New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-25
VIEW PUDLICAIYONS.
oIMsTEu,s SLAVE STATES.

Law orxs1kD> limo, PIP asa Mason Brothers,
TIE prcsest vosume completes the seriea of per-
ssasl observations in regard to the agriculture,
sssial eenditivu Industrial resources, and personal
Asbsss of portion Of the Slave States With which
The author became familiar during several journeys
On the sesSoard and in the interior. Mr.. Omsted
sorsainsy possessed many peculiar advantages for
Nc preparation Of an informing and authoritative
vert on this subject. Combining singular fair
mess vi mind, with exact and effective habits OF
Acseht, a rare degree of intellectual integrity
with great practical experience be was wei quail
fed TO obtain an accurate view OF the held winch
he had undertaken to explore, and 10 present
true report of his impressions, without conceal
uent or exaggerati0n. The condition OF the popu.
ar massss under various forms Of social institu-
ssess and development, had long been one of his
fayorite subjects OF investigation. He had devo-
ted years Of study to the position of the people, es-
pecally of the white people, in a variety OF cir
eumstances where Slavery is not prohibited, before
he began the composition of this work. He Wis
lied the South, not only without prejudice, but
with warm sympathies, fully prepared to do JUS
tee to the virtues which he should witness and to
set forth every favorable element in state Of
soeisty, which be regarded with philOsOphic dis.
elimination rather than with fanatcal hostility.
The results, which he has described with such
graphic distinctness of pOrtraiture, are not of
character to crafty the advocates of Slavery; but
NO one can Justly complain of the spirit aud man
ner with which he engages in the discussion of the
question.
Mr. Olmsted does not deny that he was disap-
pointed in the actual condition of the people of the
south, both citizen and Save. The more thorough
his acquaintance with the state Of affairs, the more
profound was bis disappointment His convic-
ton l. creased in iotensity with every enlarge
sent Of experience, that we cannot too earnestly
guard against the extension of system, which
bore the disastrous fruits Of which he the eye
witness AT the same time, he has no sympathy
with the purposes aid views Of the radical Abo
Etiepists. Believing that the Subsection of the
negroes of the South 10 the mastership Of the
whites is justihsble aud necessary, he cordially
shares the general aversion of the people of the
North toward any suggestion Of political interior
enee On their part for the abolition of Slavery.
Whatever the evils of the Institution of Slavery, he
does not believe they would be remedied by the
mere emancipation OF the blacks, even if 1t could
be accomplished "An extraction Of the bullet
does not at once remedy the injury Of a gun-shot
wound; it sometimes aggravates It,.
But if the emancipation Of the negroes is evil
IDENTIFY not a matter TO be accomplished by this
generation, it de,s not follow that the way for it
may not in some degree be prepared al the present
day. The consideration Of tie evils OF Slavery at
the North is neither futile nor impertinent; for
they are by no means limited ia their action 10 tue
p.oule Of the Slave Statas and there are topics
intimately connected with the subject on which
the people of the North lave constitutional right
30 be heard. The desire to suppress discussion Is
even more imPracticable, fanaucal and ,ngerOus
than argument for immediate abolition. the
present agiation OF the country is due lees to the
eirs Of AbOltlt nists than to the Intolerance aud
ayarice of wealthy owners of slaves whO by organ
lied action, endeavor to reverse the only hue OF
policy by whis safety aud peace can be secured to
the people of the South
With this temperate sta cement Of his position,
Mr.. Olnsted ia entitled to fair hearing on the
ground of Justice, while the natural simplicity aud
ouamt humoI of his narrative are adapted to dis
arm even tie most nyeterate prejudice Of hostility.
The Journey, of which an account is here given,
commences in the valley of the Lower Mississippi,
the point Of departure being the little town OF
BAYOU Sara. From the description OF Dir. Ohm
sted the vicinity of St. Franclsvllle would seem to
present many attractions. The landscape has an
opep. suburban character, with residences lndlea-
live o. rapidly accommodating wealth, ana advance
ment in luxury among the propnetOrs. A success
sion OF large sugar aud cotton plantations extends
on both sldes for twenty miles to the north OF the
town. The roadside fences are generally hedges
of roees-CheIOkee and sweet brier-iOrmlng
corused thicket often ten feet In breadth and four
to six feet high. Trumpet creepeIs, grape vines,
green.briers, aud in very rich soil, cane, grow up
through the mat Of roses and add TO its strength.
There are frequent groves Of the large-leayed mag
rohs, and as Mr.. Olmsted saw them IN the month
Of May, every one in the glory of full blossom
The soil is generally rich, though much washed
OF the higher ground. 1t is sandy loan, and 30
friabe that the negroes, working IL large gangs, aud
superlntended by driver with whip contlSued
TIER boeDg in the midst Of brisk showers, and when
the road had become a poaching mud. On only
one occasion did Mr.. Olmsted see the work dis
continued on account Of the rain. This was after
a very heavy thunder shower, and the appearance
of tie negroes whom he saw returning to the field
from the clubhouse to which they had retreated
was more striking than picturesque. First came,
he'd by an old driver carrying whip, forty OF the
largest and strongest women ever saw together;
they were all in simple uniform dress of q blush