"I tell you what, Abel," said Arthur Weston, "the more I think about you
Northern people, the harder it is for me to come to a conclusion as to what
you are made of."
"Can't you experiment upon us, Arthur; test us chemically?"
"Don't believe you could be tested," said Arthur, "you are such a slippery
set. Now here is a book I have been looking over, called Annals of Salem,
by Joseph B. Felt, published in 1827. On the 109th page it says: 'Captain
Pierce, of the ship Desire, belonging to this port, was commissioned to
transport fifteen boys and one hundred women, of the captive Pequods, to
Bermuda, and sell them as slaves. He was obliged, however, to make for
Providence Island. There he disposed of the Indians. He returned from
Tortugas the 26th of February following, with a cargo of cotton, tobacco,
salt, and negroes.' In the edition of 1849, this interesting fact is
omitted. Now, was not that trading in human bodies and souls in earnest?
First they got all they could for those poor captive Pequods, and they
traded the amount again for negroes, and some _et ceteras_. You are the
very people to make a fuss about your neighbours, having been so
excessively righteous yourselves. No wonder that the author left it out in
a succeeding edition. I am surprised he ever put it in at all."
"It seems more like peddling with the poor devils than any thing else,"
said Abel. "But you must remember the _spirit of the age_, Arthur, as Mr.
Hubbard calls it?"
"Yes," said Arthur, "I forgot that; but I wonder if Mr. Hubbard excuses the
conduct of England to her colonies in consideration of the spirit of the
age--_that_ allowed taxation and all of her other forms of oppression, I
suppose. It is a kind of charity that covers a multitude of sins. But I was
saying," continued Arthur, "that I could not make you out. While they were
carrying on two kinds of slave trade, they were discussing in Boston the
propriety of women's wearing veils, having lectures about it. Let me read
to you. 'Mr. Cotton, though while in England of an opposite opinion on this
subject, maintained that in countries where veils were to be a sign of
submission, they might be properly disused. But Mr. Endicott took different
ground, and endeavored to retain it by general argument from St. Paul. Mr.
Williams sided with his parishioner. Through his and others' influence,
veils were worn abundantly. At the time they were the most fashionable, Mr.
Cotton came to preach for Mr. Skelton. His subject was upon wearing veils.
He endeavored to prove that this was a custom not to be tolerated. The
consequence was, that the ladies became converts to his faith in this
particular, and for a long time left off an article of dress, which
indicated too great a degree of submission to the lords of creation.' Did
you ever hear of such a set of old meddlers, lecturing and preaching about
women's dressing. I suppose the men wore petticoats at that time
themselves."
"If they did," said Abel, "I am very glad they have turned them over to
the other sex since, as they are worn in the number which the present
fashion requires. I should think they would be very uncomfortable. But,
Arthur, I heard such a good story the other day, about Lawyer Page. He
fights bravely with his tongue for other people's rights, but he daren't
say his soul's his own before his wife. Well, when that affair came out
about Morton's whipping his wife, as he was going to the Courthouse, Page
said to old Captain Caldwell, 'Do you know, captain, that before all the
facts were out in this case about Morton, they actually had it in every
direction that it was I who had whipped my wife.' 'Now Page,' said the old
captain, 'you know that's no such thing; for every body in New Haven is
well aware that when there was any flogging going on in the matrimonial
line, in your house, it was you that came off the worst.' Page did not say
a word."
"I am glad I am not yoked with one of your New Haven belles, if turning a
Jerry Sneak is to be the consequence," said Arthur.
"This marrying is a terrible necessity, Arthur," said Abel. "I don't know
how I'll be supported under it when my time comes; but after all, I think
the women get the worst of it. There were not two prettier girls in New
Haven than my sisters. Julia, who has been married some eight or nine
years, was really beautiful, and so animated and cheerful; now she has that
wife-like look of care, forever on her countenance. Her husband is always
reproaching her that that little dare devil of a son of hers does not keep
his clothes clean. The other evening I was at their house, and they were
having a little matrimonial discussion about it. It seems little Charlie
had been picked up out of the mud in the afternoon, and brought in in such
a condition, that it was sometime before he could be identified. After
being immersed in a bathing tub it was ascertained that he had not a clean
suit of clothes; so the young gentleman was confined to his chamber for
the rest of the evening, in a night gown. This my brother-in-law considered
a great hardship, and they were talking the matter over when I went in.
"'Why don't you make the boy clothes enough, Julia?' said he.
"'I am forever making and forever mending,' said Julia; 'but it is
impossible to keep that young one clean. He had twelve pairs of pantaloons
in the wash last week, and the girl was sick, and I had to iron them
myself. I guess if you had all the trouble I have with him, you would put
him to bed and make him stay there a week.'
"'I tell you what it is, good people,' said I, 'when I go courting I intend
to ask the lady in the first place if she likes to make boys' clothes. If
she says No, I shan't have her, no matter what other recommendations she
may possess.'
"'She'll be sure to give you the mitten for your impudence,' said Julia.
Then, there is my pretty sister Harriet, quilting quilts, trimming
nightcaps, and spoiling her bright eyes making her wedding-clothes; after a
while she'll be undergoing some of the troubles of the married state, which
will lengthen her face. The men get the best of it, decidedly; for they
have not all the petty annoyances a woman must encounter. What do you think
about it, Arthur?"
"I hardly know," said Arthur. "I have been in love ever since I could tell
my right hand from my left. I have hardly ever looked forward to marriage;
my time has been so much occupied here, that when I get a few moments for
reflection, my thoughts go back to Alice, and the happy years I have passed
with her, rather than to anticipations of any kind. I suppose I shall find
out, though, and then you may profit by my experience."
"You will have a sad experience with those niggers of yours, I am afraid,
Arthur," said Abel. "Our people are determined never to let them alone. I
wonder you do not employ white hands upon the plantation, and have done
with any trouble about the matter."
"What would be done with the slaves in the mean time?" said Arthur.
"Set 'em free," said Abel; "colonize, or hang 'em all."
"The latter is the more practicable suggestion," said Arthur. "As to
setting them free, they could not remain in Virginia afterward if I were
willing to do so: there is a law against it. Colonizing them would be
equally difficult, for the most of them would refuse to go to Africa; and
if I have not the right to hold them slaves, I certainly have not a right
to force them into another country. Some of them would be willing and glad
to come to the North, but some would object. My father set a house-servant
free; he was absent a year, and returned voluntarily to his old condition.
Mark had got some Abolition notions in his head, and my father told him he
might have his free papers, and go: I have told you the result. The fact
is, Abel, you Yankees don't stand very well with our slaves. They seem to
consider you a race of pedlars, who come down upon them in small bodies for
their sins, to wheedle away all their little hoardings. My father has
several times brought servants to New York, but they have never run away
from him. I think Virginia would do well without her colored people,
because her climate is moderate, and white labor could be substituted. But
it is not so with the more Southern States. I would like to see a Louisiana
sun shining upon your New England States for a while--how quickly you would
fit out an expedition for Africa. It is the mere accident of climate that
makes your States free ones."
"I suppose so," said Abel. "A great many of your slaves run away through
the year, don't they?"
"No, indeed," said Arthur; "comparatively, very few. Just before I came to
New Haven, I went to pass a few weeks at a plantation belonging to a
family with whom we were intimate. One of the sons and I went on the river,
two of the servants rowing us. I said to one of them, a large fat negro,
'What's your name, uncle?' 'Meschach, sir,' he said. 'Meschach,' said I;
'why, you ought to have two brothers, one named Shadrach and the other
Abednego.' 'So I had, sir.' 'Well, what has become of them?' said I.
'Shadrach, he's dead,' he answered. 'And where is Abednego?' said I. 'He's
gone, too,' he replied, in a low voice. My friend gave me a look, and told
me afterwards that Abednego had ran away, and that his family considered it
a disgrace, and never spoke of him. I hear of a negro boy who absconded,
and when he was found and being brought home, an old washerwoman watched
him as he went up the street. 'La,' said she, 'who'd a thought he'd a
beginned to act bad so young,' But let us leave off Abolition and take a
walk. Our cigars are out and we will resume the subject to-morrow
afternoon, when we light some more."
* * * * *
"Now," said Abel, "having a couple of particularly good cigars, where did
we leave off?"
"Its too warm for argument," said Arthur, watching the curling of the gray
smoke as it ascended.
"We need not argue," said Abel; "I want to catechize you."
"Begin."
"Do you think that the African slave-trade can be defended?"
"No, assuredly not."
"Well," said Abel, "how can you defend your right to hold slaves as
property in the United States?"
"Abel," said Arthur, "when a Yankee begins to question there is no reason
to suppose he ever intends to stop. I shall answer your queries from the
views of Governor Hammond, of Carolina. They are at least worthy of
consideration. What right have you New England people to the farms you are
now holding?"
"The right of owning them," said Abel.
"From whom did you get them?" asked Arthur.
"Our fathers."
"And how did they get them?"
"From the Red men, their original owners."
"Well," said Arthur, "we all know how these transactions were conducted all
over the country. We wanted the lands of the Red men, and we took them.
Sometimes they were purchased, sometimes they were wrested; always, the Red
men were treated with injustice. They were driven off, slaughtered, and
taken as slaves. Now, God as clearly gave these lands to the Red men as he
gave life and freedom to the African. Both have been unjustly taken away."
"But," said Abel, "we hold property in land, you in the bodies and souls of
men."
"Granted," said Arthur; "but we have as good a right to our _property_ as
you to yours--we each inherit it from our fathers. You must know that
slaves were recognized as _property_ under the constitution, John Q. Adams,
speaking of the protection extended to the peculiar interests of South,
makes these remarks: 'Protected by the advantage of representation on this
floor, protected by the stipulation in the constitution for the recovery of
fugitive slaves, protected by the guarantee in the constitution to owners
of this _species of property_, against domestic violence.' It was
considered in England as any other kind of commerce; so that you cannot
deny our right to consider them as property now, as well as then."
"But can you advocate the enslaving of your fellow man?" said Abel.
"No," said Arthur, "if you put the question in that manner; but if you come
to the point, and ask me if I can conscientiously hold in bondage slaves in
the South, I say yes, without the slightest hesitation. I'll tell you why.
You must agree with me, if the Bible allow slavery there is no sin it. Now,
the Bible does allow it. You must read those letters of Governor Hammond to
Clarkson, the English Abolitionist. The tenth commandment, your mother
taught you, no doubt: 'thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife nor his _man-servant_ nor his
_maid-servant_, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy
neighbor's.' These are the words of God, and as such, should be obeyed
strictly. In the most solemn manner, the man-servant and the maid-servant
are considered the _property_ of thy neighbor. Generally the word is
rendered slave. This command includes all classes of servants; there is the
Hebrew-brother who shall go out in the seventh year, and the hired-servant
and those 'purchased from the heathen round about,' who were to be bondmen
forever. In Leviticus, speaking of the 'bondmen of the heathen which shall
be round about' God says, 'And ye shall take them for an inheritance, for
your children after you, to inherit them for a possession they shall be
your bondmen forever.' I consider that God permitted slavery when he made
laws for the master and the slave, therefore I am justified in holding
slaves. In the times of our Saviour, when slavery existed in its worst
form, it was regarded as one of the conditions of human society; it is
evident Abolition was not shadowed forth by Christ or his apostles. 'Do
unto all men as ye would have them do unto you,' is a general command,
inducing charity and kindness among all classes of men; and does not
authorize interference with the established customs of society. If,
according to this precept of Christ, I am obliged to manumit my slaves, you
are equally forced to purchase them. If I were a slave, I would have my
master free me; if you were a slave, and your owner would not give you
freedom, you would have some rich man to buy you. From the early ages of
the world, there existed the poor and the rich, the master and the slave.
"It would be far better for the Southern slaves, if our institution, as
regards them, were left to 'gradual mitigation and decay, which time _may_
bring about. The course of the Abolitionists, while it does nothing to
destroy this institution, greatly adds to its hardships.' Tell me that
'man-stealing' is a sin, and I will agree with you, and will insist that
the Abolitionists are guilty of it. In my opinion, those who consider
slavery a sin, challenge the truth of the Bible.
"Besides, Abel," continued Arthur, "what right have you to interfere? Your
Northern States abolished slavery when it was their interest to do so: let
us do the same. In the meantime, consider the condition of these dirty
vagabonds, these free blacks, who are begging from me every time I go into
the street. I met one the other day, who had a most lamentable state of
things to report. He had rheumatism, and a cough, and he spit blood, and he
had no tobacco, and he was hungry, and he had the toothache. I gave him
twenty-five cents as a sort of panacea, and advised him to travel South and
get a good master. He took the money, but not the advice."
"But, Arthur, the danger of insurrection; I should think it would interfere
greatly with your comfort."
"We do not fear it," said Arthur. "Mobs of any kind are rare in the
Southern country. We are not (in spite of the bad qualities ascribed to us
by the Abolitionists) a fussy people. Sometimes, when an Abolitionist comes
along, we have a little fun with him, the negroes enjoying it exceedingly.
Slaveholders, as a general thing, desire to live a peaceful, quiet life;
yet they are not willing to have their rights wrested from them."
"One great disadvantage in a slaveholding community is, that you are apt to
be surrounded by uneducated people," said Abel.
"We do not educate our slaves," said Arthur; "but you do not presume to say
that we do not cultivate our minds as assiduously as you do yours. Our
statesmen are not inferior to yours in natural ability, nor in the
improvement of it. We have far more time to improve ourselves than you, as
a general thing. When you have an opportunity of judging, you will not
hesitate to say, that our women can bear to be compared with yours in every
respect, in their intellect, and refinement of manners and conversation.
Our slaves are not left ignorant, like brutes, as has been charged upon us.
Where a master feels a religious responsibility, he must and does cause to
be given, all necessary knowledge to those who are dependent upon him. I
must say, that though we have fewer sects at the South, we have more
genuine religion. You will think I am prejudiced. Joining the church here
is, in a great measure, a form. I have formed this opinion from my own
observation. With us there must be a proper disregard of the customs of the
world; a profession of religion implying a good deal more than a mere
profession. Look at the thousand new and absurd opinions that have agitated
New England, while they never have been advanced with us. There is
Unitarianism, that faith that would undermine the perfect structure of the
Christian religion; that says Christ is a man, when the Scriptures style
him 'Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.' Why, it is hardly tolerated at the South. Have you any
right to claim for yourself superior holiness? None whatever.
"There never was any thing so perfectly false (I cannot help referring to
it again,) as that religion is discouraged among our slaves. It is
precisely the contrary. Most of them have the same opportunities of
attending worship as their owners. They generally prefer the Methodist and
Baptist denominations; they worship with the whites, or they have exclusive
occasions for themselves, which they prefer. They meet on the plantations
for prayer, for singing, or for any religious purpose, when they choose;
the ladies on the plantations instruct them in the Bible, and how to read
it. Many of them are taught to write.
"Religion seems to be a necessary qualification of the female mind--I think
this, because I have been so fortunate in those of our own family. My
mother died soon after my birth; her friends often dwell on the early piety
so beautifully developed in her character. We have a relative, an old maid,
who lives with us; she forgets her own existence, laboring always for the
good of others. My aunt is a noble Christian woman, and Alice has not
breathed such an atmosphere in vain. We have a servant woman named Phillis,
her price is far above rubies. Her industry, her honesty, her attachment to
our family, exceeds every thing. I wish Abolitionists would imitate one of
her virtues--humility. I know of no poetry more beautiful than the hymns
she sang to me in my infancy; her whole life has been a recommendation of
the religion of the Bible. I wish my chance of Heaven were half as good as
hers. She is a slave here, but she is destined to be a saint hereafter."