The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-03-06
nolnrists and dsf.nderl Of slarsrr have Of in.

fhfough all the ages win rlCnest oiessings--
"'The purest source Of bliss that has survived
tie Fall Slavery is simple oppression, origi-
mating IN mans pride and covetousness,
prompted and mpelled by Mammou, "the
least erected spirit that fell from heaven"
The very point which eljnches the argument
against this system, and brands it with Hea-
Ven's reprobration and curse, Is the undenia-
bls fact, that it forbids marriage, subverts the
family, and renders either impossible
There has been no IN representation. how
ever; the man is yet to be born who can paint
slavery IN its true colOri the word is yet TO
BE- coined which expresses the combination
ofwickedness which constitutes its esseree.
Could IT rise in all its dreadful linesmPnts
before the eyes Of the civilized world tonight,
its dooom would be sealed before to- runrrow's
dawn Mr. Van Dyke talks about. Christian
families in the south, in which the slaves
ara well led, well clothed and kindly treated.
Suppose it granted-How many, | ask, Of
these millions OF slaves are in the family Of
the master, or in any way connected with II?
They toil during the day upon the plantation,
under the eye of the oversssr or uuderdriver;
pass the night in cabins more or Tess com
Portable, according to the ability OF human
ty OF the owner, but always separated from
the mansion, of course the have no more
connection with the masters family than HIS
horses and mules-not particle; and in
ninety nine eases out OF hundred, as little
effort is made for their improvement. Talk
about families! mockeries! Why, | have
seen stakeholder upon his horse, with his
gun in his hand, followed by his dogs, out
upon the hunt of runaway slave Fancy
father pursuing his son or daughter in that
style! have seen slave-girl rise from the
side OF her mistress, and hobble across the
floor, confined by letters which clanked like
those OF prisoner in his cell, TO prevent her
from flying to the woods, as she had formerly
done, to escape the Internal tortures which
that mistress inflicted upon her in outbreaks
of passion. A mother might thus treat her
daughter, but would it be tolerated? | have
seen the face Of a babe six moths old stream
ing with bleod, from cut inflicted by the
lash Of the whip Of an overseer, who, in his
reckless haste, and aimed the blow at the
nurse who held it in her arms; but forbear;
and yet Mr. Van Dyke dares to talk about
misrepresentation, and asks US to send back
the fugitive who IS escaping from such SER
vice
But let us look for moment at ordinary
slave life separated from these cruelties-I
mean separated in imagination-for in real
ity they never are and can not be-they be-
long to the system; ifyoa keep men slaves
you must treat them harshly the relation
is one OF wrong inflicted upon the one side
and received upon the ether; il never can be
harmonious. This is the apology | make
for the southern people they are no worse
than others; they are not devils incarnate ;
the system makes them what they are, and
compels these crueltes; they know it them
selves andin many instances deplore it
But let US look at this mode of existence a.
part from this cruelty. Go witsAme. then,
to Kentucky tobacco plantation. AT earlv
dawn you hear the horn OF the overseer; as
soon as it is possible to see, men, women,
and children Of sufficient age ready for work,
march to the field, and work until breakfast
Breakfast consists ola large piece of corn
bread and fat meat--enough OF both--with
water to drink; dinner the same. | have
sat by poor fellow upon his log as he ate
his unsavory meal; and when he said to me,
"Dont you think we poor negroes have
hard time Of it?' felt that that was indeed
a hard life and as | looked to the blue
heavens above, / wondered that the arm OF
the Almighty was not extended for their
deliverance. Supper in the cabins, with
some additions, provided the females are not
too much atigued toprepare it. Thus passes
one weary day after another in tIresome
monotony, varied only by diversity oi tasks,
or such incidents as may be supposed to
arise from such life--no hope, no object in
view, no stimulus but the fear punishment;
no possibility ofimprovement; hedged around
on all sides by an iron necessity that permits
no elevation yet, an immortal being, sus-
ceptible of all degrees Of improvement and
happiness, and painfully conscious of the in
Justice of the dreadful doom that oppresses
and crushes him. Such is the lie OF the un
happy victim Of this atroeious tyranny.
I speak what have seen, and know where
of affirm have read and listened to the
speeches of others, and have spoken myself
bat always with the consciousness OF how
far short all came OF the reality. Slavery,
to be known must be seen, not upon the
surface, but as it really ts have yet to look
the candid man in the face who has thus
studied it, who will not confess that it is not
system of unparalleled atrocity, that cruelty
is the rule, and kindness the exception.
Anti-slavery men, however, have never tailed
to insist that the sin consisus in the relation.
The self evident truths OF the declaration
OF Independence" and teachings OF the Bible
have formed the great staple oftheir addresses
these are the principles which they have at
tented to instil into the minds of eommu-
nifty; If poisonous milk, it comes from
source whence such streams have not b, EN-
generally supposed to flow.
The misrepresentation and abuse, however
comes from the other side; the Abolitionists
have been the best abused men in the coun-
try, their enemies have been well aeeqnaint-
ed with the Spanish proverb-throw plenty
of dirt, and some of it will stick. Sometimes
it has come from dainty hands pulpit, press,
and platform. have We'd in the ignobIe strife
of coming and applying opprobrious ephi-
thets 10 the men who have led in this con-
fiict. These have been mobbed, hooted,
hisssd, pelted with understandable eggs,
exposed to popular violence, and to every in
dignity aud danger, politically, socially, re-
bgfopsly osrac zed; denounced as lnhdels,
Socialists, Jacobins, and whatever else might
be cosidered odions and contemplate. 1t
stung the foe, and hurled back the charge in
words somewhat expressive, and not always
too carefully chosen, who can wonder? |
remember when was boy, William Allen,
noble fellow, son ofa Presbyterian slave
holding minister Of Alabama, who had been
student OF old DR.. Beecher in Lane Semi
nary. and vino gave up time end wealth for
this cause. One morning ] observed that
his cloak was very much spattered with eggs;
Ipropused to scrspe them off, but he coolly
remarked, "that it was no sort oil use, as he
would only get as many more at the next
place.! !"
Wendell Phillips, the most magnificent
orator Of the country, (Calvinistic in theology,
though often denounced as an infidel, Is fol-
lowed to his home by o hootiDg. bowling
mob, his life protected by friends, and the pol