Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-04-26

at the Information being given by the same
persons as those who insist that liberty is
nero curse to a negro such as only the enemy
Of mankind could desire for him
The fires at Charleston seem to create awe
in the mere mention. Tho fre-bell has rung
twice during my visits and | shall never
forget the impression. No great damage was
done In either case, but it was agreed on all
hands that the incident was becoming more
common. OF course, the Abolitionists were
concluded to be at the bottom of it. My sis
ter came to rouse me, and bid me dress and
look to my arms her husband babe me stay
with his family while he went to do his duty.
The mother dressed her children with hei
own hands, and did her best to quiet their
alarms. They asked me what their cousins
did when there vas fire, and were surprised
TO learn that they had never happened to see
one, as their mother and had not Weakened
them. For this was judged to be very re-
miss, "because," as Lizzy sagely said, 1--WE
never know what may happen
One night in the week is lively enough
the Saturday night, when the negroes hold
their market. They sit behind rows of lamps,
their faces and their fruits shining in the glare
Some sell sweet potatoes of their own, and
some the bananas, pincapples, and imported
fruits which belong TO their masters. Others
display bedsteads, baskets, boxes, and var
ious implements, made by themselves These
usually pay a fixed number Of dollars per week
to their owners for liberty to make and sell
these things The sociablo creatures look
merry, for the most part and talk as for a
wager and the spectacle is Que of the Orient
alism of the locality.
OF the other distinctive markct-that in
which these people are themselves sold
will say nothing. To those who have not
seen it, there Is no use in describing It; be-
cause sensations are not objects OF descriptions
and those who have seen it are not likely to
forget it.
Such is Charleston in spring. In summer,
the gentry are, for the most part, gone. The
clcrgymans wife told me that there is some
thing really very pleasant in spending favor
able summer at homo, as her household had
done the preceding year. They ought they
would try for once; and they lived in the OPP
air and shade, and enjoyed such leisure
Nfirst she feared lest her husbands duty
should lead him into danger but he was mer-
cifully guided about that. One day, he was
summoned to the bedside Of a member of his
Church and he had reason to suppose it a
case Of fever. He desired the messenger to
wait, shut himself into his study and prayed
for guidance He walked too and fro for half
am hour, and found his mind settled As the
father of family, his first duty WAS to take
care of his own safety so he ordered the
messenger to go and not apply again. All
such messages were stopped at the door; and
thus the serenity of the family was complete.
My sister and agreed afterwards that in our
part of the world a clergyman who obtained
such an answer to prayer would have his
gown pulled over his head and be dismissed
from leading other people devotions but, as
she observed, it is somehow different here
People become so engrosscd with the luxuries
and graccs of life, and so satisfied with them
selves, as an aristocracy, that the pastor du-
ty becomes that Of gratifying his hearers on
Sundays, and celebrating marriages and chris
Jennings. Deathbeds -deathb from fever,
at lcast-are out Of his line. It would have
been different with our friend and his wife il
they had remained in the Land Of the Pill
grims.
have left little space for the aspect OF
Charleston in time Of trouble. It's enjoy
meuts and Inequalities during the loveliest
season Of the year have been pleasanter to
dwell upon than anything have now to say.
Paid winter visit to my sister for iami-
ly reasons and | made such speed in travel
ing, that she could not stop me on the way,
when she and her husband wished - One ~
those sudden alarms. or quarrels, under which
South Carolina has repeatedly mcnaced Sc
cession, reached at once such height that my
relatives would gladly have warned me not to
come within reach Of suspicion and possible
insult. could not but see, from the mo-
men Of entering the State, that ! had listen
ers always at my heels at the stations and by
my side in the cars. Every possible endeav-
or was made to draw me into conversation on
sectional topics and when pretended to be
asleep, to get some respite, | was aware that
was watched, my newspaper looked over
and the address Of my hat box well scanned
When | reached Charleston, my brother-in-
law awaited me with some ostentation, aud
patronzed me in way more novel than a.
greeable. lie apologized for it, as soon as we
were in the cauiagr, saying that it was the
only way of attonng for having carclussly al
lowed me to come at such time.
He looked worn and not without reason.
He had more duty on his shoulders than any
man could get through. He took me every
where with him, as the lesser of two evils
He was severely blamed for showing free
State man the resources and preparations of
South Carolina; but he would have been
more blamed still, if he had shut up North
ern man in his house, as if he was ashamed OF
nina spy, of course.
found myself unwelcome in most of the
houses where | had been familiar before
The "Union-savers" were afraid of admitting
me-being a depressed minority, dreading
further humiliation. Two or three opportu-
mites of private conversation showed me that
they were greatly to be pited, though | be-
lieve that a little more timely spirit would
have set them fairly on their feet They could
have stood their ground against their equals
/ they said but their dread was of the Poor
Whites" by whom they were sure to be in.
formed against and pilaged, in case Of a rev.
olulion.
These "Poor Whites" Misunderstanding
whites, too proud to labor, and destitute o
means) wore rampant air. ! saw the State
members from Congress address thirteen o.
them who called themselves the troops-sau-
cy, Unconditional recruits, TO whom Senators
and Governor, and Commander paid homage
by addressing to them harangues about pat
riotism and the proposed destinies Of thu
/ Palmetto flag. | saw the arsenal, Yankee a,
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