The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-01-12
Inconsistsncy Of Hs1per... Reality Versus
RirNlAwss


A gentleman Of this city has placed in our
hands copy Of "The Land Of Gold. Reality
versus Fiction. "A suggestive title) BY HIM
TON Il. HELPER" This work was published
in 1855, and the author presented copy OF II
70 our friend, who, ss we'll as HELLER, was
then In California. On page 2'5 Of this volume
/ HELPER says there are comparatively few ne
groes in California, most Of those who are
found there having emigrated from the Norm
ern and Eastern States in the capacity Of
cooks and stewards Of vessels. "They are In
the same situation" he adds, "as their brethren
in New York and Massachusetts,, shares to no
single individual, bit 10 the entire community
Like free negroes srerytchere else, they ahat the
wors. parts OF the towns in California and
lire commonly in chnratfertStie NTH and degrG-
dofioa."
lie then proceeds 10 say hat there are few
blacks in California from the South, and these
have been brought out as slaves. "IT IS TRUE
quoth HELPER, "THAT ON THEIR ARRIVAL
HERE THEY HAVE THE POWER OF CLAIMING
THEIR FREEDOM; But SUCH Is THEIR ATTACH
MENT TO THEIR MASTERS THAT THIS Is RARE
LY DONE. INSTANCES HAVE OCCURRED IN
WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN ENTICED AWAY BY
MEDDLING ABoLITIoNIsTs But, DisGUsTED
WITH A FREEDOM WHICH WAS OF NO VALUE TO
THEM, THEY HAVE BEEN EAGER TO RETURN
AGAIN TO THEIR MASTERS. SEVERAL CASES
Of THIS KIND HAVE CONE UNDER NY OWN Oh
skRvATIoN.' Mr.. HELLER then proceeds to
relate these cases as follows:
81 was PERSONALS acquainted with a New Orr cans
capita in md ship owner, who had very likely
ne sro man named Joe. This slave had acted as his
special servant for many years. and bad mace TWO
n three VOYAGES with nun between Sham hal and
ErHuclSrn. rAIGDct
ectionabie. and his duties were always promptly
formed me that ihou:h he had reared Joe he never
had occasion to whip hum for any offence others
had observed the admirable traits oi the negro and
several persons had attempted to buy him. oferInS
extraordinary prices but his III tster. having the
nis hest appreciation of his qualities and strons
w h mS ter At as
ieserted the vessel. An bntionlst han persuaded
ann to leave his master and short white there
tier he married Mexican womsn-a sort of half
bTeed-and went oil to the mines, near Campo Seco
Sut he found his freedom unprotable and tronbe
some, " lille in his legitimate station he had al
w"s had an easy tune, plenty oi food and an abln
three hundred dollars. which had been given hun
by has master. and others, for extra services. Not
ons after his marriage with the Mexican woman
MS money disappeared. He became pennies
ragged, detected, aud. last resort determined
% return to San Francisco. beg his masters par
Ion. and If possible e,Dstae himself IN the taVoT
If one who had always been his friend He did re
Errn. presented himself az a suprant before his
master. told him that he had been persuaded to
leave. that he was s0rr, far havlng done and
aow wished to enter his service again. promIsln-
inwavernI faithiulHess IN the future. The master
70 arded HIN with a steady gaze until he had hu
isbed has story, ard them In Il distinct ami dspas
donate tone said to him: You had no cause for
eavIng me: had always treated you well. Now.
Won may 20; don't want yen ans lon ,er. At the
Conclusion of these words. the ne no dropped ~
despair at his masters feet. and wept ike a child
doved b, the sincerity oil the ne 70 repentance
md havins dul, considered the extenuatinG CIR
,uiHstances of the the master overlooked has
,str1ngcment. set him to work. and never had the
east difficulty with him afterwards: OF his Duh
han ~ no hat Al Lag
lance house. know n"thn E except the NORMA
tinn gained from Joe himself, that she lett hin as
soon rs his money was gone
"One more instance. and ] nave done viii the
negroes. gentleman and three OF his slaves from
the Western part OF North Carolina, mao been
losa county. Their efforts having been crowned
" IN success. the master con nded to return home.
and spea king 10 his slaves OF his intention, he tot
the n that they were at liberty In rema' n IN Cali
prnia. where their freedom wodld not he disturbed,
and where they would be entitled t~the entire
.,rncecds OF then la or To this they replied thai
he ahoi.tiouIsts had told them that long before,
and after detailing several attempts to decoy them
from their owner. aud s-nIftlng their unwl hing
to remain IN California. theV conrinded b, re
puestlng their master to take them with him. lie
Consented pad their passage. ana the, all returned
home IN the same vessel
Now this is the man who has since written
the Crisis - the man whose book has become
the Black Republican bible the book which
breaches up instruction and civil war; the
book which is endorsed by SEWARD Gov
MORGAN, and the Sixty Eight and their candi-
date for Speaker. II is on the testimony of
this man against slavery, that the South are
to be forced into abolition or out of the Union;
The testimony Of this man. who, in the ex-
tracts we have given from Reality versus
Fiction" volunteers his evidence in behalf OF
the kind treatment of the blacks, aud their per-
f ct conten trlent with their condition.