Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-02-12
Extract


Il uThtH, nuSStG ana L UiunU.
Mr.. EDITOR In reading lately Stephens
work of the above title, | met with the fol-
lowing extract, which, although probably
not new 10 many OF your readers, is, never
theless, from the bearing which it has upon
a subject of vital importance 10 this country
and to the interests of humanity, deserving a
place IN your paper. Stephens, although
protesting an adherence Of slavery, is, as
will be perceived from the tenor of his re-
marks, no AboliIionist. His testimony,
therefore, against the evils of slavery might,
perhaps, meet with attention from multitudes
of minds who would turn a deaf ear to the
most eloquent addresses of the leaders of the
abolition movement.
E. S.
81 had found in Russia many interesting
subjects of comparison between that country
and my own, but IT was with deep humilia-
ton felt that the most odious feature in that
desPotlc government found a parallel in ours.
AT This day, with the exception of Russia,
some Of the West India Islands, and the re-
public Of the United States, every country in
the civilized world can respond to the proud
boast Of The English common law, that 1.-The
monent a slave sets 'Ot on her soil he is
free Ircspect the feelings IF others and their
rested rights, % and would be The last 10
suffer them or those rights 10 be wantonly
violated; but | do not hesitate TO say that
abroad slavery stands as a dark blot upon our
national character. There it will not admit
Of any palIialion; it stands in glaring con-
trasi with the spirit of our free institutions.
1t bellies our words and our hearts, and the
American who would be most prompt to re-
pei any calumny upon his country withers
under this reprnach and writhes with morti-
~fication, when the taunl is hurled at the 9TH
erwlse stainless % h,g of the free republic.
! was lorcibly struck with a parallel between
the white serfs of the North of Europe and
African bondSmen at nome. The Russian
boor, generally wanting the comforts which
are supplied to the negro on our best ordered
plantations, appeared TO me TO be not less de-
graded in intellect, character, and personal
bearing. Indeed, the marks of physical and
personal degradation were so strong that !
was insensibly compelled to abandon certain
theories not uncommon among my country
men at home, in regard to the intrinsic Supe-
riority of the white race over all Others
Perhaps, too, this impression was aided by
my having previously met with Africans of
intelligence and capacity standing upon a
footing of perfect equality as soldiers and Of
hcers IN The Greek army and the Sulldn'S.-
The serfs of Russia differ from slaves with
us In the important particular that they be-
long to the soil and cannot be sold except
with the estate. They may change masters,
but cannot be torn from their connections or
tteir birth place. One-siXth of the whole
peasantry Of Russia-amounling 10 six or
seven millions-belong 10 the crown and in
habit the imperial denense and pay an annu-
al tax. In particular districts many have
been enfranchised and become burghers and
merchants and the liberal and enlightened
policy of the present emperor is difusing a
more general system OF Moderation among
these subjects of his vast empire. The resi-
of the serfs belong to the mobiles, and are the
absolute property and subject to the absolute
control Of their masters, as much as the cat
tie of their estates. Some of the Seigneur,
possess from seventy to more than a hundred
thousand, and their wealth depends upon til