The southern press., 1851-04-04
For the Southern Press.
Relics Of Scraps and Masings.-NO. 2s.
SPIRIT or THE AGE.

tus states that "this publication is dictated oy
spirits, by them edited, superintended and con-
rolled" The publishers and proprietors are
Messrs. Congdon, Coventry, Wilson and Rush;
but whether they are spiritual beings, or only M
spired by ardent spirits, does not distinctly APP
pear The place selected for the publication is
Auburn, in the State Of New York, where, it will
be recolected, the State prison is located, and
where, of course, there plenty of gentlemen of
literary leisure to assist the spiritual editors, If ne
cessary.
This is certainly another long step in advance
of the "higher law" and the "sprilual knock
ings, F" and one of the cearest evidences Of the
stupendous progress Of the spirit, rather spirits
of the age, yet exhibited 10 the world. The whole
press Of the United States should be on the look
out for their formidable rivals, just arrived in the
last steamer from the world of'spirts and it be-
hooyes the printers devils most especially, to set
their faces against these interopers, or neither
Mephistophiles nor Doctor Faustus can save them
from purgatory, if not worse. There can be little
doubt that this direct interposton of the world of
spirits in our every day affairs, will have u won
derful effect throughout the ilIustrious Empire
c'"'N' AZ VIII oSou'Suiy PioSC OAip anu iooop-
chusetts in the back ground, and knock little
Rhode Island into cooked hat. Garrison, Sum-
ner, Wright Cufiee Douglas, Gerrit Smith, and
the great Thompson, M. p, will vanish like spec
tres at the dawn of day, and even the Presidents
proclamation become dead letter, unless it ac-
cords with the holy inspirations of Messrs. Cong
don, Coventry, Wilson, Rush. and the spirits of
the Auburn State prison, who shut up like the
poor devil on two sticks, as it were, in 'chrys-
tai palace" by the potent magicians who deal in
the incomprehensible, cabalistic incantations OF
the law. The great apostle Of the higher law had
better cast his spell over these newly arrived spir-
its, before they engaged in the service of some
other great exorcsor for there is every reason to
believe that If he can only once their good
graces, he may snap his fingers at Abotionsts,
Anti-reners..and spiritual knockers; cut the Alba
ny Evening Journal, and flip the New York
Plebian. This Auburn paper, edited inspired
and directed by bona Jide spirits, being by far the
most infabe evidence of the march of mind, and
the spirit Of the age, yet vouchsafed to benighted
world, must necessarily throw all the rest Of the
new lights into outer darkness, and wrest the gov
ernment Of the State of New York, if not of the
whole United States from the hands of the inferi-
>or beings who have so long imposed on their fel-
low creatures have not yet learned what is the
prevailing color Of these presiding spirits, wheth-
er they are "black spirits or white, blue spirits or
grey" but there is every reason to believe that
Cul'ee Douglas and Gerrt Smith will have fin
ger in the pie We shall know in good time. So
look out Messrs Seward, Hunt, Fish, flesh and
fowl. There is peculiar fitness in the location
of this paper at Auburn, which in itself smacks
| of inspiration Independent of the facility of ac-
curing subscribers among the imprisoned spirits,
it will be recollected that not few "men of let
ters," are shut up in the prison, merely for mis-
taking their own hand writing for that Of other
people. These will doubtless become valuable
contributors.
| AFRICAN AND AMERICAN SLAVERY.
| In looking over the report Of the Secretary OF
State, communicating the information collected by
the Rev r. r. Gurey, in his recent visit to Lii
beria, there are some passages which, though
probably not intended for that purpose throw no
inconsiderabe light on the condition Of large
portion Of the people OF Africa as well as the mo-
tives of England in its zeal for their welfare
These reports, it may be observed, are generally
indeed always, drawn up by persons holding Of
fetal stations in various societies for amelorating
the condition of Africa, and personally interested
in making the most favorable representations Of
the success of their labors. They are, therefore,
not to be implicitly depended upon when detailing
such favorable circumstances; but there is every
reason for believing them when disclosing, doubt
less inadvertently, matters which operate in con-
trary direction.
| In the examination of Capt. H. D. Trotten, r.
| NJ, before a committee of the House of Lords,
among other things he produces a letter from the
Rev. Hope Waddal, containing the following pas
sage: 81 may mention that King Ego says he
has so many slaves that he would gladly get rid
Of, that he would give ship full to any person
for nothing. lie has no means Of erpatriating Of
finders no,c and is tired, he says, of.fOgging and
killing hem." This, presume, is an example
of the general treatment Of slaves under their Afri-
can masters, and in this condition, according to
Mungo Park, are three-fourths Of the native Afri.
cans, and in this condition have they been from
time immemorial. Capt. Troten adds, that "the
people of Calabar still purchase slaves in the mar
kets of the interior for their own farming and do
mestic and superstitious purposes; and being
asked what he meant by superstitious purposes
answered, "Frquenay on The death Qfa chief they
sacrifice as MANY as a hundred individuals" What
an outrage on humanity to transplant these hap
py Africans to the regions Of christianity and civ
| zation
The Rev. II. Townsend, in letter to Capt.
Trotten, thus discloses the great object Of British
philanthropy in relation to African slavery: "it is
not only England's duty to suppress the slave
trade, but her best interest likewise. The civili-
zaiion of Africa, which has been prevented by the
slave trade ,couM millions Of human beings TO
becomes consumers Of English merchandise. The
disposition so efen manifested by The negro, his ond
ness for tarodyy Gnery, needs but reeere bias from
oiriHzed man 10 become taste for the convenience
and elega,cies Of cipilized life hare seen this er
empGfed IN my intercourse rih them" Thus we
distinctly trace British philanthropy to the British