorn of the upper classes, and their only
means of consolation is, in having a class below them, whom
they may scorn in turn. To set the negro at liberty, would
deprive them of this last comfort; and, accordingly, no
class of men advocate Slavery with such frantic and unrea-
soning violence, cr hate abolitionists with such demoniac
hatred."
But I am not willing to take this unfavorable view
of human nature.
A gentleman, in South Carolina, who has produced
the strongest argument for Slavery, of any that we
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
69
have seen, gives this explanation of the fact under
consideration.
Speaking of the evils, which the poor whites must
endure, if the slaves are emancipated, he says:
"The poor white man will be placed in a condition, in-
comparably worse, than Slavery itself. His labor would
come in competition with negro labor. They would be
placed on terms of perfect equality with the negro race:
except that the negroes would impose on them, and assert
their own superiority. For the work to be done, they would
be rivals and competitors of each other, and become natural
enemies. The negroes being more numerous and powerful
than the poor white man, they would oppress and impose
on him, and he would become, practically, the slave of the
negro race, and could only free himself from this condition,
by leaving the home of his childhood, the land that gave
him birth, or, by a slaughter of the negro race, or being
slaughtered himself."
If the owners of slaves, have taken pains to make
the poor whites believe in such sophistries, and they
have been deceived by such reasoning, it is not so
much a cause of wonder, that the four millions of
non slave holders, should take sides with the three
hundred and fifty thousand, who live upon the toil
and sweat of unrequited labor.
But it is a sad sight, to see these poor whites, in
utter ignorance of the blessings of Free Soil, and
Free Labor, toiling, to make stronger, their own fet-
ters, and to increase the weight of those burthens,
which are crushing them to the earth. Their condi-
tion is now, the worst possible, for they are, in a cer-
tain sense, the slaves of slaves.
wa
With these two explanations, of this very strange
fact, by two intelligent persons, one from the North,
the other from the South, I leave my readers to adopt
either opinion, or propose a theory, which may ac-
count more truthfully, for the cause of that love,
which the poor whites bear to the system of Slavery.
70
INCIDENTS OF
I will, however, give the opinion of a poor white,
a cracker, of North Carolina, that never had owned
any negroes, and never intended to. When asked
what he thought about emancipating negroes-
Well, I'll tell you what I think on it; I'd like it, if we
could get rid on 'em to yonst; I wouldn't like to have 'em
freed, if they was going to hang around. They ought to
get some country, and put 'em war they would be by them-
selves. It wouldn't do any good to free 'em, and let 'em
hang round, because they is so monstrous lazy; if they
hadn't got no body to take keer of 'em, you see they
wouldn't do nothin' but juss nat'rally laze round, and steal,
and pilfer, and no man couldn't live. That's one objection,
and this ere's the other. Now suppose they was free, you
see, they'd all think themselves just as good as we; of
course they would, if they was free. Now, just suppose
you had a family of children, how would you like to have a
nigger feelin' just as good as a white man? How'd you like
to have a nigger stepping up to your darter? Of course
you wouldn't; and that's the reason I wouldn't like to hev
'em free; but I tell you, I don't think its right to hev 'em
slaves so, that's the fac, taint right to keep 'em as they is."
CHAPTER XVIII.
A WAYSIDE FLOWER.
Ar the close of a weary day's tramp, through the
woods of western Georgia, I turned aside to seek
shelter in a rude log cabin, standing at a short dis-
tance from the road.
A little girl, of some twelve years, answered my
call at the door, and invited me in. Her dress was
A SOUTHERN TOUR,
71
of the plainest kind: but she was blessed with one of
those expressive, speaking, winning countenances that
at once, take the beholder captive.
She courteously offered me a rude seat, before a
blazing light wood fire, in the genial warmth of which,
three or four white children, and one very black, were
basking, under her care. On my inquiry, she said her
mother would be in soon, and at once engaged in con-
versation, with all the ease and propriety, of any Nor-
thern girl of her years, who might have enjoyed the
best of advantages.
-
I was only the more astonished, as I learned the
privilege of schools had not been hers, except to a very
limited degree. Her father, like thousands of other,
"Sand Hillers," and Piney Woods men, could not
read. His grandfather had sent him two quarters to
learn to dance; but not one day to learn the useless
art of reading.
.
After supper, it was some how made known, that
she possessed some knowledge of music. And, at my
request, without any of the affectation of our fashion-
able singers," that she had a bad cold—or was out of
voice," she produced her note book, and sang away,
most sweetly, for an hour or more, like one of the
mocking birds, that fill her own native woods with
melody. Weary with travel, a thousand miles from
loved friends, I listened to that wild warbler, with
feelings I never knew before.
In the morning, I observed the cabin was hung
round with flowers, which she had painted on all sorts
of paper, with such paints as she had been able to
manufacture from berries, and other things, which the
woods produced.
It was then, that I wished for wealth, to take her
from her obscure situation, and put her in a position,
to improve, to their fullest extent, those powers of
mind, which had been given to her, above many.
72
INCIDENTS OF
CHAPTER XIX.
MISSISSIPPI BOTTOMS IN ARKANSAS.
IN regard to these Bottoms, we have to say, they
are composed of the richest land in the world, more
or less overflowed at high water; covered with a most
majestic growth of timber, vines, impenetrable cane-
brakes, and whatever of vegetation, a rich, moist soil,
and warm sun can produce. Persons too poor to buy
land east of the Mississippi, come and squat on gov-
ernment land, and live at their ease, suiting themselves
as to the time of payment.
It is the resort also of Freebooters, who have been
driven out of good society, on the other side of the
river; for here every man is a law to himself, doing
what is right in his own eyes, redressing his own
wrongs, having no fear of courts or sheriffs. Homi-
cides and murders are no uncommon occurrences. It
may truly be called the "dark and bloody ground."
Here is the paradise of hunters, and the place to
live at ease.
The woods are overstocked with the
finest game, and the water courses literally covered,
during the winter, with every kind of water fowl, who
spend their summers far away in the northern zone.
A few days' labor with the axe, rears a comfortable
habitation, for that warm climate. Not a pane of
glass is needed, and a few nails, for the doors, is all
that is necessary, besides his own labor.
The fire-place is built of earth, taken from the side
of his cabin, moulded into the desired shape, very
much after the manner of building concrete houses,
which soon dries to a brick like hardness.
No labor is needed to provide forage for stock.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
73
They range at will, in summer, and in winter, grow
fat in the cane brakes. Their pork is fattened upon
the mast in the woods, finished off, if they choose,
with a little corn. In regard to fuel, the only diffi-
culty is, there is too much of it.
An acre or two girdled, and planted with corn, pro-
vides them with bread; for the word, wheat, is not
in their vocabulary. The finest of sweet potatoes are
raised in the greatest abundance. And if they choose
to put in an acre or two of cotton, to have something
to buy coffee, powder, whiskey, and some other things
considered necessary; they are in first rate, independ-
ent circumstances.
-
The most common pet of the ladies, in that vicini-
ty, is a tame deer, and nothing can be more gentle or
graceful, while the gentlemen, but too often, prefer a
tame bear, upon whose friendship, or good behavior,
it will not do to trust too confidently, as by one ugly
grip of
my hand, I found out to my sorrow.
Cotton, instead of being a stinted shrub, of a foot
and a half high, as on the worn out plantations of the
Carolinas and Georgia, grows to a tree like size, caus-
ing no bending of the negroe's back, in the picking.
And now, lest some learning these facts, and hav-
ing grown nearly desperate, with oft-returning rent
days, and quarterly presentation of butcher's and gro-
cer's bills, with a purse, constantly in a state of col-
lapse, should sigh for a free home, in the wild woods
of Arkansas, I ought to state, that the inhabitants,
though so highly favored in some respects, yet have
a terrible battle to fight, during three or four months
of the year, with chills and fever, and kindred dis-
eases. Before going, it might be well to count the
cost, whether a more healthy climate, and much hard
work, had better be exchanged for a life of freedom
from severe labor, but a greater liability to sickness.
and consequent suffering.
nl
74
ÎNCIDENTS OF
CHAPTER XX.
THE AUTHOR PREACHES THE GOSPEL IN THAT REGION ;
RIDES, OR RATHER, WALKS HIS CIRCUIT.
HEARING much of the great need of ministerial la-
bor, among the Squatters on those Bottoms, I resolved
to volunteer my services, and labor for a while among
them; thinking it would be the more acceptable, as
the preachers were absent at Conference, and would
not return for a month or more.
I was ferried from the east to the west side of the
Mississippi, landed in the woods, put upon a trail,
which I was to boldly follow, ten miles due west,
when I should come to a, one horse county town,"
where I could obtain some definite directions of the
circuit I was to travel.
It was past meridian, and my hope was, to arrive
there in season to pass the night.
The day was one of the most beautiful that autumn
can furnish; and with a light heart, I pressed vigor-
ously forward. It was a feast to the eyes-to gaze
upon those gigantic trees, gum, sycamore, cotton
wood, cypress, that had never lacked for sun, or
moisture, or depth of earth, and could count their
years by centuries. None of your stinted, New Eng-
land shrubbery, that we call, "woods," of twenty or
fifty years' growth, of the five months, in each year,
on a soil that contains no nutriment. No! no! no!
-far from it. One acre of such timber, if located in
the old Bay State, would be a fortune. Vines were
trailing from tree to tree, loaded with delicious grapes;
while the woods were vocal with the song of birds,
who, on their way from their northern home, to a
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
75
more sunny clime, were tarrying for a while, in this
El Dorado, feasting, at will, upon the good things,
that a kind Providence, had so liberally provided for
them.
Now and then, often enough to change the scene,
we came upon the log cabin of a Squatter, who had
opened up a space to the sunlight, and planted it with
corn, which grew so luxuriantly, that we could by no
means reach the ears.
A little before sunset, we arrived at the " Town,"
consisting of a grocery, where rum, whiskey, and to-
bacco were the main articles for sale; a blacksmith's
shop, post office, court house, on a very small scale,
and a jail to correspond. These, with a few log cab-
ins, made up the embryo city.
Upon inquiry, we found that the keeper of the rum
doggery, was the official representative of the religion
of the place, and in whose house the ambassadors of
the Cross were expected to be entertained.
We turned aside, and knocked boldly at the door
of his cabin, which, like all others in that region, was
raised about three feet from the ground, on posts, fur-
nishing a fine shelter, and common play ground for
young negroes, dogs, pigs, and lame ducks,
No sooner had we rapped, than our right leg was
seized, a little below the knee, and held, as in a vice,
by a blood hound, that sprang from his lair, under the
house. What the result might have been, we know
not, if the lady, at that moment. had not appeared at
the door, and rescued us, with only the suffering of
severe flesh wounds, and a sad rending of our unmen-
tionables.
Without expressing any sympathy at my condition,
´or suggesting any way in which my clothing could be
repaired, so that we might appear decently among
strangers, she strongly intimated, that I ought to
apologise to the dog, for having intruded on his pre-
76
INCIDENTS OF
mises; "that I should have stood in the road, and
hallooed to the house, signifying that I wished to
come in; that the dog had been learned to give a
death grip to every thing that passed the gate.'
I, of course, begged hers, and the dog's pardon,
and hoped that the fact, that I was a stranger in Ar-
kansas-having been less than twelve hours in the
State and unacquainted with their method of receiv-
ing outsiders, would be considered by both, a suffic-
ient apology.
But I inwardly resolved, that if such were the cus-
toms and manners of Arkansas, I would, with as little
delay as possible, provide myself with some lead pills,
and an instrument for administering them, which I
did not fail to do, a short time after.
""
Not being very well pleased with my reception, and
the language of the lady bearing too close a relation
to that used in a certain, "fish market," I did not ask
to share her hospitality; but only if she could direct
me to some family, who could take me in for the
night.
She referred me to the wife of the jailor, to whose
house, I repaired at once, and received a Christian
welcome.
About eight o'clock, a low whistle was heard on
the outside of the cabin, when the jailor at once arose,
and took his hat, telling his wife, to put the stranger
to bed at the proper time.
After he left, she remarked, with a sigh, that "he
had gone to the court house, (the key to which he
kept) to spend most of the night with a company
of
gamblers, who used the county property for that pur-
pose."
Her dwelling was, perhaps, sixteen feet square.
Near
Three beds occnpied three corners of the room.
the fourth corner, was the fire place, on one side, and
a table and window on the other.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
куку
The evening was passed pleasantly in conversation,
the room being lighted as brilliantly as Aladdin's Pal-
ace, from a, "light wood" fire, (pitch pine knots).
When near the time of retiring, God's word was read,
and prayer offered. She then pointed to the bed I
was to occupy, but gave no indications of leaving the
room.
I soon concluded, that I was in a place, where ne-
cessity and custom, did not consider the presence of
a lady, any objection to a gentleman's disrobing, and
safely esconcing himself between the sheets; which
we did, in about as short a space of time, as we were
ever known to perform a similar feat.
Soon she took one of the other beds, and we talked
till, perhaps, near twelve o'clock. In short, I only
dared to go to sleep with one eye, fearing, lest the
husband might return, the worse for liquor, and his
bowie knife be placed in unpleasant proximity to my
ribs.
And not till he had returned, and was safely in the
right bed, did I dare to close both eyes, and sink into
the embrace of sleep,-
Sleep, balmy sleep, nature's sweet restorer.”
Early the next morning, having obtained all needed
directions for my course, and leaving an appointment
for a future Sabbath, I was on my way, and before
night, came into the neighborhood, where one of the
sermons, on the following Sabbath, was to be deliver-
ed. Word was sent out in different directions, to the
neighbors, dwelling within eight or twelve miles; for
in that country, that distance is no obstacle to attend-
ance upon church.
.
<
The building would seat comfortably, perhaps, fifty
or seventy-five persons, and was as rudely constructed
as their own dwellings. Not a pane of glass in it.
78
INCIDENTS OF
Holes were cut through at intervals, for light and ven-
tilation.
On those slab seats, untouched with a smoothing
plane, and rejoicing in no backs, the rich and the
poor were alike welcome.
We had great liberty in speaking; the most undi-
vided attention was given to the word; and we were
led to ask, whether a sacrifice more acceptable to God,
was not offered, on that occasion, than by many a fash-
ionable congregation, sitting on cushioned seats, wor-
shipping in a temple, which, in some respects, might
vie with that built by Solomon.
Their readiness to overcome obstacles, that they
might attend, was strikingly in contrast, with the
dwellers in our cities, From bridle paths, leading
into the forest, on different sides, a lady, on horseback,
would be seen approaching the church, with a child,
a few months old, in her arms. One, a little more
than two years of age, would be clinging to the mane
in front, while another, of more than four years, was
safely enthroned behind. The husband, with true
fatherly pride, walks by their side, and was a safe
guide for the way.
The service being closed, a horse was provided, and
with a hunter for my guide, we struck into the woods,
to gain the next appointment, some ten miles distant,
which we somewhat shortened, by a route, that my
guide knew, marked by, "blazed trees.”
That appointment had been shunned for some time,
by the circuit preacher, because a widow lady, of some-
what doubtful character, and her little children, hav-
ing no other shelter, had entered the church, and
taken possession of one corner, with her bed, stove,
and a few housekeeping utensils of the plainest kind,
leaving plenty of room for the congregation that ordi-
narily assembled. We could not think the preacher
was justified in forsaking the, " appointment.” because
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
79
this woman, wtth her innocent children, had taken
refuge in the sanctuary of the Lord.
We did not fail to exhort her, that dwelling thus
in His house, she ought to be distinguished for good-
ness, and purity of character.
After the services were closed, the hunter, who had
been my guide during the day, joined by his comrade,
invited me to enjoy hunter's fare with them, at their
cabin in the dense forest. Having no other invitation,
we accepted. The horse was left, and starting into an
Indian lope, we held on our course, as rapidly as the
obstructions of the way would allow. Just at dusk,
the wigwam was gained, a rude structure, nine feet
by fifteen, made of cypress, rived with the axe, and so
free was the timber, that it bore a close resemblance
to boards. The lower ends were driven into the
ground, and the upper lashed to a pole, supported by
a forked stick, roofed with the same.
Two days' work made for these men, a comfortable
and happy home, far away from the strife of tongues.
Their rifles procured them an abundance of the finest
game. A few days' labor would raise all the corn
necessary for their bread. The scalps of wolves, and
the skins of beasts, procuring what few necessaries
they needed.
Hungry and tired, we threw ourselves upon a bed
of bear skins, in the corner, to await supper. A blaz-
ing fire being kindled, made the interior light and
cheerful.
Before it was soon swinging, a fat raccoon, of enor-
mous size, which they had secured the day before,
whose flesh, they assured me, I should find, in the eat-
ing, "to equal the finest shoat I ever tasted." Gen-
erous slices of vension were taken from over head, and
with bear's fat, to supply the place of butter, in the
cooking utensil, the exhalations from which, added to
that of the roasting coon, and a coffee pot supplied
80
INCIDENTS OF
liberally with the best Mocha, steaming on the hot
coals, filled the cabin; giving unmistakable evidence,
to a hungry man, of the rich feast that was preparing.
That fine loaf pone bread, the invariable attendant of
every meal at the South, with none of those condi-
ments, which northern cooks apply, yet surpassing
theirs in flavor, made of only two things-meal and
water, was placed in the old fashioned bake-kettle,
which the modern stove has displaced, ready to be
served up warm, with the other, "fixings."
fixings." Sweet
potatoes were stowed away in the embers and hot ash-
es. Last, but not least, splendid honey, from the
hollow trees of the surrounding forest.
A cedar slab served for a table, which fairly groan-
ed with the weight of the good cheer, which the wil-
derness had provided for us. In due time, we gath-
ered around it, on rude stools, and we doubt whether,
from snow white damask, on Sevre's porcelain, with
silver service, and costly chandeliers flashing over us,
we ever enjoyed a better supper.
The desert consisted of the finest grapes, with
which, the trees around, were literally loaded. There
being no third service to attend, supper was protracted
to a somewhat late hour.
Sta
In the meanwhile, the clouds that had been gath-
ering, during the whole afternoon, began to pour out
their contents. The wind increased to a fierce tem-
pest, roaring above us like the tread of an earthquake.
The monarchs of that ancient forest, threw their
mighty arms wildly about, striking against each other,
with fearful crash, as though struggling for life, in a
deadly and unequal contest with an unseen enemy.
Now and then, a crackling, crashing peal, reverberat-
ing through the woods, like distant thunder, announc-
ed that the work of destruction was going on.
But
The wolves ran howling from their coverts.
while all was so dark, fearful, and dismal without, we
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
81
had peace and joy within, as before a blazing fire, we
sang the songs of Zion, and in prayer, committed our-
selves to the care of Him, who hath promised that his
people," shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep
in the woods."
During some of the wakeful hours of that night,
amid the howling of the storm, and the serenade of
wolves, among other reflections, we were led to con-
ider, how little, in reality, man really needs to make
him happy.
Here, in the depths of this forest, were two men,
whose entire establishment, save their rifles, might be
purchased for fifteen dollars, enjoying more, of all
that makes life desirable, than the owner of many a
splendid establishment, in our great cities, which cost,
with its fixings, more than one hundred thousand
dollars. Should one answer curtly, "That there was
no wife to support in their case," we reply, one of
them told me, that as soon as he had a day of more
leisure, he intended to add an extra room to his es-
tablishment, and invite one of the ladies, of that
vicinity, to preside over it. And if I could only tarry
a week or two longer, I should have the honor of per-
forming the marriage ceremony.
So different were the
habits of the ladies in that region, from those of our
city belles, that we think he would find his expenses
not much increased; while the general order, neatness,
and comfort of the establishment, with the magic
power of a neat womau, to preside over it, would be
increased an hundred fold.
For a few days, we enjoyed greatly, the hospitality
of these men; having a quiet time for writing in their
cabin, while they were abroad with their rifles, realiz-
ing the affirmative of the question, asked by the
Psalmist, that “God can furnish a table in the wil-
derness. ""
After visiting the sick in that region, hold-
ing meetings in different settlements, we bid them
D2
82
INCIDENTS OF
farewell, and obtaining directions, started for the next
Sabbath appointment of the circuit.
But as the manners, customs, and way of living
were very much the same, we need not detain the
reader any longer. The first week's experience in
Arkansas, was often repeated with slight variations.
What I have narrated, will give some idea of frontier
life in that region.
We learned, that many things, that we had thought
necessary to our happiness, were not strictly needed.
And that one half of the world, does not know how
the other half lives.
Though sleeping often without doors or windows,
and always serenaded with wolves, we never enjoyed
better rest. Nor did we ever preach the gospel with
greater liberty and freedom, or to those, who seemed
more anxious to receive it. Hardly a day has passed
since, but we have longed for the privilege again, of
preaching the gospel, to the dwellers in the grand old
woods of Arkansas.
CHAPTER XXI.
HUMAN NATURE THE SAME, WHETHER BLACK OR
WHITE.
MANY a lady in the Free States, remains unmar-
ried, for a time, at least, because those that offer
themselves, do not suit her fancy. It is so among
the poor slaves.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
83
A negro in Georgia told me, that, "a good many
of the girls, on their plantation, were not married,
because they did not consider the boys smart enough
for them."
In the cities, there is as much of an aristocracy
among the slaves, as among the whites. And one of
them would be as much disgraced, to associate, or
marry out of that rank, as their masters or mistresses.
They have their, "Fifth Avenue" assemblies, or
dress balls, got up without any regard to expense.
The cards of invitation, are handsomely engraved,
and duly embossed.
There are regular masters of ceremonies, floor
committees, &c. Ladies are assured that they can.
depend on the most perfect order being observed.
And all goes,
"merry as a marriage bell."
No Broadway exquisite, can do the agreeable to
the ladies, in any better style, than is done by these
colored gentlemen of the first circle.
A supper, as good as money can furnish, abound-
ing, besides the substantials, with the various wines,
ice cream in abundance, with all the rich flavored.
fruits of the tropical zone, is a part of the evening's
entertainment.
G
For a Northerner, or one unacquainted with such
facts of slave life, to look in upon that scene, and
witness the display of jewelry, of silks and satins,
and Honiton lace, of white kids, and costly fans; the
flirtations with, and coquetish smiles from behind.
them, countenances of such perfect beauty, that these
ornaments seem hardly a fit accompaniment, faultless
forms, with a grace and elasticity of motion, never
seen, but with perfect health. I say, one out of slave
land, could hardly realize, that the fairest, and most
Hebe like of those ladies, the one whose beauty was
most peerless, might, in conformity with the majesty
of the law, be on the auction block, by ten o'clock of
84
INCIDENTS OF
P
the following day, to be sold to the highest bidder.
To be added to the Harem of the buyer, or placed in
the water, mud, and miasma of the rice field, un-
der a brutal overseer, just as a nod from the owner of
God's beautiful workmanship should determine.
Thus, full of striking contrasts, is slave life. It
would be hard to believe, that those poor, degraded,
care-worn females, with hardly rags enough to cover
them, that with hoe or axe in hand, most laboriously
toiling, we passed, as we entered the city, are the sis-
ters, belong to the same race, of those in that gay
assembly room. That both are alike slaves, and are
liable to be sold like a mule in the market.
We were saying, that human nature is the same in
the black and white man. We have seen it true in
regard to love, and fondness for display in dress, we
see it also, in connection with religious duties.
A colored sexton in Memphis, was congratulating,
on his recent marriage, one of the former pastors of
the church. After a round of well expressed good
wishes for his happiness, the minister thanked him,
and kindly inquired, how he was prospering in his
religious life. Whether he was really in the enjoy-
ment of religion?
Cuffee said, "he had thought much about religion,
and had tried to get it; and, in short, believed, he
had obtained, all but the substance.”
Many white persons, we fear, would have to make
a similar confession, of lacking the substance, if they
were equally simple and truthful.
Conversing one day with a slave, who had brought
a load of cotton to market, on the subject of religion,
he acknowledged its importance, said he meant to get
it."
Then why do you not? said I.
"Well, it 'pears like, they keep me driving steers
so much, I can't."
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
85
How many white persons, are driving so earnestly,
business, or pleasure, as to have no time to attend to
religion.
CHAPTER XXII.
WHAT HAS THE NORTH TO DO WITH SLAVERY?
MUCH, every way.
One need not be in the South
more than three months, to see the foolishness of the
question, so often asked by Northern dough-faces,
"Why do you talk about emancipation in the Free
States? Why not go South, where Slavery exists?"
Of nothing am I more strongly convinced, than
that Slavery will die, when the North takes right
ground on this great question.
Besides its elements of strength, found in man's
natural love of power, it has elements of weakness,
which would cause its speedy death, were it not for
the moral support it receives from the inhabitants of
the Free States. In them, where free discussion is
allowed, the whole battle can be fought. Millions of
Northern capital is, invested in slaves.
Thousands of our young men, yearly go South, to
engage in business, teach school, or in some profes-
sional employment, and with not so much conscience
as those born under the system, they become slave-
holders, and not unfrequently, out Herod, Herod
himself in brutal treatment.
86
INCIDENTS OF
It was continually thrown in my face, "that the
Yankee had no conscience, that all he cared for, was
to make money; and if he could make money by
holding slaves, he would do it, "a leetle " quicker,
than any body else.
I knew that there was but too much truth in the
assertion.
The spirit of slaveholding exists, far too strongly,
at the North, if the thing itself does not, and cannot
be too earnestly rebuked.
C
One of our leading, religious journals, professing
to be truly Anti-Slavery, some time since, in an ar-
ticle on," the trials of an house-keeper," said, in
substance, as follows. The writer, evidently a lady,
complained, "that her hired girl, dressed so tidy, as
to be not unfrequently mistaken for the lady of the
house. That she was so cultivated, as to be able to
appreciate Shakespeare, and other old standard Eng-
lish authors, of world wide fame.-Complained that
she wrote letters on fine note paper, enclosed in em-
bossed envelopes, and directed with a taste and beauty
of penmanship, that her mistress could not hope to
equal. And that she should have presumed to ask
some of the gentlemen of the house, whose business
called them past the post office, to drop them in for
her. Or when so tired as to not be able to take an-
other step, she had ventured to pass through the
front door, instead of going way back, some round
about way, through the kitchen.”
*
That woman, or person, who could write in that
style, only needs to have the power, and she would
make another, "Mrs. St. Clair," of the worst kind.
Such an one, has a heart, to grind down, and oppress
the poor, the laboring class, without any regard to
color. Why, I always supposed, that pure religion,
and our common humanity, bid us rejoice in the cul-
tivation of those below us. That it is a glorious
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
87
thing, when they are so educated, as to appreciate
the English classics, and write a good hand, and not
to be condemned, when they have a desire to appear
neat and tidy about their work.
Doubtless, she would rejoice, if each of her ser-
vants, were obliged to wear some badge, by which it
might be known everywhere, that they belonged to
the working, or serving class.
And we are not able to see, wherein it was so
great a wrong, as to be worthy of a newspaper phil-
ippic; that a domestic, taking some of her hard
earned money, enclosing it to her widowed mother,
to supply her necessities, and not being allowed time
to go to the office herself, should respectfully ask a
gentleman of the house, to do it for her.
We have but too many unreasonable, Marie St.
Clair's, all over the Free States. Human nature is
no worse at the South, than at the North. We only
have this advantage, that the laws restrain us, to a
certain extent, and keep us back from that physical
violence, which, I fear, many, in moments of passion,
would be ready to inflict, or have done to order.
How many have we, that prefer Irish, or German
servants, or foreign born, because, from their ignor-
ant, or dependent condition, they will bear a treat-
ment, that no intelligent, native born American,
would, for a moment submit too?
A writer, from the Southern stand point of obser-
vation, might collect facts of the treatment of domes-
tics, in even the christian families of the North,
which would be most startling.
Words may be so applied, to the sensitive nature
of our domestics, as to cause more of real pain, and
lasting anguish, than the lash upon the bleeding
back.
Let us take the beam from our own eye, before we
say too much about the mote in anothers. And let
88
INCIDENTS OF
us never forget, that it is a part of true religion, as
well as of republicanism, to do all that we can, to
raise those below us, to our own standard of in-
telligence.
We never need to fear, the expending too much
labor on this object.
The South is extremely sensitive to the public
opinion of the North; and when that is right, Slavery
will melt away before it, like snow, before an April
sun. The more intelligent of the Southern people,
read Northern books and papers; they keep tolerably
well posted up, in regard to that great change, which
is moving on so rapidly in the Free States.
They tremble in view of the hour, evidently so
near, when all outside of Slavery, shall be united
against it. It is an old proverb, "that a guilty con-
science finds accusers in stones." This was verified
in the fact, that a slave holder, who had visited
Mount Auburn, complained to me, most bitterly, that
the fanaticism of the North, should have erected a
marble monument, to the martyr Torrey, who so
sadly perished in a Southern prison, for having shown
practical sympathy for the poor slave. But we say,
let our hills, and vallies, heaven and earth, testify
against this relic of barbarism, till it retreats from
the face of the earth.
They appear like persons ill at ease, over sensitive,
that strangers should have a favorable opinion, of the,
"peculiar institution."
Almost, or quite the first question, after an intro-
duction, is something like this: "Well, you have
seen something of Slavery, I 'spose, since you have
been in the South, and changed your opinion, have
you not?
You find it not near as bad as you thought
it was, before you left the North,
left the North, do you not?”
In scores of instances, within five minutes after
forming an acquaintance, would we be engaged in an
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89
intense discussion on some aspect of the Slavery
question. It always being introduced by them, and
not by myself.
Every year, they feel the pressure, more and more
of a right state of public opinion in the non-slave-
holding States.
Of course it could not be otherwise, but in this day
of the rapid transmission of news by mail, and of
going to and fro of persons for business or pleasure,
but that contiguous States, would act, and react on
each other. The beneficent influence of free institu-
tions, passes over into slave territory, and like leaven,
is silently at work. While the baneful influence of
theirs, passes over the line to us. Let one travel in
that part of Iowa, bordering on Missouri, the South
part of Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and, unless
prepared by a previous knowledge of the facts, he
would be completely astounded at the Pro-Slavery
spirit, which there prevails.
There is not near that prejudice against color, at
the South, as at the North. We venture to affirm,
that in no slave holding city, would such an incident
have occurred, as took place in Boston, April, 1856,
viz: Two young, colored, christian girls, nearly
white, were turned out of an ice cream and confection-
ery saloon, whither they had gone to spend their
money for nice things, as any body else would. O!
shame, where is thy blush!
90
INCIDENTS OF
CHAPTER XXIII.
PIETY OF THE SLAVES.
WE were at no little pains, to make inquiries on
this point. Attending their meetings constantly on
the Sabbath, and during the week. Conversing with
them personally, in regard to their religious exper-
ience, as opportunity offered. We wished to ascer-
tain, whether, "Uncle Tom," of world wide fame,
was a myth, a mere creation of the imagination, or
whether such persons were scattered through the
South. We desired to know, whether, as a class, the
slaves gave as genuine evidence of piety, of having
met with a change of heart, as those of the white
J
race.
I questioned the owners of slaves, their pastors,
those having every opportunity to become acquainted
with the subject, and invariably received but one an-
swer, viz: to endorse them most fully. Of course,
many among them, that make a profession, will only
run well for a season. But this is so among the
whites. Let equal numbers of white and black be
taken, and I was assured, the latter would not suffer
by the comparison. As a race, I believe they are
more likely to be influenced by religious truth, when
brought in contact with it, than the whites.
There is not, with them, so much pride of opinion,
they are more docile, teachable, affectionate, than the
Anglo Saxon. "And hence, the divine graces of love
and faith, when inbreathed by the Holy Spirit, find,
in their natural temperament, a more congenial at-
mosphere."
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
91
There is, no doubt, this good result from the strong
government of Slavery, that their wills having been
broken, subdued, yielded to the masters authority,
when they come to learn the higher claims, that their
Master in heaven has for their love, their obedience,
it is yielded at once, with less of rebellion and oppo-
sition.
We see the same principle illustrated every day
among the whites.
Where strict, family govern-
ment is maintained, and the children taught to obey
promptly, they will be far more likely to yield to the
claims of Jesus Christ.
We think the negro has been wronged, by apply-
ing the same mathematical rules to his religious ex-
perience, that we do to the cool, phlegmatic white
race. We lose sight of their tropical origin. Of
their oriental character. They have most susceptible
temperaments, a vivid fancy and imagination, and are
easily moved to tears, or smiles; and when excited,
body and soul sympathize together, and there will be,
what seem to us, most violent, and uncalled for, phys-
ical manifestations. To see in a crowded chapel,
towards the close of an animated sermon, from ten to
twenty, jumping enormously high, throwing their
arms wildly about, with eyes glaring, as if entranced,
shouting at the top of their voices, like so many
Eastern Dervishes, and then falling almost senseless.
from exhaustion, would frighten most that might be
looking on for the first time.
Some would doubtless say, that this bodily exercise,
profiteth little. But let us not forget the words of
the Apostle:"There are diversities of gifts, but
the same spirit. There are differences of administra-
tions, but the same Lord. There are diversities of
operations, but it is the same God which worketh all
in all."
Many from the North, think these manifestations
92
INCIDENTS OF
of religious feeling, entirely uncalled for, and out of
place, and wonder how their pastors can allow it.
Many have attempted to repress these exhibitions,
to steady the ark, among the blacks. But it has
seemed to result in a loss of spiritual power.
A Southern minister, doubtless, took the right
view of it, when answering an objector, he said:
“Sir, I am satisfied the races are so essentially different,
that they can not be regulated by the same rules. I, at
first, felt as you do; and, though I saw that genuine conver-
sions did take place, with all this outward manifestation, I
was still so much annoyed by it, as to forbid it among my
negroes, till I was satisfied that the repression of it, was a
serious hindrance to religious feeling, and then I became
certain that all men cannot be regulated in their religious
exercises, by one model. I am assured that conversions,
produced with these accessories, are quite as apt to be gen-
uine, and to be as influential over the heart and life, as
those produced in any other way.”
-
The result, the effect must be the true test by
which this question is to be decided, whether among
black or white.
""
A rich planter erected a very neat chapel for his
slaves, with a comfortable back rail, to rest the body
against, during divine service. But, by and by, his
negroes petitioned him to remove it, assigning, as a
reason, "that it did not leave them room enough to
pray. I have seen them, when it seemed as if limb
and life was endangered, by a violent contact with
this back rail.
Like all who profess religion, they must be judged
by their fruits, their daily walk and conversation.
And when we turn to their christian life, their forgiv-
ness of injuries; their sterling honesty and devotion
to the interests of their masters, without recompense
or reward; their attendance upon the means of grace,
after hours of weary labor; their cheerful contribu-
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
93
tions to the cause of Christ, from their hard earnings;
their devotion to the sick and suffering, when the
Yellow Fever, or the Cholera is around them; their
happy, and triumphant deaths, I think we must con-
clude, that if Christ has any true followers in the
world, many of them are to be found among the poor
slaves of the South.
The tallest, the blackest, the most gigantic propor-
tioned, and best specimen of the African race, that I
met with in all the South, belonged to Mr.
of Vicksburg. Mrs. H. B. Stowe's magnificent de-
scription of, "Dred," might be applied to him, in
every particular, even as if he had sat for the por-
trait. He must have been Dred's brother.
At church, as they rose to sing, he at once attract-
ed my attention, standing head and shoulders above
his fellows, holding his hymn book firmly before him,
he sung with that emphasis and power, which demon-
strated what delight he took in that part of divine.
service.
To hear his voice, so strong and clear, pouring out
his full soul in strains of richest melody, brought
fresh to my mind, these beautiful words of Longfel-
low :
66
Loud he sang the psalm of David!
He, a negro and enslaved,
Sang of Israel's victory,
Sang of Zion, bright and free.
In the hour, when night is calmest,
Sang he from the Hebrew Psalmist,
In a voice so sweet and clear,
That I could not choose but hear,
Songs of triumph, and ascriptions,
Such as reached the swart Egyptians,
When upon the Red Sea coast,
Perished Pharaoh and his host.
94
INCIDENTS OF
And the voice of his devotion,
Filled my soul with strong emotion :
For its tones by turns were glad,
Sweetly solemn, wildly sad.
Paul and Silas, in their prison,
Sang of Christ, the Lord arisen,
And an earthquake's arm of might,
Broke their dungeon gates at night.
But alas! what holy angel
Brings the Slave this glad evangel?
And what earthquake's arm of might,
Breaks his dungeon gates at night?"
Towards the close of the service, when the excite-
ment began to be somewhat wild and stormy around
him, the influence came upon him. He began to
shout, and to jump, in a most rapid, violent, and as-
tonishing manner. It appeared as if he was about
to go up, bodily, towards heaven. And it seemed as
if his companions feared it, for they clasped him on
every side either to detain him, or, if he must go,
to take them with him. And such was the power
resting upon him, that the latter looked likely to be
the result.
All that knew him, had the highest confidence in
his piety. And when the Yellow Fever visited that
city, and several of the clergymen had died at their
post, the whites, as well as colored, welcomed to their
bedsides, to engage in acts of devotion, this brother
beloved, this prince, and mighty wrestler in prayer.
By and by, he was taken sick, and death seemed
near. His pastor visited him, and asked, in regard
to the state of his mind, "how he felt then, appar-
ently on the borders of the spirit world?"
66
Well, massa, thank God! when I am sick, 1
have nothing else to do but to be sick. I have made
all my preparations before; and when the charriot
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95
comes, I shall have nothing to do but to step on
board."
It would be well, if others, in the time of health,
would make the same preparation. But he lived;
God had more work for him to perform.
There was one Amelia Hern, in
86
Florida,
in whose humble cabin it was often my privilege to
enter, and engage in acts of devotion. She remarked,
though nothing but a poor slave, yet, through
crosses and losses, disappointments and trials, I mean
to gain a place in bright glory. No matter how hard
our task is, it may be twelve, before we are able to
retire; yet, we always read and pray, ask God to for-
give, protect, and bless. So, also, in the morning,
the same."
At another time, she remarked, "the devils, the
bad spirits, get in the cabin, and we have to pray
hard and long, to get them out, and obtain the visits
of the good angels.
Can we doubt, but that if others would use the
same means, to drive away and dispel wrong spirits.
and tempters from their dwellings, there would be
the same glorious results?
This Amelia, was a widow, had an idiotic boy of
eighteen years to support, and then must, in some
way, earn a certain sum each week, to sustain her
young master, in vice and idleness. She was one of
the four female slaves he inherited. And, on their
hard, unrequited service, he played the gentleman,
on a small scale. Was able to be quite an aristo-
cratic loafer, for a, "one horse town.
I shall not soon forget a class meeting I attended,
with the slaves in Mobile. Or the testimony that an
aged, care-worn sister gave in. As, with her great
eyes rolling, throwing her body into all sorts of con-
tortions, sawing the air with arms that were but skin
دو
""
96
INCIDENTS OF
and bone, she poured forth a torrent of wordy elo-
quence, such as I have seldom heard.
Such was the wild excitement of the moment, and
the shouting on every side, that I only retained clear-
ly in my memory, these expressions: "Through
kicks, curses, and bruises, through cuts, whips and
slashes, starvation, nakedness, imprisonment and fire,
partings from husband and children, I am bound for
the Kingdom, and expect to see the King in his
beauty; and that these feet, weary and blistered with
life's travel, shall yet stand on that, sea of glass,'
and walk the golden streets of the New Jerusalem.
And these withered hands, shall pluck the twelve
manner of fruits, from those trees, that line the banks
of the river of life. O! my dear brethren and sis-
ters, I expect, soon to be in that land, where the last
Ι
tear shall be wiped away from these eyes, so used to
weeping. Where there shall be no more sorrow;
nor crying, nor any pain, for former things will all
have passed away."
.
رو
And without any fear of, "lower law men," be-
fore my eyes, I uttered a hearty amen! that all this
might prove true. And I believe the gates of pearl,
will fly open wide, when that heir of glory comes to
enter in. And that her name will be enrolled among
those, who shall have come, "out of great tribula-
tion, and have washed their robes, and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb."
(
One afternoon, in Natches, in a large church,
crowded with negro worshippers, the pastor, instead
of preaching, spent the time, in a kind of exper-
ience meeting." Calling upon different ones, to give
in their testimony on the subject of religion.
One aged mother, spoke in substance, as follows:
"I have no desire for concerts, theatres, circuses,
&c. No! no! no! Not even to open the door and
peak at them, as they go through the streets. Jesus
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
97
makes music in my soul. I never wakes in the night,
but I offers my petitions, that God would convert my
wicked children, and revive his work. O, what
a blessed contracted meeting we had. (Alluding to
a profitable, protracted meeting, held some months
before.) "O, what a good contracted meeting that
was." Referring to it in this way many times.
"Se-
An old, grey headed class leader remarked,
cret prayer is my food. In de closet, is de place,
where I gets strengthened for life's journey, its duties,
and trials."
I had a most interesting conversation, in South
Carolina, with an old, blind, worn out slave, that had
been led out into the pines, by a little child, to gather
an arm full of wood for his cabin. Among other
questions, I asked, why do you love God?
"'Case he first loved me, and gib his Son to die
for me."
How much do you pray?
66
Night and day, ebry hour. I constantly thinks
how good God is."
In the testimonies quoted above, we have, certain-
ly, the language of Canaan, of the true, experimen-
tal christian. And may we not charitably believe,
that having so little to hope for from earth, that many
have become truly wise, and have laid up treasure in
heaven? If giving freely is any sign that the heart
has been enlarged by the love of God, we have that
evidence also. A poor slave, a Baptist, in one of the
rice swamps of Carolina, said he would not be afraid
to give his last cent to the cause of Christ, for benev-
olent purposes. He had faith to believe, that God
would make it up to him in some manner.
Their contributions are not injured, that way, by
being dabbled with by,
"Alexander the copper
smith," as in Yankee land. One, three, and five cent
coin are not so often found in the box. But tens and
E1
98
INCIDENTS OF
quarters abound. We saw them so ready to contrib-
ute, that if obliged to leave before the service closed,
they would step forward, and leave their offering on
the communion table.
We can, 6.
guess," of some
parts of the country, where this would not be done.
In many cities of the South, there are large, color-
ed churches, who support either a white or colored
pastor, in a very comfortable, and creditable manner.
From their hard earnings, giving a salary, that ought
to make many a Free State congregation blush.
In 1853, five thousand slaves, in Charleston, con-
tributed fifteen thousand dollars for benevolent pur-
poses. Where could the same number of white pro-
fessors of religion be found, whose contributions
would average three dollars apiece?
There are some masters and mistresses, at the
South, that take commendable pains to furnish relig-
ious instruction to their, "people."
people." While
While the
great majority, we are fully convinced, are very crim-
inal in neglecting the religious instruction of souls
committed so completely to their charge.
But there is no concealing the fact, that there is
untold guilt, out of the slave States, in regard to
neglecting the spiritual interests of our domestics.
In the cities of the South, thousands are detained at
home, most, or all of the Sabbath, to attend to the
domestic duties of the family. One service, many of
them can attend. The males are more at leisure, and
some of them may hear three good sermons.
Viewing the privileges that many enjoy in the
city, the author of, "South Side View," as well as
others, have given to the inhabitants of the Free
States, the most erroneous and untruthful impressions,
in regard to the religious privileges, with which the
slaves generally, are favored. The millions of this
servile class, are not in the city, but on plantations.
The hearing of a sermon, from an intelligent minis-
L
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
99
ter of Jesus Christ, is one of the rare events of the
year.
The people are so isolated at the South, that from
this cause, if there were no other reason, churches
and schools are of very rare occurrence. You travel
there scores of miles, without meeting with either.
In the Free States, you can hardly be out of sight
of one, or the other. They stand like light houses
on our hill tops, with their silent fingers pointing to
the skies. And they gleam along our vallies, as their
most precious adorning. Slavery, a barbarous insti
tution, has made the South, at this day, one vast mis-
sionary field. It is ripe for the reaper's hand, but,
alas! where are the laborers? Each denomination
is asking, imploringly, for help. A few noble heart-
ed men, riding long circuits, absent for weeks from
home, are doing what they can to supply this lack of
service. Once or twice a month, different parts of
the country, have the gospel preached. And if the
white, the more favored part of the population, are
so poorly supplied with the living ministry, it is easy
to infer what must be the condition, of the plantation
slaves.
It is not to be expected, that planters, who make
no profession of religion, (and they are, by far, in
the majority,) are entirely regardless of the interests
of their own souls, would be at any very great ex-
pense, to provide for the spiritual wants of their ne-
groes.
Meeting a slave boy in the city of
whose
master I knew, stood high as a christian, in that com-
munity, I was curious to know, what privileges he
had enjoyed, and what attainments he had made in
the knowledge of Bible truth.
He said, in answer to one question, that he was,
"thirteen years old." And in respect to another,
100
INCIDENTS OF
"that he did not know who came into the world, and
died on the cross to save sinners.
(6
Where will you go, when you die?
Straight to torment."
Why so?
""
"Dun know to go any where else.'
And if knowledge is necessary to salvation, we
fear the same sad fate awaits many others.
I have so expressly denied, what Doctor N. Adams,
and others, would have the North consider as a fact,
viz: that the religious privileges of the slaves, are of
a very high order, ("South Side View," p. 53,) that,
perhaps, it ought to be sustained by stronger evidence,
than my own observation. No one will deny that
Slavery in Kentucky, assumes as mild a form as in
any of the States. A committee of the Synod of
Kentucky, make the following report :
"After making all reasonable allowances, our colored
population can be considered, semi-heathen. The law does
not recognize the family relations of the Slave, and extends
to him no protection in the enjoyments of its endearments.
The members of a slave family, may be forcibly separated,
so that they shall never more meet till the final judgment.
Brothers and sisters, parents and children, husbands and
wives, are torn assunder, and permitted to see each other no
more. These acts are constantly occurring in the midst of us.
The shrieks, and the agony often witnessed on such occa-
sions, proclaim, with a trumpet tongue, the iniquity, and
the cruelty of our system. There is not a neighborhood where
these heart-rending scenes are not displayed. There is not a
village, or road, that does not behold the sad procession of
manacled outcasts, whose chains, and mournful countenan-
ces, tell that they are exiled by force from all that the heart
holds dear. Our churches, years ago, raised its voice of
solemn warning against this flagrant violation of every
principle of mercy, justice, and humanity. Yet we blush
to announce to you, and to the world, that this warning has
been often disregarded, even by those that hold to our com-
munion. Cases have occurred in our own denomination, where
professors of the religion of mercy, have torn the mother from her
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101
children, and sent her into a merciless and returnless exile. Yet,
acts of discipline have rarely followed such conduct."
This evidence, from those who reside on the ground,
and were personally acquainted with the facts, with
no motive to paint, in darker colors, than the truth.
will bear, must be conclusive.
CHAPTER XXIV.
GOOD WHERE WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT IT.
I SPENT some time in Memphis, a beautiful and
enterprising city, in the southwest corner of the State
of Tennessee, on the banks of the Mississippi.
The most wicked man in the place, according to
human judgment, was one J— A—. He had killed
a great many persons, in duels, and personal encoun-
ters, in various ways; had been tried many times, for
different State prison offences; but he always got clear
somehow. He was a professed gambler. I used to
meet him often, with his gold headed cane, dressed
and looking as respectable as an Alderman. He had
a son-a chip of the old block. He made an excur-
sion to California; and in the gambling saloons of San
Francisco, soon made his pile of forty thousand, and
wisely retired from the theatre of his operations, be-
fore he should "break,” came back and built a house
for his mother and sisters, so that they might have a
home, should the father ever meet with reverses.
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INCIDENTS OF
When the yellow fever-or Death on his pale
Horse-was riding through their streets, the sick and
the dying everywhere, consternation and fear on every
countenance, then this young man, instead of fleeing
to the mountains for health, acted the part of the Good
Samaritan, and with his carriage, was visiting all
around the city, looking up the poor and the suffer-
ing, giving food here, and money there, and calling
medical help, as it was needed.
Nor can any one, who has never been among those
scenes of suffering, caused by the fever, appreciate,
fully, such deeds of charity.
In the same city, at the same time, the Memphis
Conference, of the M. E. Church, was in session. As
they were about to close, they resolved themselves into
a Preachers Aid Society, to raise money, for the wid-
ows and orphans of those, who had fallen in the work,
and for such preachers, as were on the superannuated
list.
66
The house was crowded to its utmost capacity, and
persons were passsng up and down the aisles, soliciting
subscriptions, which, in an audible voice, with the
name, were reported to the Secretary, on the platform.
Fives and tens were offered freely for a while; but,
by and by the tide ebbed, and it was only,
one dol-
lar-Mr. Smith; one dollar-Mr. Jones, &c.," till
at length, we were startled with the announcement—
"$100! $100!" The Secretary called for the name.
It was given-"Poor Sinner!"" $100! "Wants
the prayers of the Church." And many a hearty
“Amen” went up, that he, who was so generously
watering others, might be watered also, himself. I
afterwards ascertained, that he gave $100 to some
other benevolent object, and quite a sum to something
else, making almost three hundred dollars, given by
one, who did not make any pretensions to religion,
and was a gambler by profession.
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103
When asked, why he gave so freely and liberally,
he said, it was a thank offering, for himself and fami-
ly, for their preservation, while the pestilence was
raging around them, and so many houses had been
made desolate.
He had had no doctor's bill to pay. Not one of
is family had been for a month, week, or day, on a
sick bed; no loved eyelids closed in death, and he
presented it freely, as a votive offering of thanksgiv-
ing.
In contrast, I will relate an instance, not only of
great lack of benevolence, but may we not say, of jus-
tice?
Two preachers traveled a circuit, in Tennessee, con-
taining 900 members, many of them wealthy farmers.
One of these preachers was a married man; he re-
eived for his services $125. The other, a single
man, received $31.50. Each had to find his own
horse, and clothed himself. It was 300 miles around
the circuit.
The young preacher traveled that year 3300 miles,
laboring faithfully, and for all received $31.50. But
he was as full of courage as ever, to start upon a new
circuit for another year's labor. But the married
man was obliged to locate. He could not support his
family that way.
The people of that circuit, took few, or no religious
papers, and would have been mortally offended, if a
hint had been given, that they did not support their
ministers faithfully.
104
INCIDENTS OF
CHAPTER XXV.
ANECDOTES OF THE CLERGY.
THE Clergy of any country or nation, will have a
great influence upon the people, for good or evil.
Why does New England stand head and shoulders
above every other nation, that now exists, or has ever
existed. In morals, intelligence, industry, love of free-
dom, justice, and everything, which relates to the well
being of our common humanity! No one acquainted
with our history, can deny, that the magic power of
an intelligent and pious body of ministers, has had no
little influence to bring about such glorious results.
We venture to say, that no two hundred years of
the world's history, has ever exhibited, such an intel-
ligent and exemplary body of men, so truly devoted
to their work, viz: to advance the highest intellectual
and moral improvement of the people.
All honor to them, in their high vocation. How-
ever Douglass and Border Ruffian Sympathizers may
attempt to heap opprobrium upon them, for watching
with such Argus eyes, against the encroachments of
tyranny. The people, also, react and influence the
clergy; and hence the Bible proverb-" Like people
like priest.”
The facts which I shall relate of the Clergy, will
give some idea, of what the state of society must be,
to allow such things.
A minister in Mississippi, got into a controversy
with a Doctor of his congregation, concerning a small
trade, about some damaged corn. From words, they
proceeded to blows, the minister seizing a club, and
the Doctor drawing his bowie knife. They were
parted, however, by friends, before fatal results had
taken place. But no charges were ever preferred
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105
against the minister, for conduct, not in accordance
with his profession.
in
"
There was a preacher, by the name of
Florida, a somewhat eccentric, but most successful la-
borer. Such a revival followed his labors, as the vil-
lage had never seen. One of the subjects of it, was
one of the most intelligent men in the place, a Doc-
tor, a noted duellist. He was so skilled in the use of
his six shooters, that it was sure death, with whom-
soever he fought.
ter.
A difficulty sprang up between him and the minis-
It was finally settled without bloodshed. But
a local preacher, a member of the Quarterly Confer-
ence, told me that he expected nothing less, than that
in some of their stormy, official meetings, blood would
flow. The preacher always came armed with a load-
ed whip. And often, in his excitement, would jump
to his feet, and with fierce language, shake his fists in
the Doctor's face, who, though a dancing, drinking,
fighting duelist, showed less of temper, than the min-
ister, giving evidence, that the grace of God had been
exercised on his heart.
This fighting parson, used to tell his people, "That
if the devil should once get so completely into him,
as to lead him to begin to fight, the one opposed, had
better have his will made, and all earthly affairs closed
up."
As a specimen of his plain manner of dealing with
the people, I will relate an incident. Under one of
his sermons, a well known slave woman, of undoubt-
ed piety, became exceedingly happy, and shouted
aloud the high praises of God.
And one
Some of the aristocratic, white ladies of the church
were for having her silenced, and pnt out.
of them arose and did so. This outrage, upon what
the preacher felt to be, religious liberty, aroused his
fiery zeal, and he poured out a most withering rebuke,
EQ
106
INCIDENTS OF
in scorching, burning words, which so overpowered
the white woman, that put her out, that she sank on
the floor, to escape observation, and get out of sight.
He assured them, "that such Christian slaves,
would be shouting in heaven, while they would be
screaming for drops of water in hell.'
""
It was not to be expected, that such plain dealing
as that, would suit aristocratic slave holders, born to
rule, and not to be rebuked. Trouble sprang up;
and the faithful pastor, found the fire burning so
fiercely around him, that he was obliged to leave.
And as he did so, he said, "he would rather go to
work, and help pave hell, with light wood knots,
(pitch pine) than preach the gospel any longer, to the
sinners in
دو
ŷ
There was one of the most distinguished members
of the
who, having found a lady that pleased
him, had so far paid attentions, and secured her af
fections, that he thought the prize was surely his;
and in the fulness of his joy, introduced her to a par-
ticular friend, who was so struck with her beauty, and
the value of the prize, that the made attempts to sup-
plant his friend, and win her for himself. And he
succeeded, she having a rich vein of flirtation in her
nature.
He felt it was a wrong, too deep to be passed over
in silence, and sent him a challenge to fight. It was
accepted, and the result was, only a shattered right
hand on the part of the minister.
It is my opinion, after some reflection, that the lady
was not worth risking life for, in this way.
1
It reminds one of an incident in the history of the
Puritans. The brave Capt. Miles Standish, sending
by the handsome John Alden, proposals of marriage
to Miss Priscilla Mullins. She hints to the bearer,
that he had only to make a similar offer, aud the val-
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107
iant old Captain would have to look somewhere else
for a bride.
A member of the
Conference, fought a
duel. All right—he showed that he was a man of
courage.
There has been much said of late, in some quarters,
about the fighting clergy of New England, and of the
propriety of their recommending, Sharpe's Rifles,"
to those of their congregations, and others, who were
about to make a home on the flower enameled prairies
of Kanzas. While we would by no means deny, but
that the old Revolutionary blood flows freely in their
veins, and when it is necessary, to defend a great
principle, they are ready to seize either the pen, or the
sword, as circumstances may demand; yet, for a true
fighting clergy, we think the North and East, must
yield the palm to the South.
In that country, it is very common for different de-
nominations, to unite in building the church, and then
each occupy it, in a friendly way, as preachers, of dif
ferent orders, may happen along; some days, having
two or three sermons, and then weeks may pass by,
without any.
6.
At one of these churches, in Georgia, a Baptist lead
off in the first sermon. He was followed by a Meth-
odist brother, who scored the Baptist brother, and his
doctrines, awfully. Another Baptist preacher was
present, who was expected to give the third sermon.
He arose at the proper time, and said, "That he felt
much more like fighting, than he did like preaching,
and that he could hardly find grace enough, to re-
strain himself from pitching his Methodist brother out
of the window." And as he was a giant in strengh
and size, weighing about two hundred, the Methodist
brother was sorely frightened, lest he might, “fall
from grace," and actually do it.
A very intelligent colored man, in Washington,
108
INCIDENTSOF
Jo
told me the following incident, which occurred the
Sabbath before.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was adminis-
tered. At the South, the custom is, for the blacks,
to partake after the whites. In some places, the col-
ored are seated behind the whites; in others, they
come and kneel at the altar after them. Sometimes,
they remain in the gallery and are served by colored
deacons. In the case I refer to, they all came and
knelt at the altar.
As an aged colored Mother in Israel, of established
christian character, had gained the vestibule, from the
back part of the gallery, to take her place at the table
of her Lord, she met the preacher passing out, all
gloved, with hat in hand. He addressed her,
"Well, Milly, you must excuse me; I am invited
to dinner, up at Mr. Corcoran's, (the great government
banker, in W.) I fear I shall be late. You must go
in and help yourself, and cover up the things nicely,
when you are through.'
My informant added, with true Afric wit, "that in
his opinion, when the minister was in Mr. Corcoran's
splendid parlor, it would be about as near heaven, ast
he would ever get."
Notwithstanding these facts, let it not, for a mo-
ment, be supposed, that the South has not in her pul-
pits, many men of self sacrifice, learning and devotion,
who are an honor to their profession, and are doing.
good service for their Lord and Master. There is a
readiness to do, and to suffer, which might not be
equalled in the North and East. One fact, I will
mention.
There appeared at the Memphis Conference, a bro-
ther from Louisiana, asking help from the older Con-
ference, for the work, eight hundred miles south,
which was so rapidly enlarging on their hands. He
was invited to the platform, to make a statement of
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109
the wants of the people, whom he represented. And
a more thrilling speech, it has seldom been my lot
to hear.
The country, as he described it, was surpassingły
beautiful. It was one eternal spring, where flowers
never fade, and the air ever vocal with the song of
birds. Those sudden changes of temperature, to
which our northern clime is subject, bringing the seeds
of death to so many, added to those terrible storms of
rain, hail and snow, which here have undisputed sway,
for six months in the year re there unknown. He
set forth the anxious desire of the Creole population,
to hear the gospel, traveling from twenty to thirty
miles, to listen to a single sermon.
He spoke of their willingness to support the insti- '
tutions of religion; a starving salary was not to be
collected, with great effort, by a dollar here, and an-
other there, but single, large hearted, wealthy indi-
viduals, would pay the whole, and board the preach-
er, into the bargain. Others would build a good
church from their own private funds. The people
were hospitable in the highest degree, ready to do
everything to make the preacher happy and contented
among them.
w
There was one thing, however, of which he must
forewarn them—the pestilence, the yellow fever, was
but a too frequent visitant of their otherwise most in-
viting country. And when it came, though others
might flee, the preacher must not; but laying aside
his preaching, he must be at once, physician, and
nurse, for both body and soul. Night and day, with
little of rest and sleep, he must move among the dy-
ing and the dead, expecting every moment, when the
condition and fate of others, shall be his own.
He would not conceal the fact, that in that very
season, many a faithful ambassador of Jesus Christ,
had fallen at his post. He wished their places sup-
110
INCIDENTS OF
plied, as well as new fields of labor occupied. He
would have them count the cost, realizing they would
be called to witness such scenes of suffering and death,
as were unknown among the green hills of Tennes-
But for the sake of perishing souls, he hoped
the Macedonian cry of the people would be heard.
see.
Volunteers were called for. Some ten, or more,
gave in their names, that without going home, to bid
wife or parents farewell, with horses ready bridled at
the door, like the Light Brigade, at the terrible bat-
tle of Balaklava, they were ready, at the word, to
charge some eight hundred miles down the river, into
that valley of sin and moral death.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE IGNORANCE OF THE SOUTH.
WE can only glance at some of its developments.
First, that they do not see how antagonistic, the sys-
tem of Slavery is with the genius and spirit of our
free institutions, or that they can flourish, side by
side, together, instead of one or the other being driv-
en to the wall, and crushed out. No one can write
in favor of Slavery, without denying those self-evi-
dent propositions, contained in the, Declaration of
Independence, that all men are created free and
equal." And Slavery propagandists both North and
South, now boldly give the lie direct, to those great
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111
truths, uttered by the fathers of the revolution. If
the people should believe in this Southern doctrine
of tyrants, then would liberty be stabbed to the
heart.
Secondly, their ignorance is seen, in that they sup-
pose that Slavery, a relic of barbarism, can live, with
the whole moral force of the civilized and christian
world arrayed against it. They have yet to learn,
that public opinion rules the world, and not the lash,
or bayonets. It matters not, though for a time, this
or that side seems to predominate, and obtains a great
victory; in the end, public opinion wins the day.
Such a paper as the, "New York Tribune," the
Independent," and others that might be named,
have more power, than an army of an hundred thous-
and men.
Such an age of progress as this, of rail-
roads, telegraphs, steamboats, printing presses, must
work the death of this old and effete institution.
And the sooner they make preparations for its burial,
the better.
(6
Again, their ignorance is seen, in that they seem
not to know, what great and mighty results have been
wrought out by free labor, when used side by side
with slave.
The Free States, blooming like the garden of the
Lord, covered with cities, villages, and the spacious
dwellings of a prosperous people. While the vast
forests, the rude log cabin, the unworked roads, the
unbridged streams, the desolate appearance of things
generally, in slave land, strikes the traveler from the
Free States, with the greatest astonishment.
They seem to have no true idea, of the extent of
our commerce, manufactures, or agriculture, and of
the wealth, which is the natural result, of nourishing
these branches of industry together. But they have
the most preposterous ideas of the value of their
great staple, cotton. To hear them talk, one would
112
INCIDENTS OF
think, they supposed the earth would cease to move,
the sun would stand still in mid heaven, and the Free
States starve to death generally, if they should cease
to grow cotton.
They seem honestly to think, that they support the
North, and if they should see fit to dissolve the Un-
ion, we should be ruined past hope. Our ships
would rot at their wharves, and grass grow in the
streets of our great cities. It was one universal dec-
laration to me, throughout the South, "that unless
we ceased to agitate the Slavery question, and silence.
those presses, which now plead so powerfully the
rights of man, they must dissolve partnerships with
us, and leave us to that destruction, which our crimes
so justly deserved.
It seemed impossible for them to realize, that the
dissolution of the Union, would be their certain
death; but have no disastrous influence on us. And
that every school boy laughs at this impotent and
stale threat. They do not know, that the North has
all the elements of prosperity within herself, and has
nothing to fear from within or without.
There is, probably, no State in the Union, so high-
ly favored in respect to harbors, navigable rivers, cli-
mate, fertility of the soil, mines of coal, copper, lead,
gypsum, and even gold, as Virginia. No State so
abounding with water privileges. Nothing but the
curse of Slavery hinders her from becoming the lead-
ing State in the Union. But by being willing to hug
this viper to her bosom, she must be contented with
a place in the fourth or fifth rank.
Hear what one of her editors (Lynchburg, Virgin-
ia,) says, when speaking of her dependence, and the
other Southern States, on the outside barbarous, upon
those not favored with the social institutions of
Slavery:
Maoll
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113
Dependent upon Europe and the North, for almost eve-
ry yard of cloth, and every coat, and boot, and hat we wear,
for our axes, scythes, tubs, and buckets,-in short. for
every thing except our bread and meat! It must occur to
the South that if our relations with the North should ever be
severed, and how soon they may be, none can know, (may
God avert it long!) we would, in all the South, not be able
to clothe ourselves. We could not fell our forests, plow
our fields, nor mow our meadows. In fact, we would be
reduced to a state more abject than we are willing to look
at, even prospectively. And yet, with all these things star-
ing us in the face, we shut our eyes, and go on blindfold.”
"↓
The following quotation from the New Orleans
Crescent, hints at the weakness of the South. Much
stronger language might truthfully be used:
"We don't raise food enough to feed ourselves; we don't
manufacture clothing enough to clothe ourselves; we don't
keep the workshops of the world alive, have very few work-
shops of our own, and are obliged to depend upon foreign
"workshops" for an infinite variety of indispensable ar-
ticles; we have no ships of our own, yet we maintain in
profitable employment, whole fleets of Northern and foreign
vessels; we possess learned and able writers, yet the pen
and ink with which they write, and the paper upon which
they write, comes from foreign States; our newspapers will
compare favorably with the newspapers of any other sec-
tion, yet the types, presses, ink, and everything else. come
from the North; we pride ourselves upon our fine horses,
yet the saddles, bridles, martingales, harness, &c., with
which those horses are caprisoned, in ninety-nine cases out
of a hundred, are of Northern manufacture; we like to ride
in fine carriages, and by patronizing Northern industry al-
most exclusively, check the growth of home industry; our
immediate exports pay for the imports of the whole coun-
try, and regulate the exchanges of the earth, yet we, by ig-
noring the lessons common sense teaches, allow others to
bear off the principal prizes in the grand commercial lot-
tery; we are not silent in regard to our strength and prow-
ess, or ability to do our enemies harm, yet we have few
foundries for the manufacture of arms, depend for supplies
of ifles, powder. shot, and percussion caps, upon others;
have no cannon foundries, no powder manufacturing estab-
lishments, and, in fact, have nothing, literally nothing,
114
INCIDENTS OF
whereby our people could vindicate their rights in case of
an armed struggle! These facts may be homely, but they
are none the less indisputable, and none the less worthy the
consideration of practical statesmen."
Strange as it may seem, the South are in entire ig-
norance of the pecuniary loss they suffer by the insti-
tution. Any amount of testimony might be brought
forward, to show, that under ordinary circumstances,
the slave does not accomplish more than half as much
labor as a free man. I saw many families paying
from two to three hundred dollars a year for their
servants, when seventy-five dollars, with us, would
have furnished better help, and the board of one per-
son saved, and many other etceteras.
Homer uttered a great truth when he said:
"Jove fixed it certain, that whatever day,
Makes man a slave, takes half his worth away."
If one man has one hundred, or five hundred
slaves, toiling for him without wages, it may make
him rich, but the wealth of the country, and its taxa-
ble property is not increased, as if each was a free
man, toiling unceasingly to secure a competency for
himself.
Again, the majority of them are in entire ignor-
ance of the rapid spread of abolition sentiments in
the Free States. The world has moved on, during
the last twenty-five years, but they have not realized
it. At the beginning of that period, a mob could be
raised as easily to break up an abolition meeting, in
any of the Free States, as to lynch an abolitionist
now in the South. But all is changed. Few can be
found, who do not profess to be opposed to Slavery.
In the last Presidental election, Freedom and
Slavery met face to face, and in the next contest,
there can be no doubt, which party will be victori-
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115
ous. They, at the South, good easy souls, have been
sleeping over a volcano. They thought the North,
at the command of Webster, would, "conquer their
prejudices" on this, question of the age. When all
the while, their hatred to Slavery, was becoming
more and more intense. The South seem to be in
entire ignorance of that terrible fate, which is ap-
proaching with a step, steady as Time, when the
increase of the slaves shall have made them the dom-
inant, or strongest party. They are making no efforts
to arrest the terrible catastrophe, which the birth of
every slave only renders more certain. They do not
understand the great law of retribution, viz: that we
cannot put a chain around the neck of another, but
that one end of it, will clasp us in its terrible em-
brace. The slaves can not be held in a state of ig-
norance, and semi-barbarism, but that the whites
must share, to a certain extent, the same fate.
It is an old proverb, verified by every day's exper-
ience, that no
“that no man can do an injury to another,
without receiving the butt end of it himself."
Of the hundreds of thousands at the South, that
can neither read or write, have not the first elements
of a common education, I need not speak. The cen-
sus reveals most startling facts, they are known to
all. To hear the hot heads of some, in South Caro-
lina, talk, one would suppose their State, in men and
material strength, was the banner State of the Union.
While, by her own showing, she could not bring in-
to the field, fifty thousand fighting men. While the
old Bay State could muster two hundred thousand.
And by means of her perfect net work of telegraphs,
and railroads, could pour them, like a mighty aval-
anche, at a few hour's notice, on any rood of ground
in her territory, where the enemy might be about to
unfurl his banner.
116
INCIDENTS OF
CHAPTER XXVII.
SLAVE HOLDING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
We have at the North, a peculiar class of men,
strongly conservative, quite benevolent in their way,
minds of such peculiar idiosyncratic formation, sʊ un-
able, or unwilling to follow a great principle out to
its extreme conclusions, or an argument to its legiti-
mate result, that though opposed to slavery, as a sys-
tem, they think there are many cases, in which a man
may take from his poor neighbor, his hard earned
wages, year after year, and God's glory be promoted
thereby. They make distinctions, where the bible does
not. They would not have ministers hold slaves, but
the laity may, not being able to see, that the bible has
but one rule of morals, for clergy or laymen. It gives
to no person, whether high or low, the right to prac-
tice immorality.
•
The Southern M. E. Church, act consistently, in
allowing all, from their Bishops to the poorest mem-
ber, who can afford it, to be slaveholders. And truly,
"consistency is a jewel."
The church has ever had too many in her ranks,
standing on the shifting quicksands of political expe-
diency, and not on the rock of God's eternal truth,-
men not willing to follow a principle beyond the line
of easy practicability. They make comfortable and
large reservations for the weaknesses, prejudices, and
self interest of poor human nature; and think it ex-
travagant, and radical, to force one into the extremes
of trial and sacrifice. If some dear right hand sin
offend you even endanger your soul's salvation, do
not cut it off and cast it from you. That would be
radical, going to extremes, and might be very incon-
venient. Better nurse and mollify it, cover it with
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117
poultices, which for the time being, shall render it
somewhat easy, though it does nothing to hinder the
fatal gangrene from rapidly extending to the seat of
life. Be careful how you follow a principle to its
final result. But turn aside, into some by-way arbor
of expediency, which invites you to rest at the foot of
the hill of difficulty. Pursue the straight and narrow
path of duty, till you come to a crisis-till you begin
to feel the pressure of the great principle you have
adopted; then make a sagacious and prudent detour
to accommodate the weakness of the inner man. This
half principle class of men, are ready to say, "That
slavery, for the most part, is an evil-nay, a very evil
thing; that this is true of it, in ninety cases out of a
hundred." This is as far as public opinion will now
carry you. To go beyond this, would be very impo-
litic and dangerous to a man's popularity. Never
think, or presume to stamp, the whole centre and cir-
cumference of slavery, with the burning brand of sin.
Leave a thin luminous ring of righteousness, faintly
glimmering, around this relic of Barbarism.
"Spare,
O, spare, to this huge, black iniquity, a few instances
in a thousand, in which a man may hold another as a
slave, or in other words, withhold from him, the re-
ward of his labor, and still do so for the glory of God,
and the honor of his justice and righteousness.
"As you value your popularity, do not go any far-
ther; for in the catechism of expediency we are taught,
that there is a diverging around extraordinary cases
of difficulty, at the extreme end of a great principle.
Let there be a few extreme cases to nestle, Ruth-like,
under the white and flowing robe of the love and be-
nevolence of God."
Men who use such language, are a very large and
respectable class in the community. They may be
very sincere. But it is easy to show, that all who are
thus standing on the quicksands of expediency, must
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INCIDENTS OF
sink, and be submerged, when the battle is pushed to
the gates.
The strongest man in the strength of this world,
and the wisest in its wisdom, is powerless and guide-
less, unless he can plant his foot on the solid rock of
a fixed principle, enunciated in God's word.
Whole principles bridge the abyss that separate
time from eternity. Half principles are rafts, abutted
on neither shore, bearing downwards those who stand
upon them, to a gulf more to be feared, than that
which receives the rushing cataract of Niagara.
Go with all the power of eloquence of this half
principle preaching, or reasoning, and address the
slaveholder, and see if you can make his conscience
quake and tremble, with the conviction, that he is sin-
ning against God, and endangering his soul's salva-
tion. Speak boldly and fearlessly to him, and he will
respect you all the more. Range before his eyes, like
so many ghosts, its cruelties, sin and shame—the
countless multitude of its thick set villainies.
Wax as warm and eloquent as the subject demands.
Put the whole territory of slavery under the curse of
God's law, with the exception of one rood's space;
and see if every slaveholder in the land will not re-
treat to that standing ground, and find it wide enough,
and safe enough, for the working of the inhuman in-
stitution.
Exempt from the ban, but one instance, in which,
out of pure benevolence, and for the glory of God, a
Bishop, Priest, or laymen, might hold a person, as a
slave, and be guiltless; and then see, if every bloody
Legree of the South, with his hands reeking with the
blood of murdered Uncle Toms, and the withering,
burning curses, of demented and crazy Cassys ringing
in his ear, would not retreat to that same platform,
and stand up equally as straight.
They ever affirmed to me, in all the States, that
Mi
.
A SOUTHERN TOUR.
119
they hold the slaves in bondage, out of pure benevo-
lence, for the best good of the race, for the highest in-
terests of humanity. To keep the negroes from
becoming as wretched and miserable, as those of their
own color in the Free States.
Householders there, will expatiate, with the great-
est eloquence, on the difficulties of the system, and
prove over and again, what trials of patience they have
with these miserable beings, thrown upon their care.
Or, as we should say, would be miserable, were it not
for the merciful institution of slavery, which God's
great goodness, has kindly provided for the colored
race.
All therefore, at the North, who plead for benevo-
lent slaveholding, are, unconsciously, perhaps, adding
buttresses to the institution.
When we realize, however, what efforts they at the
South make, to get those into their power, who es-
cape, are willing to relieve their masters of this
trouble and care, we can hardly give them credit, for
all the disinterested benevolence they claim for them-
selves.
From our knowledge of human nature, we are in-
clined to think, that the assertion was true, made by
an Episcopal minister, himself a slaveholder, to a com-
pany of clergymen, in the saloon of the Coosa Belle,
on the Alabama river, when this subject was under
consideration, viz: "Selfishness! selfishness! is at the
bottom of the whole system. It is profitable for us,
and therefore we continue it."
He ridiculed the sophistry of those, who would
convince the North, that it is a great industrial, civi-
lizing, educational system, having the highest interest
of the colored man in view.
So far is true, that however benevolent a person
may wish to have his particular slaveholding con-
sidered, every one that holds slaves, gives so much
120
INCIDENTS OF A SOUTHERN TOUR.
countenance to the system, as his example affords.
If every holder was a real Legree, Slavery could not
live a day. Such monsters live, and are sustained by
the capital furnished, and strength given to the sys-
tem, by a very different class of men-men that have
many noble and excellent qualities.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
GRADUATE LIBRARY
NOV 11 1971
DEG 5 1971
1996
AUG 12 1996
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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