New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-03
ABBOTT ON THE SOUTH AND NORTH.

TIE imp essions received during rapid Southern
tour in the month Of December last, including
yoy pge to New. Orleans and an overland journey
hone, are recorded in this volume. 1t shows the
ms he of haste in preparation, and something Of
the carelessness Of expression and statement which
ia the easily besetting sin of the author; but its
a, mated descriptions, and the frankness and cor
diay of its tone are adapted to give it favorable
rec ptiop even with readers who differ most widely
from him in opinion. A considerable portion OF the
book is occupied with discussing various aspects of
the Slavery out ston, and though firm and decisive
in its attachment to freedom, treats the subject
witt out bitterness or denuncation. We extract
his account of what he saw in New-Orleaus, on
the first Sunday after his arrival in the Crescent
City:
Sunday Dec. 1l.-Ths is the great market day IN
tie French quarter in New Orleans. AS was anx-
ions to witness the novel scene, which brings IN large
number of plantation negroes with their little ventures
for sale went down at an early hour OF the morning
10 the market. The whole aceDe ~ most dec!dedy
French, and reminds one Of Paris. Still saw very
many less Of the plantation negroes han 1al expect
cd to see and very many less than should have seen
n few years ago. Nothing has surprised me more III
New. Orleans than the small number OF the ,oiored
population. When the De Soto was made last to the
with aborers but they were nearly all tiermans or
irisb Rarely could see dark skin. 1t was the
came in the streets drove through them. Upon
speaking Of this to very intelligent gentleman, ne
observed that the slaves were becoming exceedingly
profitable upon the plantations that large numbers had
been sold from the city for that purpose and that
also it was found not well to have them associa with
free aborer they acquired bad notions and restless
habits ,
Clearly it must be So The cities, especially the
commercial ones, will soon be drained, and the power
ful tendency now must be to gather the slaves upon
the remote plantations where they can be excluded
from popular view, and longer be agitated by the
sights and the sounds of freedom. There are many
secluded plantations now, where there are from five
hundred to thousand slaves They never permit
ted 10 leave the planatonDever. And no one is per-
mitted to visit them from another pantatonnote enc.
Thus they buried from the world, and toll In dark
nees from the cradle to the grave. If their master
chance TO have respect for religion they receive some
faint religions instruction IT, as is probably the
case, he il q of the world, they are left to
utter heathenism. In Africa, some missionary might
reseh them. On the plantation of an inidel master
there IL no hope. ~ So
am struck with the kindness with which the white
population address the negroes and the maniiestly
friendly relations which generally exist between tue
classes The negroPhobia atthe North Is nnsnown
at the South. This afternoon / went to an African
church. A slave preached-a man entirely without
culture. but of very vigorous mind He clearly under
stood and touchingly unfolded the plan OF savaton
through faith In Jesus Christ. l nave never oeen
of Christianity TO the wants of the world Clay,
Webster jackson, strongest, wlsest, hrmest men,
have given the mest emphatic ut,erance 10 their
SOULS need of an atoning Savior. And here rises
poor slave unletered and in the darkest ignorance,
so far human knowledge is concerned and yet men
in this Christian faith; and as he uniolds Saylors
love, he sways the hearts Of his auditors as no other
conceivable theme could move them. My eyes were
dim with tears, in broken language, ne spoke OF
patience under fe's cares and depicted the glory OF
that world where there shall be night and where
all tears shs II be wiped from every eye. The singing
was an exempore wall, without articuate words,
ouch az j never heard before from earthly voices.
A Southern Christian gentleman who accompanied
me, and who sympathized with me IN every ut,erance
of the preacher said, IA we came out: Many OF
these poor creatures will hereafter be in Abrahams
boron, when perhaps, some Of their present owners
may be with Dives imploring drop OF waterto cool
their tongues
These slaves aided, undoubtedly, by kin Christian
friends for there is much very much Of true Chris
iian sympathy with them n,.- here IN the south,
have succeeded in building church when a
doars. 1t really touching at the close OF the
service, 10 many of these young men, born IN
bondage and in bondage TO die go up through the aisle
lay their contribution Of dime upon the table.
noticed very accidentally that the contribution Of my
Southern friend was five dollars.
Mr.. Abbott receives an agreeable impression of
Mobile, though its society presents a mixture of
elements which he cannot readily comprehend.
Thursday, Dee l5.-At eleven o'clock yesterday
reached Mobile. ospitabe friends there took me to
their house 10 dine, and in the afternoon rode through
the city and it's suburbs. The day unusually fine,
and to the city looked exceedingly attractive.
Here as in New. Orleans was surprised to gee how
eectualy free labor seems to have driven slave labor
from the wharves and the streets. The city, with it's
intelligence and its enterprise if dangerous place for
the slave lie acquires knowledge of human rights,
by working with others who receive wages when he
receives none who come and 20 at their pleasure,
when he, from the cradle to the grave must obey
masters imperous will. 1t is found expedent, almost
necessary to the slave from these influences
and send him back 10 the Intellectual stagnation and
gloem of the plantation.
Tie Irish and the Germans seem to DO nearly all the
work OF the streets. White girs are being also more
and more employed in domestic service; and think
that but few years will pass away ere nearly all OF
the coored population will be removed from the f.t.es
of the South. Indeed, now, New Orleans and Mobile
seem bnt little like slave cities than do Phladel-
phia and NewYork.
Mobile and it, environs almost perfectly fat but
il has the peculiar beauty Of the prairie. There
great many homes which looked attractive and as
though any might love to live there; and from the
appearance of there homes, with front yards and |
sbrubbery and flowers, am that the society here
NUT be pleasant. The country IN the extreme South,
is far more attractive than had expected TO find it.
The yellowfeye epidemic is very serious drawback
10 the idea of residence in Mobile. We're it not for
ths il TO that beneath its sunny skies any
might love to find his home.
The society meet here is frank and agreeable. In
deed il 10 that there must DO two classes OF
Soutbeners different from each other as light is
from darkness i often wonder if our brethren at the
South bewildeied by the apparent diversity
of character in our Northern men. The Southerners
whom meet at the South in social intercourse, TO
whom am introduced At hotels, in steamboats,, and at
the fresde are genial friendly, omteous-gentle-
in tone kind aud polished in manners, recog
nzing the couresies Of refined society. But there is
another class whom never meet, whom seek for in