Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-03-11
:, 1l2ss FFrom The Charleston Mercury.] s
MISS MURRAY ra MRS. STOWE.

WUneS6. respect
competent and credible, tn give impartial state
ment of facts which came to her notice during
visit to the United States, Cuba and Canada, and
her personal observations upon the institution OF
negro slavery. Her interesting book is no picture
of the imagination-no fancy sketch. 1t is very
matter-of-fact and simple narrative of what she has
seen and heard, in different parts Of the New World;
one of the most unvarnished tales of travel which
has ever been put into prnt-and is all the more
valuable for ths-it is the work Of an impartial ac-
tive and strong mind, we'll educated, and guided by
good feeling and common sense We propose to
make brief compilation of some from the many
facts which she has published, for the information
Of persons both in England and America who would
not hear nor believe the same evidence from our
own testimony, and, perhaps, will not care to read
her "two volumes complete in one." The preface
is quite Short and to the point; it shows an honest
design to exhibit and to defend the truth. She
frankly acknowledges change in her opinion OF
slavery, and boldly says She has no longer any
IA tn in the Abolition humbug Uncle Toms Cabir.
But let Miss Murray give her thoughts in her own
words She says:
"The writer Of these words did not cross the At
lantc to make book. She has no wish to enter
into controversy or to be supposed; but facts can
never injure truth, on whichever side it may lie;
and statements made with fidelity and accuracy
ought to be welcome. To shrink from their perusal,
is to exclude, in the present case, our means of
knowing the condition and probable future Of that
for whom deep interest is felt by the British
public, as well oy the writer of these pages, how
different her convictions may be from the opin-
ions commonly maintained"
The letters from which the following extracts are
taken, set forth many accurate observations and
minute detail of interesting facts which cannot be
introduced into the short space allowed here We
shall refer by numbers to the pages OF the volume,
and thus make it easy for any one TO turn to the
evidence, and often to find additional proof to the
same point Let US begin at Baltimore, December
81, 1854:
''Iere, for the first time, see nothing but black
servants-slaves, l believe; but their manner and
countenanccs express contentment and cheerfulness
and certainly the relation Of mistress and servant
in the South has more agreeable aspect than that
of the same station in the Northern States, which
is commonly characterized by complaints Of amy
ance upon side and saucy indifference upon
the other.
"The dinner party at Mrs. VS. was agreea.
bic, and met there several pretty Southern ladies':
their voices and way Of speaking struck me as more
refined and graceful than those Of the other States
have viStcd."-l6O.
From Washington, December "a:
"There is certainly great attachment between the
negroes and their masters Speaking generality in
spite OF the facts detailed in Uncle Tom.
Letter sixteen-W ashngton, January, 1855.
'The Governor, Mrs. Seymour, and |, dried to-
gether at the house OF Governor Hamilton Fish,
Mr.. Scymours predecessor in the government of
New York State. l had great deal of converse
ton with him, and with another old gentleman,
upon the present state and future prospect Of free
slaves. They both Of opinion that some in.
hercnt difference OF is the that the black
people die out and become extinct in one or two
generations after the attainment Of freedom and Of
amagamat;on with whites. This seems to be uni
vcrSal law" LII.
Next take her testimony TO the appearance Of
the negroes in old Virginia:
1.-The slave servants look generally well-clothed,
merry and content."-lS6.
Letter sixteen:
81 cannot always tell whether these black SER
wants are free sIaves-probably the latter. They
merry, good. natured and easy in their manner;
familiar, but in muck pleasanter way than the
helps Of the Northern States, who mistake an i'm
pertinent manner for rcpublicansm, and speak as if
they thought themselves injured by serving YOU
19O
At Wilmington, North. Carolina:
81 am much amused with the 'backes,' who act
as chambermaids everywhere now they quite take
possession Of u.s. remain in the room eeremonie,
and are oficous and curious beyond belief
"They certainly very much unlike the white
race; but everybody seems good noturcd to them:
they come into the and sit where they please.
I see none of the white exclusiveness l had been
taught to expect.
Letter scventeen-Charleston, South Carolina:
ut appears to me benevolent intentions in
England have taken q mistaken direction and that
We should bestow compassion on the masters
instead Of on the slavcs."-l95.
"But as to the negroes, they are the merriest,
most contcntcd set Of people ever saw; OF course
there exceptions, but am inclined 10 suspect
that we have as much vice and more suffering than
is caused here by the unfortunate institution Of
slavery."-l95.
81 very II UGH doubt If real Uncle Tom often
be found in the whole negro race; and if such a
being is or was, he is as great rarity as Shak.
speare among whites.
"a pretty Southern lady arrived at the hotel, with
fair infant in the Of his black nurse. 1came
out Of the tearoom rather sooner than was expect
ed, and found all the darkies that could get away
assembled round the tiny massa, (hey very fond
of children, and make capital nurses-tendcr watch
full playful, and yet, think, firm but they are
firm only with chldren,) jumping and screaming
their delight. Upon seeing me, an elderly man
came forward, with grin and bow: The black
population are only enjoying themselves missus.'-
II mean to go and see a sale of slaves; my wish
is to judge the subject fairly in all its bearings and
this may be trusted to do even by Abolitonists;
for early prejudices, and my national and acquired
feelings, are certainly opposed to slavery; but if
countenances are "A history as well as prophecy,
the national expression of faces in the North, as
contrasted with those of the South tell a strange,
and to me, an unexpected story, as regards the
greatest happiness principle OF the greatest num-
ber!"-196.
81 do not yet know much of the Southern ladies' !;
but from Washington to this place, have been
struck by general improvement in the white race,
and this, in spite of the horrors which accompany
the misuse of tobacco. If the gentlemen of this
part of the country would only acquire habits of
self:ontro and decency in this matter, they would
indeed, become the preur chepaliers of the United
States."-197.
"Both the tone of voice and the choice of words
and pronunciation are much more like Old England
as proceeds further South the habits simpler
and more unostenatous, and the dress Of every day
| Sc skoh1 sncfn Of