The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-04
JUDGE MASON ON SLAVERY AND
THE SLAVE TRADBs

JUDGE MASON ON SLAVERY AND
THE SLAVE Trade.
In recent issue Of that nameles recepticle Of
anclean things, printed in this city, We find
letter signed "BLAxK," which We have very good
reason for saying was written BY CHARIEs MA
Box. Thus informed as to its authorship, We
beg to lay before our readers the following. the
portion Of this remarkable letter,
dated Washington, March 20th, 1858:
II have Just met with an acquaintance who ID
now Paymaster in the Navy. He has recently
returned from the coast Of Africa. During his
absence the vessel in which be sailed captured
. slaver, having nearly thousand fresh Africans
on board, destined for the Cuban market They
we're taken 70 Honrovia and there discharged
he informs me that no one who has not witness
sed the degree Of brutal degradation eyinced BY
these creatures can have any adequate copcsp-
ton with regard to It He says they more re-
man beings They exhibited no regard for any
thing but the qualification Of their animal wants;
they manifested no gratitude NOR even joy at
being get free, and seemed perfectly careless
about the future or the past. He says that the
slaves on the Southern plantations are apps
rently much farther elevated above these AMI
mails, in the scale Of being, than they are below
the most intelligent of the Caucasian branch OF
the human family. It is matter Of some doubt
whether, so far o. tregards these Africans them
selves the boon Of liberty was in fact blessing,
and whether their condition of perpetual slavery
among civilized human beings would not have
been preferable to the fate which is now in store
for them. At all events am very certain that
the condition of the Cuban slave is far exalted
above that of the class Of native Africans to
which these poor creatures bad previously De-
longed. This consideration has properly much
influence 10 modifying the sympathy with which
We have always been accustomed to regard these
victims Of the African slave trade. The moral
reform school restraints the full freedom of the
vretcbed children who are snatched from the
dens and sinks of our large cities; but who would
think of setting on foot an active sympathy for
these lost children that should overturn by vio-
lence the system which was so greatly improv-
ing their condition? Especially while it was
evident that the immediate and entire liberty
would be prejudicial to the inmates of these in
stitutions which had produced such marked
and salutary influence upon their condition.
regard Southern slavery as moral reform
institution, founded and conducted on . magni-
6cent scale. It has many faults, do not seek
to conceal them. it's often abused, and this
do not Justify; it might be much improved, and
this no one will question. But with oil its i'm
Projections and it's faults there il much in the
main, to be said in it's favor. 1t has taken the
most degraded portion of the human family, and
has already elevated them to q comparatively
higher position in the scale of beings. It's deal-
ing with race, and has already nearly or quite
half-fnished its education. Is it desirable that
81 H. ~ - hna Il, az
point of its career ?" el
The reader will please observe the full scope
and meaning of the above extract Judge
Mason plainly says, not only that slavery is q
"moral reform institution" conducted on .
magnificent scale" but he regrets the breaking
up Of the African slave trade, because it pre-
vents al Africa from enjoying the Christian
izing influences of this .'moral reform" planta-
ton school of the pious Christian Rebels of
Dixie! Can it be possible that we dive in the
Nineteenth Century, in country Boosting Of ito
intelligence and progresss Can it be possible
that this 10 Christian country where the Cos
pei is preached? The author Of this letter, for.
msrly citizen of Burlington, and one Of the
most distinguished Democrats Of Iowa, now liv-
ing in Washington, 1t seems has arrived at that
perfect growth in depravity, under the fostering
tutiage of Jefferson Davis and nis fellow con-
spirators, that be dares insult the intelligence
and common sense Of his late fellow.citizens
with such abominable stuff as this. he wants
to eteal oil the negroes in order that they may
enjoy the advantages of Jefferson Davis ''moral
reform" plantation school. he does not use the
precise words, yet plainly says that slavery is
Divine institution, and from the whole tenor Of
this letter We may reasonably infer that Mr..
Mason would be willing to compromise with his
particular friend Davis by re.opening the Afri-
can slave trade and extending the benefits of
the "moral reform" school of African slavery to
all the States and Territories Having thus ac-
knowIedged that the loyal States we're wrong
and the rebel States right he would, of course,
agree that We should pay all the expenses of the
y''
~It is said that General Curtis has 70
ceived Instructions from Warrington to con-
slider the order to close up his connection with
the Department Of the Missouri a. Withdrawn.
If this be true. it is an evidence that the ap-
pointment Of General Sumner was not made on
account Of any improper conduct of General
Curtis, such as Rumor. with her thousand
tongues, has alledged against him. If these
were true, or if they were founded on probable
cause, Curtis ought to be removed at once and
made to suffer the severest penalty that could
lawfully be inflicted. His retention in efice
proves that they are regarded ~ utterly un-
grounded and malicious. He is probably too
much in earnest to suit some people.
S A letter to the Cincinnati Gazette from
Lexington, KY, says that the Rebel commando
er of their forces issued proclamation at
Somcraot reou;rin0 III AHA hnd;nd MAJ, J.. 50: