Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-07-24

the sacred porsonihcatlon Of patriots hopes and
patriots home, were trailing in the dust of de-
feat in glorious war, could weep over it, and
love it, and honor it still but to see it lift its folds
like the bold countennce of a bad woman, over
n traffic at once Infamous and hotrid, is shock
ingly revolving, aud enough to turn its white IntoI
-red with shame" ~
The captain looked first at Mr.. Wise then upI
at his fig, and at Mr.. Wise again: Sacred per-
soniGcation!' quoth he, "well, never! Y ou ought
to be made Professor Of Poetry in the University
of Virginny And as for traffic in niggers new
or heard tell of its being infamous and horrid be-
fore, and I've carried it on all my life"
Wretch" retortcd Mr.. Wise, "you shall
swing for this; you are caught at last Doyou
know who ann"
I" No, nor don't care"
Mr.. Wise's face turned as red as the Ameri-
can flag ought TO have done; &" Well, then, I'll
let you know; am the great slpvetrade exter-
minator, Henry A. Wise, of Virginia"
" Wise or not in my opinion you're making
a great fool of yourself. | sailed from Old Viz
ginny only fortnight ago, and nobody there
thought the trade in niggers so "shockingy re-
voting" as you seem to fancy it! else, how did
manage to load my vessel at Norfolk?'
Mr. Wise here looked as streaked as the flag
at the mast head continued to do "Whh,"
said he rather family, care you from Norfolk
and bound to New Oreans?"
''To be sure am, was driven cut Of my
course by Storm said the captain.
"O-o-o.o-h' drawled Nv Wise; "that alters
the case" And turning to the lieutenant and
regaining his confidence, he continued: {" Here,
sir, you have beautiful exempfcation of the
"vast difference, which exists " between tweede-
dun and twcedle-dee." Tweedle-dum would
have hung this man, tN eedle-dee sends him on
his way rejoicing. Tweedle-dum would have
turned the white ofthat flag into red, with shame,
and sent the stars aloft in disgust tweede-dee on
ly makes it wave the more proudly, the ''sacrcd
personifcation" of "the land of the free and the
home of the brave" Captain, ask your par
don. l honor yon, and will do all to protect you
in your lawful commerce. wondered why that
'7 flag didn't turn red; the mystery is now explain
ed"
Don't MAKE any apologies said the Captain
4" none are needed. Had been from Africa |
should have deserved to be hung; but as you say
trading in Virginny nggers is different sort OF
thing. Why, it must be all right, for here's
my friend Parson Snoggs has got half dozen
niggers on board himself He had cloud call'
from Louisiana, which he felt constrained to ac-
cept, and having bought these darl;ies of some
of his old Pensioners, he is taking them out to
stock small plantation with The law says that
Virginny niggers are merchandise, and what the
. law makes merchandise is merchandise"
"To be sure" replied Mr.. Wise, "but to trade
in african negroes is piracy; you see the tive
Trades are entirely opposed to each other and lei
me tell you, Captain, as one increases, the other
must decline-we Virginians must look to that
Every negro carried from Africa into Brazil
y Porto Rico, or Cuba, helps to swell the amount
b of sugar produced in those countries, and con
sequenty to lower its price in the markets Of the
world. The result of this is to lessen the profits
Of the Louisiana sugar planters, and consequent
" to diminish the demand for slaves In such a
state of things, the slave-breedng States must Ell
Their keep their negroes at home, or sell them for
mere song The latter they would not do and
keeping them at home would soon lead to the
abolition of slavery in all the northern slave
States. You see, sir we must put down the
African slave trade"
The vsiters were here invited to partake of a
collation., under the awning which covered the
quarter deck; never did persons appear better
satisfied with each other, The parson asked a
blessing and made short prayer, in which he
alluded to the African slave trade in such pathet-
ic terms as drew tears from all present. The
Captain toasted Mr. Wise as " the African slave
trade exerminator." This brought up that dis
tinguished gentleman who made a long Grafton
upon liberty and equality, several times apostro-
phzng the "sacred personlfcation," and closing
with "Success to the American slave trader'
This was received with ''three times three "
Several toasts equally patriotic followed, and soon
after Mr.. Wise prepared to take his leave. But
Just as he was stepping over the rail a voice from
the main hatchway was heard to call out, "Massa
Wise, massa Wise!"
Mr.. Wise recognized the voice at once step.
ped down upon the deck again. and caused the
speaker to be brought before him. He proved
to be an old acquaintance OF MI Wlse-the slave
of his next door neighbor. The wife and children
Of this man belonged to Mr.. Wise himself
Why, Tom, how come you herel" asked Mr.
Wise.
"Massa say he want the money; l ask him to
wait till massa Wise come home; he say no, and
so here am. Gorramorry massa Wise, do take
me back to Sally and my little nggers."
"Captan," said Mr.. WISE "let Tom go with
me; will write you an obligation to ecure you
from all damage" Mr.. Wise's eye glistened as
he spoke. The obligation was written, and Tom
went with Mr.. Wise on board the frigate He
did not load the boat down with his baggage
and his own heart felt SO light that his body seem-
ed to him no weight at all. The two vessel.
filled away again, and continued on their voyages
ri Mr.. Wise was thoughtful man drought all
4b,+ Jov In wallred at least fen miles on III,