Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-12-06
Freedom and Slavery.

=, We have nayer entertained doubt that the
condition of the Southern slaves is the best ana
most desirable for the negroes, as class, that
they have ever been found in or are capable o.
ETbere is abundant evidence to prove that the
black mans lot as a slave is vastly preferaole 10
that of his free brethren at the North. bos-
ton paper of recent date tells of likely negro
S,nan, twenty-eight years old, who purchased his
freedom in Virginia and removed to Boston
He is sober, industrious and willing to work, but
instead of meeting with sympathy from the Alb
olitionists, he had been deceived, cheated anu
driven from their presence. The writer describes
him as bemoaniug his hard lot, weeping like
child, a,nenting that be had ever left his former
master, and declaring that if be had The means
he would gladly return to the old Virginia plant
alton. And this, we have reason to believe, Is
not an isolated case, but the experience OF large
& majority of emancipated slaves and runaway
3 negroes in the Northern States.
But the most remarkable testimony on the
subject, Is borne by no less parsonage than the
notorious Henry Ward Beeoher. Ia recent
sermon, Mr.. Beeeher says the free oolorec peo-
p)e at the North 'are almost without education,
with but little sympathy for ignorance" "Phey
cannot even ride in the cars of our city railroads.
They are snuffed at in the house of God, or tol
Grated with i'll disguised disgust The negro
cannot be employed as stone mason, brick
layer, or carpenter. "There is scarcely car
penter's shop ia New York in which journey
20 q black
employed in itn There is scarcely one OF the
common industries of life in which he can en-
gage. ale is crowded down, down, down,
through the most mental callings, to the bottom
of society," We heap upon than" says Beech
or, moral o6logay more atrcciOus than that which
the master heaps upon the slave. And notwith-
standing all this, we lift ourselves up to talk to
the Southern people about the rights and lib
critics of the human soul, and especially the At
ricau soul.n
Every word of this is no doubt true, and yet
even Mr.. Beecher is an agent of the "under
ground railroad" actively engaged in fomenting
dissatisfaction among slaves and stealing them
away from the section where they have pro-
teoton and sympathy, only that they may be-
come, in other regions, objects of atrocious NOR
al obloquy. Such is the philanthropy of Abo-
litionism!
The intelligent, christian Shareholder at the
South is the best friend of the negro. lie does
not regard his bonds-men as mere chattel prop
erty, but as human beings to whom he owes
duties. While the Northern Phsrisee will not
permit negro to ride on the city railroads,
Southern gentlemen and ladies are seen every
day, side by side, in cars and coaches, with their
faithful servants Here the honest black man
is not only protected by the laws aud public
sentiment, but he is respected by the eommuni-
ty as truly as if his skin were white. Here there
are ties of genuine friendship and affection be-
tween whites aud blacks, leading to an inter-
change of all the comities of life. The slave
nurses his master in sickness, and sheds tears OF
genuine sorrow at his grave. When sick him
self, or overtaken BY the infrmity of age, he is
kindly cared for, and when he dies the whites
grieye, not for the loss of so much property,
but for the death of a member of the family
This is the relation which slaves generally, and
domestic servants universally, sustain to their
white masters.
There is vast deal of foolish talk about the
delights Of freedom and the hardships ofslayery.
In one sense no one, white or black, is. free In
this world. The master orders his slave to
work in certain field, when he perhaps would
prefer to 90 elsewhere--this is slavery. But is
the master free to do as he peasesa Not so.-
He is driven by as stern necessity to labor with
his hands or conine himself to business, as the
slave ever feels We are all therefore slaves
But when the man, whatever his complexion,
recognizes the fact that his lot is ordained Of
God, and cheerlully scquiesces, he becomes
free man in the only true sense. He then CHOOSES
to do and to bear what otherwise might be irk-
some and intolerable.
Meeting of Congress-.