The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-09-20
From The Richmond (Yd.,) Republican.
Effects Of Abolitionism in the Slave
and Free States,


In an article on the subject of the effects
produced in the slave States by the interfer-
ence of Northern abolitionists, the New York
Herald says:
ave have frequently read in the Southern
newspapers, and believe it to be fact, that the
hardsEips inflicted on slaves arise, not from
disposition on the part of their owners to in
fict punishment on them, but as a matter of
precaution, to protect their property from be-
ing enticed away by Northern abolitionists."
Commenting on this observation, the Balti-
more Clipper remarks:
"We shall speak on this subject for our own
State alone; and we have no hesitation in as
serting, that the interference of abolitionists,
has not only been prejudicial to the interests
of the colored people of Maryland, bond and
free, by causing the most stringent laws to be
passed in regard to them, but has greatly re-
tarded the progress of emancipation. Uutil
the abolitionists agitated the slave question,
the disposition here was general to gradually
emancipate the slaves. With view TO the
permanent location of the colored people Of
our State in Africa, tax of len thousand dol
lars per annum was levied, and is still contin-
ued, for colonization purposes; land was pur-
chased in healthy situation, and the colony
at Cape Palmas was established. A revolu-
ton has taken place in public sentiment to
some extent, not in respect to colonization, but
as to the mode OF treating slaves 1t is found
to be necessary to keep q stricter guard over
them, to prevent their being enticed away by
abolitionists or their agents. In fact, scarcely
a week passes without some slaves escaping
into Pennsylvania; who, on being re-taken, are
at once sold to traders for the Southern mark
et In this way separations of families occur
which would not otherwise take place. twas
only last week that five malo slaves were
brought back from Pennsylvania, each of
whom will probably be sent farther south.
They admitted, we understand, that they were
induced to run away by the representations of
aboitionists, who have thus done them most
essential injury.
"Slaves have been uniformly well treated in
this State; and their condition has always been
superior to that of the colored people in the
free States. Well clothed, fed and cared for
in every respect, they were happy and content
ed, until the interference of abolitionists rem
dered them dissatisfied. Now many of them
either escape or attempt to escape to Pennsyl-
vania--are brought back, and sold to the cot
ton planters Of the South.
"But the abolitionists have effected what
they little anticipated. They have excited so
strong a feeling against runaway slaves in
many of the people of Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania that, whilst in the former State
memorial has been presented to the Conven-
ton 10 Danish all persons of African blood
from the State, in the latter, particularly near
the borders of Maryland, persons have asso-
ciated for the purpose of arresting and return.
ing all fugitive slaves They are enticed to
runaway only to be delivered up to their own
ers and sold out of Maryland"
We may add to the statements of the clip
per, that the only restrictions at all Of strin-
gent character, in regard to free and bond ne
groes of this Commonwealth, have been made
necessary by the agitations of the abolition
| lists. The slaves are the principal sufferers
from the mock philanthropy of these unprin-
cipled white Williams, who would permit beg
gar of their own color to starve tc death at
their own door before they would lift a finger
| for his relief, and yet who profess to feel the
deepest sympathy for well fed and comfortable
persons of another complexion and State.
There may be some honest philanthropists
among aboltionists; but, as general rule, a
man who has no sympathy to bestow upon
real objects Of charity of his own color and at
his own door, yet who keeps up perpetual
show of feeling for men who do not need the
compassion of any one, is not only rascal
but hypocrit, who deserves to be whipped
and spit upon from Maine to Georgia
The abduction of slaves from Virginia, Ma
ryland, Kentucky, and other States exposed to
the depredations of aboitionists, is a great
evil. We doubt much whether it is an evil
which can be radically remeded by any legis-
lation of Congress. The abolitionists are ac-
tive, and the great mass Of the Northern peo-
pie passive, so that between the enterprise Of
| the one and the inertness Of the other, the ne
gro, once setting his foot in free State, is
very likely to make his escape. Yet the evil
is one which, as it becomes greater, will work
its own cure, as it has already begun to do in
Pennsylvania and Ohio. The increase of such
population will become so decided nuisance
in the free States that interest will compel
them to perform that justice to their Southern
brethren which Duty should long ago have
enforced at their hands.