Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-10-23
FREE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

/ FREE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Recent events in different portions of the
West, demonstrate the fact that the employ
ment of free negroes, mulattoes, and free
slavoS ,cho hire their o,on tinae, on board OF
steamboats, on the western waters, is a
cause of serious loss and danger to the slave
States and slave owners. A profigate,
reckless band of slaves, and free negroes,
are habitually employed as stewards, fire.
men and crew on board of our steamboats,.
These have the opportunity of constant
| communication with the slaves of Missouri.
| Kentucky, and the southern States, and
| thew have also very frequent communica-
ton with the free negroes and aboitionists
of Illinois, Indiana. Ohio and Pennsylvania.
This communication renders the slave rest
less and discontinued, and many of them
are induced to run away, and furnished
with the means of escape; others are in
tuced to rob and steal, and the free negroes
on board of the boats act as receivers and
commission merchants for the proceeds OF
their viainies The negro hands on board
of steamboats, can frequently conceal run
away negroes on board of steamboats, with
out the knowledge or consent of the cap
tains; and their free intercourse with SOU
tllern slaves enables them to concert plans,
and contrive means of escape, which would
not exist but for this floating body Of aho-
itionists. Free negroes on boats that run
| from the free States TO the slave States, may
be used with ten fold effect. than an equal
number of white aboitionists, because they
much more readily obtain access to the
IL. ,.,,tl orl
secure their confidence, better than could
be done by whites: and their association
with slaves is not cause of suspicion and
discovery, as similar association between
white cmissarieS and slaves would certainly
be.
Free negroes, who are well acquainted
with Illinois and Ohio, by being employed
on steam boats, can inform the whole slave
population of all our river towns, of the
schemes and projects Of the abolitionsts in
Heir behalf, and can direct them to what
places they may fly with safety, and to what
persons they may appy for aid and encour-
agemcnt in being free. Such an intercourse
between southern slaves and free negroes
has the natural effect of rendering the slaves
DESTROYS Of obtaining the same liberties, and
makes them capable Of committing any
crime, or Running any risk to become free.
The recent confessions Of Madison and
Brown, in St. Louis, and Developments Of
facts in Cincinnati and Louisiana, demon
sirate the dangers TO be apprahended from
this source.
TIE REMEDY is the entire'disu of slaves
and free negroes on all boats that run be-
tween the slave States and the free States.
This may be effected by concerted &C.
ton on the part of the captains and owners
Of boats. If the captains and owners of
boats fail to act efficiently in so important a
measure, the community can protect them
selves by refusing to send freight or take
passage on boats that persist in practice
so dangeros to the south. The police Off
GERS of our towns and cities may also take
steps to aid in Kidding the community of
this great evil; and laws and ordinances
may be passed in furrherence Of the same
object. But public sentiment, if properly
directed to this subject, will soon become
strong enough to convince the free negroes
and their employers of the necessity Of le-
sorting to some other course of life, and that
it is not safe for them to come among our
slaves.
1t is true that there may be some negro
hands on the boats that are entirely trust
worthy; but it may be safely taken for grant
ed that the great body of free negroes and
mulattoes are abolitionistS by nature, and IN
{ feeling, and that they will practice on their
principles and natural feelings whenever
they can do so with impunity. One negro
will assist another to become free if he can
we ought,not to expect any thing else; but
; should prevent them from coming in con-
tact, and cut off all opportunity of exerci.
sing their natural feelings, so as to injure
slave owners.
Then let the whole negro band Of floating
abolitonists be dsbanded at once, and 9th.
er crews substituted in their place. To thi:
point ,re must come sooner or later, and the
sooner it is accomplished the better for al
parties. This beet is worry the mmcdi
ale and serious consideration of all steam
boat coptains and ouncrS, of all merchant,
and shippers and Of ALL SLAVE OWNERS.
81. Louis Gazette.