Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-06-27
OLD DIANA,s MESSAGE.

SOME wears ago, gentleman Of this place sold into
freedom an cid negro woman named DIANA oHooAs
She was taken to New York, where she has since
been living Having been purchased and made tree
by the charity of certain citizen Of that State who
knew her mother it is to be supposed that the same
charity has continued to extend her the necessaries
of life; and We may conclude that she occupies AZ
least medium position among her feilow'oiacks oi
the North, whether in point of comfort or respec'ao
ity. Now, what says DIANA upon the subject oil her
present situation! young lady Of our village at
this Time in New York, writes that she has met ne
old woman and conversed with her. And DIANA
saws: "Tel 'em all" tmeanng her former ellow-sef'
wants in Edgefeldl "to quit hinkin' bout ever quit
in home to come here. Better rest contented It you
know what's for your good"! We have TO doubt the
poor od creature felt every word she uttered and that
she would joyfully come back to her cosy kitchen
chimney corner at the South, if she knew no" to ell
feet it and had The means of doing 3d.
No Southerner can pass thro' the North without be-
ing filled with pity again and again, by the SAD ia.e OF
those miserable free negroes. We remember, the hst
visit W. ever made 10 New VI rk, occurrence which
took place upon our landing at of the whares oi
,tu. wealthy metropolis Tre was, as usual, Mt that
time violent competition among the hackmen tor the
custom Of passengers With the rest, an unucky ne
gro was pressing forward 10 reap tf possibe) some
small share OF the days earnings but in doing So he
happened 10 interfere slightly with tile chances OF
uhite driver Immediately the butt of the white mans
whip was turned and the negro lay bleeding beneath
the fee, Of the crowd, uncaredfor and trampled on
Such" we said, is the estimate Of free-negros
privileges on this boasted soil Of freedom"
Again-we were strolins once after nlsht'iall
through the streets Of Utica, and got lost, rs we sup
posed, at some distance from our hotel. Hurrying
along, we observed an old negro man plying his wood
saw beside the pavement with every appearance ol
weary TOLL We enyuired Of him our whereabouts
and, upon being put right in satisfactory manner
tossed him an eagle half by way OF reward ut was the
only piece of change wehad about our person) Neve
shall we forget that ud mans overaowing gratitude
He assured us, in returning thanks that this was
more than he had made by the hard labor Of elastto
days." And such, thought We, is the philanthropy
Fanatics
OF course we do not deny but that there may be
some instances Of comfort and contentment among The
free.negroes Of the North. A few may have grown
afluent-a very few. But we are satisfied tnor VII
be crazy abutionsls themselves deny p that In lht
grea, majority Of they are The victims o chii
penury." As class, they are vicious and degraded
because poor and crushed in spirit. And many, man!
Of lhem if opportunity offered itself, would JOIN VIII
old DIANA BRooKs in saying to their black bretIreI
at The South" Better rest cuntented ii you KNOW
what's for your good"!