The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-12-21
DICE OF F r e E d o M.

human beings were hung in one day, and
that he saw % or % of them swung from
one platform, and at one time.
In letter from Judge Johnson of Charles
ton, dated July 3, 1924, 10 John G. Adams,
then Secretary of State under Mr.. Munroe,
while speaking of the cause which led to
this wholesale slaughter, says: Indeed, |
do not hesitate to express the opinion, that
the whole of the alarm of 1922 was founded
in causes that were infinitely exaggerated.
A few tinlid and precipitate men, managed
10 disseminate their fears and their feelings,
and you know that popular panics spread
with the expansive force of vapor.' The
great massacre in Southampton, Virginia,
occurred in 1881, which set the people TO
thinking about some measures Of safety for
themselves; and during the next session of
the Legislature of that Stale, many were
in favor of enacting laws which should
provide for the ultimate abolition Of slavery.
The majority of the members, however,
were against it. Subsequently, Thomas R.
Dew, Professor of History, Metaphysics
and Political Law, in William and Mary
College, in Review of the Debates in
the Virginia Legislature in 1872" takes
decided stand in favor of slavery. His
work, no doubt, exerted powerful inau-
ence in favor of perpetuatiDg the system.
J And the powerful effort at colonizing the
free colored people, and the large sales of
slaves TO the Southwestern market, con-
nscted with the supposed profits of raising
human beings for sale, no doubt furnished
the main reasons why the alarm subsidized,
and nothing effectualy was done towards
abolishing slavery. Virginia, and many of
the other slave States enacted laws, afixing
secure penalties, to be inflicted on any one
who should teach slave to read or write,
long before the foregoing transactions took
place. will copy The following from the
'Anti.SlayerY Record vol. iii, and pub
lished in 1887.
Testimony Of The American Coloniza-
ton Society,"" We have heard Of slave
ry as it exists in Asia, and Africa, and
Turkey-we have heard Of the feudaI
slavery under which the peasanlry OF Eu
rope have groaned from the days Of Alar-
ic until now, but excepting onl " the hor-
ribIe system of the West India Islands, we
have never heard of slavery in any coun-
try, ancient or modern, Pagan, Mahom-
medan, or Christian so terrible IN us
character, as the slavery which exists in
these United States" -7M Report Amer
Col. Soc. 1924.
Testimony of Capt James RiIey.-"My
free and proud spirited coCntrymen still
hold a million and half ofhuman beings
in the most cruel bonds of slavery; who
are kept at hard labor, and smartng I'M
der the lash Of inhuman, mercenary driv-
ers; in many instances, enduring the mis-
cries Of hunger, Mirst,amprisOament cold,
nakednesS and euen t0rtureS. 49,. N.Y.
self have witnessed such scenes in differ
ent parts of my own country; and the bare
recollection of them now chills my blood |
with horror. See 'RiLey'S NarrGtire'
From Niles Baltimore Register for 1899 Vol 35p.4
Dealing in slaves has become large
business, Establishments are made at
several places in Maryland and Virginia,
at which they are sold like cattle. These
places of deposit are strongly built, and
well supplied with iron thumb screaos and
gags, and ornamented with cowskins and
other chips often times bloody"
Testimony Of Rec. VIM. Allan, Of Al.
ALBANIA, son Of slaveholder-ReO Dr.
Allan, of HuntsviAe.-In the debate at
Lane Seminary three years since, Mr.. Al
Ian said,
"AL our house it is so common to hear
sheir (he slave'sl screams, that we think
nothing of it, and then, after relating
several instances of horrible cruelty, he
added, "And lest any one should think
that in general the slaves are we'll treat
ed, and these Qhe particular cases,) are
the exceptions, let me be distinct UNDER
stood :-cruelty is the rule and kindness
the e1ception." This was assened TO and
corro6orated by all the students from the
slaveholding states; and of these there
were eight natives of five or six different
states, and ten others who had lived in
slave states.
Prohibition Of Mental Istruction.-.-
South Carolina may lay claim to the ear
Iiest movement in Legislation on this sub.
ject. In l74O, while yet province, she t
enacted this law; Whereas the having
of slaves taught 10 write, or suffering them
to be employed in wiring, may be attend S
ed with great inconvenience, Be it enact
ed, That all and every person and per.
sons whatsoever, who shall hereafter
teach or cause any slave or slaves to be /
taught to write, or shall use or employ
any slave as a scribe in any manner of
mriiinn uhatsneuer hereafer iannht 10 .