The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-03-20
An English Maid OF Honor on slavery.

Miss MuRRAy, an English lady. and "a mem.
Der of Queen VIcroR,A's household, has given
the public in book form. the result Of her OBJ
servations 10 the United States. Miss Ms,
views on the subject Of slavery differ from
those entertained by majority Of foreign trav-
ellers. but she avows them with an earnestness
which argues well Tor her sincerity. We make
some interesting extracts from Miss MuRRAYs
work, on the subject of Slavey.
II is while journcying in Canada near the
Detroit river that Miss, Murray begins to
write about the condition Of the colored race
am surprised (she says at the large num-
Der Of blacks and colored people herenbout
nearly oil the lowest population appears to CON
sist Of them; they are idle, and very insolcnt in
manner met with an English clergyman on
board the Lake ODtario steamer. who was on
bis way to this country, with the intention OF
making an effort to civilize and educate the
negroes who have settled here He told me
there are at least twenty thousand, chiefly run.
away slaves. in Upper Canada. One Of the
evils consequent upon Southern slavery. is the
Ignorant and miserable set Of colorcd people
We have seen above what her first impres-
sions were Of the condition Of free blncks 10
Canada. and how she began 10 reflect on the
relative condition OF the slaves in the Southern
States The current Of her thoughts on this
subject appears to have been much influenced
By conversations with Governor SgrNoCR. Sen
stor FISH, and other New York acqnaintan-
ces, prior to her visit to the slave States
Nor. Ill had q long talk with Governor
Seymour about the slavery question, and was
much impressed by his calm and statesmaDlike
views. lie is as desirous a. any man can BE-
TO see slavery abolished but he sensibly says
that, like most other things in eonnesion with
the general welfare, IL is TO be considered with
reference 10 political cconomy. and that in our
enthusiastic beadlong anxiety to do justice to
the black race, we have surely Though quite
unintentioDally) DELAYED its freedom. This is
| believe, the opinion of DIR. Howe, and other
enlightened philanthropists. TweDty-six years
ago New York was a slave state. How has
the curse been shaken of Not by s,ringen,
laws aud ill.jnd0ed prohibitions. hut by the III
PRODUCTION Of free labor. which rendered that
Of bondage expensive and inconyenleD' though
it does not improve the condition. The wisrs'
people say that slavery was on the point oi cx
tngnishing itself In the South. when by ren
1ering its suppl; pi-stic.l. The yhlne :" the
article was ~ raised in the market that Il bc
came profitable coDcern 10 grow slaves. As
Governor Seymour graphically explains TN
matter III the early settler wanted 10 boy
beef. he must buy the whole ox--hide, horn
and tail then comes time when he can pro
cure a quarter; and at last. as population in
creasrs be can 90 10 liaikct and purchase ;
bcefsteak. or any joint mos, pleasing 70 hi
taste. Now the same thing occurs IN the cas-,
Of labor, which, aner all, is n markc'able..com
modify Al first /, may " necessary 10 taxi
the man then you can hire part Of n man; an'
in due time you may he able 20 get 50 much o
the time OF man as may just suit your pnr
po-e, withou, being bnrihencd by his inianc'
or his old age.
Jan l2.-The Goyernor, Mrs. seymour, an'
dined together a. the house ofGeyerpor Ham
ilton Fish, Mr.. seymours predecessor in th
government oi New York State. had grea
deal Of conyersation with him. and with al
other geRieman, upon the prcsen, state and iU
ture prospects Of fr,ed slaves They were bot
Of opinion that sorns inheren, Difference ri rae
is tie cause that the black people die out ais
besome extinct in ono or two generations afie
the at,ainmen, of freedom and a amaieana
ton with whites 1his SENS 10 te uniyerss
av Mr. Fi-h told u,e that. IN his erper'epc'
/, has worked rapidly. His family about hit
years ago freed their negrus. al the saIne tim
silovias them = claim ior All aad future prs
;ection--i.tting them have tie cottages an
the groaod 10 which they tad bccn acrustomo
still, und,, thee aivantsge-pns circun-iAi
So. they have gradually dsinded away, an
thoagh Goyernor Fish eons.3srs the rernnar
almost as belonging To his own family, an
,hey apply TO him for sdy &c and ielp upon q
occasioCs. yet no, above fivc or SIX individaa
are existing and 10 one ~ them yyun-er ,hs
sixty
II Mss Mlray Joarbey' soath~srt b
opAioos on slavery s-r further modified Fro
chArles,oo. : c Jsa 2,'h she --i'"-
begu 10 marx cotton f'an.Atiors and e.
ooapa~ioaa.e feeling. s-- 1Pid'y chang 2
ss6ss. Il app.srs 70 ne our b<nevoser, intsI
uons 10 EsyiAn have taken ElssAxeS DIRE