New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-18
THE SOUTH AND HER NEGROES.
THE PROSPECT.

Virginia Unionist recently driven from the State
for refusing TO pledge his support to the JEFF. Davis
treason writes letter 10 The Times, from which We
extract the following;
HOW WILL THE sEGRoEs ACT?
Tbis question Is beginning to assume importance
Southern newspapers boast Of the loyalty Of their
slves, Of their anxiety 10 fight Their Northern ene-
mics, AID .Innph4ntly tell US that thousands are bow
throwing up defences and are otherwise engaged in
the service of the Southern army, and many slave
holders confidently believe that their servants will
assist them in this fight but, III answering this qdes-
ton, l shall be obliged to tear OF the mask.
Despite he efforts Of Southern masters, large num-
bers Of slaves and fr negroes have learned 10 read
aud many II them far more intelligent than the
" poor white trash" with (which the Slave States
abound. During the Late Presidential campaign, the
mos, interested and eager listeners at political meet
ipgs were these people; they communicated TO each
other what they heard, and they all understood that
the question Of Slavery WIS involved IN tie contest,
and very many believed that the election Of Mr.. Liu
coin would ecure their emancipation, aud many acted
IN accordance with this belief One out Of many facts
will illustrate this point Soon after the inauguration
OF Mr.. Lincoln, seventeen slaves, living on plantation
Petersburg, Va, repaired 10 their master early
one morning. and the spokesman of the party bolaly
told him that they had served him long enough; that
they were free now and had merely called TO tell him
that they we're going away, and Oh ey Went. The
master bad no power 10 stop them but he reached Pc
tersburg before tDem where he had the whole party
option among them is that this war fuhllDent OF
the prophecy recorded in the eleventh chapter of Dan
iel They have their revolutionary aud patriotic
songs which they sing in private. They hold secret
religious meetings, the burden of their prayer being
that the Lord will help the North and hasten the day
Of their emancipation. few days ago Was travelling
in the interior Of Virginia. Night overlook NE IL the
neighborhood Of farm house. where entertained
That night Glanced to hear the evening devotions
Of The slaves in one of their huis. | was an unob.
served spectator heard them pray for the Of
the North and one old WOMAN wepl for JOY when told
that the Northern armies soon coming to them
Free "Ohl good massa jesus" said she. let the
time be short" During this time they heard the clang
OF in their masters home, for two OF his sons
members Of troop of borse ready TO star. IN the
mo ming for Richmond aud were practicing with the
broadswords. 10 their matters, the slaves pretend
entire ignorance Of this whole movement but to white
men in whom they cophds, they reveal their hopes,
fears, desreo and plans. They have no arms, aud
could not use them If they bad but they have other
means Of destruction more potent and fearful which
no power can prevent their uting. When the time
comes for them act, they viii know no love stronger
than the love of iibcrfy.
The free negro element has always been considered
dangerous TO Southern Slavery, and in the present
criis the beet way TO dispose Of was al important
qut stion.
TIE free and enslaved are everywhere in constant
and uninterrupted intercourse, and 1t would no, be
wi.e TO leave them at home willie their masters were
in the army. To the Southern mind, there is nothing
40 terrible the fear OF q seryile nsurrectiOn On
Iny way from Lynchburg TO Alexandria, heard =
physician ut one Of the stations tell cquaintance in
The cars tba, be the only white left fifteen
adjoining plantations, and tha, nearly all the mig
gers bad been cent away. To protect thems+l Ives
ainst negro hostility, which they know 10 be deep
abiding, unrelenpg, and herre, tho citizens OF the
Southern towns and cities organized ths Home Guard
and then very cunning device was, 10 send the
Ligpers," free and bond with the army, and employ
then in erecting otifcatipns and In performing the
drudgery Of the camp. Large numbers Of them are
thus engaged i'll Vifginia. The free people went
because they were offered good wages, when they
could do nothing at home and the slaves Rad no alter
native but TO obey orders. They closely watched
by the military, who largely outnnn.ber them, and
who fear no insurrection in their presence; but
whenever a Federal army confroDs th3 a-ters
and they sec that the Northern troops must win the
day-to use the expressive language Of slave
in Richmond-they twill fight foT those who tight for
them" ~ that iu the end, the slaveholdcrs abced
security may be a terrible delusion. TIE Southern
newspapers, in noticing the prompIitu3e with which
the negroes respond the call for their services in
military operations, ascrb. Il to tie love they bear
their masterso the oi.es; patriotism aud 10 their
hatred OF their Northern enernes they taught 10
regard the people of the North la the writer's flight
from Virginia. he was sec, eted for three days and
nigbts tae house OF eolorcd family, the bead Of
which among the 'pairots" st Norfolk engaged
in throwing up iortihcaiions under the directions OF
Gea. Gwynp. lie and hi. family are unrelenting in
the hatred of Slavery, and pray FOR the triumph O!
Northern arms, and when tina time COMES when such
(and the South 10 full Of thcm) strike ssrs
iions and OF extensive couHagIaiops and tis is bul
the beginning. Northern msu may deplore ,his feel
ing on the part of the negroes aud the excesses 4
which will give rSa bsi there IL no tela for 1.-THE