Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-08-14
Thoughts and Impressions Of q Traveller in
Virginia,

There is good sense in the following remarks
on the treatment Of slaves, made by one who
saw some things in Virginia for himself He
writes throughout like candid man. Ills re-
marks in another paragraph on the general
estimation in which slaves are held, reveal one
Of the horrible influences of slavcry-silcnt
and unno.iccd perhaps, but yet to every intcll-
gent mind, unutterably revolving. Who shall
answer for the social and moral annihilation of
thousands of our own brcthrcn-whom the
same Great Father created and loves as he
loves the best Of us 20 Erangclia.
Treatment Of Siares You will be told con-
tinually at the South, that the slaves arc we'll
treated that kindness is the rule and unkind-
ness is the exception and all who tcll.you so,
themselves believe it. But before VIC affirm or
deny such an asstr ion, IL is wtl TO know what
Is the standard Of kindness which the speaker
has in his mind. l have often observed in
Southerners a most undoubting belief that
slaves are well treated, when they seem to an
unsophisticated Norihcrner to be faring nard.
The reason is, that they reckon that to be good
treatment for slave which they would not
think good treatment for white person it is
good treatment " for Mtm." Now il North
erners and Southorncrs would understand one
another, IL is necessary to know what is the
standard of Kindness in the mind of each do
they speak Of what would be good treatment of
white people, or only of what is good treatment
of slaves If by kind treatment, you mean
such as you wish for your wife, or child, or pa.
rent, then II is not true, that kindness is the
rule, and unkindncss the exception. Your blood
would boil If they were subjected to treatment
such as is received by great majority of slaves.
If by kindness, you mean such kindness as
man shows to valued horse or dog, then un-
doubtcdy, kindness is the rule. and unkrdness
the exception. But let us go to tho particulars.
General Estimdtion.-I had never realized
how utterly the slave is extinguishcd-blottcd
out of being, SO far as all rights are concerned,
and all influence and consideration in society.
The principle of the law that the slave is
ehattel, is carried out with an awful litcraness
Il pervades all the tho opinions and feel
ings Of society. l was not prepared for this l
hnd it difficult to realize it, even now that see
it could scarcely have deemed it possible.
that so many men and women could exist, and
be so destitute OF all influence that society
could SO completely blot them out from all
consideration, and roll on just as if their rights,
feelings, interests did not exist. They have no
moro voice, influence, or consideration, than so
many cattle.-Thcy themselves so regard them
selves; and it is painful to see mon and women
so crngingy void Of all sense Of all manhood.
Masters little son meets q stout negro boy in
the door-yard; in mere wantorncss, he seizes
one car of the negro in each hand, and stands
kicking his shins. The negro darcs not resist
but receives il in silence, and when the little
tyrant is done, sneaks off. You may talk of
the abuse of slavery; it is not possible to abuse
it every thing short of tyranny, is short of
what It's fundamental principle might entitlc us
to expect; humility will not often go to the full
length of what that principle allows; to talk
of abusing such power is to talk obsurdly.-
Tho great difficulty, is to realize the fearful in
iquity of that one principle; and l confess,
never realized to what an extent, that principle
had silently and unconsciously diffuscd itself
through all the feelings, opinions, usages, and
practical operations of Southern Society.