The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-10-27
CIi-nc---its Ilernsd7.

We transfer the following ;u;irle from
the r"nSttfuiionoHSt to our columns. Il
speaks the sentiments we lave always en-
tcltaIncd and often expressed -
The public have recently been l.orriiicL
hy the revolving details otatir murder of
l|r. Mcdonald, OF Mount MrimS, Ala, by
his OWN slave, and Tie, awful pun ~irncnt
inflicted upon the murderer. \ mode OF
execution ;" shocking and appalling to the
human heart as that iy the i:'-yot and
stake, must have the most ovclpowcrin.
necessity growing out Of the Stale of things
among lis for It's Justification. We sLuui.;
be 10th t" feel that our own ni>conIly. in
reference to the state of crime and i.,s,lln.l'-
dntlon among our ncgrocss should have.
en,aiicd upon us the necessity of co,nm!t-
ting barbarlics which has not r!-:I herr, l:r;
a counterpart Oh this continent cxc,p. a.
moh9 ln'ilnu s:v;:grS autl the witch b,.;ic;s,
of New i:l.ylard. But in rcileeting on ih..
subject we arc fnrccaao. the conclusion r,.il
the bIsn. Of this dehhi.ble .cxigcncy lics
in Some measure at tle Hodrso the whites
tlietn,sclycs, the owners 81 Slave property.
The iiegro who committed this murder III
Mount Mci4s, for which he was burnt, con-
fsssed that he had OH "a previous orcHsion
munlrrcd his t!lenH6wner in Kentucky. and
that hc WIS run.from hat STATE and ut-
tcrworis sold in AiaJam". These words
that we have italiciacd conai,tstlle tkcy to
many Of the arsons, rapcS and murders per
petratcd by our slaves. The sordid love O.
money, rising superior to Indignation for
outrageous villainy and foul murder, has,
kept many guilty negro from the gallows.
The owner preferred, to assist his escape i'll
order to save his value in dollars and cents,
to the lisclarg ge of his duty to the comm,l-
nifty, by delivering him up to corulign pun
ishlnent.
Instances of this kind, in cases Of tliShigh-
est grades of offences, are comparatively
rare But in casc$; Of mipor feoIics and
misdemeanors, nothing issni6fe common
than tor the offences to be. comprehension
condition that the owner viii send the me-
gro out ofsthsscommunity, and SELF him in
n distant 'Stafe; and it is also notsnncoin
mon for tie owner to split tllelnegro of
clandssinely, and sell hilash orderto AVOID
trombiesa and expense. - "
Now this Whole system is radically wrong,
andif owners cannot be held up to their
full duty to. the public. from proper motives
they should he co,npelledto do jsosbyt rigid
laws rigidly enforced, TO punish the GRIND
|of conpounding felonics, and Of harboring
and conrealng negro fclons, and aiding and
abclting their escape. 81
S3.Ihs law is a just md righteous one that
provides slaves. the fl,enefhd COUNSEL and
legal defence. The ;lawso Of interest, apart
+ iron, humanity, will always prompt the OWL
er 10 seatl,at no injustice is denesh;s slave
This wiIRalpost inevitably spro,eet the inno:
centaslave fronnsen unjust setiiet.s The ten
dsa las, been and ia I'd 4hsotlier extreme
hilty slaves not being found ggpilty
owing to the extra efforts Of the owner ,'c
shield him from the consednences of his
cline where tho victim is a stranger tc
itGhs: s:sowner,, ahdS noafeeling Jof yengeani.e
/ con coanteracts TIE propplings of self
4 ntdics, in adait;ens ito whatissa
esassls .oceur to usiS One Sis. Z
3D aaw,S ttfb~isets III gaS Seeuted slaees
/ iions ip, who'll 81: :sir5 part sfar ahsi
a ss etbsr ID lat sxSlih
;E kyesdf snset snapis 1gitl