Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-04
From the Pennsylvania.


her Majesty regarded this country.
From the Pennsylvania.
Slavery has It's Benefits.
We have often thought, that negro slavery
played more important part in the economy Of
enlightened nations, than they willing to ad
nit Confined to strict matter of sentiment, il
has many repulsive features; but when viewed in
the light of its benefcent effects upon the whole
human race, its necessity at once becomes con-
coded point, by the rational and progressive
mind. In all the States where slavery does not
exist, we are educated to view it with adherence
and were it not for the common sense which is
brought to bear against our early sentimental in
structon, we should truly be nation of Abo-
litionists. While the young mind in the North
and West is in its plastic state, Cowper and
Sterne, and other sentimentaliss, put into
the hands OF our youth, and as there is a vein OF
melancholy running through the nature of every
man OF intellect, the impression against slavery
becomes deep and lasting, unless removed in
| early manhood, by actual observance of its
workings, as it really exists in our Southern
States. Our emotional nature is too highly cul-
tlvated, often to the neglect of our reflective
faculties. In youth, we read the patriarchal
history of the Old Testament with delight, and
are rather attracted TO the institution than re-
PEELED Now, how much does the system, as il
exists in the South, differ from that Of the Bible
And how vastly superior and humanizng is the
the former that of the ancient Greeks or
Romans, or of our Saxon forefathers? Is not
the slave of the South in better condition So
cialy and morally, than the white Peon of Mexicoi
There is progress for the one, both mentally and
physically, while for the latter, there is nothing
but retrogression and hopeless despair. We
knew a lady far advanced in years, and now
dead, who had never been father South than
Pennsylvania, that had a clearer view of the in
Stitufion of South arn sla han
ern Abolitionists that have ever put pen to paper
In early life, her parents and relatives possessed
slaves in both Pennsylvania and New jersey and
being woman Of strong intellect, she was able
to determine the mutual advantages to the two
races. We have often heard her speak of the two
last female household servants that lived and died
under her parents roof, and although they had
been dead for more than sixty years. their memories
were as much cherished, and their several vir-
tues as often recounted, as if they had been
among the highest in the land deep and
abiding affection for the humble slaves who had
nursed her childhood, lived in her heart to the
last hour of her existence. Such devotion is one
OF the redeeming traits in slavery it now exists
in the United States, and is us indestructible as
human sympathies. Down through four genera
tons, the children and grand children of these
two slaves lived with different members of the
lady's family, as free domestcs, respected and
treated rather children than servants We
have seen this same feeling in the South, and
know, that when Northern men are brought in
contact with the reality, its more Objectionable
features are entirely removed
We know gentleman who, in early life, had
almost destroyed his life by intense study. He
had "drunk Deep of English literature, and
when in his melancholy mood, would discourse
eloquently upon the evils of slavery, without
knowing anything of the subject, beyond what
he had read in Cowper and Others Imbued
with the deepest prejudices against the institu-
ton, and broken down in health, he started for
Charleston, on sea voyage, in August, 1899
and arrived at that port in seventeen days He
was met on a long wharf, near the battery by a
light mulatto man, who told him piteous tale
in relation to the treatment he had been accus-
toned to receive from his master and mistress
who were then in the North, and desired to be
secreted IN the vessel, when she was about to de-
part. His story was exceedingly ptiful, and fell
upon the mind of the melancholy invalid with
powerful force. But the invalid had dipped into
philosophy and history, and had studied mankind
with some care. searching examination of
the mulatto's person and condition, convinced
bls aEea That hs apparel and well fed sides
spoke ''trumpet-toned" in behalf of his master
and mistress. Reason cried aloud-"strip your
mind of its preludices, and behold Slavery as il
is" Her mandate obeyed, and the gentle
man soon became convinced, that at least in
Southern cities, the slaves were better paid for
their labor than the free white man of the North
in the same vocation.
In Philadelphia, at the date mentioned, white
laborer received sepenty:fpe cents day and found
himself, while the slave, at the sort Of labor
in Charleston, obtained one dollar and fin cents
a day, and was found BY his employer. Il was no
tlced, that the slave was not satisfied with the
same sort of food that the white hands on board
the vessel ate at their meals, but demanded de-
sert of rice, with perhaps molasses. Three dol
lars out of the nine received per week by the
slave, went to his master or mistress as the case
might be, and the other six remained TO himself
for his own support, in addition 10 being found
The gentleman also noticed, that the slaves with
which he came in contact in and around Charles
ton, better fed better clad, and better in
moral department., than the same number Of free
blacks he had seen anywhere in the Northern
cities. No plague spots like Spaflord street,
Small street, st. Mary street, &c.-dens of vice
and infamy-could be found in Charleston
These facts, passing under his own eye, scattered
to the winds the notions that he had received Of
slavery, and greatly altered the pathetic beauty
of the line in Cowper-
"They touch our country and their shackles fall )
But the gentleman's experience did not stop
here. He made the acquaintance Of the mulatto
drayman, who hauled the cargo from the vessel,
a man apparently in the meridian of life, and in
search Of knowledge as TO the workings Of very
nection with the subject. Among the informa-
ton received from the drayman, the incidents
connected with contemplated slave rebellion,
which had been melted by negro military officer
from Hayti, about the year 1924, were both excl
ting and instructive. The drayman was then
slave, and had given the authorities Of Charleston
information Of the intended rebellion and general
massacre Of the white inhabitants His story, as
near as the gentleman can at this late day remem-
Der II, was as follows:-''I was standing on this
very wharf, looking up al the American flag fly-
ing al the masthead Of vessel lying at the end
OF the wharf, lost in reverie. Suddenly, fine
looking black man, who spoke good English,
though with French accent, tapped mo on the
shoulder, and asked me whether would not like
TO have country over which such flag could
wave. ] answered yes lie replied, you can
have IT, asked how lie said, meet me this
evening lat place namely and ! will tell you
met him according to agreement, and accom-
panied him TO house, where we met large
number Of slaves. The subject Of rebellion was
discussed night after night, and the plan was fully
matured. Tho anticipated bloody drama was
spread out TO my vision in all its horrible details
The City was 10 be fired in n multitude Of places