The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-02-07

ing 10 perform upon his infatuated subjects,
| only the yoke of the Union Government is
easy, and the burden light compared to that
which the wretched sons Of toll are perforce
| obliged to submit to-
Owing to the strict surveillance over the cir
| culation of anti-slavery publications hereto
| fore exercised in the slave States by the mas
ters and the local authorities, the prohibition
Of all sources OF correct popular information,
and the bitter persecution of anti-slavery peo-
pie in the South by those who not only govern
their negroes with an iron hand but keep the
keys of knowledge from the poor white c,ti-
zen, it is not strange that lanentable igno-
rance exists regarding the real designs of the
anti-slavery extention party of the country.
Had the masses in the South been as well ii,-
formed as even the school children of New
England, such an event as the election of a
Republican President could not possibly have
caused rebellion against government like
ours. Thus 1t is that they are engaged in
fghting not against any invasion of the rights
OF the South, but to sustain the leaders of re-
bellions by whose damnable falsehoods, and in
no other way, the hitherto loyal masses were
induced to their present madness.
But while we deplore the wretched igno-
rance manifest in the Southern mind and con-
demn the proscriptive means which has direct
ly caused it, we cannot justly exculpate that
class OF politicians, editors, &C., in the free
otatto, Wuos cuuttfuS tuch CltS anu stopping
their ears to all the warnings of the past and
al, signs OF future calamity, have been reck-
lessly willing to let our ship OF state drft on
ward 10 the awful breakers upon which she
is now stranded. Nay, it is not passive CON-
plcity Of which alone they are guilty; for too
many have, for a consideration engaged in
active measures to overthrow our govern
ment, and by compoundng with treason, are
no less deserving OF the execreation of man
kind than the President of the Coniederacy or
his most efficient supporters.
One cannot help being reminded of all these
things while he observes daily, illustrations of
the effect which such prescription, such sur
veilance, such treachery to republican princi-
Piles has wrought In the minds and hearts of
this people. In conversing with slavehold-
ing lady some weeks ago. upon the subject of
slave emancipation, l took the liberty to speak
of the economy of emancipation viewed in its
relation to the industrial and social or domes-
tic welfare of the States. was somewhat sur
prised, when she told me she had no idea how
she could live with her colored servants, ex-
cept to hold them in subsection as slaves. She
seemed unable to comprehend the principle
that the laborer is worthy of his hire" or that
fact, without exception, that freedom is as
dear TO the African as to the Anglo-Saxon.
She said her " darkies" (the common term for
slaves here, generally pronounced "dawkies'')
were very much attached to herself and fam-
ly, and that she geciprocated the attachment,
even to the same degree she felt for her own
kindred. She gave me good reason however,
to doubt her sincerity and the truth of her
statement, when she confessed that she could
not believe they were fit for freedom. nor
would 1t be proper to give them the means of
obtaining knowledge. She had never contem-
plated such an event as being obliged to sell
her anectionate servants, as thousands of slave
holders have done. In short, ascertained
that the subject Of emancipation on all or any
OF its bearings had never been any part of her
study. On parting, she told me she had
never, either read an anti-slavery book or pa
per, or listened to any explanation of the doc
trine before.
One fact, well known to many in our regi-
ment, is illustrative of the affection entertain
ed by this female slavemonger for her chaltels
personal Within a hundred rods of her dwell
ling, near the public road, were two superan-
nuated colored women belonging to the es-
tate, in atumbledown log hut, in which it
would be considered the extreme of thriftless
aud iQhpman management for a Yankee farm
er to Keep his swine. 1t was not so tidy or
comfortable as the stables built for the accom-
odation Of our horses. The cold wind blew
through the dilapidated hut with "perlect
looseness," and, during the most severe wealth
er In November and December, these aged and
helpless women were destitute of fuel and
food, except what was given them by their
colored friends in the neighborhood Their
mistress did, however, promise to remove
them on certain day to her own com Portable
house, and take better care of them; but.
some time after the appointed day, she ha d
not fulfilled her promise.
This Is one specimen OF the "kind, humane
and careful treatment of old slaves, of which
we read in "South Side Views" and other Sex
positions" not of the true character OF slavery,
but OF the Inconsistency, hypocrisy. or stu
pidity OF all whitewashers of oppression
These poor women had formerly been married,
and had each several children, born on the es-
tate aforenamed; but that "constitutional-
practice, the internal slave-trafiic, had taken
them all down South at an early age, aud no
one of those heirs Of sorrow now remains TO
even endure in companionship the misery of
those who bore them. One can readily under
stand, to witness such an instance of outward
wretchedness, how rightfully these despised
and prosecuted creatures might claim the
promises contained in the Divine beatitudes.
They were, in spite of their poverty aud help
lessness, cheerful and apparently happy; evin-
cling to remarkable degree, that buoyancy OF
feeling and light-heartedness characteristic of
their race.
But must not encroach too much upon
your space. L have some interesting Incl
dents in mind, which will give you in a fu-
ture letter, showing the practices of slave
masters ia this region, in their personal treat
ment of their slaves, and also some of the
symptoms of n tendency towards speedy eman-
cipation in Maryland. There is no cause for
doubt, when the press. and the public voice is
busy in the discussion of the subject. Missou-
ri with noble zeal, is making powerful et-
fort to free herself from the coils of the ser
pent which for so many years has constrained
her movements and retarded her progress to-
wards that high development of material pros
perity Of which she is so eminently capable.
Maryland, will not, l believe, be far behind;
while Kentucky, Western Virginia. Delaware,
and perhaps Others, will fall into rank and
rival each other in the grand experiment of
freedom.
The health Of our regiment is improving
constantly. There have been many cases of
measles, but they are nearly all convalescent,
and we have reason TO believe that ere longthe
Twenty-Third having passed through its most
fearful ordeal will be as healthy regiment as
any in the field. We are to remain in this vi
cinity at present, probably for a month to
come, but on the opening of the spring cam
paign, we shall without doubt remove nearer
4 hD Gaaf fsRfa aatt. A.