The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-07
From lions Waterman.
A sight of Slavery.


sight of Slavery.
Dear Brother Swnderzaa.d,-t is well known
by many in the Genesee, Black River, and One
dia Conferences, both among the ministry and
membership, that spent most of the last wear in
the South and Southwest. From the time of my
leaving home on the first of October 1888, to my
return it, July, 1889, travelled more than eight
thousand miles, full six thousand of which was in
slave countries, and from the peculiar times in
which we live, took no small pains to become
acquainted with the system of american slaperv in
all its parts, IN the church and out of it. saw it
in its mlldest type in those parts of Virginia and
Kentucky situated in the neghborhood Of the non
slaveholding states. AS | went South through
Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee, its shades
grew deeper and darker, and when reached Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana, was overwhelmed in the
hackness and rottenneSs of the core.
design, as health, and the duties of my charge
will permit to i've extracts from my journal to
the public through the faithful Watchman, if
they meet your approval. will now give an ex-
tract concerning New Orleans.
Noe. 4. Arrived in the far famed and busy
city of New Orleans. Stopped at the French Elk
change, the Astor House Of this southern mart of
the United States. Here you may look on faces
from almost every part of the world, and see al
most every shade of character developed which is
found among the human race Obtained some
Refreshments prepared for church, (t being the
morning of the Lords day. when the hour for
sabbath school came, repaired to the basement of
the church, and found the school in session. The
superintendent seemed anxious for its prosperity.
There were twentynine scholars, and five teach
ers; apparently little or no interest among the
teachers or children After the dismsson Oft
school, went to the body Of the house, splendid
and very extrsvagant building, having cost 1000
dollars, where congregation of about one hun
dred and fifty persons were assembled, apparently
from the ordinary walks life, 10 hear the gospel
We were favored with G, I'd, pl0an and searching
Sermon from the stationed minister, Dr. Hamilton
who came here few years since from the n.
England Conference. After the close Of service
made myselfknown to him, was cordially receiv-
cd, and very kindly treated by him, and in the
family Of br. Hoard for several days W lille ! re-
manned in the city. At j o'clock p. NJ, ac-
companied him to slave congregation, where
we found about eight hundred convened, of all
ages, and Of all colors from the jet black TO the a.
most snowy white. Many of them seemed very
intelligent in their appearance. Their decorum
in the church, and attention to the sermon, were
worthy Of imitation on the part of the whites
They sang devOtionatly and euchantngy. Their
piely the preacher informed me was, generally
uniform and consistent, with the exception Of pro-
aiscnous interconrse 1et:ceen tie seges, which isl
their formidable sin, and of which they are guilty
TO m alarming extent, and which they arc taugit
and encouraged in by the WHITES What! ey- !
claimed! MEMBERS of the (Aarch, of the NJ. E. |
Church, guilty Of adu'toryt and allowed in the
,hurth, and the church in possession of the knowl
Edge Of ii 7" Yes" he answered :" i, is COMMON |
nh through this country and UNAvotDABLE."
After the sermon the minister proceeded to bap- !
Use two slave children, which he did without any
CEREMONY, and exhored the mo;h;rs, q saw no
uthers,) 10 bring them up in the nurture and nd
nonition Of the Lord" &c, At this point my
ceilings already long suppressed got the ascen-
lency, and flowed in a c0pionS shower Of tears.
was asked to close by prayer, which wanted to
10. My sohl longed to unbosom itself to the
great Coz. prayed for grace upon the poor a.
FUSED slave, to bear with patience and submission
lis wrongs, when a deep and universal groan was
leard through the house. | thea changed the
prayer to thanksgiving, that there was a heaven
where the poor crushed slaves sunerings would
md, and where, perhaps, the poor man or woman
If color would be nearer the throne OF light and
glory, than the master or mistress, when there
vas u shout seemingly as deep as the Alleuiahs
,e(ore the Eternal Throne. They tax up a co1
ecttoa Of some thirty dollars for Tie support oil
,fthe ministers. The preacher remarked to me,
that, but for the colored congrega-
ion, he should have suffered for the comforts Of
life.
Al one o'clock on every Sabbath, there is
.eguar parade of the city militia. On Sabbath
evening all the theatres Uhree in number) were
Illuminated, open and glutted, ball alleys, coffee
houses, collion parties, and their nameless asSo-
tate retreats all open, and in full operation. No
religious service 10 the EVENING" was informed
he next day, by one OF the first lawyers in the
,ity, hat there a city ordnaucc oflwenty years
standing i'll full force, that the bells of the churches
should not be rung on the Sabbath evenings, as
hey disturbed the amusements Of the citizens
The Christian religion has only nominal exist
'nce here. The Preacher informed me that there
were hundreds ofapostaes from the II. E. Church
IN the city, among whom were private members
stewards exhorets, local preachers
ana travelling ministers, from the northern slave
9oiding states, whose influence was decidedly a.
3a'nst religion, manifested in entirely abseniinr
themselves from all the ordinances Of Gods house
ne pointed out to me several of these backslidden
minister's IN the streets, who had gone into the
slavery, cotton, and sugar business Br. Hamil-
on also informed me, without hestancv, that the
Members and ministers generally were siQrehold 1s