Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-07-25
From t:,s Cincinnati Gazette.
SIuSic.-Esla:l ncicatiOn.

music .-E1asl u q patton.
: NesSrs. EditorS:-A recent visit 10 Il
city of a>hinr,cn. and quiet observ;
: ton during my sojourn there. has impress
ed Inc with some opinions upon the sui
zee, of negro servitude, which. perhap.
a, the present, may be worthy public re
gard
The work Of emancipation is progress
ing steadily onward 10 lis ultimate. in m
belief, without the aid or Interference Q
demagogues or politicians. And Why
There IS a poten: agent busy in it
cause: and more operative in lis behal
than all the schemes OF rival statesmen
Of legal enaclmen.s. or, indeed. the pow
er OF the press And that agen, is pub
nc taste. BY this term mean an intel
iectual relish upon some given subject
that prevades the community
t ou are we'll aware OF the efforts which
have been made in Congress and else
where for the abolition Of slavery in the
District OF Columbia. and what commo.
tons they have caused throughout the Re
public. Now. in this very Di~trict-n-
dependent of the press. and aloof from
party strlie-,hc public sense seems to be
-ubdued and captvatei by ropu}ar nau-
sic.
Give me the nationd1 songs. and |
will take the government" was saying
which came from the lips of a keen and
contcmplatlve observer of the condition.
impulses and Tendencies of men. as con-
ncctcd with the stability or overthrow OF
popular institutions. The truth of this
saving was apparently manifest at Wash
ington-the citadel and resting place OF
human bondage. Night following night.
in this same city. were entertainments
given by the Nightingale and .Screno,lers
at public Ssloons-on the Pennsylvania
avenue; and they attracted mu!tiiudes-
The assemblage, too, was composed of
some of the best citizens of the District
men of MARYLAND and Virginia They
brought their wives and children to listen
to these painted musicians
The airs of these minstrels. connected
as they are with some plaintive. simple
story of common and every day life on the
plantation of the South, were truly touch
ing: and the effect they produced upon
the kind hearts OF these metropolitan slave
holders. was solemn and impressive. On
a morning after one of these musical ex-
hibtlons. the little girl and boy-with
satchel in hand. on their way to the school
houSe-would be heard singing in sweet
melody and sympathetic pathos, the songs
OF the previous evening-such as Poor
Old Ned" and "Thev have carried my
babe away" And while they would thus
give utterance to the purest emotions of
youthful humanity-grave and worthy
tive ditty-stop in the street, and listen
no, Il ~ oJl
lrarch. and frown upon the fiend that tore
he infant babe from the bosom ofits mother.
Now these minstrels, in numerous
bands and with various appellations. are
the Old Dominion. and the
States of the South and Southwest, and
heir music tells upon the hearts of young
md old. with enduring effect, wherever it
s heard. 1t will accomplish for Emanci-
patton. but by slower process. what the
COW Boys thrilling strain did for the |
'rench-and what the patriotic songs of
Jayne achieved for our own glorious in
When Shakspeare-thep prophetic Shak-
peare. paid his beautiful encomi,lm to the !
harms of music. he did not go far e.
Rough into its philosophy and moral in
luences. Well and truly has he des-
ribbed its efficacy. in subduing the pas
ions and in awakening for the moment
he sympathies Of our nature. But he
oes not seem in his day, to have regard
d its powers beyond the ear. He had |
ever Witnessed its fundamentally in a
ousing people to progressive change of
eminent. and practical reform. Al !
hough he was aware how gregarious is
ne human family. and what sudden inn
ulses might be called into action, from
multitude, by the "sprt-stirring drum. and
ne ar-piercing fite," yet he treats these
motions as mere sensual and animal in
entives to bodily prowess. In none Of
is works has he described the quiet and
hlosophic influences Of song and verse,
But this disquisition may be foreign to
lie purposes Of this comment. Its objec,
to suggest. that the popular negro songs.
ow SO tastefully sung throughout the
-nion. will do more for the welfare Of the
ave NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. oftheabolition-
rs. free democracy. or colonizationists.
There need be no border warfare, or
OF haste in the way of legislation, on this .
lblect. If, during the next quarter Of /,
lis century. the words Of sympathy for +,
he African race, shall be sung. with the ,
ddle and the flute, the banjo and the cas- ,,
NETS. as accompaniment. in strains Of s
music as they now are, and {
,on will be from Maine to California; |
ublic taste will place the negro in his &
roper rank and condition in the family of :
ankind. r
The schoolmaster is still abroad among ,
e nations. and accommodates his instruc. ,
On and the form of his lessons to the spir- I
Of the age. {
OBSERVER. !
CoLT's PEsToLs.-One hundred men
e employed in making these instruments !
Hartford. They turn out one hundred