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A Week In Richmond

A Week In Richmond image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
April
Year
1845
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Anxiouslbat the foUowing soul-harrowing statements ehall not escupe Ihe'eye ofasingle reader of the Visiter, wc hnve caused them lo be lended, and put in the most prominent place possibie. To the editor of the Visiter, - Having just returned frorn Richraond, Va, I have Ihought it might not be amiss for me to make,through your paper, a slalement of my impressions while in the Oíd Doir.inion. I went there as anorthern mnn, and of course with northern p-pjtidice?, yet not as a fanatical abolilionist. I determined to diyest myself, as far as possibie, of local prejudices, and becorne an impartial observer. In examining the sysiem of slavery &s it exits in Richtnond.l found cnuch to approve; but I am sorry to bö compelied to notice sume things that I conld but disapprove and censu'e. In very many instances I observed that the 6'4ves were well treated. I observed too, that, frequently, they could read, and that in most familiís wliere ai aker had been erected for the worship of God, morning and evcning the mn-rn1.TrtÍT7gltli H.it-lln.lT-TTnt)tT-ÏO ÖTOnl it, and some limes even lead in devotions. J also attended meeting wilh the cojored people inseveral places. Evcry th'uíg seeined happy.. They were well ciad - iiideed in this last re speet they would hardly suffer when comparod with their masters. On these and many other pointa 1 was moft happily disappointed. And now, afler I have saia so much of what i approved, you must allow me to be equally (ree in staüng ihat I could not approye. Ás anorthern man, I hnd a naluralcunosity to visit the elave-prisons and sla ve markets, of which I had so often heard, in order to soe if sucb sights were there, ae human flesh sold in the shatnbles! T found the prisous Blthy and loaf hsoine places - unfit for any business transacted by any man possessed of feel ings of humanity. In these damp, dark, disDial abode?, whose very walls were cemenied by the blood uf sundered hearts, aiethes& human warès kppt! From the prisons I went lo the market; and there I saw, day after day, what niy pen could not describe- whnt modestyjorbids me to describe in a peper read by the fair sex! in a munber of cuses I eaw young females examined .and handled in n manner awfully revólting to every virtuous feeling and sensibility- and liña too, by young men! In one Dstaricp, at least, questiona were asked which wore most revólting and obscene. During these 6cones lije victim manifested as much deiicacy of feeling ae the sex s capable of manifest ing. But I forbear. It eeem to me that such t-cenes must lïavean awfully demoralizing iniiueiice ön any cily or community wlicre they are aüowed. Ainong rnonyelaveiI saw sold co whal (even were I a VirginianJ I would cünsider land sl.aiks, or cannibals, I will tüention but one. A woman nearly whitej with her fonr children, the joungest in her arms, benig brought in for eale, "one or the lot, (o'suit the pur chaser?,'' the futher and husband was p. emitled lo bea spectator; and I a?sure you hia appearance indica teri thal heAvas not an idlefipectator. Every few moinents, Á'ith his eyes suiTused with tears, he would embruce his wif'e with a kist?, aud takü hs ütlle ones in his arms and press them to his bo-om, placing a faiher's seai of ïove on their liitle cheeksl At length tí e sale commenced; and tliey were sold one after another, and separated forever - nn!e--i they be so happy as to meet in that "better land," which may God grant ! - I will not at tempt to describe the feelings of my heart as I turued fwm the scène - for it wouid be Tlie sensibilities of my soul were aroused, and my hearr, for the moment, uimost lorgot to bea;- my eycs oniy were aliv. I rempmbjrcd ihat I too had a wife - but njivshe is not, for God hnd taken her; and I too om a father - but one oftny htile ones sieeos by the side ofits mo'hcr in the detp dniDp votiK' YVhiïo slánding a wimets oí Shese sceneí, reíamiscenoes of the pnsl crowded thick upon :ny miud. I (urned from the scone, pained and disgustéd- may I not say kumblcd, for I have nl.wayï fe.lt pro'ud of my country; and especially I had lelt a kind of prido, as I entered Virginia, llc innd of Washington, and the rno'her of presideius and stalestnen- ibe hcart of vhht I havo been luught to regard as the fineet and purest land thut ever saw the sun. As I iefl the scènes ubove described, l was told by ministers of óur holy reüuion (I dm sorry to say i that the sluves hnd ikj.' natural oftection, &c. This I could not believe, f r { had too much evidence to the contrary, in the scenea I had witneseed. Now, Dr. Sondgmss, you are, I believe, a Virginian, and iherefurc know wbac 1 havesaid is true. 1 appeai to you, and ask ought such tbinps to be? ísit not ihe duly of the press and the pulpit to speak out on the aub-r jeci? Pardon me, if I have seemed severe.and remember ttiatthesevri'.y is u iiie facts described. While I mean no wrong to ony one, I desire to plead for the righf , I am vourp, fc,c,

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News