UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

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G2 KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN.
the Southern Free Press,headed by an editorialone moral conflict to wage ; and it is for her to put
from the Observer, that has for its caption,
" Progress
on the most invulnerable moral panoply." He then
in the Right Quarter."
thinks the availability of slave property would
The editor of the New York Observer says that not be injuredby passing a law to prohibit the
the Southern Free Press has been an able and separation of slave families ; for he says, " Although
earnest defender of Southern institutions ; but
cases sometimes occur which we observe
that he now advocates the passage of a law to are seized by these Northern fanatics as characteristic
prohibit the separation of families, and recommends
of the system," "c. Nonsense! there
instructionto a portionof slaves that are are no "cases sometimes" occurring such
most honest and faithful. The Observer further thing ! They are every day'soccurrences, though
adds: "It was such languageas this that was there are families that form the exception,and
becoming common, before Northern fanaticism many, I would hope țhat would not do it. While
ruined the prospects of emancipation." It isnot I am writing I can call before me three men that
so ! Northern fanaticism, as he callsit,has done were brought here bynegro traders from Virginia,
everything that has been done for bettering the each having left six or seven children, with their
condition of the slave. Everyone who knows wives,from whom theyhave never heard. One
anythingof slavery for the last thirtyyears will other died here,a short time since,who left the
recollectthat about that time sincețhe condition same number in Carolina,from whom he had
of the slave in Louisiana " about Louisiana never heard.
onlydo I speak, because about Louisiana only do I spentthe summer of 1845 in Nashville. During
"
know as depressed and miserable as any the month of September, six hundred slaves
of the accounts of the abolitioniststhat ever I passedthrough that place, in four different gangs,
have seen have made it. I say abolitionists ; I for New Orleans
"
destination, probably,
mean friends and advocates of freedom,in a fair Texas. A goodlyproportion were women ; young
and honorable way. If any doubt my
assertion,
women, of course ; many mothers must have left
let them seek for information. Let them get
not only their children,but their babies. One
the black laws of Louisiana,and read them. Let gang onlyhad a few children. I made some
them get facts from individuals of veracity, on excursions to the differentwateringplacesaround
whose statements they would rely.
Nashville ; and while at Robinson,or Tyree
This wretched condition of slaves roused the Springs,twenty miles from Nashville,on the
friendsof humanity,who, like men, and Christian borders of Kentucky and Tennessee, my hostess
men, came fearlessly forward,and told truths,indignantly
said to me, one day, " Yonder comes a
gang
expressingtheir abhorrence of their of slaves,chained." I went to the road-side,
oppressors. Such measures, of course, broughtand viewed them. For the better answering my
forth strife, which caused the cries of humanitypurpose of observation, I stoppedthe white man
to sound loud-er and louder throughoutthe land. in front,who was at his ease in a one-horse wagon,
The friends of freedom gained the ascendency in and asked him if those slaves were for sale. I
the hearts of the people, and the slave-holders counted them and observed their position.They
were brough to a stand. Some, throughfear of were divided by three one-horse wagons, each
consequences, lessened their cruelties, while others containing a man- arranged merchant,so as to
were made to think țhat,perhaps, were not unwilling
command the whole gang. Some were unchained ;
to do so when it was urgedupon them. sixty were chained, in two companiesțhirty in
Cruelties were not onlyrefrained from,but the each țhe righthand of one to the left hand of the
slave's comforts were increased. A retrogradeother
opposite one, makingfifteeneach side of a
treatment now was not practicable.Fears of rebellion
largeox-chain țo which
every
hand was fastened,
kept them to it. The slave had found and necessarily compelled to hold up,
and
friends,and they were watchful. It was, however,
women promiscuously, and about in equal proportions,
soon discovered that too
many privileges,
young people. No children here,
too much leniency, and givingknowledge, would except a few in a
wagon behind,which were the
destroy the power to keep down the slave,and only children in the four gangs.
I said to a
tend to weaken, if not destroy, the system. Accordingly,
respectable mulatto woman in the house, "Is
stringent laws had to be passed,and a it true that the negro traders take mothers
penalty attached to them. No one must from teach,or their babies?" "Missis,it is true; for
cause to be taught, a slave,without incurring the here,last week, such a girl[namingher],who
penalty. The law is now in force. These necessary
livesabout a mile off,was taken after dinner,
laws, as they are called,are all put down to knew nothing of itin the morning,
into
"
the account of the friends of freedom their the gang, and her baby was givenaway to a
interference. I do suppose that theydo justlyneighbor Ṣhe was a stout young woman, and
belongto their interference ; for who that studies brought a goodprice."
the history of the world's transactionsdoes not The annexation of Texas induced the spirited
know that in all contests with power
the weak, traffic that summer. Coming down home in a
until successful, will be dealt with more rigorously
small boat,water low,a negro trader on board
? Lose not sight,however,of their former had forty-five men and women crammed into a little
condition. Law. after law has since been passedspot, some handcuffed. One respectable-looking
to draw the cord tighter around the poor slave, man had left a wife and seven children in Nashville.
and all attributed to the abolitionists. Well, Near Memphis the beat stopped at a plantation
anyhow,progress is being made. Here comes by previousarrangement țo take in thirty more.
out the Southern Press,and makes some honorable An hour's delay was the stipulated time with the
concessions. He says : " The assaults upon slavery,
captainof the boat. Thirty young
men and
made for the last twentyyears by the North, women came down the bank of the Mississippi,
have increased the evils of it."The treatment of lookingwretchedness personified from the
slaves has undoubtedlybecome a delicate and field ; in appearance dirty, disconsolate and op
difficultquestion. The South has a great and some with an old shawl under theirarm