Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-10-20

evils of slavery was the reckless waste
which 1t engendered. Slaves, believ-
ing the resources of their masters to
be exhaustless, had no motive to take
care and the masters themselves, not
duly valuing the means for which
they did not labor, scattered them
with an unspariug hand. To be in
debt, was the rule of the Southern
planter. His large crops were usually
expended before they were matured
and men of great possessions were Of
ten embarrassed by debts and mort
cages, and suffered severely from ex-
tortiOners.
THE TENDENCY OF SLAVERY
was to inspire masters and associates
with feeling of personal Importance
and independence. The SOutherner
felt himself to be a man and worthy
to rank with the first men of any cline
or age. This feeling gave birth to
great freedom and holiness in the ut
teranee of opinions, They might not
be adopted with due care but they
would certainly be expressed without
hesitation or reserve. Another nota-
bic feature in Southern character was
what we may call its individuality
In other countries the individual was.
to great extent, merged in society.
Men sought wealth, influence and dis
tinctiOn in various associations. The
man was partially lost in the corpora
ton. The SOutherner, though emil
nently social in his habits, depended
on himself for his worth and influence.
There were few societies or cOrDora-
tons at the South. Having no large,
wealthy and attractive cities, the bet
ter classes of society, for the most part,
resided on their country seats, in re-
tirement and leisure, devOting thept-
selves to the management of their
farms, to literature, or to amusements,
as their inclinatioDs prompted them
Scattered through the country was the
larger portion of the wealth, intellf-
gehce, refinement and espectability of
the population. None who visited the
Southern Agricultural Fairs before the
late war. can fail to call to remem-
brance the multitude of farmers, of
commanding form neat apparel, and
well-to do appearance, by which they
were attended.
Much has been said in derision of
the first families of Virginia, AS we
do not profess to belong to that class
our testimony concerning it may Ge
deemed candid. There were first fami-
lies in Virginia. Their ancestors were
the sons of noblemen or wealthy
tradesman, who early settled in the
colony, and brought with them intel
ligence, refinement and honor, and
became naturally the
LEADERS OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT
and the models of manners. Toa con-
siderable extent, their descendants
have maintained their pre-eminence.
The names of the Washingtons, Ices,
Nelson's, RandOlphs, and others, have
adorned every page OF our Colonial
and State history, and have reflected
honor on the nation itself Some
branches OF these families may have
deteriorated, and some individuals of
them may have fOolishly boosted OF
their ancestry but 40 man has ever
made light of these noble families, the
patterns, cOnservatCrS and ornaments
of the Commonwealth, without fur
nishing proof that he has no respecta-
bic lineage of his own of which to
boast, or no capacity to comprehend
the inspiring and elevating influence
of u long line of ancestors, illusLrious
for their wisdom, virtues and deeds
We must be INDUCED in another
remark, Slavery is represented by
some as the parent of boundIeos prolfi-
gacy aud vice. Never was there
greater mistake or grosser SANDER. 1t
had its evils, and they were neither
few nor small. The chief was that
some men were unfit to be masters, rs
there are men uutit to be husbands or
fathers passionate, tyrannical and
brutal. These, however, were excep-
tionable eases. That with thoughtful
men the ownership of slaves called into
exercise the nobler feelings of our ua-
ture, we can positively testify. The
best men we have ever known were
slave holders. Conscentiously and
diligently, and at great personal sacri-
flee, they sought to do their duty
Over their slaves, they exercised
PATRIARCHAL AUTHORITY
aud care. They wept over their sor-
rows and rejoiced in the happiness of
their dependents, as members of their
families. Their duties were delicate
aud difficult, but they aimed, in the
fear of God, and in the cheerful hope
of Heaven, to perform them. In all
the pious Southern families, the mis-
tress was an angel of mercy minister
ing to the wants and comforts of her
slaves, with little less solicitude and
tenderness than to those of her own
children,
We cannot forbear to offer few
thoughts on the influence of slavery on
the slaves themselves. We constantly
see remarks, in respectable, and even
in religious journals, on the brutalizing
influence of slavery on the slaves
When anything is said of the igno-
rance and degradation of the negroes,
wonder is expressed that. after ages Of
slavery, they should be so little imbru-
ted as they are To us it is matter of
amazement that men of common sense
should so stultify themselves. Do they
not know that the Africans were
brought to this country nude savages,
and that, whatever they may now lack
in mental culture and in morality,
their condition, intellectual, moral and
religious, has been UNNECESSARILY i'm
proved since they became slaves By
slavery they were raised from sbject
barbarism to state in which they
were deemed competent by the nation
TO be endowed with the elective fran
chise. Whether, in their .-changed
condition, they will make any progress
in civilization is problem yet to be
solved.
In some future article we may point
out the fragments of the shattered
civilization of the South, which may
be gathered and preserved for the bene-
fiji of our race; under the new dispen-
sation on which it has entered.
Hyacinths and Understanding
Plants