The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-08-10
Written for the JefTtrsonian Democrat.
STEP HEN GRAMS SHAW
FrecdOm.Hougl,tS Slave

A Om-BOugbt Slave.
Written, and dedicoted 10 the Shareholders
ofMs South, by one who has been among
them.
Can's thou and honor'd with Christian name,
Buy whai j. woman :born, and feel no shame
Trade in the blood Of Innocence, and plead
Expedience as warrant Tor the decd c opPer. |
Many years ago, when was quite boy, |
there strayud iu:O or ucghburhood all
African Of gigantic pro,or'ions, aud for u
few days wandered from house to house, |
begging bread mud resting at nights in the
barns OF tho faIncrs. AT first. hc was
looked upon us being Gn impostor; for ho !
rehcarscd So many hoart-tbrilllng scenes and
incidents in which he hRG been paricipa
tor that il was almost beyond tho possibility
of belief He intimatsd his being a slave
many long and sorrowlul years; only sue.
cccding in freeing himself from tho exc.
crable bonds otihe most degrading law which
has ever cursed tho world, bv toing as
snch times. when every human being, white
or black, should be at rest. By doing thus.
after years Of hard labor, for men Sho called
him pr0pcrty--in which his uSrculcan iramo
was bowed down and iron constitution
broken Yp.-he succeeded in purchasing his
liberty. lie hccame froo Inau--his own
property; and dared look IN md recognize
a God. Yes no nan interviewed between
him and Lis Maker. lie was f,oo--his own
mastor; hut the hest years of his lito had
boon passed as IL slave. His hair had become
frosted by ugo and sovoro exposures, and
his toll worn frame had long ago lost its
elasticity aud now. like storm battered
wreck, worn out by much service. ho was
allowed To drift out on the world to find II
haven of rest in tho happier and moro con
genial cline of the North. He tcns free.
With scarcely a Stivcr in his pockets he
wandered out into world untrameiod BY
despotic bonds-at liberty to 60 where free.
dom is tolerated Tho South was no place
for him now for FREQ African is not nj.
lowed within the precincts Of tho Slave
States. There would be danger Of his con
tamiuatng tho hearts of his suporiors--tho
slaves.
mol he must needs 90 North where lib.
| erly is tolerated. ho would DO ro-
c'ivod as man, without tho fears of chains
and manacles or tho gailinos Of tho over.
seers lash He must leave
~ land Of rants and den OF slaves"
! To seek II homo on soil where such law
as Liberty is recognized. and trust will
| ever be sustained; where the laboring
white man is looked upon by tho imbecile
minds Of tho South. as a degsnorated crea'
! turc, far beneath The station of ono Of their
slaves--thoir articles of traftio,
Yes every whito man, who exercises
bodily labor-who earns bread by the Sweat
Of his brow" lowers himself ia the cstima.
lion Of Southern aristocracy--lo lonscs caste
---ir not worthy 20 eat of the crumbs which
fall from their tables. Now, look at the
effect Of all this on tho institntion Of the
| South Go into their towns, their villages
and mark the dccayed. tho dcgenerni cd
appearance Of all their appertuinings. You
would not fail to do so; tor it will ut once
7 become impressed upon you. causing the
inward exclamation, Of How sadly are they
fallen" You dare not give expression tc
such thoughts for tho place would suddenly
Lccnme very uncongenial. Your life would
DO 10 imminent danger. Mark tho wide
{ difference between these and the thrvin.
! towns and villages of the FREQ States. Yo'
4 certainly will, for you could not well d.
. otherwise, SO great is tho contrast.
Look at tho morals Of tho inhabitants
IGicmpcranco. for instance. although in
dulged in to o fearful extent at tho North
still, in comparison with tho slavo.ourso,
region, II almost verges on morsli:y. Their
- again affairs certainly look forbidding, a
least to liberty ioring citizen, whom almos
every man you meet, carries conccale
e weapons either "revOlver" or bowie knife
often both. mention thCso characteristic
although fully aware that they hold true, I
a certain extent, tho world over; bot In n
part arc they so predominant as in tn
Soutb--the land Of SidrcIy
Now, what is tho cause OF all this
becomes evident to every Intelligent. snunt
thinking man. that IL is nought but Slduer
The Incidence II produces among the viii
population causes these natural evils, The
=, arc but the offspring Of this greatest cur
of an enlightened and Christian countr,
and tho retribution. tho great crisis is sure
coming; for il is a violation OF the laws
r. God, and, as such, 1t cannot always stan
A distinguished member Of tho Legi5latu
Of Virginia once said Tho time will con
- and il may be sooner than many are wi
ing to belieVc-when this oppressed nj
c. degraded race cannot bo held as they no
are-when q change will be effected. abho
ront TO tho feolings of every good man
That great, important change ia fast o
- nroaching.
Soon shall the thrones that blot the world,
like the Orleans. into the dust be hurled,
q ! And the word roll on like hurricanes q breath
=. Till the lnrthest slave henTs what IL saith
81 Arise, arise BE- free :"
Is' Speaking of the Incidence of tho whit
a at tho South, they say white man was N
designed to work, to toll bodily. Our slav
- must earn our bread for usj for that pu
pose wero thoy born. They laugh at, thu
scout the idea that an African is huma
! They ure goods and chattels, articles
traffic, not human beirgs.
~ But, to shift the scene, If possible, for OF
ts y, more dark. What is that capacious, In
posing appearing building, with its extepsi
s. r..d aaoIoaad Nv N hioh railino dasioo.