Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-04-18
OPINIONS OF SLAVERY.


A revolution Is evidently taking place in tho
minds Of southern men on the subject Of Slavery
In proof OF this we copy the following article from
a Southern paper Three years ago such son,l.
mons would no, have been tolerated south Of Ma
son and Rion's line
The Knoxville (Tcnncssee) Register Of Fobru-
AIRY / 5. contains the following communication.
While standing before the Court house door on
Monday last my attention was attracted to scene,
the like of which have frequently witnessed be-
fore bu, have never vet regarded without strong
feeling Of pain and disgust II was the sale, by
auction, to the highest bidder and according to
law OF the slaves OF a worthy citizen, who sudden.
" died some months since and would probably
have shrunk with adherence from such dispo-
si,ion ofthem during his life.
am STAKEHOLDER myself, but should be sor.
~ indeed IL my feelings Of humanity were so
blun,ed, that could look upon the human beings
whose liberty is Subjected to my control, in the
same ieh, in which hold my horses and cows,
They are member, fmy family, however hum.
bic may be the place they hold in it. They have
human affection, as warm rs my own, and sooner
than ruddy break the ties tina, bind them to my
household than auction them off and sub
ject 10 the chances Of falling into the hands Of
cruel taskmasteL or Spectator in human flesh,
would set ther, as free as the winds Of heaven
And vet, by the. ews Of the land, the slaves Of
hundreds ofme6who feel precisely as | do, are
subjected TO these very chances. Something in
regard to this matter is certainly due to humanity
Our Legislature should put stop to such scenes
as that TO which have alluded Am trcading
on delicate ground No The ,ensi,iveness
which exists among us with reference to slavery,
is morbid, overweight, unnatural and ridiculous
han o., drop n p1n
in company relative to amending the condition Of
the slave, men open their eyes and look as fright
ened as though they had seen a ghost and the
next thing is tina, some fellow who hardly knows
he has a soul has been cogatng in his own
mind whsther a certain citizen should no, be tarred
and feahered Politicians are very much to
blame for this state of things They have been
riding he hobby of an,i-Aboli,ionism so much,
that orr best men have grown afraid to utter their
homes sentiments
have no doub, if | had on Yesterday gone to
every intelligent man in the crowd who were as
semoled before the Court House to witness the
sale, and asked each one hi. private opinion of its
prcprety and humanity that nine out of every
ten, if not ninety-nine out ofevcry hundred, would
have replied it was crong Let public sentiment
then speak out. And why should it no,2 Are
we forever to be scared by bug-aboo, fit only TO
fighten chldren2 What slave holder is there
in Knoxville, who would feel himself wronged by
law forbiddng the auction of slaves, like cat tie
in the streets, to the highest bidder2 Few indeed
i should hope not one. And how many in the
State2 Not many in proportion to the whole.
Tennesseans bear high character abroad. Let
II be maintained. Let us not refuse TO be gener-
Gus lest demagogues raise hue and cry at our
heels We can afford to amciorate the condition
of.he slave without injustice to any one.