Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-12-14
THE PERIL OF THE SOUTH.

II otilAiuS pOrtlOu Oi NIX. buchanan .
Message, is that in which he states that the
immediate peril at the South is the danger of
servile insurrection He absurdly attributes
this to the utterly impossible cause of northern
agitation of the Slavery question but as to
the reality of the danger, he is doubtless
correct. 1t exists, and the Shareholders have,
by their own ungrounded denunclations Of
the Republican party, as an abolition
party in the hearing of their slaves,
given fresh and strong stimulus to the
ever present tendency of the enslaved to rise
upon their masters. The peril and It's cause
are both forcibly portrayed in the following
most interesting extract from private letter
from South Carolina matron to a relative
in New York City. 1t is dated Dee l, and
published in the New York Times of Fri
day. 1t must stir the hearty sympathy of
every one, for those unhappy households
sleeping on their arms" as well as Of alb
horrence Of a system, of which such dangers
and precautions are necessary cOncomitants.
You may imagine, dear uncle, our situation, but
you never can realize it in its fulness. Already
we tremblc in our own homes in anticipation and
expectancy Of what is liable to burst forth at any
moment a negro instruction. Could you see the
care and precaution displayed here by the propri-
etors Of the negroes, not only planters, but Others
you would not for moment envy us our posses
sions. Not night passes that We do not securely
lock our field servants in their quarters but
our most loved and valued house servants who in
ordinary times we would trust in any extent, are
watched and guarded against with all the scutiny
and care that we possess. Our planters and own
eFs of slave property 90 not allow their servants
to have any intercourse with each other, and the
negroes confined strictly to the premises where
they belong. We are all obliged to increase our
force of TO prevent too free intercourse
even among our servants. The negroes feel
and notice these restraints, and naturally ask
" Why is this? But it is unnecessary for them
to ask the question, for they all comprehend the
cause as well as who own them. They hare
already learned enough giUe them an idea Of ,obq,
as going on The State and nation, and ttis ktoui-
edge they hare gained from AJoition,sts, some
suppose, but from the condensation Of their oracrs
indirectly held IN thar presence They have already
heard Of LISCoLN's election, and have heard also
that he IS for gr,ng them their liberty, and you may
imagine the result.
You have heard that our servants all love their
masters, and their masters families, and would
lay down their lives for thsm-that the colorel
race in the South prefer Slavery to freedom-that
they would not be free if they could, &c, &C.
That Is but the poetry Of the case, the reality
sStS in sleeping upon our arms at night IN double
boiling and barring our doors-in establishing
and maintaining efficient patrol force-in buy
ing watch dogs and in taking turns in watching
sleeping children, to guard them and ourselves
frou the vengeance Of these same ''loying ser
wants "a vengeance which, though now smould-
Ill
overwhelm the State in spite Of tho Palmetto flags
or State precautions.
You at the North are not the only ones who are
suffering financially by this new panic. Tho
planters among US really suffering from the
depreciation in their property. Already negroes
are not worth half price. No one dares 10 buy a
servant, fearing lest he, in doing should be in
PRODUCING upon his plantation one tirctured with
the idea Of freedom.
My husband has but few serYants,-I believe
but thirty-one all tCld,-stiil feel (and so does
he) that they are thirty-one too many in such
times as these. He would sell them Immediately,
il it possible, but the truth is he could real
ize nothing for them at present or at most not
over halftheir real value. Slaves drug in
the market, my husband says, and you know him
well enough to judge of his Judgment in such
Now, one word as to the military force Of the
State, TO protect US against insurrection.
presume, with the exceptions Of Charleston, and
perhaps u lew large tONnSs tnat lle remainder OF
the State is situated very much as we are here;
and 1 will give you idea Of how well prepared
we are to resist a mob. Upon place Of about
!, 200 acres we have; Of whites, males-husband,
two Overseers and my Of is years; total, four;
females-self and cousin, little Lucy and wife Of
one of theoverseer four ;of whom only four at the
most capable of bearing arms,-to offset which
we have at least seventeen field hands-sturdy
young negroes,-besides the female servants
And this il fair representation of the force upon
our plantations. Considering such a state Of facts
do you blame me for desiring to ab sent myself,
my husband and children from the State 80