Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-06-08

Of Virginia, once inhabited and cultivated.
Some eighteen years ago, when | lived IN the
dream-land Of romantic youth, and thought moth
ing of slavery, or any other evils that intest the
social system, an intelligent young lady from the
South told an adventure, which made a strong
impression on my imagination. She was travel
ing with her brother in the interior of eastern
Virginia Marks Of diminishing prosperity eve
ry where met their view One day, they entered
upon region which seemed entirely deserted
Here and there some elegant villa indicated the
former presence of wealth piazzas had fl!len
and front doors had either dropped or hung Sus-
pended upon one hinge Here and there stray
garden-hower pceped forth amid the choking will
derness of weeds, and vines once carefully train
ed on Iattces, spread over the ground in tangled
confusion. Nothing disturbed the silence, save
the twttering of some startled bird, or the boot
and scream of gloomy wood creatures, scared by
the unusual noise of travellers.
At last, they.came to a church, through the
roof Of which treee, rooted in the aisle beneath,
sent up its verdant branches into the sunlight
above. Leaving their horse to browse on the
gfass-grown road, they passed into the building
to examine the interior Their entrance start
led innumerabe birds and bats, which flew cir
cling round their heads and through the broken
windows. The pews had coats of arms cmba-
Zoned on the door-pannels, but birds had built
their nests in the corners, and grass had grown
up through the chinks in the floor. The hand
some trimmings Of the pulpit were so covered
with dust, as to leave the original color extreme
ly doubtful On the cushion lay a gilt-edged
Bible, still open probably at the place where re-
ligious service had last been read.
have in my minds eye vivid picture of that
lonely church, standing in the silence of for
est. In some moods Of mind, how pleasant it
would be to spend the Sabbath there alone, list
ening to the insects singing their prayers, or to
the plantive voice of the ring-doye, coming from
the Utmost heart Cf the shaded forest
"Whoso deep, low note, is like gentle wife,
poor, pcnsivo, yet happy one,
Stealing, when daylight's common tasks are done.
An hour for mothers work and singing low,
While her tired husband and her children sleep"
In the stess of nature there is ever something
sacred; for she pleadeth tcnderly with man that
lie will live no more at discord with her: and like
the eloquent dumb boy, she ever carrieth "great
name for God in her heart"
"Ncath clustered bow each floral bell that swingcth
And tolls its perfume in the passing air.
Makes Sabbath in the fields, and ever ringoth
A call to prayer"
can never forget that adventure in the will
dcrness. There is something sadly impressive
in such complete desolation, where life has once
been busy and gay-and where human pride has
inscribed its transient history with the moulder-
ing insi gnia of rank and wealth.
The rapid ruin and the unbroken stillaess
seemed so much like work Of enchantment
that the travellers named the place, The Hamlet
of the Seven SIeePers At the next inhabited
village, they Outlined brief outline Of its his.
tory. 1t had been originally settled by wealthy
families with large plantations and numerous
slaves They were Virginian gentlemen of the
oden school, aud would have felt themselves dis
graced by the modern business of breeding slaves
for market. In fact, strong family pride made
them extremely averse to sell any slaves that haC
belonged to their ancestors. SO the slaves null
tiplied on their hands, and it soon took call their
corn to feed their hogs, and all their hogs to feed
their negroes" Matters. grew worse and worse
in those old families. The strong soil was al
last exhausted by the miserable system Of slave
ny, and would no longer yield its increase. What
could these ariStocratc gentlemen do for theil
sons, under such circumstances Plantations
must be bought for them in the far Southwest
and they must disperSe with their trains of hu
man CATTLE to blight other new and fertile re
gions. There is an old supersttutlon, that NJ
grass grows where the devil has danced anc
the effects Of slavery show that this tradition
like most others, is born of truth. 1t is not, a;
some suppose, special vengeance on the wicked
system: it is simple result of the universe
and intimate relation between spirit and matter
Freedom writes itselfo the earth in growth anC
beauty; oppression, in drearness and decay
If we attempt to trace this effect analytically W.
shall find that it originated in the land-hoders to-
proud to work, in laborers deprived of hcalthfu
motive to action, in the inevitably Intermediate
class Of oyerseers, who have no interest in tn
soil or the laborers, but whose pay depends OF
the forced product they can extort from then
both Mr.. Faulkner, of Virginia, has stated tn
case impressively: Compare the condition O
the slaveholding portion of this Commonwealth
barren, desolate and scared as it were by tn
avengng hand of Heaven, with the description,
which we have of this same country from thos
who broke its soil. To what is this change as
cribed Alone to the blasting and whitening
effects of slavery. To that vice in the organza
ton of society, by which one-haf its nhabtant
are arrayed in interest and feeling against TIT
other half; to that condition of things, in which
half million Of your population can feel n
sympathy with society,in the prosperity Of whic
they are forbidden to participate, and no at
tachment to government at whose hands the
receive nothing but injustice"
Dr. Meade, of Virginia, in the records of al
official tour through the State, speaks of grea
numbers of churches fallen absolutely into ruiz
from the gradual mpoverlshment Of surroundln
estates and the consequent dispersion of the POI
ulation.
Popes Greek Church, where General Wasl
ington was baptized, fell into such compet
decay, that it was resort for beasts and bird
1t was set on fire few years age, lest the falIin
of the roof should kill the cattle, accustomed {
seek shade and shelter there.
Yet in view of these facts, statesmen, for ten
porary purposes, are willing to spread over tt
rich prairies of Texas this devastating system
to devour, like the locusts of Egypt, every gree
thing in their path
And while we are thus wilfully perpetuatll
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