New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-26
TIE AFRICAN CHARACTER.

RECORD or AN OBSCURE MAN. IL mo- PIP Elo' bicA
| nor & Fields.
A slender groundwork of fiction is made the
basis, in this volume of q series OF interesting
discussions on the characteristics, condition,
land prospects of the African race, with es-
lpecidl reference to their past and future posi-.
tion on American soil. The writer takes no
part in the exciting and angry issues of the
day obstains, with religious scruPulOusness,
from the language and the spirit Of partisan,
and treats the subject from the standpoint OF
the widest human sympathes. Familiar with
the discoveries of modern travellers, which
since the commencement of the present century
have thrown so much light on the interior OF
Africa, he makes use of the results which they
have given to the world, to illustrate the
brighter and nobler features OF race that are
often lost sight of amid the clouds of oppression
and misery in which they are involved
Promising that the discussion is conducted,
for the most part 10 dramatic form, we ex-
tract passage which presents a novel view OF
the "cOored population" in the slaye-holding
States of this country:
| lie called my attention TO the fact that the dark
men Of America form new race, and can no longer,
with any propriety, be called African. He made me
remark too, that they very mixed race, and, a.
snCh entitled, at future time, 10 contribute Some
vigorous passages 70 the story OF humanity.
| The Blood, he raid, " OF the conc uenng Fela-
| tab, OF the enduring Muzgu, a the song-oyiDg
Suhma, Of the ingenious Mandingo, Of tho Intrepid
Begherm minglts In tue veius Of this f1ing people
with that Of some Of tie highest European races.
Here and there we indeed find, IN come Individual,
the original type OF of hese contributing tribes
or nations reproduced in it's purity. The slave
trader favore booty. the MacQua, found as ugly
on those OF the ZambesI; have teen Wild dances
| which il seemed ONLY the transmgratef soul Of o
Nijempani could have animated; yon gave and aptly
the 1ame Of Spanish Don to tie inajor-dgmo az the
Highlands; there Is sturdy Saxon at tie anvil not
twenty miles from us; and have in the cot
field unnistakable Celts. But, notwithtiancing the
marked contrasts offered ly individuals, this rev
people is gradually assuning characteristics which
we recognize as general. la couversing with per-
sons Of this race we are sensible Of certain origi-
nsliiy in their views. Their humor, their patbos,
has different quality from that OF the AugioSaxoni
their thought has another shading than ours.
" II has seemed TO that this element, 30 for
eirn We. 30 familiar to mo- il 10 be gBizod in Al
exander Dumas think feel the African soul in
bis exuberant genius, which moves along with such
q careless delight III iaein the irresistible dr0llery
that laughs and moeks through bis pagesin his light
satire, go piquaDt yes 30 woundless Perhaps the
African descent that IL Clulcu LOT luc Nuhca IOe'
Puscbkin may be thought reveal itself in the nxu
rant growth Of bis imagery, in the sot fall OF his
verso, which flows vi bis couitrymen Gays,
| like pearls over velvet
"1he dark men of America are not, more than
apy her PEOPLE, to be Judged BY their owesi class
When speak Of the ErgiiFh, we do not mean the
pale masses Of the manufacturing towns, nor the
iroglodyte population OF the coal regons No more,
when we would judge of the capacities Of our dark
countrymtr, should consider them in the resent
Z IL. e y
vice, nor in the mbrated gangs Of the rceplantaon.
| % was much struck ty the account Of the moral
condition Of Europeans who had been held In Slavery
by the Arabs, given by Dir. Dupuis who was British
Vice-CoDsnl in Nogadore at time when white
Christians still stood equal terms with black Pa
gans in the Barbary slaye-markeis, and when the
crews Of vessels wrecked the Sahara coast were
lawful prize. Mr. Dupuis was instrumental in OBJ
| tanning the release Of mary OF these unfortunate
men, He sayi that, on their iirt arrival in noga-
dore those that have been any considerable time In
Slavery appear lost 10 reason and feeling they
gre Indifferent to every thing abject, servie, abd
bruii6edthat their spirits are broken their facul-
tes sunk Ia stupor. Ii seems, be says, that the
hardsbips they have endured without any protecting
Law TO which they apply for redress, have de-
stroyed every spring Of exertion or hope And be
saw them only otter their released 1t il not surprs-
| ing that the Arab Of Africa 1elt contempt for En
ropeans and Christians since he probably formed BIZ.
opinion from those lie bad known as his own slaves
Ia no. as rash judgment sometimes pIOnouI ced Oh
the b0ndmen OF America
at has been my fortune TO study them on the es.
tate OF q wealthy and indugent master, O man Of
refined tastes TO whom deliberate cruelty would
| have been abhorrent, and who was both too proud
and too fond Of ease exact Of his dependents
than they oheerfully rendered. The new conner aere
might have been received with the consolation which
| Clytemnestra offered 10 Cassandra:
IL wrsthful Fate that sends thee hi.leT,
To take thy place among our many slaves
Since bonosse wa. deersed thee great che boon
H. ht.Ha NJ luTI- an aleGw gelt
For those whom chance has sacdenly enriched
Are bard IL ell things tnd observe no measure
Here thou wilt bs1 that which Ia suitable
Every privilege, indeed, which custom has any
where secured 10 The slave wac, on this plantation
.ccoid,d ma a right The hours OF work were rea-
souable, food abundant, holidays not infrequent
certain amount of service performed, the workman
U,ped hi. time and his strength. He might spend
hem on labor of his choice, or squander them oI
leisure The slaves this plantation did not nv
nder that systematic subjeeion, that iron routine
which deadeus the higher nature as fatally u.
ouQher tyranny brushes it. They were permitted io
be men With them, affection was not without cen
iment nor passion without dignity. zine soul ho'
Sholly the prisoner and servant Of the body, al
nounced It's own separate wants, fnd Sought ah'
found their satisfaction. The lie OF these Dependent
people had its shades certainly aha oesp o,.e ou'
even these were rot unavorable 10 the development
IF the poetic aud religious facoitieS'
Il ON this p,anta ion l have frequently mingled
lsxih the light-heaed crowd On Gays Oh iesivai o.
Ni'h the same crowd transformer ih,o oeNou' M, mo
liter9 On occasions Of religious solemnity. The,
,aiae to disregard my presence aud were no NOR
cnstrained before me than with each other; nay
item food in sincere admiration before their NIL
lrcls, aud sill ostener before their preaeheis.'
The eloqaence of many Of the negro pre'fl
70 on the Southern plantations is iustr9f q i
nc following discriminating remarks