The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-15
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
Slavery and PrOsperity--Views OF
Congressman then Travelling in the
South.

We print below some interesting and valu-
able extracts from series of letters written in
1888, describing journey through the south
ern states. made at that time by Mr. JAMES
BRooKs, now member of Congress from New
York. The first quotation is from letter
dated:
WASHINGTON, March s., 1833.-Savery car
ries with it it's own Affections, its own punish
ments. 1t is dead drag to the body polite.
1t is impossible for any community to prosper
with it on its bosom. The affection bears as
heavily upon the master as upon the slave. 1t
endangers the peace and happiness of the mas
ter, and robs the slave of his freedom and his
birthright. AS to prosperity and accumula-
ton of property, it keeps the master in the
rear OF others in like situation exempt from
this evil, and thus depresses him when it de-
presses his servant. II is demonstrabe in my
opinion, that that community of whites, taken
as whole, must be happier, more prosperous,
and Iher, where slavery is prohibited, than
where it is allowed.
In Richmond, Mr.. Brooks had a conversa-
ton with member of the Virginia Legisla-
ture, which gives singularly clear notion of
the condition of Virginia more than thirty
years ago. Mr.. Brooks writes under date.
Richmond, Va, March 26, 1883. The Virgin
ian said:
was raised and bred Democrat. 60
then for secession; for when you attempt to
Cypress US, when those big States-New York
and Pennsvlvania-attempt to break Us down,
we can secede. Secession is the salvation of
the South. sir We have slave property and
Yankees are opposed to il. We may be called
upon TO give up this, and then we can secede.
sir, and the Union is worth more to you than
it is to as; and if we secede you will do US
justice love the Union but sece :sion is the
only way to save it. Virginia would have a
hard time as a border state; but then we
should grow rich, sir. The whole South would
be under US.
The general government has been unqrate-
full to Virginia. Sir, before the Revolution we
were rich; we we've gentlemen; every man
had money enough. Now we have little or no
money. You Yankees come in LrOODs to look
at our country, and we can't raise loose cash
enough to get across The Potomac. | own a
large plantation and many slaves. sir. and 1
cant get money enough to paint my house
Inc I general government has been viper to
Vlfginla-she has stung her benefactor Now
you see how poor we are YOU see everything
going to ruin-old houses, old fences, ragged
slaves. virginia has nothing left but her
norses and then her race horses do her more
nnrs than good. They make her people idle
ana gambling people. Sir, you Yankees are
LOO cunning for us; you keep better iooH-
out IMAM we do. You and the New workers.
ahc Peansylvanians got the ola teVo-
louonary debt for little or notnins,
and made money at that at our ex-
pense So in the late war you bought the
debt for sixty cents on dollar, ana made us
! pay full dollar Now you have got an
American system but, thank God, Henry Clays
heart ia opened. l love him because he Is q
Virginian: and if he had not gone to Kentucky
we would have made President OF him long