Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-14
Hack Freemnaonrr.

From the forthcoming number Of the
new Continental Monthly We extract from
an article upon travels in the South just
before the war broke out The writer,
with colored servant was upon his way
to visit On acquaintance who had sent his
slave to meet him. The meeting between
the two negroes is thus described:
aim, this is Soip" said, seeing that
the darkeys had taken no notice Of each
other.
"How dye do, sOipiO, said Jim, extend
ing his hand to him. A look Of singular
intelligence passed over the faces Of the
two negroes as their hands met it vanish
/ ed in an instant, and was 80 slight that
none but close observer would have de-
tected it, but some words that Soip had
previously let drop put me on the alert,
and felt sure it had 8 hidden Significance.
"WOn't yOu get into de carriage, massa," !"
inquired Jim.
"No, thank you, Jim. I'll ride on with
SOip. Our horse is jaded, and you had
better 60 ahead"
Jim mounted the drivers seat, turned
the carriage, and drove off at q brisk pace
TO announce our coming at the plantation,
while Seip and l proceeded at a slower
gait.
soip, did yOu know Jim before ?" l
asked.
"Neber seed him afore, masss, but hab
heern OBJ him"
"HoW is it you have lived in George
town for FIVE years, and he only seventy
miles Of, and you never have seen him 2"
al cud hsb seed him, masea, good many
time, ef I'd liked, but darkeys hab to be
careful"
"Oareful Of What2"
"Careful OBJ who dey knows; good many
bad niggas bout"
PshaW. Soip, you're coming de pos
sum- that game won't work with me.
There isn't better nigger than Jim in all
South Carolina. I know him we'll"
"P'raps be an reckon he an good
enuff nigga"
"GOOd enough nigga, Scip Why I tell
you he's q splendid fellow; just as true
as steel. He's been North with the Colo
mel often, aud the abolihonists have tried
to get him away; he knew he could 20,
but wouldn't bulge an inch."
a knew he wouldn't" said the dsrkey,
6 pleasurable CLEAN passing through his
eyes; dat sort don't run-dey face de
music"
"Why don't they rum What do you
mean 2"
"Nufin, msssa; only dey'd ruther stay
har"
"COme scip, you've played this game
long enough. Tell me, now, what that
look you gave each other when you shook
hands meant"
"Whst look, massa Oh 8 pose twsr
cause we'd both herd OBJ eoch other, afOre."
"'Twss more than that, Scip. Be frank;
you know you can trust me"
oval den, masss," he replied, adding,
after short pause, g de old woman called
you Yankee-yOu can guess"
"If l should guess, 'tWould be that it
meant mischief"
at don't mean mischief, sar," said the
darkey, with tone and air that would not
have disgraced cabinet officer; Z" it only
mean right and justice"
II means that there is some secret un-
derstanding between you.S
tole you, massa," ha replied, Telaps-
ing into his usual manner, " dat de blacks
an ali freemasons. gabe jim de grip,
and be knoW'd me. He'd Ia known my
name ef you hadn't tolo him"
"Why would he have kno'gn your naIne?'
"Cause I gabe de grip, dist tole him"
Why did he call you Saipio I called
you scip"
cob de darkeys ell dn dat. Nobody
butde white folks call ne Scip. / can't
say no more, massa shU1 break de oath
eff 1 did T.
You have said enough, scipio, to salts
fy me that there is a secret league among
the blacks, and that you are leader in it
Nov, tell you, you'll get yourself into q
scrape. I've taken liking TO you Scip,
and I should be very sorry to see you run
yourself into danger"
II tank you, mRssa, from de bottom Of
my soul / tank you" he said, as the tears
moistened his eyes. You berry kind,
massa; it do me good to talk wid you. But
what an my life wuih What am any
slaves life wuth ? Eff yoa war me you'd
do like me2'
IcOuld not deny it and made no reply
The writer Of this article IS aware that
he is here making an important statement,
snd one that may be called in question by
/ those persons who are accustomed 10 re-
| gard the southern blacks as only reasoning
/ brutes. The grsst mass of them are but a
little above the brutes in their habits and
instincts, but large body are fully on a
par, except A nero book education, with
their white masters.
The conversation above recorded is Usr-
batim ct kteratm, TRUR. It took place al
the time indicated, and was taken down,
as were other conversations recorded in
these papers, within tWenty-four hours Of.
ter its occurrence. The name and the To-
eality only, have, for very evident rea'
sons, disguised.
FURTHER PROOFS.
From this and other conversations the
writer deduces-nay, he declares that he
kzlot5s it 10 be Jdct--that there exists
among the blacks secret and widespread