Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-08-23

From the New-York Evangelist.
AMERICAN CASTE.

| ~ @~ AMERICAN CASTE.
I We wish to call the attention of our
readers to capital article on this subject,
in the last No. of the Anti Slavery Quar-
terIy Magazine. 1t shows, IN most ire
futable manner, that the principle which
precludes our colored brethren from eniov-
ing their equal rights, as men and citi-
zens, is not hatred of color, but the shirt
of caste. If it were coIor-hatrcd, black
people would not be allowed to come near
us as SERVANTS, any more than as asso
cia!es. But now, when a grand enter
tainment is given, and the utmost pains ia
ken, and no expense spared to remove
everything disagreeable and provide eve
rything pleasing to the guests, we see the
room filled with black Servants. Every
article of splendor in dress, every dainty
Wand, every deIicacy indrink, passes thro'
the hands ofblacks. But when we come
to the Lords entertainment, whore we all
meet on the common level, as redeemed
sinners bought with the same blood, our
dellcacy Is shocked, and our pious recep-
ton of the body of Christ is turned into
Ioathing, if those black nigeers are allow
ed to take piece of bread from the plate,
or those black ii ps to touch the consec rat
ed cup, before our own. Is that color, or
| is it caste?
For the information of our foreign rea-
ders, who will not easily believe the ex-
tent to which caste is carried IN this en-
Ilghtened Christian country, and in the
church, too, We affirm that it is the COM
mon practice in those churches where the
bread and the cup are carried to the COM
municants sitting, to have the coIored
members seated by themselves either on
benches inthe aisle, or in remote pews. and
never unless by oversight, to allow them
to take piece of bread, or 10 lasts of the
cup, until all the whites are served. We
DO not know of a Presbyterian church in
this region, which is an exception, unless
some few churches may have adopted
different usage within three years. We
have seen our elders 60 down the aisle on
one side, to the farthest seat occupied by
the whites, then up the other side to the
pulpit, and then 60 back to serve the COL
ored members. Would Jesus have done
500 Hear him say, Inasmu>h as We
have done it unto one of the least OF these
my brethren, We HAVE DONE 1T UNTO
Me-. 1t was an open indignity to my
Saviour.
A whimsical illustration Of the fact that
1t IS caste and not color, and that Ameri-
cans have no objection to seeing colored
people in their places of resort, n+ IF
20
in late publication Of the New York
Geological institute. After setting forth
their claims and eulogizing their attrac-
tons, the proprietors say in note,
. The Proprtelors acish 1t to be under-
stood, thai PEOPLE OF COLOR are nat per-
matted to emter, EXCEPT WHEN IN ATT
TENDANCE UPON CHILDREN AND FAM
LIES
Tits saying, We, and our patrons, the
American public, care no; how many COL
ored people come tfthey aciH come as SER
rG"ts. Sd. CONE AS MEN they shall
not
The manner in which this rule is car
RED out may be seen in the following let
ter 10 MIR. Wright, from a citizen whose
worth is well known:
l was very DESTROYS Of taking nv fam
lily to the Biological Institute in the Bow |
cry, to see the specimens of wild animals
30 h'red carriage, took my family and
went up to the place. When we drove
up IN front OF the door, I got out and went
to get ticket. When 1 got to the door
well dressed man gave me a verv hard
punch in the breast with his cane which
knocked me very nearly fiat unon the
steps Said |, What did YOU do that
forY WV w 'A"'
Clear the door, said he.
want to go in, sir said |.
You cannot 60 in
am read to paw said |.
We don't admit miggcrs.'
Why did you not tell me that co]ored
people were not admitted before Won
punched me so!' w."
If you don't clear out, will put YOU
n the watch house
Do you suppose SIR said |, that am s
De treated in this manner, and not be ,
'erm'tted to speak about ito
lie then called for two officers to ,,Lo
ne 10 the watch-house. | renlied 81 =
n'nk one will be enough, as 1 shall offer
0 1esls'ance: The officers came-loid +
od OF me with great violence, and wall
OIL with me about hundred yards - y
?aVlng my wife and family in the a. y
age In front of the door The officers y
o DIV sa'd to me, If we will let Won on !
I'll you say no more about it .GeU' 4
emen' do your duty, for I com, 10 I M
Ich TERMS e 70 no tc
They then whispered to each Other . Il
omcnt and let me 60 Thew returned st
their employer, l suppose. i got into ju
y carriage and came home ,b.,,1,',1 "c'o "