The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-25
From the Norfolk (virginia) Argus
NORTH AND SOUTH.

IN the heat of the political contest last autumn there
map of the United States and its Territories pub
shed in which the two hostile sections of the country
represented in different coors The free States and
Territories white and the States and Territories in
which African slavery existed of dark hue nearly
black These colors weY probably intended to be sgni
cant of popularity in the condition character of
the people. 1t may have indicated that part of the peo
pie in the southern section of sable hue, that
the existence of African slavery in those regions
dark blot upon the country BY many il understood
to symbolic the moral darkness which rested those
otherwise fair regions. This map was published at the
North for political effect, and represented the southern
country as seen by northern eyes. Had one been pub
shed at the South the dark shades might have changed
places or rather, the northern portions of the map
might have been stained by deep blue significant of
the shade which, to southern eyes, rests all that
gion.
However reluctant either party may be to acknowl
edge it, there evidently some nfmities of mental
vision in both quarters and it become to regard with
due degree of charity the mistakes and bunders arising
from this Could they purge their vision of the
mists which ostruct it, they would dark spot
bounded by fixed lines but rather light and shade min
gled in nearly equal proportions from the Gulf to the ST.
Lawrence. What misfortune it is that cannot
others ourselves at least light up the dark
do our with the torch of vanity!
Our Massachusetts, friend, Ezekiel Fins can see moth
ing to relieve the dark shades of southern character
When he looks towards the South negro slavery rises up
before his obscured vision like huge of
uoianes, and the prospect is dark and horrible Look
again. my good sir, you beams of gcntlencss
and courtesy and generosity playing the dark pictueY
.'No says Ezekiel, II can nothing amid the dark
but the uplfed bludgeon and the flourish of the
slave whip the CLEAN of the bowie-knie, and the fash
of the pistol
But you looking through those ill-shaped dark
colored glasses. Put them aside, my friend wipe the
dust from your eyes, and put these fine crystal spec
tacles of mine, and look at the Wonderful
wonderful transformation says Ezekiel ''Ihe sun now
plays upon smiling landscape, and reveals of
gaicy and happiness. troops of well-fed shining
ebony faces returning from their toll for their daily task
is done the sun goes down. see them greet with
respectful courtesy and looks of pleasure their master
and MISTRESS who walking out to enjoy the grateful
GOODNESS Of the evening The black nurse is amusing the
white children the green turf beneath huge sycamore
tree, and troop of little daries playing around in
noisy gee bearing the men of nobleness gen
crosby, and courtesy and gentle tender and be-
ncvolent That bludgeon has dwinded down to rattan
and the terrible slave whip, reduced in its dimensions
that which schoomasers USE is hung up the hall as
terror to the Children
Wonderful glasses these, Mr.. Hotspur. Nay do not
take them back till take look at the North All
that is pleasant sight Three underground railroads
extending all the way to Canada-onc from Kentucky
from Virginia, and one from Maryland all doing n
good business cars crowded with their dusly freight
driving at great speed without steam power and horse
power The whole country is i'm connection Men and
women are flying about hther and ther in great aga
ton organizing themselves into all kinds of societies for
all kinds of purposes but chiefly anslavery societies
Some armed with Shapes rifles, and about to
Kansas have assembled in church hear dscourses on
the Christian Of powder and balls Others are in
tcntly watching the slaves at the South and scowling
ercey on their masters while they secretly offer to the
former daggers and pistols which they hold concealed
under their coaks So intent are they in looking at
distance that they not the pale faced aborer made
paler by want who is standing near nor the atenuated
seamsress down by watching and hunger nor the
sicky squad children crawling out of cellars or thrust
ing their unkempt heads through broken windows
Take back your glasses Mr.. Hospur; they will make
me think ill of my species. They cannot be trusted
they false will trust them more. Blame them
not, Ezekiel they much like your own-they
made to improve the vision in one direction only
Whenever you wish to look towards the South and we to-
wards the North, propose exchange We shall both
the better for the exchange and think better our
country and Of our long as we live