Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-07-15
From the Christian Citizen.
Slavery.

Mr.. EDIToE-1 observed in yourpaper of last week,
a communication purporting to give correct descrip
ton of the condition of the slaves in the south.
think the article referred to is erroneous in some re-
spects, and calculated to give very wrong impression
to those unacquanted with the system.
Your correspondent thinks that great ignorance pre-
walls at the North, of the slaves true condition.
think too And the error is caused in greatnea-
sure by such partial and incorrect statements as those
of this clerical traveller.
1t seems that the writer draws his conclusions of
the slaves condition from the first impression which
was made upon his mind by the sight of the first 'no-
gro quarter which he 6eheld on arriving in slave
state. My first impressions, on coming to plantation,
differed widely from those of your correspondent
The first time that stepped foot upon plantation,
negro, who had ran away and been retaken was laid
upon the ground, his feet and hands were dashed to
stakes driven in the ground for the purpose and then
he thrashed with heavy negro whip, alternately,
for four hours more till his back horribly mutt
lated and cut 10 pieces lie not able to attend to
his accustomed labor for two weeks. The negro
quarter referred to, which appeared so beautiful,
an exception to the general rule. Many of the slave
holders hrttess and embarrassed Incorporate and
vicious and their negro houses are poor miserable
hoyes destitute of glass, floors and most other con-
veniences. The galleries porticos) spoken of be-
ing common, comparatively rare appendage to
negro house. Again, he says, every family has its
house--t is his &c, and when they 60 to the field,
they lock the house and take the key with them. Their
dwellings, theirs, and Of their babitatons they
lords. This is rhetorical flourish any thing else
you may please to call except the truth As for the
comparison between the planter entering the house of
his slave, and the civil officer entering dwelling with
search warrant it is too facica to deceive any one,
unless he may claim affinity to the long cared TRIBE
Slaves neither own or control their houses Families
separated and sent this way, and another
that Just as it suits the CAPRICE or the interest of their
lava &c
ery. The father and husband cannot defend the chas-
ty Of his wife of daughter against the assaults of any
4 white man that may choose to impose upon them,
without mourning the severest penalty.
TO talk about the family rights of slaves is both re-
dcuous, and hypocritical. For proof of what say
aboutth power of slaves for self protection refer the
reader to the great variety of color among the slaves,
of nearly every plantation i'll the south. The cloth
ing of plantation slaves is of the coarses material If
they have anything suitable to be in public, they
procure it for themselves by doing extra work, or lab
oring on the Sabbath. have no doubt this pious
writer would be shocked to see people, labor on the
Sabbath at the north but in the South, it is beauti-
: full appendage of slavery. have frequently seen
young negroes running about, like pigs rolling in
8 the dirt, entirely naked,
Their food is, in places, bread and meat in
others, rice or without meat An overseer told
me that he had Just left place where the master gave
his slaves only three of dry per day. and the
consequence was, his slaves would occasionally take
= an animal to the woods dress and eat it during the
night and then the master to punish them for stealing,
: if the animal was hs,) would compel them to work
Sundays, till he considered himself remuneraed But
the temporal and physical evils to which slaves are
always liable, are of little Importance, when compared
with their mental and moral degradation. Or these
. design to speak more at length hereafter Why do
northern men who travel south, take much pains to
gloss over the abominations Of slavery? answer! 1t
IS because they enjoy the hospitality of Shareholders
They feast upon tue unpaid toll of the slaves They
feast upon the bread and wine OF the oppressor, and
the price they pay for it is to speak well of the system
They cannot rebuke the STAKEHOLDER while they are
living upon his bounty. will give case IN point.
northern minister went down south tor his health
was invited to the house of pous planter and while
there, son returned from school, and habtualy odg
ed with mulao girl, belonging to the family. They
were all members of the church. Now did tins minis
ter rebuke this sin? Not at ALL If he had done he
would have been turned out of doors, and perhaps
danrered his personal safety. Many professors of re-
gion who 90 down south, sell all the pety they have
for mess OF potare' Pr
! Forester, Mass, June 10, lS47