The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-07

| doniIB the cOrruptlOns vi tho oiu P"."O' -"
next November casting their votes for Hale an
Julian, and the great principles OF which the
are the opponents!
Trog Michigan, Sept. %, 1s52.-When
wrote before, did not expect any special a'
tention, and now let me be cautious. kno"
then, that more money from this ofbce goes
yours for papers. this week than to all Others
that we have plenty of campaign papers 10
nothing, but they are not worth reading; tina
every young man in this town, | believe, vii
vote for Hale that the industrious mechan
les and farmers are leaning for freedom; tina
this town. which never poled over twelve Ere
Soil votes will give from forty to hundre'
! Free Democratic votes that the statesmen
who have ruined themselves by making tn
Fugitive Slave Law, are now trying to corrup
the people to vote it finality.
o. The following communication come
enclosed in an envelope from Louisiana
Ed Era.
THE OPINION OF A soUTHERNER.
To the Editor of the National Era:
have Just been reading, in the NeW forS
Observer of the 10Th of August, an article from
the Southern Free Press headed by an editoria
one from the Observer, that has tor Its caption
Progress in the Right Quarter"
The editor of the New York Observer says
that the Southern Free Press has been an able
and earnest defender of Southern institutions
but that he now advocates the passage OF a
law to prohibit the separation of slave families
and recommends instruction to a portion OF
slaves that are most honest and faithful. The
Observer further adds " Ii was such language
as this that was becoming common. before
Northern fanaticism ruined the prospects OF
emancipation IL is not so Northern fanati-
csm, as he calls it has done everything that
has been done for lettering the condition of
the slave. Every one who knows anything OF
slavery for the last thirty years, will recollect,
that about that time since, the condition of the
slave in Louisiana-for about Louisiana only
do speak, because about Louisiana only do
know-was as depressed and miserable as any
OF the accounts of the AbOlitlOnists that ever
have seen, have made it. | say Abolitonists.
mean friends and advocates of Freedom, in a
fair and honorable way If any doubt my as
sertion, let them seek for information. Let
them get the Black Laws of Louisiana, and
read them. Let them get facts from individu-
ais OF veracity, on whose statements they would
rely
This wretched condition of slaves reused the
friends of humanity, who, like men, and Chris
tlan men, came fearlessly forward, and told
truths, Indignantly expressing their adherence
OF their oppressors. Such measures of course
brought forth strife, which caused the cries of
humanity to sound louder and louder throughout
the land. The friends of freedom gained the
ascendency in the hearts of the people, and the
shareholders were brought to stand. Some
through fear of consequences, lessened their cru
elites, while others were made to think, that per-
haps were not unwilling to do so when it was
urged upon them. Cruelties were not only re-
Trained from, but the slaves comforts were in
creased. A retrOgrade treatment now was not
practicable. Fears Of rebellion kept them to it
The slave had found friends, and they were
watchful twas, however, soon discovered that
too many privileges, too much leniency, and Civ
ing knowledge, would destroy the power to keep
down the slave, and tend to weaken, if not
destroy, the system. Accordingly, stringent
laws had to be passed. and penalty attached
to them. No one must teach, or cause to be
taught, slave without mourning the penalty
The law is now in force These necessary
laws, as they are called, are all put down to
the account of the friends of freedom-to their
interference do suppose that they do Justly
belong to their interference for who that
studies the history of the worlds transactions
does not know, that in all contests with power.
the weak, until successful, will be dealt with
more vigorously. Lose not sight, however, of
their former condition. Law after law has
since been passed, to draw the cord tighter
around the poor slave, and all attributed TO
the Abolitionists. Well, any how. progress is
being made. Here comes out the Southern
Press, and makes some honorable concessions
lie says The assaults upon slavery made for
the last twenty years by the North. have in.
creased the evils of it, The treatment of slaves
has undoubtedly become delicate and dificnlt
question. The South has a great and moral
conflict to wage; and it is for her to put on
me most 'nvufnerabie moral panoplyn He then
thinks the availability Of slave property would
not De injured by passing law to prohibit the
separation OF slave families; for he saws
" Although cases sometimes occur. which we
observe are seized by these Northern fanatics
as characteristic illustrations of the system.n
&c Nonsense. there are no eases some
times occurring-no such thing, Thew are
every days occurrences, though there ere
families that form the execution: and many |
would hope, that would not do it. While
am ~ritng, J can call before me three men,
t t[ were brought here by negro traders from
Virginia each having left six or seven children
WIN 'heir wives from whom they have never
heard' one other died here short time SINCE,
VINO lett the same number in Carolina, from
whom he had never heard.
spent the summer of l845 in Nashville
during the month of September six hundred
saves passed through that place, in four diff
ierent gangs tor New Qrleans-fnal destina-
ton, probably, Texas A goodly proportion
were women young women, of course; many
iho'hers must have left not only their children,
out their babies. One gang only had few
children. made some excursions to the diff
lerent waterlng-places around Nashville and
Wn'ie az Robinson or Tyree Springs, twenty
miles from Nashville, on the borders of Ken
lucky ana Tennessee, my hostess said to me,
one day" fonder comes gang of slaves,
chained went to the road side and viewed
Them For the better answering my purpose
OF observation, ! stopped the white man in
'front.' VINO was at his ease in q one-horse wag.
on ana asked him if those slaves were for sale
counted them, and observed their position
they were divided by three one horse wagons
each containing man merchant 30 arranged
as 70 command the whole gang. Some were
unclaimed; sixty were chained, in two com
panles, thirty in each, the right hand of one tc
the left hand of the other opposite one making
fifteen each side Of large ox-chain to which
every hand was fastened, and necessarily com
PEELED to hold up-men and women promiscu
ousiy, and about in equal proportions, al
young people No children here, except a few
in wagon behind, which we're the only chil
dren in the four gangs. | said to respectable
mulatto woman in the house, " Is it true tina,
the negro traders take mothers from their ba
hlesIN MiSsis a ia kr,ae for here last wnnk