SLAVERY IN MARYLAND.*

[QUARTERLY CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR, 1836.]

THE author of this book was formerly, for several years, Professor of Languages in the University of North Carolina. Of course he has some qualifications for writing on slavery, which do not belong to every man who undertakes to treat on that subject. This book, however, contains the results, not so much of his former acquaintance with slavery, as of 'a tour performed by him last summer, with a view to inquiries, in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. It seems to have been written with unusual candor. The author does not appear to have commenced his inquiries with a predetermination as to the conclusions at which he should arrive. We do not remember to have read anything of the kind which seemed so entirely worthy of unqualified confidence.

The observations and inquiries which Mr. Andrews had the opportunity of making, in a tour of three weeks, were necessarily limited; and any deductions from them are, of course, liable to be modi

* SLAVERY AND THE DOMESTIC SLAVE TRADE IN THE UNITED STATES. In a series of letters addressed to the Executive Committee of the American Union for the relief and improvement of the colored race. By Prof. E. A. ANDREWS. Boston, 1836.

fied by the results of more extended investigation. Yet there are some things in slavery, and in the condition of the colored population, which appear to a discerning observer at the first sight; and from which conclusions may be drawn which no subsequent investigation can set aside.

What is southern slavery in theory? This question can be answered, without going to the south at all. It can be accurately or fairly answered, only out of the statute-books of the States in which slavery exists. What is southern slavery in actual operation ?-is quite another question. Putting our knowledge of the theory of slavery side by side with our knowledge of human nature, we may infer what this system will be in its actual operation. But this is only inference; and though no man who knows anything of human nature, can fail to acquire in this way some correct knowledge of the working of the system-every rational inquirer must feel that there may be in the state of society, in the vital energy of the Christianity diffused, more or less extensively, through the community, in the power of public opinion uttered from all parts of the world; nay, even in the working of enlightened selfishness -counteracting and modifying influences not easily estimated. He must feel, too, that there may be, in the burning sun and enervating air of an almost Oriental climate, and in the excitement of commercial speculation, influences that even aggravate the natural operation of a system which, in theory, shocks all his sensibilities. The rational inquirer, then, cannot but presume, that the actual working of the system of slavery can only be completely and truly

known by actual observation, or by the testimony of candid and faithful observers.

But what is the testimony of observers in respect to the operation of the system of slavery? One man, having traveled over the south, comes home with an account of the comforts of the slave, his contentment, the lightness of his tasks, his secure provision against the time of sickness or old age, his thoughtless merriment, and the contrast between his condition and that of the lazy, improvident, drunken, ungoverned and unprotected free black; and this is his picture of slavery. This, we need not say, is the very picture uniformly drawn by slaveholders. Another man will go over the same ground, and will see nothing but horrors, or at least will report nothing but horrors. The slave bleeding under the scourge, or fainting and dying under his burdens; the master indulging all the vices of the pirate; children torn from parents, and husbands from wives; these are the figures which fill up his representation. What shall we believe? Shall we receive all that is said by the one, and reject all that is said by the other? Certainly neither of these witnesses reports the whole truth; though probably each of them reports the whole impression produced on his mind by what he has seen. The observer who represents both sides of the subject, is the one whose story has in itself the strongest indications of complete trust-worthiThere are slaves whose lot is simple wretchedness, without mixture, without alleviation, without hope. On the other hand, there are slaves well fed, well clothed, carefully protected and provided for, kindly and judiciously governed, whose yoke of

ness.

bondage is so light that it is hardly felt to be a yoke. To describe the lot of either of these classes ever so vividly, is not to give a full or fair account of slavery as it is in actual operation. The truth lies between these conflicting statements; or rather, the truth includes them both, and includes a great deal more. He whose interests or prejudices prevent hin from seeing in slavery anything much to be regretted, and he whose feelings or predeterminations prevent him from reporting any alleviating circumstances, may both be valuable witnesses; for each may report facts of great importance, which the other entirely omits. Such a reporter, however, as the author of this book, is better than both of them. While he represents without fear or favor, and with natural sentiments of indignation, the atrocities which slavery produces, and which are the natural operation of the system, he has no passions and no perverted habits of mind, which prevent him from seeing or admitting into his statement the facts on which the slaveholder relies for the defence of the system. The following statement is one which seems to us important to a right apprehension of the subject:

Among others into whose society I was accidentally thrown, were two families from the extreme south, who were returning slowly homeward from their summer's tour to the northern States, and stopping so long in the principal cities through which they passed, and at the various watering-places which they visited, as to reach Louisiana after the first frosts of autumn should have rendered their return safe. The gentlemen might have been twenty-five or thirty years old; the ladies were a few years younger. The latter had each the charge of an interesting child two or three years old, the special care of which was committed

to two colored nurses, who were their only attendants. It was not easy to determine which of the group were happiest; the sedate, intelligent, and dignified fathers, the accomplished mothers, the playful children, or their young, well-fed, and well-dressed

nurses.

The situation in which domestic slaves are often placed, in prosperous moral and intelligent families, is one of far more unmingled happiness than is usually imagined by those who have never witnessed it. The mistake into which many fall, upon this subject, arises principally from their failing to estimate properly the amount of happiness occasioned by the mutual affection between the white and the colored members of the same family. This attachment is of course a more available source of happiness in virtuous families, than in those of an opposite character; but, like parental and filial affection, it is rarely entirely wanting, even in the most hardened and profligate. This relation is in reality more like that of parent and child, than like any other with which it can be compared, and is altogether stronger than that which binds together the northern employer and his hired domestic. The slave looks to his master and mistress for direction in everything, and insensibly acquires for them a respect mingled with affection, of which those never dream who think of slavery only as a system of whips and fetters-of unfeeling tyranny, on the one part, and of fear mingled with hatred, on the other. The latter is the usual picture of slavery which is presented to the people of the north, and it is no wonder that southern masters, who know how wide from truth this representation is, are not particularly ready to listen to the counsel of those, whom they perceive to be so ill-informed upon the subject. Wanton cruelty may be too often practiced by masters, as it is by many parents; but this, which is but an occasional incident of slavery, should not be exhibited as the prominent evil. This may be removed by the influence of humane feelings, and especially by Christian principle; but countless evils will still remain, inherent and inseparable from the system.'-pp. 33-35.

Another aspect of slavery is exhibited in the following passage. It is in vain to tell a human being,