Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-02-17
THE OCTOROON IN MR.. BEECHERS
CHURCH.


A SUNDAY DRAMA
We are an eminent people We have
Declaration Of Independence and a Fourth of
July commentaries as a national Sabbath the
day that gave it birth. We have also Con-
sGtuton of the United States made as it says
for promoting justice and liberty. With such
fundamental declarations and records, we are
eminent-pre-emine There is only one
drawback Four million people are declared
to be no people at all, not even up to hogs
and asses, but merely chattcls. But notwiih-
standing these opinions as 60 the African. the
white Southron who is Mortified at the idea
Of equality or marriage with the black, mixes
blood with the race just as much as if mar
riage sanctioned it. The result is, that after
so many generations as belong to $40 years
of the institution, we have an appropriate
number Of dilutions Of blood-of interiusing
the white with the black Thus we see a
/ great physiological, moral and political fact
What would ruin a white woman socially at
the South, is as common on the part of the
men, as stock-raising and all the South
teens with this stupendous fact, in the shape
Of mixed blood. up 20 that point, where the
Caucasian face, fire, and genius SO prcdomi-
nate that the dark-skinncd African is lost
nation leading TO the detection of the black
blood Hence it is no longer question Of
negro slavcry-but-hca IT, yc old thirteen
stars on the azure heaven of our pavilion =
but Of white. That the white man and white
woman sold distresses the Democratic sem
tment Of thirty -pieccs-of silver men Of the
North and South, any more than the black
man and black woman sold, is not to be OK
pected. The immense majority Of slaves in
antiquity, ninety-nine out of hundred, if not
all, in Greece and Rome where they number
ed half the population, were white-pure
white Oppression then was the same as now,
and was more respectable, because it did not
set up a canting, lying howl in defence of sla-
very as is done now on the negro question:
If all the slaves South were Germans instead
Of negroes. or mixed blood, we do not believe
it would influence any of the Democratic
votes against ii. The opprcssor never is de-
hc'cnt of excuses for bus oppression. We arc
led 60 these remarks by am occurrence which
took place yesterday in the Plymouth Church,
Brooklyn. A little white chattel nine years
of age was introduced TO the Sunday school
of the church of Mr. Tilton Its story was
this 1t is one Of six children whose mother
was a slave and whose father is physician
Of course man of the highest standing--in
the city of Washington. These children with
the exception of this one. the Youngest, wcrc
at various times sold and the mother wa- sold
down South This remaining chattel was
put under the care Of its grandmother in
Washington. The owners firm of slave
traders-agrccd to let the little white cbatto
remain in the hands Of the old ehattel to pa
cify the latter for the breaking up of all its
family Hail Columbia.) During Christ
mas week the old chattel was startled with
the announcement that the young chattcl was
90 be sold TO the South, because nn offer of
$500 had been made for it, The party de-
string to buy was Christian who believed in
the command, BE fruitful and multiply and
wished to hold the chatte. until it was old
enough TO breed stock The chattel so soon
as 1t heard this ran up stairs to the garret,
locked the door on the inside and barricaded
1t with several trunks. Tho Christian slave
traders went up stairs and demanded admit
tance; so did the old chattel, but the young
chattel refused to let them in. So the door
was forced by the Christian slave Traders
Not to make the story too long suffice it to
say that clergyman lately from Alexandria
who knew the young chattel and the old chat
tel as we'll, interfered to the extent Of getting
bonds and permission to bring the young
NNhNtIl ~ inc 4NuItus Wuttt lut hdiA thAlAtt
arrived on Saturday last. and was taken to
the Sunday school yesterday, as we have
stated. 1t was presented to 400 children not
better looking or whittier than itself The
clergyman who befriended it related many
incidents of its life from his own personal
knowledge Mr.. Tilton addressed the child
ren, and the result was a subscription on their
part of $500. After the sermon by Mr..
Beecher, he presented the case to the compa-
ny, and called the chattel to the platform
The sight of the chattel was enough. Much
money was raised for the purchase of the
chatte, but before it could be counted, note
was sent up to Mr.. Bcecher by lady saying
that she would be responsible if there
any deficiency in the sum- The people APP
plauded as they did at the OCtoroon. This
chattel is octoroon halved-only sixteenth
blood The audience then gathered round
the chatlel and made much Of it.
After such an exhibition as this who can
doubt that we are favored of Heaven, and that
the Declaration of Independence and the Con-
stitution of the United States secure to man,
woman and child liberty if-they can pay for
it. How noble is chivalry TO beget white
daughters and then have them sold as breed
ers Hail Columbia, once more IN. T.
Tribune, FEB. 6.