Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-05-18

poor slaves then that you are pleading.
But think moment. Can the fertility
of our soil change the disposition OF
those merciless monsters, in human
shape, but void of human feelings. who
in country where cotton is one OF the
staple commodities, Clothe their slaves
in a manner scarcely sufficient to hide
their nakedness. Well, but they can
afford to treat them better here" Not
at all as respects their clothing, as you
plainly see, and reason teaches that it a
family without slaves, in any of the old
states, can get handsome support, aud
acquire wealth by their honest industry,
that family with the advantage OF
number of slaves, could easily clothe
and feed them we'll if they would. But
tina same diabolic principle that FIRST en-
shaved them, is the same all over the
world, and will prompt its votaries to
the same expedicnts here as in the slave
states.
Now my respectable fellow citizens,
conlure you to reflect seriously and
canditlly upon this subject, you rashly
involve yourselves in difficulties, from
which you cannot eXricale yourselves.
perhaps, for ages. The practice OF
slavery is no less natural evil than a
moral. 1t has a tendency TO strengthen
and 10 nonrish every impure and unholy
passion that fallen man is sub ect to.
will just state few facts, as | am
apprehensive that all OF you are not ac-
quainied with the enormites that this
abonJnable practice carries with it.
Isl. Unfortunate James, slave, icing
a man oil native goodness, honesty aud
talents, was entrusted with the care OF
his masters goods. This irequeally
called him from home, his master being
trader. Poor James and the other
slaves had a wicked white overseer. He
was blest with handsome WiIe--and ne
being from home and she being Cesri-
ute 81 any alternative as all Other ic-
male slaves are, was obliged 10 yield 10
he beas,iy humor of this abomiuable
wretch, their overseer. Poor James re-
turns and falls victim to his wrath.
| Occasion was sought and soun lound.
james was Immediately hosted up INTO
The fork OF a tree, and a rail tied 10 each
foot. lis hands were stretched 90 and
lied 10 the tree. In this position tie re-
ceived the cow-hide as long as he could
tee il. When his poor laeeraled body
was incapable OF feeling the lash, this
meroiless monster resorted to fire, APP
piled this till all feeling was gone THEN
he WAS taken down, but too iale---iiie
was gene.
End. | will relate the case Of Wat and
his little daughier. One morning he
came TO my Informant, "a man OF respec-
liability his counttnance was fallen. He
said that he had suffered the grealest
trials the day before, that he ever eSpe-
rienced. My intormer inquired What
was the cause OF those inaIs. He said
that his liitle daughter was taken from
him and sent down the river. w heO
! he went TO her she caught bold ii him,
and would not let him go. H took her
in his arms and carried her 10 the boat.
There was the fatal time and place that
! the ties of nature must give way The
tender babe clings round The neck Of
weeping father, crying o daddy take
me 10 mamma . take me 10 mamma
but all in vain. The child was torn IRON
him, and ne torn from his child totever.
Sd. A young married couple were
separated, and she carried to Kentucky.
/ She was a member of the Methodist
Church, and we hope member o, the
mystic body OF Christ. But the laws of
God and nature must be trampled under
foot by these petty monarchs OF the earth,
who spend their days in idleness end
vanity, and thrive by the sweat, and toll,
of their unfortunate fellow creatures.
! Lastly. Not many years since and not
a hundred miles from this place, fe-
male was seen beating of a female, with
large stick. AT length she was told
that she would kill her if she persisted.
She replied that she meant 10 kill the
id bitch, and next day there was 4
burial, for poor Dnah was dead.
vs. need not go to any foreign land,
we need not go one yard from our boast
ed land OF liberty, to see the dearest
rights aud privileges of our fellow crea-
lures all sacrificed to the interest of ano-
ther---every law of Iteave violated--eve-
ry tie OF nature broken. Parents and
children, husbands and wives, yea soul
and body torn asunder, at the will OF
these merciless slave holders.
Now, my fellow citizens, these cases
that I have mentioned are nothing to
what cou!d relate. only mention
/ 4 r I. l.. 81.