The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-23
An English Writer on Negro slavery.

American system Of slavery, from the pen OF ID. l..
Ansted, eminent souaaf, who has recently trayersed
the southern States for certain purposes OF scientific OBJ
serva,ion. In the midst OF so much Misrepresentation
and anaca denunciaon OF the institution OF slavery
by British writer's il is surprising is refreshing 10
read the calm, temperate, and jujcious opinions OF one
whose conclusions all deduced from personal know
edge by sngularly observing and acute mind II we
cannot endorse all The positions assumed by the writer
and are enabled now and then TO detect erroneous
statement in his narrative we can yet freely concede TO
him the praise OF an impartial and phosophic discussion
OF his subject. or course, Eugshman must approach
the system of slavery with certain nvincbe preudces
ba, the judgment of Mr.. Ansed is exempt from these
letters of the mind as any British writer who has under
taken 10 discourse OF American affairs. And, in this
connexon, we will remark that whilst the excilable
masinaiions and sensitive snscepbilies OF romanclsts
poeis and philan,hropiss have been shocked and in
famed by the horrors of negro slavery, foreigners OF So
briefly observation, and correct judgment, such as Sir
Charles Lye have in the system OF slavery that
mixture of good and evil of which every human institution
must necessarily consist. The irritable nature OF the
artist, with its craving after proportion and ideal perec
ton, may revolt from the spectacle OF slavery as from
some fau, in taste bunder in executions but The
OF sense views The system in other relations, and with
far different feelings. Mr.. Ansled is evidently of
vigorous and practical intellect, and his opinions rest
upon basis of common sense and correct observation
Could they but exert that influence with Engishmen 10
which truth is entitled, Exeter Hall and Stafford House
philanthropy would cease its rawlings, and the entente
coriu OF England and America would not be disturbed
by The ncendiaty agilatons OF British abolilionism
Every teacher must have an audience if he means
to give effect his doctrines and to get hearing he
must make concession TO The pTeudices OF those
whom he addresses. IL, perhaps IN this spirit that
Mr. Ansied begins by concedng "that tie system Of
slavery is rndeiensbe the broad principles OF natural
justice and morality" He then announces the general
proposition which he is 10 prove-namely, shat slavery
uneconomic and highly mpolitc a souc. OF SUP
ply of labor;" alter which, he proceeds to give the
SALTS OF his observation OF The practical operation OF the
system He says :"No stranger visit the saveholi-
ing State without being struck by the general adaptation
OF the colored people 10 thsr condition With few
ceptions il is quite clear glance and becomes more
so on further Investigation, that IN all essential points
they are Children and like children totally unfit TO take
the management OF their own Affairs and advance their
own interests" Again "ln domestic service, where
they are most favoraby crcumsianced and really
much more s9uay Than is pleasant, they allowed to
have their way 10 degree utterly inconsistent with
good management In small country families all The
arrangements Of meals ard Other matters depend their
pleasure. Ii Auniy tle coak, waCtS 10 20 Sunday
TO dipping service" Ia 6apii=ng) "or preaching some
ten miles od-no uncommon eyent-the family must
either break las, al six or all Pompey has been
out on Saturday night rather later than usual and has
had an extra half dollar for whskey, the boots and shoes
and often the horses, must remain unattended to- and
as there is no punishment short of logging, and fen
masters resort 10 that for any but serious cases. the offence
is overlooked and soon becomes a habit Speaking 10
servant of this class is about eftcacious ii weud
be 10 scold steam enriae They have no moral re.
sponsibililies their OF right and wrong very
lows they are perfect creatures Of impulse, and, like
very young children, il they are generally creduous and
olerably obed lent, the smallest temptation quite irresist
ble and they repeat offences and olies learn
ng nothing by experience" Nearly all those runaway
slaves who escape into Canadiand their number is not
nconsiderabe-se found to be idle, useless and un-
proving in every OF the word Their idea of liberty
is escape from iabor and The indulgence OF a mere
animal existence with little effort rs possible They
bad servants and bad citizens and rarely rise above
the very lowest position in the social scale This il
matter perfectly notorious and must moi be surprised
il before long the people of Canada refuse to admit pop
ulaon which has no value, and frequently becomes n
drag on the resources OF the country" After addusing
figures from the TO show tina, the negro rospsrs
only in state Of slavery, The writer describes the con
di'ion OF the free-negro population follows "And
now u may be well asked, what is the condition Of this
peope-freemen among the free, but not like their fell
citizens. obeying The natural law 'to increase and
multiply can only reply that, with extremely few
exceptions, they obtain only the very lowest employ.
mems, and those least requiring continued active
tons and that though they sometimes accsmua,e money,
they rarely raise themselves By means OF into any
higher position but remain small BARRIERS, shoeblsck
waters al hotels. or in what other capacity they may
have been employed"
Dir Ansted concludes his first letter with the following
paragraph; "ln point Of fact the physical peculiaes
and natural habitat Of The negro, and those qualities which
characterize him, such no, to form useful anal
gamation with the Anglo Savon race 10 North America,
even when allowed sach fair play as seems possible L.
i'io all appearances PHYSICAL Um7oss5le tina, he two
should be true level, and, is universal in such