The projectors of this, their magna charta, must have known that this motto is founded on a fallacious basis, and will not endure the touchstone of common sense, particularly when applied to natal circumstances. Were the base-born progeny of that “illustrious champion of liberty”, Jefferson, born free, and endowed with privileges and advantages equal to the children of his amiable contemporary, Hamilton?[A] Or are the sons of those slaves who now groan in fetters in the southern States of this “land of liberty”, born free and invested with equal rights to the children of those Molochs, their masters? A common understanding revolts at the comparison. Away with such sophistry to the dark dominions of that being whence it emanated!
I regard this, not in a political point of view, but purely as a case of Liberty and Equality, versus Negro Slavery and Oppression. And were it not for the sake of humanity, I should have viewed the whole affair with indifference, and left the Americans to shout praises to the Goddess of Liberty, with as much clamour as did the Ephesians of old, to their good customer the Goddess Diana.
This despised class, the Negroes, seems to be regarded as being destitute, not only of mental endowments, but also of the sensibilities of our common nature. They are considered as fair subjects for the bitterest sarcasm and contempt. Children, catching the contagion by example and sympathy, regard them as beings that may be annoyed and insulted with impunity; dogs are encouraged to bark at them; and, as a crowning point, parrots are taught to curse them. I could scarcely have believed this, but I know one elegant house, where a bird of this kind was much admired for the charming accomplishment of thundering a degrading curse at the head of every passing negro.
Besides their intellectual deficiencies, they are charged with a long catalogue of moral misdoings, which more properly spring from a neglected education than a depraved disposition. I have frequently conversed with the females, and have always found them remarkably civil, and grateful for any trivial act of kindness. They generally express themselves in good language, and with an enunciation, as bold and as clear as any Englishman. This struck me with surprise, as I had formed my judgement of their conversational capabilities, from the dialogues given in broken English, that I had met with in the course of my reading. Their voices are rich and melodious, and their singing is much admired at church, but all those that I ever saw there, sat by themselves; and I never heard of a white man, however low in station he might be, that would condescend to sit at the same table with a black.
There is something peculiarly interesting in the appearance of their children, when between the ages of three and eight. I know not by what laws blackness of skin and sinuosity of hair should, when associated, produce an effect at once droll and agreeable. But such is the case in an uncommon degree. All European ladies, with whom I conversed, acknowledged this; and even the Americans were compelled to allow, that these sable Psyches and Cupids of the kitchen are very entertaining.
But I soon found, that to converse in accents of kindness with negroes, was not the way to secure the estimation of American society; it is considered shockingly coarse and vulgar. On some occasions, the negro children themselves have stood in mute astonishment, while I have patted the head of one of their companions; and such an action has sometimes produced a remark, on the strange taste that could induce a lady to take notice of such creatures.
A fracas took place one day, at our boarding-house, arising out of a dispute between two gentlemen; the one a German, and the other an American. In the heat of argument, the German expressed himself thus: “I will wager a hundred dollars, that I produce a negro that is a better calculator than you.”—The American rose in high anger, and immediately left the room; declaring that he would not sit at the same table with any one, who esteemed him no better than a negro. Indeed he carried his threat further, for he removed to another house with all possible precipitation. The general opinion was, that the proposal of the German was a most degrading one; and I doubt not, a more fashionable display of resentment would have met with unequivocal approbation.
Until the Americans consent entirely to loose the yoke and let the oppressed go free, they should cashier the stars and stripes, and adopt the following device and motto, which would more effectually represent the piebald character of their Republic.
Let this device be, the representation of a man wearing the cap of liberty, and brandishing a slave whip in his right hand, while his left displays the Declaration of Independence; his right foot, at the same time resting on the naked back of a prostrate negro.—With this motto:
“All men are born free and equal.”