An Adventurer

Our city is often honored with the visits of the Agents of Southern Slaveholders, in pursuit of their negroes, who avail themselves of the open arms of the Queendom, over the water, to secure their freedom. Such visits generally produce commotion in our quiet community; for even here there are those who delight to thwart these catchers of dark skins, in their laudable efforts to secure their decamped "property." Some of the most serious rows which have ever occurred in our city, have grown out of these visits of these distinguished gentlemen. Dirks bludgeons, pistols, and those battering-rams of nature, - a negroe's head - have all been called into requisition, upon more than one occasion of this kind. Blood has been spilt - eyes have been blackened - coats have been torn, and shins mangled - in struggles for the freedom of the dark eye'd ones who have fled for -"life liberty and happiness," to the "delightful and salubrious banks" of our majestic river. - But, in these struggles, the law has generally triumphed; for, however our citizens may deprecate the existence of slavery, so long as the laws of the land recognize the right of property in negroes, that right must be protected. During these frequent visits, our citizens have been enabled to study the open generosity of the southern character, for, although it is to be presumed that those who follow the vocation of negro catchers, are the mere negro drivers of chivalrous masters, still they seemed to have inbibed much of the southern nobleness of manner - that grace of carriage and liberality of expenditure, which marks the noble fellow of every region, but particularly of the South. These traits in the character of our visitors, have had the effect to make them exceedingly popular, among those who could appreciate virtues of so exalted a description; and the result has been, that whenever one of the fraternity honored our ancient city with his presence, he has been hailed as the embodiment of the nobility of nature - as the personification of the "chivalry of the South" - as one who has imbibed blandishments congenial to balmier climes - as a sort of beau brummel among boors, or, in other words, "a touch among the vulgar." In their presence beauty has been wont to assume an extra tint; politeness an additional installment of smirks; and ginslings, cocktails, and whiskey punches to flow with redoubled impetuosity. And all from the best of motives; a desire to teach our brethren at the South that we are determined that their rights shall be preserved. Well, in the course of time, that is, some 3 weeks ago, one of these "chivalric gentlemen" come among us, armed and equipped with all the dignity properly belonging to one in his vocation, and a beautiful brunette besides! Whether it was this addition to the ordinary equipage or not, that secured for this gentleman the extra civilities which were shown him, we can not say; but certain it is that he was "the load stone of all eyes" and "the admired of all admirers," for more than a week. Every honor which hospitality could dictate, was shown him by those who cherished, as sacred, the untarnished honor of Southern chivalry. And he seemed grateful. He occupied well furnished rooms in our best hotel, and were ever open to his friends. The beautiful brunette danced attendance upon her kind master with the grace of a gazelle, and his stay among us seemed to glide on "merrily as a marriage bell." Nor did a little adventure which occurred, at all interfere with the respect entertained for his exalted dignity and high souled honor. One of the servants in the hotel having dared to utter an insinuation against the virtue of the dark eye'd nymph, our hero, as in duty bound, ventured to cane the impudent 'black woman,' that she might be taught, by a master hand, how preposterous it was for any of "womankind," as old Monk barons would say, to miscall the companion of a gentleman! It is true that he was arrested for the assault, and carried before a justice, but so much was said about the "sensibility of Southerners to any thing like impudence from persons of color," and "the customs and the "chivalry" of the South that he was let off by paying $10 and the costs. And, as in duty bound, with cane in hand, and pistol and bowie-knife in pocket and belt, he demanded satisfaction of the counsel of the assaulted, for having dared to insinuate, during the trial, that he was, in all probability, a "blackleg" and a "swindler." But no satisfaction having been given, and, like many others who have gone before him, not wishing at that time, to enforce his threats, he retired, not only from the lawyer's office , but from the city, "in disgust" taking his "angel" with him, and Ieaving his unpaid bills behind, together with a large number of admiring friends, to sigh over the hasty departure of the "chivalrous southerner." He proceeded to Pontiac, to which place he was pursued and found. Graver charges than simple debt having meanwhile been preferred against him, he was bro't back; examined upon a charge of having stolen $600 white he was a stewart upon board a Mississippi steamboat; and committed to jail to answer the charge hereafter! We have heard nothing for a few days, about "southern chivalry" and we presume hat the overthrow of this embodiment of "high-souled honor," will have the tendency, to convince us all upon the border that 'every thing is not gold that glitters.' The foregoing article from the Detroit Daily Advertiser, is one of deep and thrilling interest, and it shows up in a sarcastic manner (in our opinion) the real character of most of those, who, from time to time are prowling around our cities and villages in order to kidnap, and if possible, hurry off to the Southern prison-house, any who may chance to have a "skin not colored like their own." One would suppose from the very nature of the case, that the people of the North would become indignant on seeing innocent men, women and children torn away from all that is dear to them on earth, and thrust out to toil without wages in weariness and want until time with them is no more. But it is not so, for a vast multitude stand gaping ready to apologize for these land pirates - these monsters in human form; and when they arrive among us, all must give attention, and with that in hand, make way for these slave-hunters, and do them homage just in proportion to the number of human beings they profess to own, and fugitives they have returned to the enjoyment of the "Patriarchal Institution." If a word of remonstrance is uttered - "hush;" is heard from ten thousand voices, "these are the most hospitable, kind-hearted, and benevolent persons in all the world; perfect gentlemen in every sense of the word;" and when under the influence of the "good crater," they become saucy, impudent and even quarrelsome, it is all attributed to their peculiar temperament - the customs of the South, &c." rather than any want of good breeding or regard for the rights of man. With regard to the real patriotism and benevolence of the South, many honest and well disposed persons, have been and still are deceived. They have supposed, that if the two sections of country were to be weighed in the balance, that the North would, in point of donations, for benevolent purposes, be miserably deficient, compared with the South, whereas the reverse of this appears to be true, as the following statistics abundantly show: Contributions to the American Board of Foreign Missions, during the month of January, 1830. Slave States, 75 77 Free States, 8,733 65 To the same, during the month of November, 1837. Slave States, 1,553 00 Free States, 21,626 04 To the same, during the month of December, 1837. Slave States, 190 00 Free States, 19,699 10 To the same, during the month of November, 1838. Slave States, 219 25 Free States, 13,189 01 To the Home Missionary Society, for the year 1831, Slave States, 700 00 Free States, 48,000 00 To the American Bible Society, during twenty years, Slave States, 70,000 00 Free States, 300,000 00 American Tract Society in 1836, Life members in Slave States 35 Life members in Free States 3 08 Donation to the same, exclusive of life membership, Slave States, 8 25 Free States, 11,014 06 American Temperance Society in 1839, Members in Slaves States, 26 Members in Free States, 308 Of Auxillary Temperance Societies, there were in the Slaves States 300 Free States, 1,800 These items are not selected with unkind discrimination. They are brought forward with all possible fairness. And by comparing donations any given months or years, taken as they are made, similar results will be produced. Let the reader ponder well the above facts, and we have no doubt but he will come to the conclusion that the reputation for southern benevolence which is so prevalent in the country, has originated in extravagant expenditures of southern men when among us, and their good table and excellent living which they furnish for their northern visitors when they are at home. Can there be any great merit in dispensing with a prodigal hand, that which is earned by the labor and toil of others? Who could not be liberal on such terms?