American Scenes, and Christian Slavery eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 296 pages of information about American Scenes, and Christian Slavery.

American Scenes, and Christian Slavery eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 296 pages of information about American Scenes, and Christian Slavery.

These views may appear severe and uncharitable towards the American people, but they are confirmed by M. de Tocqueville.  “When a Northern State declared that the son of the slave should be born free,” observes that impartial writer, “the slave lost a large portion of his market value, since his posterity was no longer included in the bargain, and the owner had then a strong interest in transporting him to the South.  Thus the same law prevents the slaves of the South from coming to the Northern States, and drives those of the North to the South.  The want of free hands is felt in a State in proportion as the number of slaves decreases.  But, in proportion as labour is performed by free hands, slave labour becomes less productive; and the slave is then a useless or an onerous possession, whom it is important to export to those Southern States where the same competition is not to be feared. Thus the abolition of slavery does not set the slave free:  it merely transfers him from one master to another, and from the North to the South.”  M. de Tocqueville adds, in a note, “The States in which slavery is abolished usually do what they can to render their territory disagreeable to the negroes as a place of residence; and as a kind of emulation exists between the different States in this respect, the unhappy blacks can only choose the least of the evils which beset them.”  This is perfectly true.

Crossing the Schuilkyl, we arrived about 3 o’clock P. M. in Philadelphia, “the city of brotherly love,” having performed the journey of 97 miles in six hours, a rate of only 16 miles an hour!

In Philadelphia were many men and things that I wished to see.  First and foremost, in my professional curiosity, was Albert Barnes; but being anxious to push on to New York that night, I had but an hour and a half to stay.  Of a sight of the famous author of the “Notes,” I was therefore compelled to deny myself.  My regret was diminished, when I learned from an English minister of high standing, who, under the influence of the best feelings, and with an excellent introduction, had called upon the Commentator, that he received him with a degree of indifference bordering on rudeness.

In Philadelphia there is no Congregational Church.  A few years ago John Todd, the well-known author of “The Student’s Guide,” attempted to raise one.  He was but little countenanced, however, by Albert Barnes and the Presbyterians, and failed.

In passing through this city, I had a distant glimpse of a most remarkable institution.  M. Girard, an old bachelor, a native of France, who had accumulated immense wealth, died a few years ago, leaving by will the enormous sum of two millions of dollars, or upwards of four hundred thousand pounds sterling, to erect and endow a college for the accommodation and education of three hundred orphan boys.  The ground on which it was to be built, consisting of no less than 45 acres, he ordered to be enclosed with a high solid wall,

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American Scenes, and Christian Slavery from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.