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Page 28
CHAPTER V.
I consider slavery an evil, an individual evil, a national calamity;
but I believe that the evil falls more heavily on the master, than on
the slave. In order to understand this subject correctly, we must
contemplate the African in his native ignorance and destitution; his
brutal barbarism and his savage ferocity. We need but contrast the
African in his original state, with the well housed, well clothed, and
well fed slave of the United States. I am well aware, that an
objection will be urged against this view of the subject, on the
ground, that when brought to this country they were deprived of their
liberty; and this with some persons is proof positive, that their
individual happiness was curtailed thereby. The argument then resolves
itself into this; is the happiness of individuals, under all
circumstances, diminished by depriving them of their liberty? I have
already attempted to prove, that the happiness of slaves in this
country is diminished by attempting to restore them to liberty, and I
may again recur to this subject before I close this essay. For this
reason, I shall waive, at the present time, the refutation of what I
conceive a gross error, unless the objector is satisfied with a few
general remarks on the subject. I assert, without fear of successful
contradiction, that neither the happiness of individuals, nor yet of
nations, is always augmented by what is sometimes falsely called
liberty. It depends wholly on the virtue and intelligence of
individuals, and nations, as to whether liberty or servitude will
conduce to their happiness and general welfare. We have no doubt, that
the condition of the Mexican Republic would be greatly bettered at
this time, by placing over them, a humane and politic king. Whoever is
incompetent to take care of himself, is fortunate indeed, when he
finds a competent individual, who, will perform that office for him.
Show me a nation who are so debased by vice and ignorance, that they
are incapable of self-government, and you show me a nation who ought
to be ruled by a king or an emperor. Show me an individual, who is
incompetent to provide for, and take care of himself, and you show me
an individual whose happiness would be augmented by subjecting him to
a humane man. Abolitionists, propagandists, and filibusters, would do
well to bear these facts in mind. Servitude is sometimes a grievous
calamity to the unfortunate slave, for the cruelty and brutality of
some masters, better entitle them to the appellation of demons than
men. There are, and ever have been, and ever will be such, but I am
happy to believe, that there are comparatively few such monsters among
the slaveholders at the present time. I am well aware that but few
masters, in the treatment of their slaves, have complied with the
requisitions of Divine revelation, but cruelty to slaves is by no
means common among slaveholders at the present time.
I have said that I regarded the evils of slavery as falling most
heavily on the slaveholders; in other words, on the white population.
Slavery begets idleness; idleness begets vice; and vice plunges
individuals into-wretchedness, degradation and infamy. In some of the
slave States, the slaves perform most of the labor, consequently
children are brought up in idleness. The inevitable consequence is,
that a large majority of them, long before they arrive to adult age,
are deplorably vicious. It is in the extreme Southern States, that
this evil is most apparent.
The demoralizing influence of slavery is not so great in Tennessee,
Kentucky, Missouri, and Western Virginia. The evil falls mostly on the
male population; females not being exposed to the same temptations.
The boy is let loose at an early age, and runs into all manner of
excesses; not so with the girl; for from childhood to adult age, she
is ever under the eye of her mother; and I do not suppose, that for
intelligence, beauty and refinement, the world can produce a set of
females superior to the Southern ladies; though, the manner in which
they are brought up, their habits and modes of life, too often
incapacitate them for the active duties incumbent on mothers.
It has been stated as one of the effects of slavery, that it renders
men proud, haughty and tyrannical. There may be some truth in the
remark, but I am well satisfied, that there is not so much as some
suppose. In contrasting the character of the white population in the
slave and free states, it is somewhat difficult to ascertain the
precise influence of the institution of slavery, in moulding and
shaping Southern character. We must, in an investigation of the
subject, take into consideration the influence of climate North and
South, and various other influences less obvious, though not less
certain to leave their impress on human character. I have neither
time, nor space, for a thorough examination of the subject, and must,
therefore, after stating some facts, leave the reader to arrive at his
own conclusions. Southern people are proverbially liberal and
hospitable. No Southerner can fail, after a short residence in the
North, to observe opposite traits of character in Northern people; and
the Southerner, after emigrating to the North, is soon forced, in self
defence, or rather prompted by the laws of self preservation, to close
up the avenues of his liberality, and assume an attitude, or rather
take a position in society, unknown to him while a resident of a
Southern clime. The liberality of Southern people too often leads them
into recklessness in the management of their pecuniary transactions,
which frequently results in embarrassment and ruin. A Southerner to
his friend, never says _no_. He promptly and cheerfully complies with
his request, and, truly, the giver, if not more "blessed," appears to
be more happy than the receiver. Whatever they do, they seem to do it
cheerfully. They act as if they esteemed it a singular favor, to have
it in their power to relieve a friend. A Southern man will part with
his last dime to aid a friend, though, he may be forced, in less than
twenty four hours, to borrow money himself. I long lived among them,
embarrassed by a series of unprecedented misfortunes, and their
generosity I shall never forget. I shall carry the recollection of it
to my grave; it will, no doubt, soothe me on my dying bed. Dear
friends of the sunny South, in an evil hour I was separated from you,
and what I have suffered since both in body and mind, God only knows.
Ah! I could tell a _tale_, but I forbear. There is a marked contrast
in the manner in which strangers are treated North and South. Every
stranger in the South is presumed to be an honest man, until he proves
himself to be a rogue. Every stranger in the North, is presumed to be
a rogue, until he proves himself an honest man. Another Southern
peculiarity is, that no one can attack the character of another,
without incurring the risk of loosing his life. The slanderer in the
South is an outlaw, and the injured party incurs but little more risk
in stabbing, or shooting him, than he would in shooting a mad dog; for
public opinion justifies the deed, and a jury of his fellow citizens
will acquit him. This is literally and emphatically true, if the
female is the injured party. In the latter case, any relation or
friend is at liberty, to silence forever the tongue of the slanderer.
If he that slanders a female is in danger, he that seduces her runs a
risk tenfold. A few days previous to my leaving the city of Knoxville,
Tenn., an old man, by name M., walked into the court-house, (court in
session) and deliberately shot down a gentleman, by name N. He lived
after the discharge of thirty-six buckshot into his body, but a few
minutes. N. was an official character, and one of the most popular men
in the county, and though I remained in the city but a few days after
the perpetration of the atrocious act, I discovered that nine-tenths
of the community justified him in the horrible deed. It was not long
before I received information, that the murderer of N. was acquitted.
The crime of N. was seduction. Similar occurrences are frequent in the
South.
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