The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-06-25
An Unsafe Investment.

When slavery existed, the tern" property
as applied to the negro, grated harshly on
northern ears. Now that the war has changed
the condition Of the blacks, this term is. no
longer applied to them, but it is really as ap-
propriate as ever. The only difference is,
that there has been q change of masters, and
this for the worse. Formerly the negro was
owned for agricultural purposes, whereas
now he is owned for voting machine. Once
he was cared tor in health, nursed in sick
ness, and was one of the family in which he
lived, subject, like the children, to an occa-
sional whipping when he was naughty. Now
he is vagabond, whose only Recommended
ton it is that he counts one for the republic
an ticket. 1t is for this purpose solely, that
he is valued by those who have stolen him
from his old master. The most reliable ac-
counts from the south agree that the negro
is becoming tired of the ''boon of freedom"
The transcendent privilege of being a voter,
great, glorious and ennobling as it is, does
not reconcile him to the accompanying ne
cessity of earning his own living and pro-
viding for his family. IF his new masters
would leave him to consult his own interests,
he would, in very many instances, be glad to
return to his former state of life. $50
We are reminded of an anecdote told by
Mr.. Legare. of South Carolina, when he was
secretary of the treasury, to friend of ours
in this city. Mr.. Legare owned likely lad
by the name of Scipio. Whether by reading
abolition tracts or by hearing in some way
of the great advantages of liberty, Scip took
it into his cocoanut that he would like to be
free. Accordingly he made proposals to
Mr.. L. for the purchase of himself. As he
acknowledged that he was very comfortable
and had no fault to find with the overseer,
NJ. T to- 10 hi
idea, but in vain. an o use, Mass'r Legare,
said Scip, "whatll you take for me ?" "Well
Scip," said Mr.. l., '..you are worth $4,000,
but if you auil go, and can raise $1,000, you
shall have your papers, Scip admitted
that this was liberal, and as he had nearly
that sum laid by, he soon managed with the
assistance of some friends to raise the whole
amount. One morning he came caperine
into Mr.. LIS study with cash in hand claim
ing his promise. "Better stay where yor
are, Scip, and let me take care of this money
for YOU said Mr.. l.. But his advice wa.
not needed, and he reluctantly took tn,
money and gave Mr.. Scipio Africanus bill
of sale of himself. AS it was, Scip left will
tear in his eye, although there was broat
grin on his face. 1t was not long before h,
found employment on railroad Thing
went pretty well with him for time, unit
one day there was q cOIllSlOn between an eS
press train and train Of gravel cars. Wa
CONS, engines, white folks and darkies wer
tossed into the airgenerally, and some TWEEN
ty of the latter were killed, while many NOR
were MANNED for life. Scip, however, foun
himself high and dry ON sand bank an,
free from any injury, But his nerves ha
received a terrible shock, and he was so MOI
tally afraid of another similar accident, tina
he left his employment and obtained a situa
ton on board a river steamboat. But her
again, his luck was not of Icing duration
Just as the boat was leaving the wharf al
explosion took place, which sent forty or Gift
colored ladies and gentlemen to the place
where good or bad darisies go. But gu
friend Scip merely went partly over the rive
and dropped into the stream in compan
with the smoke stack. He padded himsel
ashore, and without waiting to change hi
clothes he travelled with wings lent him b.
fear, straight to the home of his old master
'sLook a. heah, Mass'rs Iegarer' he exclaim
ed, ais soon as he could catch his breath
Gus you give me dat money back and tax
me. Dis yeah niger property well 'noug
for rich men like you, but d-n poor YES,
fnent for dis chile-'taint safe--darsn't ris
Fem no longer-Bo Boston Courier.