Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-08-14

IT, then, could judge correctly, there would be
in my mind lively picture of Kentucky, in some
of the best aspects of her rural population
Scores Of horses were standing about with saddle
and bride, showing the popular method of convey
ance, and possibly giving some hint of the state
OF the roads, and Of public improvements in gem
eral First Of all, there wasa general and fine
physical development. The farmers were tall
athletic company; not merely strong and muscu'
lar, but erect and finely formed. They had a
graceful bearing, or at least they appeared like
those who had gained ths free Ise Of all their
limbs by various field sports, rather than like such
as have cramped and stiGened them by the daily
drudging Of labor They were intellectual
looking company Of men / mean that they ex.
hibited marks OF capacity, if not of cultivation
They knew their business, and prompt
and keen apparently. and few Uf them appeared
to have been educated. They displayed in every
movement force Of character aud will, habits of
command, and determination to be obeyed -
They evidently had activity and great physical
courage speaking and moving with emphatic de-
cision. Their general appearance indicated a com
mon use of stimulante, such rs prevailed a few
years since among all classes at the North. From
these upper classes there was u descent through
various gradations in the crowd, till company
was reached, composed Of more reckless and dam
gerous characters than can be met with in q
Northern city. Upon this whole crowd, the rein.
ed and the rude, the wealthy and the ioafer,
general impression had been most unmistakably
made. There was the evidence everywhere of viOi
lent and unregulated passions. They wore the
characteristics OF men accustomed to sefgratih-
cation, to be obtained by instant force, if not 9TH
erwse.
The relations which they hold to an inferior race,
the continual habit of unrestraned and unressted
domination, had marred the natural nObleness of
character, which, as u whole, the higher class
evidently possessed, had given them force and
decision, at the expense Of self control and caused
ho fp fnlp ,hakft
instead Of the dictates of reason. speak of this
as what has become habit OF the mind, and
seems TO be the first spring OF the minds action.
1t would 10 curious and instructive to trace the
influence of this one habit of mind, in all the re-
lations Of life to show how it affects them as oiti
zens, as members Of the family circle, and as
members of the church, and to consider the
manner in which it has moulded the character Of
Sou thern christianity Impatence CT restraint
or guidance is not an element of perfect christian
civilization. AS | looked upon this group of
noble looking men, representatives Ut the bone
and sinew OF Kentucky, could not but feel that
the white man is suffering more from his social
system than the slave himself. The black race is |
being elevated towards manhood in spite of all its
wrongs and suherings tho whites, in my opinion,
at least, seem to be suffering irrepaable inju
ry or wrong done to their own souls. Slavery is |
tho costliest luxury that man has ever INDUCED
IN, and 1t needs no arguments in morals, and no |
proof from the Bible to show that no race or
country can endure it. unless it 10 the oppressed
race themselves. They may rise to manhood. |
Such were some of my Impressions as | looked /
upon that excited crowd, and marked, as | could,
their characteristics. With the exception men.
toned, the Kentucky farmers there assembled
we're, think, fner BODY Of men than | have
ever seen collected in the Ncrth from the same
class and the country has deep interest in save
ng them from themselves. All that have spok-
an of made still deeper impression upon me as
ant tl tl,a ln nF V,,nt th,I
irst time, human being sod-the woman and
ler children. | watched in vain for any expires,
'ion Of peculiar agony in her face, as the auction.
Ger spoke of her qualities, and the bidding
went on There was an appearance of gathering Ii
lp her energies to endure, and that was all. |
urned to the crowd around me, and l felt as | II
glanced from face 10 face that they more to
be pitied than the help pless womun. She a
morse or mule to them, and nothing more. Evi.
lently, to even the educated ones around she was
that and more. The full meaning of that one
wound to the moral notion which it i'm.
volume.