Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-04-23

. A strange character" remarked his com
panion, at length
" Yes. Did not tell you that some cause
not preexistent in himself caused him to at
tempt my life? | tell you, sir, would trust
that man with life, property and everything
that hold dear, without single fear of his
proving treacherous
. Is he native of tho South Z"
" believe he is, but residence at the North
has given him something of the manners of that
section; Several years ago, ! came up the Mis-
sissgpi river on the same boat that he had takcn
passage in, and his Yankee sayings mingled
with much which gave evidence that he could
appear to advantage among the intelligent and
refined, if he chose to, at once attracted me to-
ward him. Before we reached our destination,
he took occasion to utter the must bitter invec.
tives against the institution Of Slavery as ii ex
listed at the South. AS natural consequence,
many on board took umbrage at his remarks
They demanded that he should retract what he
had said, but he refused to do so, and in an in
stant.a dozen men were upon him. 1t was with
great difficulty that | rescued him from being
murdered outright. He accompanied me to my
plantation, and staid with me nearly three
years. 1t has been some six months since have
seen him, and it was with the greatest surprise
that found him as did to day"
- 1t is evident that Maitland possesses some
influence over him which he is unable to throw
off,"
" Yes but what its nature is | cannot de-
termlne. But forgot that | had not asked your
name. Pardon me for the omission -
Certainly. My name is MELVILLE
" Thank you, | believe you have already
learned mine. May inquire what part of the
country you are from "
g am from Massachusetts, and have come
here intending to make Kansas my future home.
My lather and sister, who accompany me, are
some miles from here, and started out TO day
upon an exploring expedition to see the coun
try"
" am glad that you are intending to settle
here, and trust that shall have the pleasure
Of seeing you often. AS Northerner, you will
have many difficulties to struggle against and
If you ara,allowed to stay upon the soil of Kan
sas, you will be the subject of every insult tha,
can be heaped upon you.
, SO Allowed to stay upon the soil of Kansas >
: exclaimed Melville " Have not right tc
, settle hnre "sl-- .-a
" Undoubtedly you have; but regret to say
: that the South are so jealous of the influence .
. Northern settlers that they WILL if possible
drive you from the Territory
" They can try it if they wish but shal
. resist them with my rife
, Right. admire your spirit and it may
be that | shall have some influence in your ia
: vor. The Territory is torn by dissension anc
Il strife and it is hard contest between Freedom
= and Slavery, The people of my own State ar'
!. doing their utmost to force Slavery into Kansas
but whether they will succeed or not an
+ unable to tell"
u 4" God forbid that they should +! exclaimed
30 Melville, iervently.
AucH yuuHS
~ " 1t surprises me to hear you, a Southerner
III give your endorsal to what have just said
'o You are an owner Of slaves, believe "
g have some sixty which call mine, bu
ID still it does not fellow that because am Slave
20 holder wish to see the fertile plains of Kan
90 sas cursed by the stain"
u These are sentiments which I should thin
t. one in your circumstances would hardly dare I
- utter"
Tx Il am not afraid to utter them at all time
rs and in all places, though | do not do so, for
10 know that, while they will do no good in r
u forming existing evils, they will prove inurior
~ ~ to myself.
:" "If you wish to see Kansas free, why do yc
w hold slavesl"
IL will tell you. AT the North, no doubt, yc
OIL hear of the horrors and wrongs Of Slavery; al
us that it has its wrongs and hideousness ADM
I'd, STILL in the South there are those who tire
gs their slaves equally as well as you at the Nor
nd do your laborers. do not wish you to unde
ia stand that this is universally the case, for it
'm not, and such masters do not compose ten
ch part of our population. My own slaves W
nd, not accept their freedom and verify belle
if | should free them they would think it o.
al of the greatest evils could subject them to.
NY "Yet if they were educated--if they h
'iy been taught to take care Of themselves-tf
A'o would not be the case"
mo II acknowledge you are right. | know t
49, institution of Slavery is an evil in itself, and
:. :. my plantation have established a school whs
-. T al stated periods all can attend who wish. 1t
7, boust often make that my slaves love n
aba Although they are n servie race, yet prize
n,n implicit confidence they place in me- as gr'
tu, treasure
"If all masters were like you, tho sin wo,
still remain the same.
.rI True. But you would not advise me
free my slaves, in their present condition
-: /" Certainly not On the contrary, Think J
" are doing noble work in preparing their mil
oo, to enjoy the blessings of liberty"
God II am glad to hear you express so libe
,,sd views You are the first Northerner | have C
and versed with but who thought it was our d.
will to free our slaves at once, in their degra
he condition, leaving them to take care of thu
IN selves had thus entertained a strong pre-
and dice against Northerners, and it gives
;nr pleasure to find one who is not fanatic. +"
,ile, '' You are much mistaken, sir, it you dc
Is the majority of the North, of the class
and mention. The greatest of our opponents
tho Slavery deem il an unsound poljcy, one wh