The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-02-22
From Hnrper's Magazine.


of antiquity which commands reverence al
most. IN the persons # our household servants
should look little askancc mt such exb bbtion Of
it s,sssnef essss plav the nsalster IN theeyes oi
all the society OF Europe.
i don't mean to enter row any special plea
in favor of tho system. But I want you. at
cas., and such as we have regard for in your
Shereabours. To believe ihat We have hearts #
flesh. like the rest of the world: end we krow
how to be kind and careful and considerable
towards those who. By The dispensation of Prov
idcnce, ere thrown under the hands and owner
ship.
Pray, what can do? Herearo some thirty
or forty poor fellows who Lave fallen to my lot,
with fair extert of ground in our pleasant
pine country. They have been in my fathers
and grandfather's family for years. They are
attached not only to tho place, but to myself
aud to my wife. They throng about Us when
we come back, to shout most cordial welcome.
Even Mamma Tho old nurse of tho family,
who held me for years in her arms. and John
and Arthur, " ho ure now in their graves, scarce
forhear to kis. me-.
They all work well, and they all live vel;
and j, would sadly run against my better jndg,
ment to make "A sale ofa single one, even to tho
kindcst OF masters. | believe sincerely that
some Of them would rather die than leave me.
Yet perhaps some neople would connt it virtu-
Gus in me, to sell al OF them. aud go away from
II country where this old 'plague-spor is lin
gcring. But cannot, ana could not satisfy
INV conscience in doing this.
What can d.!
'No,hine, sir, rs it seems 10 nc, save 10 mako
gm as happy as possible by encouraging sys
hiic habits OF industry. of cleanliness and
correct mural ac,ion. To tell tho truth. / am
hoping very much for the time. when n little
fuller and more complete civilization in the
midst of onr pine woods, wilt draw very many
people of the North, to winter residence un-
der OuS balmy atmosphere; ond then, please
God, when We talk MS friends about common
grievances. over common table we may hope
to lay our shoulders together in u brotherly
way for the amendment of whatever is wrong
in our common country, whether it be North
ward or Souihwsrd.
DEAR SIR:-As tho Editor OF fHarpers makes
no repl, 10 your liberal and warm hearted let
ter we trus, you will permit Us tho liberty OF
sending yon line in answer.
Whv is it that you and your fathers and
grandfaihcrs family-as your letter evidences,
have dore more 10 mitigate tho evils of the
system than anv of us have, md who can he so
sensiblv ,oosiderate in your wishes and aims
regarding it-why is it that you will persist in
thinking all of us. up here. your natural enc
mics, and indicative prosecutors, whenever
". venture to sUeak off why is il that you
will insis. that all we do is prompted. not hy
feelings like your own, but by maleyolence to
your int, rests.
True. there are some among us who arc led
By their hasty zeal int, invcctive. bitterness
ard wild Propositions of cmancips ton even by
vol, ne and boodshcd. But they are very
very few. They arc so bitter ami violent be-
cause they are so weak 1uddisappontcd. Judge
for vQtir,alf hnw uiu ueh infnnn.p thav tay h,y
the acts of our Representatives for the last fif-
ty years You do them service rs well as tho
North Injustice. who' you profess 10 believe
that they embody the public sontimen, of the
Free States.
The most Of us here see rs you dc. iha, tho
system does you moro harm than il does 10 US;
rec1gnize the difficulties that surround ii and
you: acknowledge your kindness and your ear
nest labor for the welfare of those who arc
thrown under yonr hands and ownership; arc
willing TO leavc them there so long as they arc
willing to stay, satisfied that in your hands they
arc probably better treated and moro prudent
~ cared for than they would be here; seek no
interference in yonr domestic government: but
are content 10 wait until you decide upon somo
plan for the dclivcrancc of your State from its
wo-st enemy. and then only seek to co operate
with you, at your own time, aud in your own
way. 10 placc her in the same high road 10
prosperity and happiness that wo think we
have sccur, Il for our own.
Conceding all ihis are wo unreasonable. If
we remind you that some p,rs of the burden
fall upon our shoulders MS well as yours, and
if we try heartily to shuke them off!
There is free colored man here, rcspccta-
bio and honest citiy"n. who came back last
week from the South. He was kidnapped and
sid while on visit TO Washington. and for
twelve long years, his wife and children twho
were perhaps not less attached 10 him tha' even
your old nurse to YOU. and John. and ARTHUR
-henrd from him rot one single word He;
was liberated at last by the perseverng go.
tons of his friends aud came bnck-grown old
worn ont with forced work ard exposure nnd1
MARKED with The whip. He had been carried
off 10 n plantation on the upper waters of the
Red River. where among his othor experience
he'relates that ho wns compelled to inf CT a
hundred lashes for some trifing offence. upon
the back ola girl of IL, stakes and tied down
to the round; end when this was done and he
refused to o. farther. lis m ster seized the
whip and pl cd it ii ii Hood flowed from her
neck To- her feet. She boprs tho marks upon
her TO ly still though tho punishment was in
flc,ed four years ago. When hc was rescued
and about TO leave, this g,rl came frum behind
tho hut unseen bv her master and throwing
her arms around his neck congratulated him
on his escape. and return to bis family, at the
same tine cxclaiming in dcspair, But, oh God,
what will becou of me?
The Courts at Washineton set him free, but
they refused To ls'or to his testimony against
thorc who committed theso erimcs-still less
10 award bin any compensation for tho injus
lice he had been suhjectcd to.
Arc we unreasonable in asking that when
tho Red River country applies for admission
n
you in Contress who bolieve this institution 10
Be blessing to mankind and who will make