UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

ecame
Ed.
that they know is wrong. They are not aware
what countenance theygiveto slave-holders to
hold on to their prey. Troubled consciences can
be easilyquietedby the sympathies of piouspeople,
particularly
come in as aids.
iswhat is wanted.
'"
You will wonder why this communication is
made to you by an unknown. It is simply made
to encourage your heart, and strengthenyour
determination to persevere, and do all you
can to
put the emancipationof the slave in progress.
Who I am you will never know ; nor do I wish
you to know, nor any
following
one else. I am a
KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN. Gl
"
Republican."
The
factsmake the fictionof
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" appear tame in the
comparisonṪheyare from the New York
Evangelist.
uncle tom's cabin.
Mr. Editor : I see in your paper that some persons
the statements of Mrs. Stowe. I have
denied it. One night, about the firstof September,
the boy came home earlier than usual, say
about nine o'clock. It was a wet, dismal night*;
he made a firein his cabin,went to get his supper,
when interest and inclination and found ocular demonstration of the guilt
"I
of his master. He became enraged,as I suppose
am told there is to be a replymade to
man would, seized a cut
any butcher-knife, and
' Uncle Tom's Cabin,'entitled ' Uncle Tom's his master's throatștabbed his wife in twentyseven
places,came to the village, and knocked Cabin as It Is.' I am glad of it. Investigation
at
the office-door.I told him to come in. He did
so, and asked for my employer.I called him.
The boythen told him that he had killedhis master
and his wife,and what for. My employer
locked him up, and he,a doctor and myself, went
out to the house of the old bachelor,and found
him dead, and the boy'swife nearlyso. She,
however,lived. We (my employer and myself)
returned to the village, watched the boy until
about sunrise,left him locked up, and went to
get our breakfasts, intending to take the boy to
jail(as it was
my employer's interest,if possible,
to save the boy,havingone thousand dollars at
stake in him). But, whilst we were eating, some
persons who had heard of the murder broke open
the door,took the poor fellow,put a log chain
round his neck,and started him for the woods, at
the point of the bayonet,marchingby where we
deny were eating,with a great
read her book, every word of deal it. I was born in
of noise. My employer,
hearingit,ran out, and rescued the boy.
East Tennessee,near Knoxville,and,we thought, The mob again
in an enlightened part of broke in and took the the boy,and
Union,much favored marched him, as before stated,out of town.
in our social,political and religious privileges, My employer
"c. "c. Well, then begged I think about the them not to disgrace
year 1829,or, their town in such a manner ;
perhaps,'28,a good old German Methodist but owned
to appointa
juryof twelve sober men, to decide what should be
a black man named Robin,a Methodist preacher
and the manager of farm,distillery,
not performsuch an act of crueltyas to flog the
girl for what she could not help; and for that act
of disobedience old Robin was floggedby the
good old German brother,until he could not
stand. He was carried to bed ; and, some three
weeks thereafter,
he was stillconfined to his bed from the effectsof
that flogging.
Again : in the fallof 1836 I went South,for my
health,stoppedat a villagein Mississippi, and
obtained employment in the largest house
county, as a book-keeper, with a
when my father left the state,
done. And twelve as sober men as could be found
"c, sales- (Iwas not sober)said he must be hanged. They
"
" ! then tied a rope round his neck,and set him on
odist had a son named "Willey, a schoolmate of
an old horse. He made a speech to the mob,
mine,and,as times were, a first-ratefellow. The which I,at the time,thoughtif it had come from
old man also owned a keen,bright-eyed mulatto
girl; and some senator, would have been received with
the Willey" naughtyboy ! became rounds of applause; and, withal,he was more
enamored of the poor girl. The result was soon calm than I am now, in writingthis. And, after
discovered ; and our good German Methodist told he had
his brother Robin to flog the girlfor her wickedness.
told all about the deed,and its cause, he
then kicked the horse out from under him, and
Brother Robin said he could not and would
was launched into eternityṀy employerhas
often remarked that he never saw anything more
noble,in his whole lifețhan the conduct of that
boy.
Now, Mr. Editor,I have givenyou facts,and
in the
firm from Louisville,
Ky. A man residing near the "
village a
bachelor,thirtyears of "
age embarrassed,
faithful,trusty and honest ; so much so,
that he was held up as an example. He had a wife
that he loved. His owner cast his eyes upon her,
and she became his paramour. His boy remonstrated
with his master ; told him that he tried
faithfully to performhis every duty; that he was
a good and faithful " nigger " to him ; and it was
hard,after he had toiled hard all day,and tillten
o'clock at night,for him to have his domestic
relations broken up and interfered with. The
white man denied the charge,and the wife also
can giveyou
you think is best for the cause of humanity. I
hope I have seen the evil of my former practices,
and will endeavor to reform.
Veryrespectfully,
James L. Hill.
Springfield, III.,Sept.17th,1852.
names and dates. You can do what
below,appearedin the National Era,
and executed a
pub-
mortgage to my employer
at
on a fine,likelyboy,weighingabout Washington.This is an antislaveryjournal,
but by its generous
two hundred
quick-witted,
pounds,"
active,obedient,and remarkably
tone
"The Opinionof a Southerner." given
lished
and eminent ability it commands the respect
and patronage of many readersin the
slavestates :
The
following communication comes enclosed in
an envelopefrom Louisiana. "
Era.
THE OPINION OF A SOUTHERNER.
To the Editor of the National Era :
I have justbeen reading,
the New York Observer
an article from
of the 12th of August,