REFLECTIONS ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY.
While at Charleston, we were deeply impressed with the profound
interest the slaves were taking in passing events. That down-trodden
race, who had for years suffered every injustice at the hands of their
white oppressors, were now the first to assist the Federal commanders.
Through darkness and storm, they carried information, and acted as
scouts and guides on occasions when it would try the heart and nerve of
their white companions.
From my own observation, I am confident that the slaves of the South,
were just as well informed with regard to their relation to their
masters, as we were. They were, from the very first, impressed with the
idea that this rebellion was to work some great change in their
condition. They were watching, with great interest, every movement of
troops, and were continually asking questions, as to the disposition to
be made of them; thus evincing an interest in military affairs, of
which their masters little dreamed. It is well enough to talk of the
deep devotion of slaves to their masters; but the latter have found ere
this, I trust, that this devotion on which they have relied, has not
prevented them from cutting their throats, when it was in the line of
their duty, and by means of which they could gain their freedom. An
instance of this great devotion on the part of a slave for his master,
was related to me while at Charleston.
A Mr. R---- owned a colored servant by the name of John; he enjoyed the
unlimited confidence of his master, who was in the habit of trusting
him as he would one of his children. This confidence was reciprocated
by a like devotion on the part of the slave for his master. One day a
neighbor told Mr. R---- that his John was about to run away, as he had
repeated conversations with his servants on the subject. Mr. R---- flew
into a passion, feeling very much grieved that his neighbor should
think, for a moment, that his John, whom he had raised from infancy,
should prove so ungrateful as to leave him. The only attention he paid
to this timely warning was, to put still greater trust in his servant.
One day, shortly after this, John was missing; not only this, he had
been so ungrateful as to take his wife and three children. The last
heard from faithful John was, that he was safe in Ohio. Now Mr. R----
is a very good man and a Christian, and treat his servants very kindly;
but that God-given principle, a desire for personal liberty, actuated
him in connection with other men of fairer complexion. John,
undoubtedly, left his old home and master with regret, but home and
friendship, when compared with freedom, were nothing.
I was once told by a colored man, in whom the utmost confidence could
be placed, that there has been for years an association among the
negroes, which extends throughout the South, the purpose of which was
one day to liberate themselves from slavery. He said that hundreds of
slaves who, apparently, were as innocent as ignorant, were tolerably
well educated, and were secretly bending every energy to bring about an
insurrection, which should end in their being released from bondage.
When asked if the field-hands were members of this association, he said
they were; and although possessing less information than those living
in the cities and villages, yet they were aware of what was going on;
and after their work was done at night, they often met in their cabins,
and talked over the prospect before them. He also said, that in the
larger cities of the South this association had regular meetings and
officers; that they awaited only the proper time, when a tragedy would
be enacted all over the South, that would astonish the world.
When we reflect that revolts have been common in the South, and that
they have been attended by partial success, it does not require a great
stretch of the imagination to believe that this association did really
exist. The fact of the intense feeling of hatred cherished by the
people of the South against Northern fanatics, as they were termed, who
came amongst them, is strong evidence in favor of the existence of some
organized course of policy among the negroes. The outward appearance of
the slave is usually gentle in the extreme, although his inward
feelings may be agitated to such a degree, that in a white man they
would burst forth in the wildest passion. Therefore, this hatred of the
South to the opponents of slavery must be traced to a fear of some
secret organization, the object of which lay deeply buried in the
reticent minds of the slaves. The Southern mind was more deeply
agitated, from the fact of the want of this outward emotion on the part
of their slaves; for had this strong desire for liberty, which was
awakened in them, burst out in wild enthusiasm, it would have been
readily checked by the severe punishment of individuals; but it was
this secret working of this deep-laid desire for freedom that troubled
them. The most guilty were, to all outward appearance, the most
innocent.
While the Federal army occupied the country, the slaves were much less
guarded in what they said. One of these slaves, an old man, was passing
a tent one day, when a soldier said to him that he belonged to Jeff.
Davis. With a knowing look, he replied: "I did; but now, massa, I
belong to Uncle Sam." A colored woman, who had been a slave for years
(as she is very old), came into our room one day, and taking up a
paper, asked if we wanted it. Some one said to her, as she was about
leaving the room, that she had better not be seen with that paper, as
it was not the sort her mistress admired. Said she, "I know what missus
likes; I can take care of it;" and slipping it under her apron she left
the room. That slave could read and write, and yet her master knew
nothing of it. So it is with many others. It may be asked how they
acquire this knowledge. They gain it in a great many ways. Many of them
learn of their masters' children, with whom house-servants spend a
great deal of time. Having acquired a slight knowledge, it stimulates
them to greater exertion. They obtain scraps of newspapers and parts of
books, and thus gain a great deal of information entirely unobserved.
The slave knows how to keep secrets; consequently, any scheme that is
on foot is seldom discovered. Few persons, at the commencement of the
rebellion, had the least conception of the vast resources and power of
the slave population of the South. And it was not until they had fed
and clothed the Southern armies for two years, and by this means kept
them in the field, that it was acknowledged. Had it not been for its
slaves, the South, long ere this, would have been compelled to yield
obedience to the Government. The rebels appreciated and used this
element of strength from the beginning. The Federal Government, through
the influence of weak-minded politicians, rejected it; thus throwing an
element of its own strength into the hands of its enemies.
Notwithstanding this harsh treatment, the slaves proved true to the
Government; and finally, through the medium of this faithfulness, their
vast services were acknowledged, and they have not only been taken into
the private service of the country, but they have been admitted into
the army, to swell its numbers, until the strength of their mighty
arms, and the nerve of their fearless hearts, are felt by the enemies
of the country on every battle-field. What a glorious thought!
thousands of the oppressed fighting for the redemption from slavery of
a race which has ever worn the chain. When it is remembered that by
this strife questions are to be settled which have ever disturbed the
harmony of this country, and not that only, but questions which, when
settled, will release millions of our fellow-men and women from the
power of the oppressor, ought we not to be thankful that we are
permitted to make great sacrifices in so good a cause?