Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-03-16
English Sympathy for American slav-

- a., cry.
The celebrated Duchess of Switzerland, who
manifests SO much sympathy for the slaves of
|"North America" is landed proprietor in Scot
land, who possesses an estate of seven hundred
and ninety-four thousand acres of free soil, en-
bracing nearly the whole of the county of South
Ierlandshire, one of the northern counties of the
Scottish border. About the year 1911 an usurp-
alton was attempted, and, in many instances, eff
fected, by the mobiles, who seized upon the prop
lerty of the neighboring clans, and transferred
it to their own estates. The leading spirit of this
benevolent movement, was the Honorable, the
land. The population of this estate at the time
we have alluded to, numbered about 10000 per-
sons. The Duchess, in the magnanimity of a
benevolence SO Christian-like, and philanthropy
which could not look upon oppression at home or
abroad without feelings of the deepest adherence,
determined to effect, at once, entire and efec-
ual reform in the management and condition of
her estates, by converting the whole, embracing
nearly an entire county, into one stupendous
sheep farm. Accordingly systematic course of
expulsion was at once commenced. Men, women
and children were driven houseless and shelter
less from their homes; British soldiers were
marched into Scotland, to carry out the heartless
Iravages that laid waste county and beggared its
inhabitants, This, too, at time of profound
peace, and in country proverbal for the loyalty
and integrity of its people Villages and hamlets
were burned to the ground and any attempt at
resistance from the outraged people, was met by
summary and cruel retribution from the soldiers
her Grace had sent thither to carry out her phi
lanthropic reformation. The gray haired peasant
tage where his ancestors had lived and died for a
century gone by; the sturdy clansman whose
blood had flowed as free as water in defence of
her family, and bore the scars of many ''well
fought battle field" were thrown upon the world
debilated in her service and beggared by her par
simony. And this is she who is among the FORE
most in appealing to the American ladies in be-
half of the poor slave.
Now we do not propose to offer any apology for
slavery, nor attempt to justify oppression here or
elsewhere, but we do think that such purely dis
interested philanthropy, so generous sympathy
for the slaves of &c North America from such a
quarter, present paradox that cannot be explain
ed consistent with the Views of North Ameri-
cam" honesty.
The country whose institutions her Grace SO
much deplores, has given home and subsistence
to thousands she has beggarcd and driven into ex-
lie; the people she would reform, have given a
shelter to her homeless peasantry, and food to
her starving countrymen; the institutions she
condemns as criminal, were established by her
English ancestors. and sustained by British legis-
lation. In the face of these circumstances, and
in view of her disinterested philanthropy exhibit
ed towards her own subjects, the interference of
the noble Duchess wears much the air of hypoc-
ricy Her position may give her influence, but
she will find in the legitimate discharge of her
beneyolence field sufficiently wide for its exer-
else at home.