The southern press., 1852-05-20
Buying Fugitive slaves.


Our Northern brethren have recently taken
method of whipping the devil round the stump,
and propitiating at once the Northern and South
ern sentiment by liberating runaways by pur,
chase. This is chiefly confined to New York
and its effects must be very mischieyous. u
our friends at the North are to pursue this line
of policy, they certainly furnish thereby potent
arguments for our enemies. II is stab at the
institution of slavery of the most dangerous
kind. That rejecting men there regard II
in this light. is proven by the comments of the
more candid among them upon these cases,
We subjoin two extracts, one from paper
friendly, the other from one hostile to the South
From the .New York Day Book .
To THE -Micaah Keein, formerly
an Industrious slave in Florence, Ala, who pur
chased his freedom by the labor of his hands, at
cost of $582, is desirous to purchase the free
dom Of his four children, now in slavery in that
State. This will cost $2,40O. Of which amount
he can raise $500 in Cincinnati. In this city
he has secured about 800. We have examined
this mans case, and think it to be one which
appeals to the kindness and benevolence OF
every true philanthropist. The children are 8,
u, l6, and 10 years of age. The wife of Kee.
lin is free, and both are laudably anxious to Sc
cure the freedom of their offspring. 1t will
give us great pleasure tn ha the agent or others
in purchasing the liberty of these four children,
two of whom are girls. In case this money is
not raised by October, we hear that they will be
sold as part of an estate. Money or sub.
scriptions may be also left with Mr.. Charles
Starr, 1T Fulton street-N. Y. Express.
This business of buying negroes is getting to
be quite fashionable, and when there is fair
probability that the slave purchased by charta-
Bile contributions and given his freedom be-
comes better of, the efforts to raise the funds
are commendable. But those who take upon
themselves the responsibility of taking negro
from his master and setting him free, and tell
ing him to take care of himself should look well
to the chances of his becoming miserable, de-
graded, worthless outcast. We have seen con-
siderale of slavery, and know something of the
position, character and treatment of slaves at
the South, and never saw one yet who ifhe was
smart, quick, industrious enough to take care of
himself in this State or any Northern State
could not earn enough by extra work, as
slave, to buy his freedom. When a slave has
once bought his freedom, he is infinitely better
off than most free men who have been brought
up in a free State, for this reason: The slave
has no mother nor grandmother to look after or
care for The money he pays for his own free.
dom is 20 more and generally not so much as a
poor man in this city will have to pay to sup
port his aged parents
Therefore, Southern slave can, in nine cases
ont of ten, earn money enough to pay for him.
self-or in other words, pay for taking care Of
those who in all States and all countries have
natural claim upon his time and services-soon.
er and easier than a poor white man can in the
North.
Ii is in our opinion more charitable TO contri-
butte to take care Of the aged and INDECENT pa
rents of our own poor white laborers than to
give for the support or freedom Of Southern
blacks.
An Irshman with US has worked two years
O. get money to bring his wife and children out
from Ireland where they are held in the bond
sge Of poverty. One Of his little ones has died
with starvation since he has been to work for
their freedom. He is much more an object OF
charity than this colored individual whose chill.
dren are probably better off than they will be il
he succeeds in buying their freedom. Who
will give hundred dollars to help the poor
Irishman ? Nobody.
The other extract is from the New YorI
Times SEWARD paper-and puts the mattel
in yet stronger light The editor says:
The perculiar friends Of the Union have pc
culiar ways Of disclosing their friendship but al
always with sad misadaption of means 10 ends
This encouragement Of fight from servitude j
the aim. Horace Preston escapes from servi
tude; is captured and carried back. II is quit
obvious, that TO make his example discounts
nance the offence, in slavery he should be lef
But otherwise these philanthropists They be
come instantly ambitious TO buy slave.
will not do TO argue with them, that they shoul
single out some other individual guiltless Q
stealing himself, and thus avoid the appearance
OF rewarding crime. Nobody will answer bu
this identical parsonage, and as bounty fc
violating the laws, setting the Constitution
nought, and shaking the Union, Mr.. Presto
is presented with fifteen hundred dollars wort
Of freedom. II is no wonder our Souther
Deighbors distrust the North, while so shrew
game is playing against them.