Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-07

"Hom III the same dust with the chickens. He il,
not, therefore, an object Of dread among them. IT,
collect that, while in Mississippi was passing will A
planter through one OF then and heard an urehin in
h.ho OF iahllar waggery, crying out. "massa massa
Wncn IS you g1oofn to buy me dat netu hat?" Ii seen
olcu 10 set forth the true condition and state of feel
ING OF children, but by resortng these sr NO tras
without multiplying them in this Communication, am
bound IN truth and candor, express the bel ef that
me rst eight or ten of life are more oyous among
| North ''~ poNpe Vi '''o
| II. MARRIAGE Throughout all the States whic,
nave VISITED, Tar more attention is given to the mar
rage OF slaves than in former times The relation il
OF course not sanctioned by law but yery generally
soeinnlzed by clergyman, either white or black The
consent ofthe masters is required and is almost always
gven except when the parties at an inconven ent
distance On the large plantations where the number
OF slavea IS great marriage generally takes place be
tween those who belong 10 the owner and this is
always preferred by the masters many of whom object
to any others The weddings OF slaves, especially oil
oomesllcs and OF those who conduct themselves we'll,
are sometlmes held IN the family mansion. / knew u
case OF this kind not long since in Kentucky the guests
neng invited by cards. which would have done no dscre-
DIT to the young mistress Among Episcopaans the Ger
emony is frequently performed in the church. In the
year 1913, while IN the interior OF Alabama | was RI
ding with planter and his wife when we passed
small Episcopal church, in which they told me- tho
marriage OF slaves has been often solemnzed; the par
ties and their friends frequently arriving from the more
distant plantations on horseback. A marriage once
MADE the relations OF husband and wife, parent and
child, although often violated are far more respected
than in days gone by They of course oftner set
aside in the old States as Virginia ard MARYLAND than
in the new; for the former are selling and the lat
Ter buying States But in the old we have every
year many noble examples of regard for the domes-
nc ties OF the negro race. As late as last summer
was at the house of Virginia planter, whose "quar
ter, already OVERLOOKING from his aversion to selling
had been rendered still more popuous bv the purchase
OF slaves who had belonged deceased relative and
would otherwise be sent away Very lately, in Louis
vl'e, contribution was made, chiefly by shareholders,
70 purchase negro man, whose wife and children, un-
Ger the viii OF their MASTER about to be sent TO
Liberia; and not long before, when grandfather toll
lowed several OF his children and grandchildren TO the
same city, public meeting, presided over by slave
holoer' subscribed IN a few minutes greater sum than
was necessary purchase the patriarch still vigorous
old man, and send him with his children
IL. RELIGIOUS lNSTRUcTIoN-ln most of the slave
states the time was, and not very far back, when
many slaves were taught to read. The publications
made by persons in the free States have brought that
practice to dead stand, ard even led to prohibory
iaws-another effect OF misdirected bene volence-
There not however, any obstacle to oral religious
instructions except that in many parts of the South is
qured that two three white men shall be present
when sermon Is delivered, that nothing may be said
which might excite discomfort rebellion; and tins
regulation arose from Northern interference. Happily
however, 1t does no injury TO the slaves for in every
form ana degree OF Instruction they of necessity come
out OF the struggle wored; and this must ever be the
case. heir emancipation by violence hold to be an
Impossible event; for were the whole in arms to morrow
and tnelr masters unable to contend against them
mere are stout and generous hearts enough in the free
States to put an end to the Observation-Disclosures
enough 10 perceive that such emancipation would
nring unutterable woes upon the emancipated them
selves.
But must return to the beet of religious instruc-
on. La this point the oh has many erroneous IDEAS
only IN reference to negroes but to their masters
lhey see and hear of wandering gamblers duelss
and other men oil dissipation and violence which slave
ry II must be admitted, is but too well fitted to rear up:
ana they Judge OF the whole population by these speci-
mems which is just as for the people OF the
oouth-and many do ito Judge of the great mer-
chants OF Boston and New York by the pedia,s who
1frt, 7l,oC
New England, Pennsylvania or Ohio, by the sons
who 90 to the slave States and let themselves as over
seers.
had known that the people of Kentucky were as re-
!igious as those Of Ohio, yet, must oness that
IN goi9g, INTO tie distant South, feh in some
sene like e., one g9jjqag beyond the limits Of chris
s4;3jans enfireJ changed. -Four denomina tf ote
el,ssans abound in that region to an
Extent Wlch excludes every idea OF prev iu6AwY
WIN us crimes and vices. have the sta s,cs Of
these iacs before me, but Judge their relative rank in
plumbers to be Baptsts, Methodsts Presbyterans and
1pscopallans-one prevailing in this REGION another
IN mat Now, all the members of these churches hold
% the duty OF giving their slaves religious instruction:
ana all DO not practice it, they but place themselves
christians in the free States who even neglect the rail;
Slous instruction OF their children. In the towns
d 'e slave states quite down to the Gull OF Mexico
ne colored population either have churches bv Them
elves or sit in the galleries Easements OF those in
yhlch their masters worship In the small churches of
ne country they are seated on side, and partition
plL,lu
'arates the white from the black members OF the con
gregation. In the State of Mississippi | spent tho
night with respectable member of the Methodist con-
l lsxion who had on his plantation hundred negroes
ne was at the time engaged IN building church near
his dwelling house on the plan Just mentioned The
whNe population OF his neghborhood was SO spar.e
nat not one to five blacks would probably worship in
hat little editce when completed. 1t would have been
inexpensive and easy Tor him 20 have taken his vile
and children with their New England governess To
some neghboring church, but he felt it duty 10 pro-
10 SpJrItC oI FL,
ms chldren. member OF the Presbyterian church.
with whom travelled in Alabama, informed me that
o several years. ne had spent the greater part of every
Sabbath in the religious instruction of his slaves =
highly respectable citizen of New Orleans as passed
his sugar plantation between that city and the
Balze happened to be on the same boat with me and
learned from him that he had built church for his
sayes IN which one OF their number preached eve
ry sunday, and frequently the nights OF other DAVIS
AT Columbus, Mississippi, | attended worship WIN
ne sroes OF the town and the surrounding plantations
assembled 10 the basement OF Methodist church A
Preacher OF that connexlon was present. but merchant
OF the town was addressing them ard | afterwards
learned that ne had established and given more or
less personal attention to three Sunday schools on the
plantations. He had, some Years before
amgrated thither from New York; and / mention Il e
tactic show you that there has really been no impede
ment to the exertion oChrisan influence by discreet
zen Of the North, even in the depths OF the slave re-
gIon On the Tallahassee river, in Alabama a picus
negro contrlved to learn reading, efeu[ he devo ed
himself to the study OF the Bible, and being Observed
10 have talent for preaching the Baptist connection
10 which he belonged, purchased is freedom and fur
llshlng him with horse and ct means tt travelling
sent nm orh as missionary in which service he often
preached to white congregations, and even among
hem performed the ordinances OF the church. la the
same State found small printed manual OF Bible
in use by Epscopaians in the religious in.
3tructlon OF slaves.
But Unjust not dwell too long on these proofs that
here is among the protesting Christians ofthe South
ieep and solemn OF obligation 10 look aft, The
plntuai interests OF slaves; and among those who do
lot profess religion may confidently saw there is NOT
'ny willingness, but desire to have their slaves in
ructed in Christianity Thus even inideliy is com
'eiied TO testify TO sh holy aims and Influences. AT The
anne time, the negro is found TO be doclle and sucen-
lie to Christian truth 10 this respect he is indeed lar
superior to the ladiahs-pcrhaps 10 any other savage
orsueh he was IN the country oil his iace. Hls native
brethren OF Atfica will, have doubt, be found 10
display the same apitudes, for they are well known to
1e most devont IN their Pagan worsl ip-Felism