New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-20

the people makes them incaPap'e vi ie"ohai
silence even on this subjecti or else, fearing
that secret emissaries may be propagating these
notions secretly, they Judge it best to assume
them as true, and to terrify their slaves INTO
subiection BY taking bold stand against oil op-
nosit;on The former is decidedly our theory on
tbs spb;ect In On extensive intercourse with
all classes we have rarely if ever found South
ern man or woman who hesitated moment ior
the preseBee of a slave to announce the most ap'
surd and yet exciting notions OF Northern aOon-
tionsm. Such thing as propagation Oh reoelhon
st the South by means of wandering end un-
known emissaries would be, in our opinion, an
absurd conception and miserable failure. IL Is
doubtful whether the peace Of q single plantation
has ever been or could ever DO disturbed by it,
In Cities Of course, the opportunity for such VII
lany ia greater; but even there it would tAi,
even if il were attempted. We assign tbe''Thoie
credit, therefore, of the present and prospective
insuboTdinatiOn of slaves in the South to the
South herself. Talk about Republican papers as
incendiary documents When one sees negro
slaves hanging about political meetings where
Republcanism-the Acknowledged creed Of mil
lion and half of vOtsrs-is denounced as
outright Abolitonism-and toroible Abolition
one can't help but ask himself whether In
deed old Diogenes was right when he said
man was only goose with tie feathers plucked
of. What effect has this nonsense had In cities
the danger is greatest; that is if it is unsuspeeted
for if danger is expected, the city is by far the
safest, as viii be readily apprehended. But the
good sense of the Southern people though NOT
sufficient to prevent them from making the dan
ger. is wide awake on the means of meeting IT,
In this city, an extra police force has been under
secret organization during the past campaign,
called the "Home Guards" These took good
care of incendisries, abolition emissaries, and
niggers without passes" In fact their zeal for
good order was very apt to trespass on good or
der ITSELF in ways needless to mention. Such
attention as this, together with frequent military
displays. has pretty effectuaDy cowed the city
blacks. AS class, they are far more lazy, re-
belliOus and vicious than any other, Their con-
tact with the world makes them know too much
10 be good slaves. Their less labor and better
fare and clothing only serve to aggravate the
natural negro desire for display and its cores
ponding undesire for hard work, or not to put too
fine point on it, for any work at all. The con-
sequence is, that they have frequently to be
brought to "feelDg sense" Of their true con-
dition and duty, by due reference to that organ
which Southern ANTAGONISTS declare has a pecu-
liar appropriate Development in the African-the
sIia. Through this source, during the past year,
the Ethiopian has derived larger amount than
common, Of information.
In the country, the slaves are far more tract
able and industrious. They have that ignorance
which is bliss, and that folly which is wisdom
for slaves. Yet here the vicious genius Of seces-
sion has come TO destroy their bliss, and Danish
their happy folly with the light of q delusve
dream. Everywhere the traveller goes, now, be
finds that the /" enlightened" negro is too wise
10 work-if he can help it; end entirely too well
posted on political subjects to BIO attracted BY any
other Vaccinations Of =" the institutions" than the
whip or the extra fee--the latter being on the |
whole by far the most effective Some, especially |
women, are really afraid of their servants. Their |
opportunities for mischief are Of course very |
great. Those who are naturally Of viciou, dis |
position, sometimes improve them, IN the way OF |
setting houses on FIRE, stealing, Sc. NUMBER
of instances OF this kind have come TO our knowl- |
edge, which we have not time to detail here.
There is but little doubt that very general |
expectation has been excited in the minds Of the |
slave population, that something was about to |
happen for their benefit In their own vague |
language, Gan army was coming down from the |
Big Norf to set them Free" This expectation |
showed itself Last November, and it may develop |
itself again in some form the coming month. |
Several instances Of in.ubordinaton founded on
this conception have come to my knowledge In |
an inland city gentleman was informed BY bis
wife that the IMAM servant had refused to
cut wood for her. or to do any more work,
stating that "Lincoln was elected now, and he
was Free" The gentleman Intercepted the slave
on the subject, and was me. with the same re.
ply. Undertaking to punish the negro for his
disobedence, and to drive him TO his work, he
himself was Oyerpowered and dsarmed, though |
not much injured. He called on the police for
sssisance, and the negro, after being sent to the
whipping. pOst, gained new light on the subject |
of Lincoln and Slavery, and returned to his
duty. Many other similar cases have no doubt
occurred. Much apprehension has been felt in
the country, where no preparations could Alto
retber insure against the first violence OF intur-
rectiOn.
But we believe, that there is but little danger,
even with the present widespread disafection,
Of any general "rising" among the slaves.
Every humane man must rejoice in this belief.