The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-31
Terrible Revelations frOmthe South
ANARCHY AND BARBARISM IN TEXAS.
SLAVES BURNED IN LOUISIANA.
TESTIMONY OF A EUROPEAN SAVANT.

TESTIMONY OF EUROPEAN SAVANT.
The Independent Beige, of July 6, 1862, con-
tains two very curious letters written in April !
aud May last by M. Honzeau, savant of
Belgium, who had been staying some time in
Texas, bat who recently tried to escape the
horrors of civil war by seeking refuge in
Mexico. awe have received two of his
letters" says u ELadepetda1ce " and if they did
not emAnate from one of our countrymen, we
would hesitate to publish statements which
seem too horrible for credence. But we can
not doubt their truth, and print them TO show
the kind of men and the cause that the Euro
pean partizans of American Secessionists
would defend We translate those letters,
which are so we'll authenticated:
MATAMoKAs, Mexico, April 81, lS62.-You
probably have coniectured that the blockade
has kept me in Texas as in besieged city, de-
priving me of all communication with Europe.
The government of planters here have in
creased this isolation by suspending the mail
ing of newspapers, and by suppressing most
of the mail routes, whence results state of
isolation very favorable to ignorance and ty-
ranny.
What have seen about me, and what
have heard from the mouths of sufferers and
witnesses, forms frightful tale. l have for
warded few pages to the Revue TFinestrieue
since my arrival in Mexico. L could have in
creased the catalogue of atrocities which the
Shareholders are accumulating TO their eternal
shame. l only wish to speek of facts which
can prove, but will add a few others which
believe TO be perfectly ve-itable.
A pregnant woman being indisposed, her
| master had her whipped to make her go to
market. She dragged herself 70 the field and
| fell upon the ground in the pangs of child
l hirfh Apnthar punishmnnt WAS hara admin
| istered. The lash was applied, and brought off
| strips OF flesh which were so thick that one
could actually sea the lungs of the miserable
| woman, who during this torture gave birth to
q still-born child, and few minutes afterward
died herself.
| Another fugitive was hung up by the hands,
| and in that position perished of hunger; his
| master even had the cruelty to place near him
| plate of smoking warm meat, which was re-
\ newed at each meal time. One of the COM
rades of this martyr told me that his last words,
I in low, dying voice, were "let me eat--eat."
4 have seen free negroes banished, and freed
slaves, when free papers were not preserved or
| in due form, sent back into slavery. When /
say negroes, wish to avoid the phrase "persons
1 of color" for it is not so easy TO find purely
black negro. The colored population, espe-
cislly that portion of it which is free is crossed
| in the first, second or third degree. There are
Il
4 they suggest 8 pretty question in genealogy.
i have seen q German, who was for time q
slave in one of the Territories, where the
I slavery of poor whites is freely defended. An
odious attempt has been made to re-establish
slavery in this part of Mexico. Civil war has
been provoked and sustained by tho subsidies,
arms and ammunition furnished by the plant
ers. Matamoras, where now am, is in ruins
| after three months war proportlonately more
murderous than the wars of Europe. Yet
Notwithstanding the American cannon, the
heroic population of this city, which has Indian
blood in its veins, has repulsed the brigands
who have aSsailed it from Texas.
| What could do in such scenes of confn-
sionl Ny humble possessions were seized by
| these men. ! had seen several of my neigh
| bors killed in their fields, and few of them
| scalded. Others had fallen beneath the axes
| of the furious Rangers, because they were Un-
ionists. l had seen Bole Augustin cut up
| with knives before the Justice Of the Peace of
San Antonio. / had seen another pursued by
| a man firing revolver at him, till he tell
bleeding and dying Ia the market place.
What should do2 What could do2 The
path of duty seemed to be eifaced. L was at
one forced to leave my house, and leave TO the
terrible Vigilance COMMITTEES four bare walls
| and the ashes of my burned papers.
only retained memorial of the Unonists
| of San Antonio for the Cabinet at Washing
ton. document which, if found on my per
son. would have been enough to have hanged
| me ten times over, as spy or correspondent
or a Unionist. / rolled it up and hid 1t In
the barrel of my rife, and the American con
. sui at Matamoras, an energetic citizen of New
q ENGLAND, to whom j transferred it on my ar,
rival here, has forwarded it 10 Mr.. Lincoln
who, by this time, must have received it.
/ cannot express to you my satisfaction or
finding myself free ON this side of the Ri.
Grande Would that my voice could be hearC
all over Europe. The Southern States ar
witnesses of a criminal attempt which rival
the most bloody and Rbhorred crnelties OF tn
Inquisition. 10 this sanguinsry tyranny
3 added throng of terrible passions-all o
those FASHIONS which are engendered by tn
> possession of man (or woman) by man. Ther
I, are no longer limits, no longer restrsint, n
longer modesty. Near 10 Seguln (Texas)
master recently struck By Stare for hari,,
in his presence attempted to violate the honor
a his negro sOifs. Of course, the negro husban
was hanged
" In this pretended political movement of th
no South there is return to barbarisin which th
customs of the times, the spirit of our countr
= and our ideas Of humanity and religion cann'
permit. This impious and heathenish atteml
which openly adopts as its motto "The extei
sion and perpetuity of slavery this GRIMM
all attempt cannot succeed. The question OF Il
liberation Of the slaves assumes every day
more practical form.
letter No. 2.
- MATAMoRAs, Mo-, May 13.
I am lucky, after having lost all nay pro
rs. arty. In saving myself from hanging as |