Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-04-20
From the Ohio State Journal.
A CURIOSITY OF LITERATURE.

Book WRITTEN BY A NEGRo.-Rev. Mr.. War.
rem, OF the Baptist church in this city, in his ser
mon last Sunday, stated that q negro preacher in
Georgia, one who had been trained by his master
to assist him in his law Office, had written a work
in defense of African slavery, which was now in
course Of publication at Atlanta.-Macon (Ga.)
Telegraph.
The above notice is correct. Messrs. Wood,
Hanlei,er, Rice & Co., proprietors of the franklin
Printing House, in this city, are now bringing out
a book written by Harrison Berry, a slave, the
title of which will be as follows: "Slavery and
Al olitionism, as viewed by a Georgia slave;" and
will be about 100 pages octave. Price Is cents
per copy. 1t is a well written production, and
will. no doubt, meet with a large demand. Allan
ia Baptist.
Ii is not often that we copy literary announce
ments from the Southern journals. People down
below are not much given to book writing or book
printing. and the little they have done in this way,
has convinced us that they have wisely devoted
themselves to other things.
1t appears, however, that the great educational
processes of slavery have developed in the African
race a faculty for literature, and we may now
reasonably expect that the cause of polite learn
ing will receive a turn ahead in the Coneederated
States. This itself proves the miraculous nature
If not the divine origin Of slavery. In spite Of the
fact that the Shareholders themselves are usually
very ignorant, we see that their property some
times achieves sufficient enlightenment not only to
write . book in praise Of slavery, but to, write i,
well. This must be inspiration.
lsisos course contrary TO the laws of Georgia
to teach reading aud writing to a slave, aud il
strict justice were done, the master or this literary
> negro would be rewarded with q term in the pen
%rentiary, while the Reverend Harrison Berry him
$ self would be tied up and given two dozen raw
Bot the genius of slavery cannot be curbed il
8 this way. II is a thing SO sublime and powerful
,bati will spur a man to literary composition il
spite of statutes and ~Overseers.
1t is perfectly natural that the Reverend Harr
son Berry (wbo should have adopted the nom d
plume OF Blackberry should write in praise {
slavery. The idea Of freedom is extremely dist
greeable and shocking to the refined seusibilitit
Of the slaves. 1t is for this reason that they RI
!, away from their excellent masters upon every o
casioD, lest at sometime their masters should
tempted to give them their freedom. The Reye
end Berry, for instance, has doubtless viewed Il
subject in all its bearings. Having no ezperime
tai knowledge of liberty, hs can theorize INTEL
gently upon the comparative benefits OF freedo
and slavery; and having a realizing sense of IL
Tact that his master can at any moment take hi
from his literary labors, and put him at the plo'
be naturally sees how much better off lie is thu
Fred Douglas and other miserable free negro
Who are no: liable to such slight reluxations.
DR. We presume that this work will be followed
III many others Of q similar nature, until the me
stubborn logicians whom the anti-siavery poop
ID will have 10 contend with are the slaves ther
selves. Their masters, it must be confessed, ha
managed the argument rather stupidly. We sht
,e have from these serVile litera.i. probably works
10 the following titles: Separation Of Families I
1t thetically Considered" by Slave Mother, "Plea
ures Of Padding" by a Charleston Quadroo
.AmalgamatiOn scripturally Approved" by
N OetorooH; Sensations of q Slave on the Austi,
of Block" by q Family Servant; "The Delights
ne Cotton and Rice Culture, under the Eye of Il
he OVerseer." by a Field Hand.
When literature has progressed a sufficient d
lance in this direction, perhaps other things W
a devote themselves to it, and cells will describe d
;" joys Of being skinned, Holsters the bliss Of boilir
IN alive, and so forth. But this of course is me
speculation. We do not insist upon il. 1t onl
in view Of serVile literature, appears possible.