The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-06-04
How Emaucipation Works.

How Emancipation Works.
Throughout life, we have uniformly opposed
colonization societies, emancipation and mis-
sonary societies As we apprehended, they haV'
brought our country into the troubles whichno7
overshadow US. If people viii insist on eman
cpating their slaves, let them be declared for
feited to the State John McDonoghin his will
emancipated his slaves-the colonisadon society
sent them to Liberia. In less than twelve
months, a great number of them returned tc
New Orleans, and reported tai almost every one
would return to New Orleans if they had the
means referring slavery in this country rather
than remain in Africa The missionaries and
colporteurs have done immense mischief by dis
tributng tracts, &c, most of which are calculated
to enlist sympathy for the poor slave" In fu-
ture, we hope such works will not be permitted
to circulate in our State.
We copy Mr. Willis description Of the effect
/ of emancipation in the district Of Columbia, as
published in his Home Journal
Hesays, there vas great variety in the negro
experiments at behaving white-folks-y in the
streets at Washington; and the comment it
contained upon our manners--or, on what a
negro sees in US to admire-was, to say the least
suggestive Those of the colored bellies who
were taking drives in hackney coaches did their
best to look unconscious and disdainful CHANGING
at the passers-by with an indolently relaxed eye
lid as If nothing had been noticed, and longing
back on their cushions in the most listless of at
titudes Then the hat OF the colored beau was
cooked on the side Of the head at the most know
ing angle, and these were smoking, almost with
out exception, ard with the cigar held by the
twisted under-lip at a raking tangent that was rs
saucy as was any way possible. In the figures on
horseback, however, were the best carieatures
of aIl-our white juvenescence at Washington,
for the last six months, having been particularly
equestrian in its displays, and the dashing young
gentlemen Of color, with their spurs and high
boots, hitting off the attitudes most Enthusiastically
It would have been instructive to see here and
there a stylish fellow that could mention if he
could have walked the avenue to-day to see, by his
sable counterfeit, how he comes very near look
ing on horseback"
There is great difference in the stories of how
the negro interests in the district are affected by
the abolition One lady the wife of wealthy
Virgnian, called her six household slaves to-
gether the morning after the presidents signing
of the acg, and anuounced to them the change Of
their condidon-informing them of their free i
dom to 60 where they pleased, but proposing
to them certain wages for remaining. They all /
fell at her feet, declaring that they would stay,
but never receive wages from her hand, and
begging most pathetically that there should be .
no change whatever in their condition An
other family, also one Of the wealthiest in the
city of Washington, had set Of household
slaves that had been very much indulged and
these took their new liberty very impudentlv,
insisting upon such very high wages for remain
ing, that their master felt compelled to dismiss
very one Of them-advertising for white ser
rants in their place"