New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-18
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
INFLUENCE OF SLAVERY ON CHARACTER


To the Editor Of The ~ y. Tribune
SIR: The recent stab perpctrated in Kansas upon
Freedom-the wound of which is still bleeding-by
horde of Infatuated rufans has excited the stern in
dignation of every freeman throughout the length and
breadth of our land. 1t is less startling however,
10 those whom an unfortunate investment-origin-
ating in almost every instance from false estimate
of the South-has compelled TO become temporary
res dents or occasional visitors of Slave State, and
who consequently acquire from daily contact correct
knowledge of the character of the mon who advocate
and sustain the peculiar institution.
Never repeat were people so egreglousy de-
ceved as are the of the North in respect to the
wealth, comforts conveniences, liberaty, hospitality,
Intelligence, and honor of the Southern people
AS regards their wealth, the few who possess 1t.
having been raised Ia Southern phrase which cor
roborates what follows among negroes from their
childhood up naturally acquire @ taste and often
language not dissmar to theirs and hence are con-
tent TO live in miserable huts which no American
day.aborer at the North, however poverty-strcken,
could be induced to occupy.
throughout the Southwest, and especially in Ar
kansas and Texas, have planters possessed of
from fifty TO two hundred slaves who with less taste
and often with half the intelligence Of some OF their
cbaites are content TO inhabit pen less commodous
than is frequently assigned to the porcne genus IN the
Nonhern States. This is no exaggeratOn, let me as
sure YOU incredible as il may appear Ihey do not
measure life by the comfort it affords; but on the con-
ary they are willing to deny themselves all lu1uriss
and often the necessaries Of life, provided their efforts
are facilitated in the production and acquisition OF
more cotton and nggers, which Is the acme oil theT
ambition and their principal topic OF conversation IL
is homely saying with them that they have plenty OF
hog and hominy TO feed their fiends-one OF their m
direct methods Of bossting But their hogs VIII not
weigh on average over 200 lbs each, and are IN
variably converted into bacon and that alone. Such
miserably poor creatures L can truly say no farmer
xould ever think of killing for food IN the Eastern
stotes Their homny is nothing more nor less than the
corn on which the aforementioned animal feeds, pre-
pared only by soaking the grain in strong I've ana boh
inc a,erward. Generally their corn is ground up
cosrse,v and becomes with the addition Of water anu
SLIGHT epplieeton of caloric what hey denomlnate
coTn.bread The paupers at the North have moro
dair. fare greater variety and better cookery Ana
whv is this Servants whose sole employment Is de-
voted In the culinary department ought to acquire
skiu in combining articles OF food and en- alacri'y III
preparing them that maid Of all work cannot ATTAIN
Few families Of the North have cook VINO does no.
perform occasionally at least the office OF chHmoer-
| maid and q thousand duties that the householu re-
oures Is this lack Of culinary skill owing u the I'M
possibility of teaching the colored race these simple 10
nestle arts Not so.
On the contrary they exhibit greater docilty IN this
than in any other department The fault es with the
mistress of the establishment who, Injured TO sedehay
habits from childhood would ian forego the pleasures
oeue nalate for those OF ease, if the latter must DC
sacrificed to direct in the preparation OF new oshe'
not 70 establish rigid dieetc or economic haoits
in her household or in conformity with some ne"-ian
,od ,boov rs among some Of the ultra movers oil re
om at the North but solely that she may not be pes
tered with cares which might preclude her enjoying
iistess, dreaming, torpid existence. &C.,,
The Eberality of tie South has become proveIolai
In ,be aoplicaton of that virtue they, like Hudora'
Of his leaning, -.,oen.,,.a
A bcipg 10Th q wear II out,
| I'rless on holidays or so,
A. men their best apparel do
Uosritality. their cardinal virtue Is seldom caNe'
,o;sitiop. owing TO the isolated situation OF thel
-,an,a,;ops Their all-absorbng love OF gain en-
their time and talents precluding that deVeop
r,cnt Of social feelings and intercourse when tehd
90 elevate adorn and sweeten life
TIL arc not reading people but vain-gonous an
,.,,;s.;csl 70 n lamentablo degree. Many o. u
wealthy planters arc too picayunlsh even u '"Av
ncwspaper, those who can reai,l ana inc! so'1Ou
manifest any curiosity desire to learn inc "o"9
the day concerning questions OF great pon''0a-
80. discoveries in the arts and sciences, the uiig
,oyoutions shaking to their very cen'e'S ,A0 -'D
no,yerful kingdoms of Europe, the thousaua o'0"-
Of more or less magnitude occurring In eso'y w..
,or os the elobe-concernng oil these tne 'a''l
"a do,Lsome chambers Of their brain have move
lo..sr