Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-08-09
7 II L B U G l. L l..
Notes Of a Journey.

MARLBoRo, July goth, 1851.
DEAR MARIUs whilst on my way to Iowa
last fall, and on my return this spring, had an
opportunity Of witnessing Slavery in some Of
its various aspects. On my way out my fellow
passengers on board the steamboat were from
various parts of the country; from the cast,
north and south, many were moving their
effects from our own state to the land Of pra-
RIGS beyond the Mississippi Some Southcrncrs
were returning ftom their accustomed northern
tour during the hot season, taking with them
their hired walters. as It is not safe to bring
slaves north. Others were cmigrating from
Virginia and Kentucky to Missouri, taking
Slarcs with them, amongst whom there were
three young women, beautiful in form, tall and
athalctic-but oh how sad in countonancc.
Two Of them had babes, they once had hus-
bands, from whom they were ruthlcssy dssc-
vcrcd by the foul demon who claimed them as
property, and drove them to our boat from the
streets of Louisville to be shipped to the hemp
growing part of Missouri. And then there were
four men and one boy besides, bound for the
same region of country, and all eight were
bobStiSA Nv AbiAb VIZ tlAt upper EuulNA'
to sleep. AS watched their cndcayors to bury
themselves beneath the filthy pile of rags, pro-
vidcd for their covering, my heart sickcncd
within me and when I remembered, these arc
slaves owned by fellow mortal, bought and
sold, whipped, robbed, outraged in every sense
of the term, altogether at the mercy % of n
brutal, avaricious, Goddcfying master, turn
r. e III l-f
horror; of pity, not less for the presumtuous
being who dared claim the image of common
father as property, than the claimed j.: and of
horror for the system. Thus they slept, in the
damp chilling night-air of the month Of No
vcmbcr. And their food was the crumbs and
scraps that were scrapcd from our table into
common receiver and placed before them on the
floor, as for dogs. On our way up the Missis-
sippi one Of their number died of cholcra.-
True, efforts were made to retain his spirit but
to no purpose it was loss Of $1,000 to his
owner, but a far greater gain to him. Great
sympathy was expressed in behalf of the
looser.
This Spring there were number of slave
owners on our boat who were coming to the
northern states to spend the summer as is their
custom, bringing free nurses whom they treat
with the utmost disregard. Thus, during the
summer months of each year our atmosphere
is polluted by the presence of slave owners, who
flee from the scorchings of the summer heat,
to our more genial cline. Ii we were free
and virtuous people here at the north, we would
cause a hotter atmosphere to cnvclop them,
than ever the most fevered brain Of mailman
fancied to permeate the halls his Satanic AIajes-
ty. But such people we are not. Men, with
their fingers dripping with blood, with their
pockets lined with stolen money, women en-
veloped in the price of broken hearts, of bar
tered chastity, walk at noon, the most honored
and idolized of beings, amongst us. What ar
gument further need we to prove the pro-slayc-
ry character of the North.
G6w long things shall remain in their pres
ent deplorable condition depends upon the aboli-
tionists to say. How long, that great reservoir
of corruption shall be permitted to eject its
blasted and blasting specimens Of humanity
amongst US. depends on us tosay. Iwould say
TO the people of the North, as you value your
own salvation, as you value the intelligence
the morals, the prosperity and the happiness OF
your country permit it no longer. Would that
it were in my power to utter a word that would
cause my fellow abolitonists to feel tho weight
of the responsibility that rests upon US as such;
me thinks our enterprise would not drag SO
heavely as it does-but enough
Yours in hope, T. Nj. W.