————————winds and wavesShall waft the tidings to the land of slaves,Proclaim on Guinea's coast, by Gambia's side,As far as Niger rolls his eastern tide,"Thy chains are broken, Africa, be free!"
————————winds and wavesShall waft the tidings to the land of slaves,Proclaim on Guinea's coast, by Gambia's side,As far as Niger rolls his eastern tide,"Thy chains are broken, Africa, be free!"
I will conclude my remarks upon this interesting subject, with some valuable reflections from another pen. "It avails but little to deprecate now," says the able writer whom I quote, "and even to denounce with holy zeal, the iniquity of those who first established the relations of master and slave in the then colonies of Great Britain, but now United States of America. These relations have been sanctioned by law and long usage, and interwoven with the institutions of the two countries: they cannot be cancelled at once by any law, founded on justice and equity, which should place at once either or both of the parties in a less advantageous position, than the one which they held when connected by the tie of master and slave. However opposed to slavery in the abstract, and alive to its numerous evils in practice; and with whatever zeal we may advocate emancipation, we ought ever, in this, as in all other kinds of reform, political as well as moral, to act with that wise discretion, which shouldmake the present work a means of future and permanent good. It should be steadily borne in mind, therefore, that immediate, unconditional emancipation, while it is detrimental to the master, does no immediate good to the manumitted slave. It is not the boon, so much as a beginning, a hope, and a promise of future good to the African; it is simply one of the means, a most important and paramount one, indeed, for acquiring the blessings of rational liberty; but it is not the blessing itself. It becomes, therefore, the bounden duty, on every principle of equity and religion, of those who, either of their own free will, or by menaces to the master, give emancipation to the slave, to carry out what they have begun, to realize what they have promised, to fulfil the hopes which they have raised. Failing to do this, and simply content with severing the relations between master and slave, they become, themselves, the most cruel tyrants, the most unjust men. They have hurried on, by their blind zeal, a crisis, which they are either unable, or unwilling, or know not how, to turn to the best account, for the cause of humanity, civilization, and religion.
Previous—and essential preliminaries, to any attempt at emancipation, either by direct advocacy of the measure in particular quarters, or by legislative enactments, where such are constitutional and legal—a full inquiry ought to be instituted under the following heads:—
I. The actual condition of the slaves, which will include the kind and amount of labour which theyare bound to perform, the treatment which they experience when at work, and the degree of attention paid to their physical wants and moral nature, as to lodging, clothing, food, amusements, and instruction.
II. The immediate effects of unconditional emancipation, on the coloured freeman. Under this head should be investigated his capability, under the circumstances, of providing for himself and family; and of his acting the part of a good neighbour, and a useful, productive citizen.
III. The compatibility of the whites and blacks, the former masters and slaves, and their descendants respectively, living together after emancipation in the same community, with due regard to the feelings, interests, dispositions, and wants of each class.
IV. The measures to be adopted for the interests of each, in case of such incompatibility being evident and impossible to be overcome. The first branch of inquiry results favourably to the cause of humanity, as far as the West Indies are concerned. The state of the slave population in the United States is even still more favourable in the main: and if the comparisons instituted between the slaves in the islands and the operatives in England, have resulted in favour of the superior comforts of the former, I feel very sure that, when made between the latter and the American slaves, they will exhibit these in a still more advantageous position.
All this, however, while it diminishes the fears of the philanthropist, ought not to relax his efforts fora future and gradual melioration. It simply illustrates things as they are, and does not positively show how they should be.
The facts hitherto collected under the second branch of inquiry, are not encouraging. The third head presents a very unsatisfactory aspect to the friends of emancipation, and of the negro race. The problem has not been solved; or if partially so, it goes to show, that there is an incompatibility between the two races, and that both are sufferers by their sojourn in the same land, even though both should be free nominally, and, in the eye of the law, equal. A glance at the condition of the free states of the union, as they are called, in this respect, exhibits the proofs of this condition of things. And so long as these startling anomalies exist—freedom without its enjoyments, equality without its social privileges—we really do not see how the people of the free states can pretend, with any show of propriety or justice, even had they the power by law and constitution, to meddle with the relations between master and slave, in the slave-holding states. They have the right, which all men ought to have, of discussing freely any and every important question in ethics, jurisprudence, and political economy, but not to give their conclusion a direct and offensive application to those portions of their fellow-citizens or fellow-men, to whom they have not yet furnished a clear and satisfactory example, and rule of conduct in the case specially adverted to.
Still more do the difficulties of the subject increase, if the last branch of inquiry has not beensatisfactorily carried out—if the necessity of separation of the two races, be denied; or, if admitted, the means of accomplishing it be opposed and reviled, as either impracticable or unjust. I am myself in favour of emancipation; but this is a conclusion which it seems to us ought to be carried into effect, only after a due consideration of the premises, and with a full knowledge of the remoter consequences, and ability to make these consequences correspond with the claims of justice and peace in the beginning; and the best and permanent interests of the two races, ultimately. Have those who advocate immediate and unconditional emancipation weighed well these several branches of inquiry on this momentous subject? It is to be feared, indeed, by their language and conduct, that they have not. They should beware, while they are denouncing the slave-holder, that they do not themselves incur a still more fearful responsibility, and make themselves answerable for jeoparding, if not actually dissolving, the Union, and encouraging civil, perhaps servile war, with all its horrors and atrocities."
[19]"Field hands"—"Force"—"Hands"—"People," and "Niggers," are terms applied to the purchased labourers of a plantation; but "Slaves"—never. "Boys" is the general term for the men, and "women," for females. It is common to address a negro forty years of age as "boy." If much older he is called "daddy," or "uncle;" but "mister," or "man"—never. The females, in old age, become "aunty," "granny," or "old lady."
[19]"Field hands"—"Force"—"Hands"—"People," and "Niggers," are terms applied to the purchased labourers of a plantation; but "Slaves"—never. "Boys" is the general term for the men, and "women," for females. It is common to address a negro forty years of age as "boy." If much older he is called "daddy," or "uncle;" but "mister," or "man"—never. The females, in old age, become "aunty," "granny," or "old lady."
Note A.—Title-page—Mississippi.
Desirous of embodying in the appendix to this work, whatever of an interesting nature relates to the South-west, the author has compiled, principally from the American Almanac for 1835, the followingStatistical Tablesof Mississippi, presenting that growing state in a variety of interesting views:—
MISSISSIPPILatitude of Natchez,31°34'North.Longitude in degrees9124'42" West.h.m.s.Longitude in time,6538.8Distance from Washington, 1146 miles.
Relative size of Mississippi, 9.Extent in square miles, 45,760.
NUMBER OF INHABITANTS TO A SQUARE MILE.
In 1810.In 1820.In 1830..91.63
RELATIVE POPULATION.
In 1810.In 1820.In 1820.FreeSlaveTotalFreeSlaveTotalFreeSlaveTotal20919241021241022
RATE OF INCREASE OF FREE AND SLAVE POPULATION.
From 1800 to 1810.From 1810 to 1820.From 1820 to 1830.FreeSlaveTotalFreeSlaveTotalFreeSlaveTotal334389.735666.410081
POPULATION IN 1810.
FreeSlavesNo. of free to 1 slaveTotal23,26417,0881.3540,352
In 1820
42,63432,8141.2975,488
In 1830.
70,96265,6591.08136,621
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS IN THE YEAR ENDING ______
Value of ImportsValue of ExportsTonnage, 925 Tons.
GOVERNMENT.
SalaryHiram G. Runnels, governor; (term of office expires Nov. 1835.)$2,500David Dickson, secretary of state,1,200James Phillips, state treasurer,1,200John H. Mallory, auditor of public accounts,1,200
Gen. Briscoe, president of the senate:—Adamam L. Birgaman, speaker of the house of representatives. The legislature meets, once in two years, on the 4th Monday in November.
JUDICIARY.
High Court of errors and appeals.
Salary.William L. Sharkey, presiding judge,$2,000Cotesworth P. Smith, judge,2,000David W. Wright, judge,2,000Matthew D. Patton, attorney general,1,000
This court, which has no jurisdiction, except what properly belongs to a court of errors and appeals, holds two sessions annually, at Jackson, commencing on the first Monday in January and July.
Superior court of chancery.
Salary.Edward Turner, chancellor,$2,000
This court, which has jurisdiction over all matters, pleas, and complaints whatsoever, belonging to or cognizable in a court of equity, holds two sessions annually, beginning on the first Monday in January and July.
Circuit court.
lst district,Alexander Montgomery, judge,2d district,James Scott, judge,3d distrcit,A. M. Keegar, judge,4th district,— judge,5th district,J. J. H. Morris, judge,6th district,James F. Trotter, judge.
The state is divided into six districts or circuits, and one judge,and a district attorney are chosen by the electors of each district; and a circuit court is held in each county twice every year. It has original jurisdiction in civil cases in which the sum in controversy exceeds $50.
BANKS.
Exhibition of their state on the 7th of January, 1834, as laid before Congress, June 24, 1834.
NAME.Capital stock paid in.Bills in circulation.Specie.Planters' bank, Natchez,$2,666,805.451,510,426.15113,220.47Estimated situation of b'ks from which no returns were received.Agricultural bank of Miss. Natchez. }1,000,000.00590,000.0043,000.00State bank of Mississippi, Natchez. }Total$3,666,805.452,100,426.15156,220.47
Statement of the banks, as given by a correspondent, under date of August 10, 1834.
NAME.Place.Capital.Branches of Planters' bank.Planters' bank,Natchez,$4,000,000{ Vicksburg,$500,000{ Port Gibson,500,000{ Woodville,500,000{ Manchester,300,000{ Monticello,200,000{ Columbus,200,000{ Jackson,100,000Total of brn's,$2,300,000Agricultural bank.Natchez,$4,000,000Total7,000,000
The capitals of the branches constitute a part of the ($4,000,000) capital of the Planters' bank.
A rail-road is being surveyed this summer from Natchez toJackson, for which a charter will be granted at the next meeting of the legislature.
SUMMARY.
The governor of Mississippi is elected by the people. Term begins November, 1833—expires November, 1835. Duration of the term two years. Salary $2,500.
Senators, 11. Term of years, three. Representatives 36. Term of years, one. Total, senators and representatives, 47. Pay per day, $3.
Electors of president and vice-president are chosen by general ticket.
Seat of government, Jackson.
Time of holding elections, in May.
Time of meeting of the legislature, fourth Monday in November, biennially.
Mississippi admitted into the union in 1817.
Note B.Page 27.
For the following meteorological table, the author is indebted to the politeness of Henry Tooley Esq. a scientific gentleman who has been a resident of Natchez the third of a century, and who has during the greater part of his life kept a daily register of the weather. The exposure of his thermometer was unexceptionable, and always the same. The tables in the author's possession from various other sources, date back to the year 1799, affording an uninterrupted series of meteorological observations in this climate, down to the present period. An abstract from these tables would be too elaborate for a work of this nature, and would not, indeed, convey any farther important information upon this climate, than is contained in the accompanying abstract from the tables of Dr. Tooley, for the past ten years. The general temperature, though varying much from day to day, is so regular, one year with another, that a meteorological table for any one period of ten years will answer, with slight variations, for almost any other term of the same duration.
The thermometer was examined at 5 A. M. and at 4 P. M. for the extremes.
ANNUAL RESULTS OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE AT NATCHEZ
INN. Lat. 31° 34' Long. 91° 24' 42" W.
Year.Mean. Temp.5 A.M.4 P.M.5 A.M.4 P.M.Number of days.Warmest.Coldest.Clear.Cloudy.Rainy.Snow.Sleet.18256081-1/671-1/1281-1/349-1/263-5/121788899182663-1/27574-1/380-3/448-1/464-9/121341201101182763-1/27474-5/673-1/351-1/366-1/4151126881828647664-1/377-1/653-1/265-3/41331211121829546572-2/376-1/348-1/1261-2/31161241341183062-1/37472-1/480-3/448-1/266-7/12161121772118315769-1/271-1/477-1/244-1/260-1/3187141343183261-5/674-1/268-1/884-1/34764-7/12185146232183360-1/27271-1/1278-1/248-1/26517713850183460-1/273-1/473-9/1282-1/34765166151462to June 183521-1/326-1/428-1/230-1/61522-2/36269182
1835.
Months.Mean. Temp.Warm,Cold,Cl'r.Cl'y.Rain.Snow.Sleet.Jan.46-2/3576964324812163Feb.36-1/35059611028131131Mar.4665-2/368743250141151April,57-2/365717546649183May,69-2/377-1/37688608214134June,21-1/326-1/428-7/1230-1/61522-1/36269182
Mean temp. obtained by adding mean of months together, and then dividing by the number of months.
1834.
Jan.29-2/350677414275121121Feb.52-2/3657273325213141Mar.4767697839629175April,61766783497417112May,6689-1/27693546314125June,76-2/387809371871515July,7789-2/3828374912110Aug.77-2/390-1/28398738918121Sept.69-1/3707777577713107Oct.66-1/275-1/2768741561993Nov.55-1/363-2/36977315110155Dec.47-1/255-2/3677235521214560-1/273-1/473-9/1282-1/347-1/1265-1/121661514521
1833.
Jan.53-1/237-1/2687431519175Feb.46-3/460597238561198Mar.51666471253713513April,63767365556613161May,70827684667315133June,75878092658418111July,63-2/389-2/381936989229Aug.7489-1/2809369881912Sept.7486-1/37994628115123Oct.5869-2/3687037561885Nov.49636971304515114Dec.48-1/35861623653915760-1/27271-1/1278-5/1248-7/1264-11/1217713850
The author has been favoured with the following medical report drawn up by a physician of Natchez, who has had long experience in the diseases of this climate.
MEDICAL REPORT.
Return of deaths within the city of Natchez, from 1st June 1822, to first June 1835—including thirteen years:
The population of Natchez is ordinarily between three and four thousand—lessened, probably, in the summer season, from 500 to 1000. With this number of residents, the mortality cannot be regarded as very large. On the contrary, few places of equal magnitude, either north or south, can boast a greater degree of general health than this city. Since the year 1825, it will be perceived, it has been growing gradually healthier—with the exception of the last two or three years,—when, owing in a great measure to the severity of the winter season, a great proportion of the sickness and mortality has occurred in the winter and spring months. Indeed take a period of seven years—from 1825 to 1833, and we challenge any southern or western city, with the same amount of population, to show a less number of deaths—especially in the summer season, than the city of Natchez. The bill of mortality has been considerably augmented of late, by that appalling and sweeping epidemic, which increased in strength, and doubled its roll of victims in proportion as it travelled south—together with small pox and intemperance—for both of which nature has provided specific remedies—but which certain classes continue still to avoid, and will hence continue to suffer and die in spite of Jenner and the temperance societies, as long as incredulity shall exist, and distilleries pour forth their floods of poison in the land. Most of those with the last mentioned diseases, it would seem, have been inmates of the public hospital.
On an average, about 1/5 to 1/4 of the deaths annually occur from bilious remittent, congestive and typhus fever. The yellow fever, be it known, has not appeared here as an epidemic for the last five or six years, and may be regarded as quite extinct in the city. Owing to the careless and imperfect manner in which the returns have generally been made—and this we are sorry to say, is too often the case—a large portion of the deaths are from unknown diseases—as to which in regard to the age of the subjects, and the colour, which in this country is somewhat important, we areleft generally in the dark. By giving the subject some considerable attention, however, we have been enabled to preserve a degree of accuracy in the proportion, and the general result, we believe, is nearly, if not specifically correct.
The whole number of deaths by fever, during 13 years, is 511; cholera 107, consumption 100, intemperance 58, small pox 45, infantile 49, dysentery 30, delirium tremens 23, drowned 10, murder 10, old age 10, suicide 4, unknown 205.
The remainder, which we purposely omit, are by ordinary diseases, which are not peculiar to any clime or season. We have examined a meteorological table, kept with a considerable degree of accuracy for the last 10 years: but it presents nothing peculiar—and its details are too minute and comprehensive for our present object. We notice, however, a greater proportion of "cloudy and rainy" days than could be expected in this "sunny clime," while the average degree of heat is by no means greater than in latitudes somewhat farther north. The greatest range of heat is 98, and the greatest cold 10°.—This we are inclined to believe, is not strictly correct, as we have twice, within a few years, seen the thermometer as low as 10° in the neighbourhood of New Orleans.
DEATHS IN EACH MONTH.