The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-11-07
d cuRIos I'M 8 OF SLAVERY.


M DKAa Co. engaged 10 write you from the
South and take the earliest opportunity to date my
correspondence from Middle Georgia But should not
Gail to drop you line two, at start, OF Macon,
where write it Is accounted OF the beautiful
cities Of the South and has many objects of interest ii
the seat of several public institutions but has but little
trade. Near by the city, on a commanding position,
stands Fort Hawkins, rude wooden building which
constructed protection against the Indians for
you must know that Macon about the frontier Of
Georgia in 1918 An Indian mound is in sight on the
top of which standing few tall melancholy pines
On the hills which surround the city, and in the beau
full little will of vneville which adons IT, may be
the evidences Of refinement in the handsome residences
adorned with shrubbcry and evergreens, among which
the olive and the holly with its lucid green the most
common Many OF these residences of of wealth
admirable especially for their tasteful grounds But
there is the fondness for white paint which may be OBJ
served in all parts Of the South and for nondcscrp
architecture in which all styles are jumbled, or plain
Inagnidcencc studded In Of pillars and fights of
steps that frequently give TO the southern villa the sim
sar appearance Of eicsmostnay institution The chief
object however, to which the admiration of the stranger
directed in Macon is the public cemetery which is
pared not cxtravagany IN points natural scene
to Mount Auburn AMI Greenwood 1t is lovely piece of
ground with natural terraces overhnnging the Ocmulgco
and the wild glen that divides it, The picturesque effect
however almost entirely destroyed by the thick BRUSH
wood which prevents the eye from taking in the outlines
the scene The ground covered with coppccs of oak
and pine and studiousy kept in state of nature II
seems however, strange idea to keep the natural
concealed by the brushwood which everywhere ntcrccpts
the view. Maybe it is intended to be-
uUnldorncd adorned the mosts--
aesthetic fogysm, passa disproved and despiscd at
least by the charming ladies OF Macon.
In writing you my dear c., of the South and it's pecu-
liar institution, as ] intend that have no
prejudice 10 dispe from your mind the subject but
may hereafter publish extracts from the
pondence, i hope the sketches which may amuse you,
may correct the false views Of Others derived as they
Chiefly are from the ibels of northern spies who 1.-Two
travel here in disguise Thus observed lately CON-
muncaton in of the abolition papers protesting to
have been written by who has been resident Of Ma
for eleven years to the effect that the people here do
not allow northern papers to circulate be taken by
subscribers, congressional documents to be among
them, which do not harmonic with their peculiar views
Although this infamous libel is quite absurd and
deserving of contradiction the famed Arowsmith hoax
any of the Sanguinary Crow style of nggerwor
ship ctions it deserves notice in respect There
number Of Yankee doughtaces in the South who before
the greatest admirers of the peculiar institution
and to honeyugglc us, chime in with the abuse of
gucd character many of whom doing business in the
South They not to be trusted and WHILE not salts
fed with being tolerated among us, they impose
confidence and hospitality by false professions they take
secret opportunities crafty their real hatred of us by
tamperng with the slaves by ibelling the South
der the shelter Of anonymous letters published in tho
North. The man who would devise safe opportunity
publish what he knew to be false and lbelous of those
whose good will he had by another lie might, with
the hope Of mpunity venture grander revenge
and secretly conspe with the slave in rebellion Such
person might be watched with profit The writer Of
the letter from Macon referred to erretcd out and
his employer, learning the fact, immediately dis
charged him. This was getting of rather easily as some
time ago young man driven out of the same com
mnity for having made public speeches at the North for
Fremont while another who writes abolition libels un-
der their noses, is tolerated.
But it is not my purpose to trouble you with disser
tston the vcxcd question, the social system Of
the South, any of the political aspects of slavery
merely design to employ fsw leisure hours in series
Of simple and mprctcnding sketches of the condition.
h,hs. and pcculiares of the negro slave The field
you know, has furnished number Of books and am
sure my dear Co. that you too sensible of the large
share of public attention ringers occupy in this coun
y to slight them. Besides, am thoroughly convinced
that the negro portraits of the fiction writers arc most of
hem mere caricatures, taking them ALL from Uncle Tom
Cabin down to the latest southern reply thereto "a
book from Virgins anthoress in which tho language
put in the mouth Of her leading negro character is mix
uc of Irish idoms with the dialect of the Bowcry Who
heard southern negro say, tho Virginia lady
sable hero does he tptop of the morning to you young
ladies', or whats to pay now. Nor will we find
my Of Mrs. Stoves Uncle Tom, in the South, at least
far the religious portturc goes The negro in his
religion not solemn old gentleman, reading his Bible
and praying in his closet his piety is one of
Its and starts, and lives prayer meetings with it's
rounds of zortations shoutings and stolen sweets of
baked pig.
You already know my opinion Of the pcculiarities of
The negros condition in the South in the provision made
his comfort and in the attachment between him and
mis- master. The fact is that in wandering from nv ma
i've soil to other parts of the world have seen slavery
many forms and aspects. We have all heard enough
If the GOLFERS and factory operatives of England and
he 80, 900 costcmongers starving the streets of Lon
lon also of the scrf and crownpcasants of Russia who
ire considered not chattes, but part of the
and and who have their wives selected for them by their
have the hlcous slavery of Asia have
the coolies Of China houscd the wild sen with
wilder usages creeping with detected faces into the
cde houses Of Canton. have the Sianesc slave
,reeping in the presence Of his master afours hui
quadrupcd 1t was, indeed, refreshing after such
tights get back to the southern institution which
strikes one, after many years of absence with nov
,lty that makes him appreciate than the evil
lenoes of comfort and happiness the plantations of the
south.
The first unadutcrated negro had seen for number