Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-09-04

sort, to lmblbe SUCH absurd and mon
strous principles. Another scene, as a
consequence of slavery, soon after occur
red to me, Taking walk one day by
myself, and winding my way along the
bank of the Mississippi river, l found
myself, before | was aware, that | had
walked two or three miles from the city,
or the road leading to general Jackson's
battle ground. Perceiving in a large
field little distance ahead of me, about
80 or 40 negroes at work, l was induced
from motives of curiosity, and believe
| may say, with feelings Of humanity, to
continue my walk still further, in order
to witness this little body of slaves at
their work. The day was excessively
warm. | soon came up with them, how
ever, and seating myself beneath the
shade of little cypress tree, which stood
by the side of the road, and which very
comfortably protectedme from the parch-
ing and burning rays Of the sun, began
to reflect upon the scene before me.
Here, said |, are 40 human beings, deriv-
ing their existence and being, like all the
rest humankind, from the same great Pa
rent of nature; entitled from the same
beneiicent fountain to an equal participa-
ton in certain unalienable rights and
privileges, and which we, as men, have
no right TO take from them, toiling in
servitude, all their lives, long beneath the
blows and stripes of cruel master.
F4l..
the desert with his bow and his tonahawk
IN his hand, is not half SO deplorable as
these poor slaves; because the Indian
can bound over his native hills, and
through his native forests, free as the
mountain breeze which he inhalcs-with
no miserable chains of servitude rafting
at his heeis--with no unfceling petty ty-
rant at his back, to inRiot upon him what
punishment he pleases. Not so with the
poor debased African. Cut off from eve
ry thing dear to his heart, far from his ma
tive home--compelled to toll and sweat
beneath a burning sun, nlingling his
signs with the air which he breathes, and
his tears with the earth which he digs
and cultivates. Gracious God do not
these victims Of slavery and oppression
cry aloud to Heaven for some interpos-
ing power to wrest them from their I'M
happy, deplorable condition? While
indulging in these kind of reflections,
which suppose the people of this coun-
try would denominate treason against
them, my attention was suddenly arrest
ed by hearing the cracking of whip,
coming in the direction from where the
negroes were at work in the field. Turn
ing that way, | beheld one of the drivers
beating poor fellow most numerically.
He held in his hand whip, which he
always carried with him, and which is
stick about three feet long, at the end Of
which is tied very large heavy braided
lash, four and a halffeet long. The poor
negro, not daring to say word in his
defence, groaned out most piteously at
every stroke. Believe me, my dear
Ii, at such sight as this l was not
little exasperated. Leaving my scat,I
bounded suddenly over the fence, deter
mined to put an end to this scene of cru
city, which the driver observing, stopped
his whipping. Coming up to him, l
asked him why he had logged that poor
negro so, who at this time was marking
his footsteps upon the earth with the
blood which was running down his back
and dropping off at his feet. He replied
to me that "the id scoundrel had
feigncd himselfsick, forno othcrpurpose
but to get rid of work for few DAYS"
The truth was, the negro actually was
sick, which l asccrtained upon the spot
and which was subsequently proved, for
four days after that, as l afterwards as
ccrtained, he had "given up the ghost"
leaving all his chains of servitude and
misery behind him, and gone to inhabit
far better country, where we presume it
makes no difference what " complexion
an Indian or an African sun has burnt On
the Pilgrim" Once more adieu.