Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-11-20

inere ~ nc uoups OF tne passage OF the reeolu,
tons Of the committee, calling a general State
Convention and the appointment Of q strong com.
mittee to prepare on address to the citizens Of the
State.
The question which is ~agitating Maryland, is
equally disturbing in the EXTREMIST portions of
slaveholding Territory, as appears 10y the follow.
copied from New Orleans papers. "Our servants"
cause masters no little trouble, from which cman.
sipation would Immediately relieve them.
From the New Orleans rlcsyun,.
rAMPERING WITH SLAVES.
Additional proof, arc almost daily furnished of
the improper tampering with slaves by persons
who find protection, il not q permanent residence,
in this city. The free negroes born in Louisiana
have, in timos past. in general, borne q most excel.
lent character, not simply for obedience to the laws
and respect for the whites, but for sobriety and
many Of the higher virtues.
But il is doubtless true that the influences which
destroy those with better advantages being to cor.
rupt and are debasing many of the younger por'
tion Of the free colOred population of the city
The indulgence 10 dissipation, or the frequenting
Of places visited by the depraved, speedily BAN
ishes that regard for the law and conten;mcnt
VIII u " VI rOClNtJ tuht hho hai
the conduct and character of our free blacks.
The disappearance of one after another Of valu'
nble family servants affords evidence OF the exis.
tence Of On extensive organization to protect and
old those who may seek it. Free papers are man.
piactured and false certificates of birth furnished,
and perhaps still other means exist Of interfering
between masters and their servants.
It lie, however, n singular fact that all the mis-
conduct Of our slaves is produced by the frequent
use of intoxicating drinks, obtained by stealth, a,
Arst INDUCED in moderately, then more habitually,
and finally resulting in a withdrawal of our conf
dence in them, and they rapidly become almost
useless.
The Council. we cannot but conceive, took a
false step when it adopted an ordinance making
the punishment for a detection in selling liquor to
slaves simply a fine of mot less than ten. or more
than one hundred dollars" The profits Of one
night. in some instances. will enable the contra.
band trader to regain the fine of twenty-five dol.
lsrs, which is now regularly imposed in such cas-
es. It promotes q craft to conceal fragrant delin.
quency, but has no influence in inducing On aban-
donment of the traffic. Indeed. the number of ca.
barets that violate the law is evidently on the in
crease.
As the statute Of the State makes this one act
punishable by a fine of not less than two nor more
than FIVE hundred dollars, with imprisonment in
certain cases. and adds q still higher penalty for a
second conviction for the same offence, by whit
right has the Council enabled the Recorders to
compromise the matter with the offenders for the
palsry fine of twenty-five dollars?
1t needed not the decision of the Supreme Court
10 teach that the City Council of New Orleans had
NO authority to make such an ordinance in regard
to selling liquor to slaves, unless the general stat.
ute was first repealed so for as this city is con
cerned. A return of the offenders to ,he Criminal
Court, with bond 30 high as to secure the full
amount of the fine with costs of prosecution. would
have a much greater influence in breaking up a
trait, that is the origin of all the trouble with our
saves.
As the Council. is about to reasonable, we would
call their attention and that of all the city authori-
ties to this subject, which is now justly attracting
general attention.
OUR SERVANTS AND THE FREE BLACKS.
During the winter months greater danger exists
Of improper tampering with our slaves, and their
decentralization by evil association, than at any 9TH
er period. Enough 10 already known to convince
the public that a systematic organization exists to
create discomfort among them, and to aid them, af'
ter their imaginations have been excited with false
ideas in regard to the pleasures of freedom, in ma.
king their way to the free States.
Too much vigilance cannot be exercised over
those who are employed on steamboats, that visit
free cities. Even such as are owned in this city,
who are permitted to visit St. Louis, will become
bad associates for our home servants. Let the po-
lice keep a vigilant oversight Of such persons, and
all others who give cause for the slightest suspi-
cion.
All negroes from abroad should be made to com.
ply strictly with the law, being allowed no priVil-
eyes in port whatever not in accordance with the
statute. and then some white person should be re-
sponsible for their conduct.
Every day brings to light some gross wrong
which has resulted from the growing remissnessi in
she execution of the law. and from the extreme
aaxity Of restraint upon our servants. In almost
all cases where serious complaint exists, the bond
and the free are implicated together. The exis-
sencs of negroes in these different civil conditions
in this city, constantly m~ingling with each other,
has become a great source of uneasiness. 1t can
scarcely be doubted that, in a very short period,
the Legislature of the State will be compelled to
adopt q new policy with our free blacks. Unless
chose that have been emancipated, within a few
years. prove better qualified for freedom and adopt
more the habits and character of the old families
of free eolored persons. who own property and
form q respectable class. their condition must be
changed. or the State must be altogether rid Of
them.
We trast the Coaneil will follow up the sugges.
sson nj tn Mauor in regard In thosA aeeuAed of
selling liquor 70 slaves. and that the police will ar
rest ssery collection Of blacks found on the streets.
OF 10 suspicious places. or in any manner acting in
eontravention of the ordinances or the laws of the
State.-Nid.
u SERVANTS.
The following note from q lady expresses the