Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-11-04
Slavery.


Slavery.
An excusabls partially ma, induce one
mind to lingsr with some pleasure about tn,
persons and things associated with recol
lections of home.
The main difference between Missouri ant
Iowa consists in the presence and absenc'
Of slavery. In th. former its influence per.
meates and depresses all interests. Many
Of the people of Missouri observe the sups.
rior growth OF Iowa, and understand this tc
be the reason.
But we commenced with talking abou,
reeollections Of home, Zone Of US being an
old slave State RESIDENT and the intention
was to relate conversation on this subject,
between virginian and Kentuckian.
Said the virginian /:
"When came to Missouri, I, with two
others, brought thirty men handcufFed thro'
Pennsylvania. We did not start with them
thus, but discovered that after we crossed
the limo into Pennsylvania, we could do
sothing with them. There was nothing but
disorder. They were in every garden and
melon patch. Boys said l to my two com.
panions, 'this will never do. We can't man.
age these fellows; they all know they are in
free State, and we shall never be able to
get them through Pennsylvania this way
Allison, do you make an excuse 10 20 back
TO Springfield for irons, and Jones and l
will await your return Acc ,rdingly. Ali.
son went back to the next team told them
he had lost his pocket book, Was going back
IN the road to hunt it, and would give any
one fifty cents who might find it. This he
said as he met each team then passed on
TO the first town; there took the stage !:
went to Springfield; obtained the peces sary
apparatus, and was back With us by O'Clock
next morning. After breakfast we called
them into tn, bar-room, and put the irons
on them. From that time We went along
quietly enough. Where it was practicable,
We always selected for their sleeping apart
ment room with only one door, and as few
windows as possible, and / lay down and
slept on the floor, just against the door,
Every farm house We passed, the people
would come out, abuse us, and call No kid
nappers!' Soson as we arrived on board
the boat, and before the craft left the wharf,
we knocked the irons of our men.
"Fron Pittsburgh to Louisville, " stood
watch alternately, to prevent our slaves
from holding any communication with free
State inhabitants. At Cincinnati free me-
gro came on board and engaged deck pas
sage for Louisville. In those days the cabin
was below, and the deck passengers had
their apartments above. Up stairs came
the new passenger, and commenced talking
with our negroes. 1t happened to be my
watch, and / ordered him to leave. He re-
fused to do so; and then told him I woald
split, his head down to his shoulders, il he
lid not go to some other part of the boat
and without word. He accord
ingly loft that boat, and took passage on the
Ben franklin"
81 managed my negroes differently, when
] brought them to this State" blandly re-
70 aFked the Kentuokian.
This article is already 90 long that Judge
H.'s experience must be deferred to some
future time, merely remarking now, that
transactions such as those related, are lls~
tened to by southern men with interest, on
account Of their novelty. In Missouri, a
negro in irons would no doubt draw bigger
crowd than street show, backed by an or
gan grinders music; and would supply
town or neighborhood gossip for week.
TO most of you it is probable that We are
only stating what you know already bat
still, coming from an eye and ear witness.
the facts may not be entirely devoid Of in
terest.
The point We are aiming at is this:-I 1t is
Free State interference which puts irons on
the negro's wrist, when they are placed there
at all. It is Free State interference which
will hold the negro in slavery in Virgins,
in Maryland, in Kentucky, in Missouri, for
twenty or moro years to come perhaps a
half or whole century. Not exactly Free
State interference, either, but Of that small
portion who violently insist upon sb.
rupt, unconditional emancipation. Years
ago, tho rivets started from the slaves fet-
ters in Virginia It was this kind OF inter-
fere ce which drove them back anil clinched
them SO that they hold fast to this day.