Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-01-22


ly entered the city of Richmond without her Ger
! tifcate of freedom. She was arrested Kept ir
prison forty days, and then sold into perpetua
bondage, for the Southern crime known MS, "be
ing at large |" GLOW long, o Lord how long p
How long, o North! how long
6. All assemblages of colored men, consisting
of more than FIVE persons are illegal, and seve
rely punished by tho administrators Of Southern
in justice. Tais ordinance is strictly enforced.
Z. Women of color are compelled to endure eve
ry species of insult. White boys often spit on
their dresses as they are going to chapel ; and
when they meet colorod female out Of doors af
ter sunset, they conduct themselves still more
grossly.
These are few-a very few-of the outrages
which the coored freeman is expected to endure
and does submit to in the civilized. theological
church, studded city of Richmond, in the middle
of the nineteenth century. Strange-is it not
Yet, in the free States Of the North, the name oil
A5olitonst is frequently used by'word of re
proach. Stranger stills it notf
now VERY coNTENTED THE SLAVES ARE.
In the course Of the conversation in which these
facts were mentioned, | stated to my companion
that had often heard the defenders and apollo
gis.s of Southern crime in the Northern States
confidently declare that the slaves were perfectly
contented with their lot and would not Willingly
exchange it for freedom. l asked him if the sla
YES of Richmond were conten;ed with their con
dition
"No, sir" said the merchant with unusual en-
orgy, "they are net. l know the most of them
I've lived here for thirty years. First in hote
W here used to meet dozens Of them every day
and in my store, here. where | see hundreds from
every part OF the city and the country all the time
They are as discontinued as they can be, There
few of them, though, who are poor gnoran
creatures, and have good masters, don't care
any thing about freedom ?"
How many of them do you suppose ?" asked
lone quarter Of them ?"
mo, SIR" he answered but do say tina
Mose ,cho hare good masters are as lite content
ed as those cho hare bad masters"
"Why So"
"Kind treatment is good thing, but it ism
liberty, sir and and colored people don't ,can
that kind Of pririleges Mey rant their rights"
do you think, u asked, "that this feeling o
discomfort is as strong in the country as in tn
city :" -. = .,.,,Y, :. u..,..os az, ,,,
city they more intelligent, and the discomfort
ed sentiment is stronger, because the coored peo
pie have more chance of talking to one anothe
about their hardships."
"Do you think" inquired, that the feeling
of discomfort have increased during your recollec
ton ?"
ABOUT RUNAwAYs.
ooh, yes, sir" he reoined, "it has increased
hundred times. especially within the last eigh
years. When | was boy, the colored peopl
didn't think much about freedom, Because the,
were allowed great deal of liberty but now i
seems as if the laws were becoming worse ant
worse for US every day we can't enjoy an,
thing now We can't have the social meetings a
we used to have; and tell you. sir, the col
ored people do think about it good deal The,
run away every good chance they can get. know
about hundred that's gone North since last New
Year most Of them got away altogether, anC
plenty's ready to follow them"
"Do any of them return 2"
"No, sir" said the freemon, "they've too muci
sense for thatl You can't tell any thing at al
about the colored people from what the paper
say. Whenever one comes back any whar', the,
make string Of remarks about it so long" II
measured about half yard with his right hant
on his left arm. But" he aided, "they don't sa,
nothing about them that run away-hurdreds-
and never come back again =! And jist look at tn
paragraphs about the trials at the courts here
It's always "a worthless negro, or "a WORTHLESS
free negro They alters say that, no diferenc
hat his character is, or what the character of tn
white man who appears against him is"
lie pointed to paragraph of this kind in tn
Dispatch, and gave me proof that the white &c
ouser of the worthless free negro" named in il
was man of the most disreputable character.
THE AFRICAN CHURCH.
IL was advised" | said, "by pro slavery MAJ
to visit the African Church. Is it splendid con
cern?"
"Yes, sir," he rejoned. "t's a very fine church
l thought they would tell you to go there The,
allus do. That's an old game of theirs-Go tt
the African Church they alius cay 10 strangers
and see how happy our slaves are, and how wei
they dress When was living at the hotel, Nv,
of'en heerd them say so to strangers. Once ,
gentleman from the North said to me, well, 20,
people of color very happy. was at you
church to-day, and 'ealy never did see better
dressed, or happier looking congregation Then
was his words.
"'Yes. .massa.' 1 said, 'but appearances is de
ceitful You don't see their hearts. Many O
them that you saw there with happy-ooking face,
had heacy hearts and raw backs. They're not al
slaves either, as they tell you they are ! one hal
Of them's free people,
"'But they look happy the gentleman said.
every true nassa.' says I, so they do Sur
days the only happy day they have. That's th,
only time they have a chance of being all togeth
er. They're not allowed to 'sociate on any othel
day." s-.1
"By whom" asked, sis this African Churcl
supported D. ed
'By the eolored people," re..st
You have colored preacher, of course 20