Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-06-28
WEALTH AND LUXURY OF THE MAS
TIERS AS 1T AFFECTS THE SLAVES

I'D
From Mr.. Hilderth's book entitled "Despo-
tlsm IN America, "a work worthy of the
careful perusal of every Americana
1t is "A fact we'll worthy of consideration tbo,
with the progress Of wealth and luxury among fhe
masters, the sutferings, the misery, the degrade
ton OF the slaves have been steadily aggravated
TIL at length, in the wealthies and most refined Of
our saveholdlnS communities, point has been
reached, both in theory and in practice, beyond
winch 1t does not seem easy to go.
The mldest form of American slavery is to he
touhd, not among the polite and well-educated cit
zens OF Richmond and Charlestown, but amid the
rude and wild abodes of the Creeks, the Choctows
the oemlnoles-tribes whom we describe and stiv
Matte as savages.
L he Indian slaves are, in many respects, almost
upon level with their masters The wants Of
savage life are few and simple. The ayarce Of
the master is not stimulated by the greedness of
luxury. lie is content with moderate annual
Itlpute OF corn and other provisions; and provided
hlS De PAID the slave is left at liberty to procure
1t as he pleaseS, and to employ his time and
strength he best sees fit. 1t thus happens thnt
an indian slave Is sometimes richer than his mas
ter; and If he have talents and ambition. thouoh
sui slave, he may become one of the most infu
entail persons of the tribe
l. ne Indian slaves are well aware how superior
is their condition to that of the miserable sufferers
WIN i"oor ior Whte masters upon cotton and SUI
gar plantations, and the dread they have of that
lot, as well as the influence they are able to ex-
erclse, may be clearly illustrated by the case of
the Seminole war. That war; according to the
statement of those best acquainted with the sub
lect had the following origin 1t was not that the
Indians themselves had such serious objections TO
removal; but, as the time for the execution of the
treaty, approached, their country was overrun with
spectators and adventures from the States. who
came partly to set up claims true or false to GER
tam Indian slaves, on the ground that thew were
runnaWays, or the children of runnaways wbohad
years ago, fled to the Semnoes for protection
ana partly to set on foot a slave trade with the
Indians who, it was hoped, might be Induced at
the moment OF removal, to part with their servants
tor little or nothing. The Indian slaves were fill
ell with terror and alarm at this prospect of falling
INTO the hands of white masters; and it is believed
to have been by their nstigation and encourage
ment, that the Seminoles were induced to resist
the execution of the treaty and to commence the
war.
The small planter, who can neither read nor
write, who has been bred up in poverty and igno-
rance, but who has wandered into some new set
tlement and has earned, by his own labor, the
means OF purchasing two or three slaves, next to
the wild Indian, is the most mild and ndulqent
master He works with his slaves in the field0he
converseS with them and consults with them. If
either of them exhibits any particular shrewdness
or good Judgment, the master perceives it aud A.
walls himself of it.; and such a slave often becomes
his owners chief confident and adviser