Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-07-31


feared his efforts would rather tend to in
jure their cause.
A week after he left, DR.. Nelson. for
merly of Missouri, came here to raise
funds for his Missionary College. Be-
fore he left, he delivered lecture on the
subject of slavery for which he was not
paid. He commenced his remarks by'
stating, that the black and white races
were mixing very fast in the slave States.
lie had been accustomed 10 hear young
men boast so generally of profigate con-
nexlons with slaves, that when he was
hrst told such attachments would be dis
graceful in the free States, he could not
belleve it. The gradual Tightening of
compilations among The slaves was s.rik-
lugiy observable, even within his own
recollection. He knew people, married
and settled in the free States, who had
once been slaves; but they were so per-
tectly white, that none suspected their orr
GIN He said when he was surgeon in
the army, during the last war, an officer
who messed with him, one day stepped
up to the ranks, and laying his hands on
soldier, said, You are my slave = The
man dropped his knapsack and musket in
moment, and cooked for them during
the remainder of the campaign. He was
lighter than his master, who happened to
have dark complexion. His aslonished
comrades would exclaim, Why Julius, is
il possible you are a slave2 You used to
be very respectable and thriving man in
Ohio ! To which the 'chattep replied,
And | mean to be respectable and thriv-
ing again before die. Honesty and in
dustry will help man up in the world
When his master urged that he ought to
serve him several years, in consideration
of his kindness, and the money he had
paid for him. Julius answered, -. Perhaps
may for little while, master; but |
can't stay long; freedom is too sweet
DR.. N. mentioned having conversed with
a slave, who said he had run away in
obedience to his masters orders. My
master was always very kind to me- said
he; and when my mistress was first
married, she was very kind but as her
children grew up, the neighbors observed
they looked just like me. Then she be-
gan to dislike me, and had me punished
often. But the older we grew, the more
we looked alike. At last, she said must
be sold to New-Orleans. Then my mas
ter told me to tie up my clothes ana run
away
The differences deduced from these
facts were. that slavery tended to promote
a rapid amalgamation. while freedom
checked it; and that if the admixture OF
the two races went on in as rapid ratio
as it had done for the last thirty years, il
would sooE be impossible for us to Judge
whether our citizens were slaves or not,
by their complexion.
The speaker next alluded to the strong
local attachments of the colored race. He
: had frequently met emancipated or rona-
/ way slaves, who said How | do long to
go back where I lived when was a
child The climate suits me better; and
: more than that, all my friends and rela.
tons are there. Oh, if slavery was only
: abolished, so that we could all be free
there, I'd be back quicker than came
This was intended to show that there
$ was no danger Of colored people all flock
e ing to the North, in case of emancipation
/, and leaving the south without laborers.
y DR.. N. expressed surprise that ne hac
Q been asked to lecture in New-England
q because he knew so much about slavery
S Why, my dear friends said he, 'ther
a are things which the smallest boy in thi
a room knows just as well, perhaps. bette
i than | can tell him. A dear sister i
1t Christ lately asked me if | did not thin
:, the slaves would cut their masters throat:
e if they were freed at once. Said |. Dea
i sister, you shall answer that -questio
n yourself, if you please. Suppose 20
L were compelled to work without wage
r year after year-told when you might g
to to bed, and when you must get up-whi
lie you might eat, and what you might wes
at should you think it just and right p
IS Suppose your master at last became troub
it ed in conscience, and said, restore you
is freedom. Forgive the wrong l hay
III done you. Go or stay as you please
ed Your earnings are henceforth your owl
ne If you are in trouble, come to me and
to will be your friend Do you think We
ct should feel like cutting that mans throa
in She eagerly replied, oh. no, indeed
should not My dear fellow travellers
81 eternity, these things must be just as pla
at to you, as they are to me.
by Il lived many years without having
of suspicion that there was any thing wror
an in holding slaves. Even after | had
ras interest in Christ, there seemed to be not
iii ing amiss in it; just as pious people we
TO on making and selling rum, witho
her troubling their consciences about it. o
elf, that then could have had faithful chri
md ian brethren, to rouse me with the vol
,tty of exhortation and rebuke should I
II 49, IL - .ll