The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-21

~ " Nk
err, the obligation on them to guard the interests
of the Indian in bis slave, is more imposing. The
negroes in the nation dread the idea Of being
transferred from their present state OF ease and
comparative liberty, 10 bondage and hard labor,
on sugar and cotton plantations.
| "Ihey have always had great influence over
the Indians. They live 10 villages separate, and
in many instances remote from their owners, and
enjoy equal liberty with their owners, with The
single exception that the slave supplies his own
er annually from tie product his little field with
corn in proportion 10 The amour! Of the crop-n
no instance that has come my knowledge ex-
ceedng ten bushels; the residue is considered
the property ofthe slave. Many of these slaves
have stocks ofhorses, cows and hogs, with which
the Indian owners never assume a right to inter-
NEEDLE. | am thus particular on this point, that
YOU may understand the true cause of the abhor-
renee OF the negroes Of every idea Of change. Ana
the indulgence so extended to the slave, will cna-
able you 10 credit the assertion, that an Indian
would almost an soon sell his child his Slaye ex
cepl when under the influence Of intoxicating
liquors."
We have here picture of certainly very ex-
raordnary system of slavery. Slaves abhorring
a change, and masters no more thinking Of sell
ling slave than child But then these Indians
were heather, and perhaps it was from not adver-
ting to the fact, that General Call took for grant
ed they would be glad TO convert men, women,
and children into SPECIE. President jackson was
equally inconsiderate. The agent was answered,
The President is Of opinion, that the opporuni-
ty to SELL their slaves will be an inducement
for the Seminoles 10 remove. Nor is it con-
sdered that the permission TO the indians to sell,
would be an inhuman act. 1t is not to be presumed
the condition of these slaves Uould be acorSe than
that Of others in The same section Of tie country
To this presumption of executive philanthropy
the agent lorciby replied, June 9Th, 1850
THE remarks in your letter that {" it is not 10 be
presumed the condition Of these slaves would be
worse than that Of others in the same section of
country is trGe: vet YOU will agree with me- that
the same remark is applicable 10 myself, or aAy
other individual in theUnted States, as we should,
il subjected 10 slavery, be in the precise condition
of our fellow slaves. ANY one at all &C !
quainted with the condition of the negro, as con-
nccled with his Indian owner here, could not fail
TO admit that the change with him would be OPP
DJeSsiuezy great" Mr.. Thompson farther remar-
ked 10 the Secretary of War, eff the department
could be satisfied that the undeniable aJhorrence
Of The negroes in this nation to the idea of being
transferred from the present state OF ease and COM
paratiye freedom, to sugar and contlon plantations
under the control of Serere taSh-maste7S, had been
made 10 subserve the views of government by in
ducing the negroes TO exert their known Infu-
ence over the Indians through pledges made 10
them, accompanied by assurances that their remo-
val west would, more than any thing else, serve
to secure the existing relations between them and
The Indians, then sure y the department, instead
Of CHASING them with the Indian skins and furs
would require punctillieus redemption of those
pledges. | have not heard of solitary Indian |
desiring the privilege TO SELL"
The President at last yielded, and the agent
was authorized 10 prohibit any person entering
the nation to buy slaves. But it was 100 late
The negroes we'll kneW now anxious the whites |
were 10 possess them and they reasonably feared
that if the indians expelled, instead Of being
permitted to accompany their kind masters, they
would tie cons gned to The cruel and detested SER
vice OF Georgia and Alabama planters. Hence,
stimulate The heart and nerve the arm of man,
they resisted to the utmost the emigration of their
masters, and n the deadly struggle that ensued,
evinced their devotion to the Indians, and success
uI courage which may well send thrill of fear
fuI anticipation throughout the slave region.
We now submit 10 readers whether the facts |
we have exhibited do not prove beyond all doubl
that the blood and treasure expended in the Flori-
da war, have been expended for the sole purpose
ofbrcahing up arctuge for fugitive slares; and
that;the SemnoeS have been goaded into their
extraordinary and desperate resistance, by the |
Eauds and 1o6beries ofSlareholderS?
Mr.. Thompson abolitionist, but had lately
been representative in Congress from the State Of Geor