The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-25
IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONDITION OF
SLAVES.

Under this caption the Christian Inquirer
remarks that the people Of the South are be-
ginning to stir themselves on the subject of
slavery. 1t says sit is not true emancipation
has been put back a century" and adds
"There is growing up steadily, yet surely, a
feeling of the wrong of slavery; and as soon as
it has become deeply fixed in the minds and
hearts of the Southern people, they will break
the chain of oppression, or lot it rust of, They
will not rivet It, or polish it anew.
"1his train of remark has been prompted by
reading an article in the Colonization Herald,
ON the instruction of Slaves We will give a
few extracts from this unexceptionables source for
this side of the question, in confirmation of our
views rs stated above The writer speaks of
the increased attention to the moral and rel-
gous instruction of the colored population man.
Tested in our Southern States All our adj
vices he continues unite in the interesting
and cheering statement that not only the minis
ters Of the cross but the physician and the states
man. Us we'll as the planter, are awakened MS
TO its Importance, and are bestirripg themselves
in thus doing good to the souls and bodies of
those committed to their care Nor is this en-
terprise confined to individual philanthropy,
but the various ecclesiastical bodies and organ
nations among the friends of Christian missions
and of humanity at the South, aided in many
cases by the friends of the master and slave at
the North, are provoking one another to good
works A recent visit to the South confirms
us in asserting that there nerer uas period in
which NO much interest was manifested for the
spiritual welfare of the negro race as al this
moment. Applications are constantly made to
the various theological schools and seminarics
of the country for preachers and teachers 10 m
ar,nt them. Many have already answered
tavorably and gone forth with zeal and energy
and Others are preparing themselves for this
large field Of usefulness. Several of these eff
forts have been attended with the happiest re-
suits
The duty of providing adequate religious
instruction is now generally admitted. Many
masters who care little for the ordinances Of
religion themselves are anxious To have their
slaves instructed. Recently, slaves have
been taught TO read, and catechisms have been
written for the purpose, and several works, es
pecially The Pilgrims Progress and the BIZ
Bile, have been put in their hands Very recent
w. volume Of Sermons for Servants has been
issued in Virginia, under the sanction Of that
great friend Of the negro, Bishop Meade. .
The spirt Of education and emancipation rs
groping.'
"There can be ao doubt of it, Decrepit poll
ticians who see no good but in the past ambi-
tious demagogues who hope to mount into
Office ON q lie; canting grumbers, who are set
tied upon their lees timid conservatives, who
fear the shutting Of the pilgrims slippers as he
hastens up the celestial way fanatical reform
erS who zee nothing contrary to the usual law
of ysion) which does not move faster than
lightning mousing priests who grumble at
interruption in their estimate at the height ana
physiology of the tree Of good and evil IN the
garden OF Eden nervous women who go INTO
commissions when negro is spoken of--all these
will lament with a sad lameDtation over the
ebbing Of the tide the retardation OF the cause
o. ffoedom by those who have done something
about 10 but men and tromen will trust IN TOD
and the power of truth, and the goodness Of
man, and shout at the ascending light"
How THEY Preserve ORDER IN AUSTRIA
The Vienna correspondent o. the London Ners
Describes the following shocking affair az hay-
ing taken place ut Scent Maria near Gross
Waradrid, lately:
Eat peasants wedding, when the procession
Of the bctrothed was moving towards the church,
the gendarme approached the bride, and sum-
n,oned her Immediately 10 diyest herself Of the
red white, and green ribbons which she had In
her dresses, according TO the custom Of the
country girlS saying that these coiors were
revolusiphary Ths bridegroom otjected, say
ing that after thu oaEclp0ny the bride would
comply with ~ 4odrs Of the gendsvme, but
that now they souh VT keep the Prisst waiting
at the altar TIse Hondarme retired, the pro
cessi0n DroceAded Is The church but Ut the