The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-01-30
MARRIAGES OF SLAVES.

A standing topic of argument against
slavery, with the abolitionists-those at
least who pretend at all to Arguments
The asserth that it virtually ignores or
disregards the marital tie. Admitting the
utmost possible force in the argument, it
could be met by counter statements
against any iorno'and mode of labor, for
lie separathrn of husband and wife is a
common incident to the hireiing white
ana black no less than to the slave. We
could appeal also TO the experience of all
southern Observers, in proof that our slave
holders and planters generally, were anx-
lously disposed to respect and pre- tect the
marital relations Of slaves, and that more
difficulty is found in educating and train
ing the Saves themselves to regard it,
than in protecting it when established on
a good basis. w" introduce the matter,
however, only to mention fact, lately
brought to our notice, which speaks more
than any assertions could, rs to the rela.
( tive attachments cf The negroes.
Tie case TO which we refer is, briefly, a
voluntary and mutual dissolution and
rupture Of = marriage OF fifty years happy
and agreeable daraiion between slaves;
and this WAS 10y .he consent of both par
ties, each prcicrring to sever this relation
rather than TO leave the masters family,
aitE ough the option was lcf, TO each and
e:ther--as is most generally the CASE
HE circumstances were these: The wife
was an old nurse and mauma" Of q
tam'iv MGR ating to Florida; and had for
years lived III condition Of indulgence
and ease better than could have been pos.
slOle had she been free actually. as she
was virtually. On the closing of an es-
tate 10y sale Tor division, under our laws,
she was necessarily offered for sale, and
was purchased 10y the son of the mistress.
to whom she had been nurse and favori,e
mad. The gentleman, who had often in
his ooyish days received at her hands the
rod, which the wise king recommends as
a sovereign specific for the foo,slncss of
childhood, very naturally and character
'sicallv offered her freedom. so far as it
could be done, and gave her the choice of
three residences for life, and at the same
time promised ample AMI abundant com
forts. To his surprise, her answer was,
" No NAUSEA, | goes wild YOU to .he new
country" lie told her of her husband,
and again asked her to choose nominal
master and protector in thoneighhorhooL,
and one OF these places offered To her,
was the plantation on which her husband
lived.
She persisted tl,at her frs. choice was
TO follow her master, when he Immediate
~ resolved to purchase her husband,
whose owner was equally anxious 10 pro.
tcct aud spare the marital tie Of Il veteran
servant. The bargain was soou settled
between the masters, for both slaves were
too Old to have been worth any considera-
ton uLder any other system but the per |
manent tie Of slavery but an unexpected |
difficulty occurred. The husband stou,lv |
refused to leave his masters family, and |
protested that de"rI. and long rs he had
loved his wife, lie could not ieave his
home to follow her.
State the naked proposition that a
husband and wife Of such age aud quail.
ties had been separated, and aboi,ionism
would at once find matter for tearmoyiuG |
homeless. Yet here is one plain case, Of !
very late occurrence, in which such sep !
aration occurred against the desires and !
intention OF two Shareholders, and bv the |
alternative choice Of two slaves.
Can any OF our Northern moralists tell !
us how many maniageshave been crue'-
Iy and miscrably severed by California
migration ?-ChWlcston Couricr.