New-York daily tribune., 1858-04-09
SLAVERY IN ST. LOUIS.

Of Slavery listing Assosr and especi-
sllv In the City Of st. Lou. s of very modnea' uuu
character and nearly approximate TO Freedom 'n''
there i. no perceptble difference between them
Constantly do hear people saying that they n've
been to ST. Louis and really would not have supposeu
there was slave in the city, if they had not pre-
yiously known to the contrary. Some who nave seer
little more say ths, il is really very nominal anairi
that those who have masters will not accep. freedom
when offered TO them; that they are ssiisnsd WIN
their condition and prefer il 20 any other-whch STATE
mens they pretend to verify by saying, lst' nat 'ne
slaves are 20 near the Free States that they were
dissatisfied they could easily escape; ID Ths', Tor
no other reason j. the better policy for their owners 70
treat them well and be kind TO them lest they shouid
erow discontented, and, what s synonymous, run
away.
Now can readily understand how It Il that these
tales should gain such credence bu; sm not little sur
prsed at the want of sagaoty exhibited by those VINO
are the direct authorities for ssch statements
Icsl TO see friend, and perhaps dine with him. or
even stay for several days | don't expect MN
cra,uously to inform that his slaves are very IN
happy, and proceed to recite In detail the va
nous causes Il he have any setrespect at all ne Will
no. do it; ana ii you suppose the unhappest OF thos'
slaves would give you the smallest opportunity 10 ds-
cover such feeling by single word or look you must
gain the cred, of being much less acute than 'ney
and if be 70 hard for visitor to arrive at any correct
idea of their feelings how much more assuldousiy
will they hide everything Of the kind from then master
when they know that his knowledge of any disanee-
| ton among them would make them the immediate
occupants of the slave pen and the commodity Of the
trader. This s the way in which visitors have cleaned
such ideas, arriving al conclusions in one day
| ~ vi,i.b, ,bayb ~.
Having spent months in inv eating this mat
ter, ! feel i: incumbent upon me to dspossess the
minds Of my friends and the public of such faacous
errors and falsehoOd have not done this by proxy.
but by labonDg with my own hands, have been
| enabled to mingle freely among them without any
suspicion; to become acquainted with their hidden
feengs; to pass behind the outer curtain of their ex
istence and the world of sorrow polsing in Their
| systems, which circumstantal smiles indicate not
| Invent not TO the work employee, but as a mao
who must do his duty toward God and his fellow man.
and although have thereby endured much inconven-
ience and suffering approaching even TO death, shall
| be more than repaid if by mention OF few of the
| facts coming under my notice l may contribute one
mite the interests Of humanity, for although this
subject has been thoroughly discussed statistcay
and politically its domeetc nature and influence has
| been too little considered.
In ST. Louis every evil connected with Slavery 10
any other place is to be found but which may not be
so apparent for the reason that the man who In
the country is known by every child within thirty
miles and whose geusoogy is familiar to all the rura
patriarchs around is not recognized in such city by
| his next.door neghbor
In eight families in the city OF 81. Louis each sup
piled with from one TO six domestic slaves there was
not one but considered liberty the greatest boon on
earth and felt that she treated differently from
white servant. The latter, for example, never sleeps
in the stable lofts in which, in some other outhouss
Il il common for the ssves of most large families to
| sleep.
One honest fellow having by great industry acquired
| good business a blacksmith is compelled to pay
two thirds Of his income for the privilege of living with
his family and supporting them.
know another family of five children whose parents
are stimulated 70 work themselves to death under the
impression that all they make above their hire,
goes toward q fund for liberating them The poor
woman who is already but remnant of her former
SELF is very anxious to buy her youngest irst that she
may call il her own; but she thinks she hss
the required sum- her mistress says that the child
older now, and worth much more, and appraises
it accordingly thus continually tantaiziDg the drown
ing woman with straw always JUS. in ,h in ad vance
q
factory receive 10 cents week for clothes and pocket
money, while others for the same work receive from
eight to twelve dollars per week. splendid mua,to.
| groom, says bis neither was white woman from
New. England, whom his father allowed to visit
periodically in Kentucky. His fahe, dying his fathers
mater claimed the whole family, and disposed Of them
various ways. He himself hsdI made several hundred
dollars over his hire as mason but he was compelled
give it up and work in the stable. As he told me
he feared he should never get away from bondage his
breast heaved as if manned lion were COUGHING there
II is said there is no foggng done in St. Louis, but
show you premises the very center of the city
where you can get as much ioggng done to order as
you wsh the convenience of which 10 tha. the owner
saved the labor himself and the annoyance of dis
turbing the neghbors al the time establishing the
TACT that cruelty is practsed.
Worse than all is the following: In sristocratic
neighborhood 10 the city, surrounded with churches is
slavepen, being auction and commission establish
ment. II 10 walled around about twelve feet high and
is constantly occupied by from thirty to fifty slaves of
both seIes though at night males and females have
separate apartments. Tney with their fingers and
bef md the door logging apparatus. So success-
fully did act my par relative to that establishment
that received invitation for small aum stated TO
be usually received to enjoy perfect liberty in that
place, after certain hours for icentious purposes and
white demoss not wanting who thirst deprive the
destitute of her only treasure.
Shall complete the stern picture Alas 30 revolt
ing is it, that were it at all imaginative would not
dare; but the hideous monster has been allowed to
Destle down among children, until il has be-
come lamb in their estimation, and if they be not