The southern press., 1851-11-05
A wrecssr.

The following Interesting account OF slavery
sentiment we take from DE Bo,oS Reuie,o for
October.
"a great source, we are sorry to say it, of
popular prejudice in Europe aud elsewhere
against the slave-holding States has arisen
from Yankee love Of misrepresenting and
blackening everything at the South Some of
our readers may remember the account given
by Mr.. Lyell, in his second visit 10 the United
States, of the Abolitonsts wrecker," in the
railway ears between Chehaw and Montgomery.
" AT one of the stations we saw runaway slave,
who had been caught and handcuffed the first
| had fallen in with in irons in the course OF the
present journey. On seeing him, New-Eng
lander, who had been with us in the stage be-
fore we reached Chehaw, began to hold forth on
the miserable condition Of the negroes in Alaba-
ma Louisiana, Mississippi, and some other
States ,ohich / had mol get uisited. For time
took for granted all he said of the suiferings of
the colored race in those regions the cruelty OF
the overaeers, their opposition 10 the improve
ment and education of the blacks and especiall,
10 their conversion 10 Christianity. / began to
shudder at what | was doomed to witness in the
course of my further journeyings in the South
and West--Ee was very intelligent, and so well
informed on politics and political economy, that,
at first, thought myself fortunate in meeting
with man 80 competent to give an unpreju
diced opinion on matters of which he had been
an eyewitness.
AT length, however, suspecting disposition
to exaggerate, and party feeling on the subject
gradually led him to speak of districts with
which was already familiar, especially South
Carolina and Georgia | Immediately discover
ed that there also he had everywhere seen the
same horrors and misery. He went so far as to
declare that the piney woods all around us were
full of hundreds of runaways, who subsisted on
vensons and wild hogs; assured me that ] had
been deceived if imagined the colored man in
the upper country, where they have mingled
more with the whites, were more progressive !;
nor was it true that the Baptsts and Methodsts
had been successful in making proselytes. Few
planters, he affirmed, had any liking for the
negroes; and, lastly, that war with England
about Oregon, unprincipled as would be the
measure on the part of the Democratic faction,
would have, at least, its bright side, for it might
put an end to slavery. How in the world
asked |, could it effect this object!' Eng
land he replied, would declare all the slaves in
the South free and thus cripple her enemy by
promoting a servie war The negroes would
rise, and, although no doubt, there would be
great loss of life and property, the South would
nevertheless be gamer, by rddng herself of
this most vicious and impovershing institution.
This man had talked to me so nationally on
variety of topics so long as he was restrained
by the company Of Southern fellow passengers
from entering on the exciting question of slavery,
that it now became extremely curious to know
what business brought him to the South and
made him traveller there for several years.
was told by the conductor that he was "a wreck
err and learned in explanation of the term,
that he was commercial agent, a partner of
Northern house which had great connections in
the South"