The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-04-17
From the Baltimore Saturday Visiler.
WEEkIN RICHMOND.

Vlhlpoo ttiul wv IOiio"l''S HOul ldI
rowing statements shall not escape the
eye of single reader of the VaSiter, we
have caused them to be 'leaded' and pat
in the most prominent place possible:
To the Editor Of The Vlsiter:
Having just returned from Richmond,
VAL have thought it might not be amiss
for me to MAKE, through your paper, a
statement of my own impressions while
in the odd Dominion went there as
a northern man, and ofcourse with north
ern principles, yet not Il 'ianatcal abo
litonist.' | determined to divest myself.
as far as possible, of local prcjudces and
become an impartial observer In ex-
aiming the system of slavery as il exists
( in Richmond, found much TO approve;
but ain sorry to be compelled to notice
some things that could but disapproye
and censure.
In very many instances, observed
that the slaves were well treated | OBJ
served, too, that, frequently, they could
read. and in most families where an al
tar had been erected for the worship Of
God, morning and evening, the servants
mingled with their masters around i, and
sometimes even led in the devolions.
also attended meeting with the colored
people IN several places Every tn ing
seemed happy. They were well clad -
indeed in ths last respect, they would
hardly suffer when compared with mas
tiers. On these and many other points,
| was most happily disappointed. And
now, after have said SO much of what
| approved, you mus: allow me to be e.
qually free in stating what l could not
approve.
AS northern man, had natural
curiosity TO visit the slave prisons and
slave markets, of which | had so often
heard, in order to see il such sights were
there, as human flesh sold in the sham
oles! found The prisons most filthy
and loathsome places unfit for any blu
sness transacted BY any man possessed
Of feelings oil humanity. ln.these damp
dark, dismal abodes, whose very walls
were cemented by the blood Of sundered
hearts, are these human wares kept! -
From the prisons went 10 the market;
and there | saw, day after day, what my
pen could not describe -acAat modesty
fO1bids me TO describe, in paper read by
the fair sex! In number of cases, ! saw
young females examined and handled ia
manner awl/iy revolving to every vir-
tuous feeling of sensibilIty and this too
[ by youns men! In one instance at least i,
questions were asked which were most
revolving and obscene. During these
scenes, the victim manifested as much
delcacy of feeling as the sex are capa-
bic of manilesiing. But lorbear. 1t
seems to me that such scenes must have
demoralZing influence on any city or
community where they are allowed. -
Among many slaves | saw sold to what
(even we're 1 a Virginian) should con-
slider land sharks, or cannibais, will
mention but one.
A woman, (ncarly white,) with her
four children, the youngest in her arms,
being brought for sale, 'one or the lot, to
suit purchasers, the father and husband
was permitted to be spcctator;l assure
you his appearance indicated that he was
not an idle spectator. Every few mo-
mens, with his eyes sufused with tears,
he would embrace his wife with kiss,
and take his little ones in his arms, and
press them TO his bosom placing alather $
seal of love on their little chects! At
length the sale commenced; and they
were sold one after another, and separ
ated forever unless they he so happy
as to meet in that better land, which
may God grant.
will not attempt to describe the feel
ings of my heart, as turned from the
scene - for il would be impossible. The
sensiblities Of my soul were aroused,
and my heart for the moment almost for
got to beat my eyes only were alive.
remembered that |, too, had wife
but now she is not, for God had taken
her; and |, too, am a laiher-but one of
my little ones sleeps by the side of its
mother in the deep damp vault. While
standing a witness OF these scenes, rem
iniscencos OF the past crowded thick up
on my mind. turned from the scene,
panied and disgusted-may not say hMm-
biet, for have always felt proud of my
country; and especially | had felt a kind
Of PRIDE, as entered Virginia, the land
Of Washington, and the Mother of PresI-
dents and Statesmen the heart Of what
have been taught to regard us the fin
est and purest land that ever saw the
sun.
AsIleit the scenes above described,
was told by ministers Of our holy reI,~
gion, am sorry to say it,) that the
slaves had not natural affections, &C.
This could not believe, for had too
much evidence to the contrary, in the
scenes had Witnessed.
Now, DIR Snodgrass, you are, believe
q Vrslai0n, and therefore kNoD what !
hoyo e,;l !, t,ya anDool 10 vu,, md