Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-12-08
From the New Orleans Delta.

n SCEH Il FOX UNCLE TOMS CAbASs
We Witnessed, day before yesterday,
some scenes on the levee, which would
have proved valuable additions to Mrs.
Stoves negro fiction. Several steam
boats were about leaving for the up-riv-
ers, when suddenly and unexpectedly, the
white hands, taking advantage of the
great demand for laborers, left their du-
ties, and refused to return on board I'M
less their wages were advanced to sixty
dollars per month This strike produced
great excitement, and bitter feeling of
hostility between the hands and the Off
GERS and owners of steamboats,. There
stood on the levee, the white hands, many
Of them without a cent in their pockets,
but obstinately refusing to accept of rea-
sonable wages, and interfering by force,
to prevent others from taking the amount
determined by themselves, and casting
defying and lowering looks at the cap
tains of steamers, who, having advertised
to leave ut certain time, and having on
board valuable cargo, are placed in a
situation which leaves them entirely at the
mercy Of their hands. Such has been
lhe unhappy and exciting state OF affairs
on our leyec for some time-a state OF
things equally injurious to employer and
employee. The latter, thrown out of en-
ploymcnt, become idle and dissipated,
spending their time in grogshops, and
nourishing violent and lawlcss feelings
amongst their class-whilst the former are
deprived of the means of conducting their
business, by which our city is supported
and made to prosper.
Whilst observing with sorrow this state
of affairs on our leyee, our attention was
suddenly called to the merry song of
some of the laborers on one of the coast
packets, which was just preparing to leave
These sounds suggested Il feeling which
contrasted strongly with that of the an
CRY chances and dcfying looks exchanged
by the officers and recent deck hands of
other boats. We turned our attention to
the scene of such inopportune merrl-
ment, and there we saw Il number of
grinnng negroes on the lower deck of the
coast steamer referred to, who having fl
nished their work, and snugly slowed
away the boats freight, were common
cling their usual farewell song-all the
while looking towards the white laborers,
with an air of self-satisfied eXultatlQn and
pity, that must have added considerably
to the annoyance of the excited strikers
In little while the fortunate boat having
the negro hands, left the port without diff
iculty, at her appointed time, and as she
steamed up stream, we could hear for
some moments, the sentorian notes of her
happy laborers, echoiug in the distance,
and sounding very pleasantly on the ear,
amid the jarring noise, hustle and contu-
sion on our levee.
Now, here was CONTRAST scene
which we commend to Mrs. Stowe, as
one in real life, which contradicts and up
sets all the absurd and baseless hctions
she has weaved from her fancy, relative
to the life and condition of our negroes.
Can any honest or rational man doubt thu
superior happiness of these negroes, with
masters to secure them employment and
insure them good treatment, their ia
miles provided for-their every want at
tended to-undisturbed by the bad pas
sions and carking anxieties incident to
the rivalries and contentious, the suffer
ings and wants, which too often Cypress
and crush the white laborer? And yet,
appeals are.constantly made in behalf Of
the poor, oppressed, and cruelty treated
negroes of the South, by persons who are
Immediately surrounded by more misery
and unhappiness among their own race,
than can be found throughout the whole
extent of our section of the Union.