Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-08-12


Vt present in greater want of money than We usu-
lily arc, shall lower the price to get away the
,oOner."
And why have you more want of money now
than last year,"
Because we want to buy muskets and powde'
and balls"
What And is it for the purpose Of buying
arms and ammunition that you are going to sell
our children"
The idea that these men would engage in such
II traffic for the purpose of enabling them to strug
gle against the Russians made me reflect gravely
for a moment / looked at the doctor of the
quarantine to see if he shared my emotion. but he
had been so accustomed to these scenes that the
present one made little or no impression on him.
and he now confined his attention to whether there
were any individuals among the lot who required
his professional services But in what light was
to regard these people? Could / admire those
men who carried their patriotism and love of lib,
erty to such pitch as to sell their children
Admiration no doubt felt, but not without sen
timent Of deep sorrow. Unfortunately, however,
reflection / came to learn that it was not since
the war began that these men have engaged in this
detcstabc traffic, and that it was not merely for
the purpose Of buying arms with noble and he
roic intention that they were in the habit OF sell
ing their daughters, their sisters, their sons and
their brothers, but that it has been practced by
them from time immemOrial for the purpose of
satisfying the commonest wants. / felt thrill
Of horror run through me when ] looked at those
obdu1ate and heartess men, smoking and laughing
and cooly talking about the fate of their own flesh
and blood. wished to leave the odious scene, but
the doctor begged Of me to stop and not condemn
these men before ! heard them in justification Of
their conduct He took aside hale old man, the
quick flashes Of whose eye denoted birth, intelli-
gcnce and communcatiyeness. The latter, being
iutcrrogatcd by the DOCTOR said hat 1t was from
sentiment of tenderest affection for their children
ot hn and his Nypr n1licp1 this
traffic.
1T is no trifing sacrifice that we make said
he, in thus separating ourselves from our dear
children but are consoled by the thought that
this separation will be useful to them. In the
mountainous regions where we live our daughters
are subjected to the greatest hardships. We have
neither bread nor clothing to give them. But once
that they are sold, they become ladies-they enter
the harems of the Turks, they lead quiet and
easy life, they feel want of clothing i'll winter,
and they have always bread to eat. And those
who chance to get into the harems Of the great
people have not only clothes and bread at their
command, but also luxury grandeur and power.
They amuse themselves in baths of amber. They
have head-dresses of pearls They have perfumes
and music, and everything that the tenderness
and love of their masters can procure for them.
By their side our sons who have been received by
the Turks may become officers in the army, cap
tains, cadis, pashas and viziers. They then bless
their parents who have had the courage and good
sense to emancipate them from q life of hardshps,
of struggles, and of cruel labors. And then,
/ when s.e rear them with the intention Of selling
them, they know that no happiness awaits them
in their own country, and therefore they leave il
without regret. The Russians who wish to en-
slave under the pretext .hat we follow an inhu-
man trade, not better than are. The great
Prince (Shamyl), who knows them well, who has
lived in their cities, and studied their manners and
their laws, has often told of the horrible deeds
committed among them. We sell children
because tic soil Of country is unfruitiul, be-
cause we cannot afford them any other life than
that of constant labor and of misery that cannot
be removed. Yet we have gentle manners, We love
each other, and we obligc and assist each other.
Among us you will not find the knout, neither will
you see prisoners nor executioners. The wishes
Of our old men are always attentyely listened to
and respected. And the stranger who risks his
person in our mountains is always sure of protec-
ton and assistance"
The doctor continued his conversation with the
old Circassian for a few minutes longer. lie spoke
to him about Shamyl, who is a king, Il prophet,
very god throughout all the Caucasses. Shamy
is Il hero even in the eyes of Europeans, but be-
sides this he is prophet among the Circassians.
"Schamyl is inspired by Cod" added the old
man. "lie often rctres to the recesses of cav
ern, where he remains for five or six days at a
time to hear the counsels which an angel comes
to give him. lie is lion in battle. The Russians
are not able to bear the glare of his countenance,
and when they hear the thunder of his voice they
turn their backs and flee. We have slain many Of
these fellows, and this is the reason why the Nul-
ture of the SHOWS (Nichous) is now lcvying
bloody war against us But wait while; the
muskets that we going to buy will do our busi-
ness better than the lances. Before long, depend
on it, no Russian will dare show his face in our
mountains. The great Prince has predicted that,
and what he predicts always turns out true"
We left the quarantine, and carried away with
me lively impression of all that had heard and
seen. Here there is young people full of hope
and oyerilowing with vitality, for it not only has
not exhausted its own vigor, but it is constantly
giving out to neighboring nation the best por-
tions of it. Here is people on the borders of
Europe, and within fourteen days journey of the
highest civilization. Well, this people, SO mascu-
line, vigorous, energetic sober, intelli-
gent, and which, up to the present timc has been
hardly known to the world, has been cast into
utter barbarism by the ignorance and apathy of
Europe. We trust that out of the struggle which
has now commenced between Europe and Russia
some good will come to these poor countries. Cir
cassia, Georgia and Abasa still sell their children.
This deporabe state of things will, no doubt
cease among our allies from the very contact of
the French and British fleets and armies with
them. Nor shall this be the first time that the
diffusion of civilization shall depend on war, just
as the fertilization of the soil is sometimes the
effect of the most terrific storm.
DE VALoIs
HOW SENATOR CHASE RUINED HIMSELF.