Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-05-20
co m III U MICAT N S.
FOR THE ADVERTISER.


insult, to those who have had the misfortune to
be born in q foreign land, and who have taken
up their residence amongst you. He states that
when Northern man tells him that he would
fight for the South, he tells him that he is
traitor He appears to have no confidence in
the man who would, under any circumstance,
fight against his native land, Forgetting that
mans patriotism is due to the country to which
he has sworn allcgiancc.) lie thinks it the duty
of citizen, born elsewhere, to return home in
time of war, rather than join the South, which
he has always been taught to hate and should
he not do so, he holds him guilty of either trea-
son or falsehoods This, Messrs. Editors, is
painful and unmerited insult to those strangers
among you who have identified themselves with
your country by marriage, by interest, and by
every thing that renders the domestic circle
sacred and dear.
We had the misfortune to be born in distant
land, and one Of the first impressions placed on
our young and tender mind, was to look upon
African slavery rs the blackest, and most out
rageous of all crimes. Under that impression
we were nurturcd and raised. From infancy
our young and mistaken sympathics were excited
by the unfoundcd tales Of sorrow and of woe. TO
Which we were told the African race was SUBJ
iect. Those principles were instilled into our
mind by affectionate, but erring parents. Need
we then be surprised that those prcjudiccs should
become so strong as almost to form part of our
very nature, and, in some instances. prompt us
to declare eternal hostility TO the South and her
institutions. Those sentiments followed us to
manhood, when we found to our sorrow, that
African slavery was not the only species of
slavery which had an existence. We found our
self in the very midst Of slavery which rem
dered life itself intolerablc, a slavery which did
not respect, but tramped under foot, the most
sacred rights of our common humanity. We
were surrounded on every hand by crime and
vice, poverty, suffering and starvation. Human
ity, in all its degraded and loathsome forms, was
ever boforc u.s. to render us disgusted with the
land Of our birth, and the institutions by which
we were surrounded.
This was white slavery Of most appalling
nature.
While we were taught TO look upon America
rs the land Of slavery, it was likewise associated
with our ideas of freedom, justice and equality,
and when our mind was oppressed by sense Of
degration, we looked upon this as being the only
country, in which we could earn competent
livelihood, where our rights would be respected,
and where every honest man could have q
chance of earning for himself an honorable dis
tinction.
We had heard much Of the philanthropy of
the Northern States. Welooked upon them as
the land in Which the opprcssed'of. every nation,
'and plenty. Under this Impression, we bade a
painful adieu to all the associations of childhood,
TO the friends and the country of our birth. We
felt as if q new and brighter era was about to
dawn upon our miserable eXistcnce-as though
old things were about to pass away and all things
become new.
After long winter voyage we arrived in
Boston, Massachusetts, that boastcd land of
freedom. We were sorrowful and detected to
find their philanthropy false, rotten and cruel
We found that all their sympathics had been
expended in behalf Of the Southern States they
had none left for the unfortunate and oppressed
of their own race. Wcwcre despised, rejected,
insulted and almost spit upon, because we had
the misfortune TO be born in distant country.
They take Il telescope view of the miscrics of
human life-they can see and feel for the imag-
nary evils under which the Southern slaves are
doomed to live, while the poverty, suffering and
crime by which they are surrounded, pass un-
noticed and unrclicved Our soul turned with
disgust from such a state of things, and after
seeking in vain for freedom. justice and equality
Of which they boast so much, We determined to
turn our course to the land of negro slavery,
and to try our luck in tic Palmetto State.
We took our departure from Boston to
Charleston and expected, on our arrival, 10 wit
ness scenes Of cruelty that would shock the
most obduratc heart. 1t had been represented
to us that the slaves were even yoked in wag-
gons in the place of horses, and were subjected
to the perpetual lash of the drivers whip. On
approaching the wharf, we listened attcntvcly,
actually expecting to hear the shrieks and cries
Of the poor unfortunate slaves; but we listened
in vain. We entered the city and found the
streets full Of negroes following their various
occupations, well clad and apparently cheerful
and contcntcd. Being a perfect stranger, we
had great curiosity to see the slaues and witness
the great denominations Of slavery. After search
ing for three days, we ventured to enquire where
the slaves were kept, and were told that they
were in the streets. This brief revelation struck
US with astonismcnt, and from that moment we
began to learn that the South was slandercd and
her institutions misrcprcsentcd.
The Southern people had ever been charac-
terized in our hearing as cruel, treachcrous and
bloodthirsty. We ventured gradually to make
ourselves acquainted with them, and to our sur
prise found them the most brave, generous and
open hearted Of all people. They treated us as
d man, not as an enemy and foreigner. After
aou uircr bopoa f,,up1 ;oo1 fr;o