The Infidel Slaveholder

Mu. Edítór. - I cut (he follówing imeréBiirig anecdoce from :m oíd paper. Th u;:í n;;niy e;nec the íaots nnrraisd therein ucourreí place in pub] rt un this ;ue puií '. . 'i'ïmy are ;;(■ '■■ i. i ol Gba . . i y tend io turo'. oñ ih'J ■■■■ í-:'.; of nutster - - In l':'-3, . !:. H., wiia hail bcen Uorn and educ;ue(l in Virgimn, sctt'e:! 11 ono ot ttie frontier counties ot' Kemui.:!;y. Uis tatlier hcld Blaycs: and he had been alwaya used to thc practico oí"assocÍ3tng wiih tho term öi.ave, the true Virginia acceptntion. Mr. M. purchased o negro man to a?sist (or raiher at.'end 10 liis Hule faim) tor he wis ;i hï'.vyor by profession, and knew v: ry Üttlc about farnnn;. Ad;1 sometiine ubout the lastof July, the nero wasciircctcdby his master, to ;nkc liis hoe. and go thrdugh tho corniicjd and cut down tho fnñk veeda ahU luxurianl nprouts, ihat liad grown up thero. Jack look his hoo and wem to liü work: for he-wns re:d!y and excellent slnve. öaip.e days aiicr his naster tüking n rimble tiirough the corníieíd to sec ilti1.' in j enrs were not íil to lisa, r.cci'Jentally comes across Jack, not en i geil in cutttng weeds, Uut sitiingat liis ense between the extended roois of a Inrge stump, and fast nslecp. Tlic day was very hot. ank Jack lw-1 selecicd a sturnp, tl)2 tall sprouts f which formeel a complete nrotecrion fiom the Kcorching rays of a meridian sun; v.herc he was c".;j')yirirr Nature's grand re3!ora:ivc, happy as a princo. ilis m.is'.er at first ieli provoked. aai contrludcii ihat he wor.ld apply one of i!;e sproniR ihnt formeJ Jack's plisaSifú I 10 a vory di tibí ent service, liut as !ie had ncver before hnd accasion to cvnn reprovó J.-tck. ho lieeitated, and upon s:i:,.r i ihought cóncluded th.it r,e he cpyenred to bc quile happy, it would te migencrotis to intetrupt his enjiyinet.t.He ti.erei'.ire look a sout nn nnotheí stamp, a few (eet i rom t!io negro, and foll into a troto ofrcfiüC.icns on (lic relations bniween Mas ter end Slr.ve. This engnged blúi Cor nn hour or more. He then gtt up. nnd rcturncil to the liouse, fefivíng Jack io bia repose. His vi;o inilu' citctimstanceaof íinding Jcck as'.ecp, and he bad left hiiu happy nshehul found liim. She expresjed some surpise t!i;U he liad not at lcasi awoke him. and set him to his work. He then gave hiö-wrfe tiie rensons for his (íiseIic ífiougfil) extraordinary cond::ct. ';I was nt íirst disposed," stiid he. ' lo pul) olFoneof the tall sproms tliat ibnnod Jack 'a plcnsant síflde, and give him a good whip)inr. I t'icn concluáe.d to set d'vnand reu rnyaelf, and let Jack indulge in lus repose. White pitting m.U8i'ng on his happy countenance. I feil into n trnin of reflöciions on ilie subjee' of ?vlas!er and Sl.nc, as personificd in ■hrefc ant) myself, still feeling eiróngly ttibíined to flpg Jaclc wïien he áwolce; While musíng on iJie stibjcct. the rule laid down by the Savio-, occurrei to my üiiivl. i;Jo unto all men," etc. 1 v,is obligad to decide, thm Í woulu not likc to bo mterrupted in so happy ns!cep by tiie applicauón of a 6proat and po i doterniiHcd not to wi.ip Jack. 'Mynext rëflajtiori was., howl. camcliy the right ;o chastise my feüow mnn, for indulging in the einbraces of balrny repose. Littléton, Coice, Blackstonc, etc. werecallcd in to aid my inquiry. JNone ofmy law autLorities established my righ{ - ihey all gave me the power to chastise my stave. but I wns searching for the risht to do so. I found that mylaw authoriiies would pun?h me for vvhipping my fel'.ow man who wns free; but my slave Í might clias'.ise at plea'sure. Why? Bec;:use he vas my slavc. ÏSly next inquiry was. how tlid Jnck become deprived of 'eedom. Oh! hé was'bqrh a slave: that is, his noilisr was a slave whnn he was born. And ierr? mv law authorities left me. When atev;c, lhnd rtad and ahvays adtnired the principie oíour Declara'ion of indepnmlenco, and the fust mAgrapihof that noble instrument stared me :iiat i' the face;" "'All men are born f ree and eMal." I blushed lor my folly, denounced slavey ns incor.sis'.ent wiüi law, religión or hunmnity. ná lek Jick to h3 repose. I Gave been compeled as a lavyer. (o deciue against Blayery', fis a hilosophír 'o decide against it. as a ptiilanthio)ist to decile agninst if, an;l how can you, who )rofes3 the Christian ïeligion,. hely de.ciding cjainst slavery, when the gokten rule of tha Salor so o.Ypresfi!y forbids it? From ibis day Jack sfree." Thisman was then a disciple of Torn Paine. 1Í3 wife a nicmber of the Baptist chiuch. l'!ie CTuel 3 short. Jack was informed by his misress of the wholo transaction. líe w.s areatly norti'ied at his own bad eónducti but he had a ïobleness of mind that woulci nol be outdonc in ;enero8tty. He positivcly refnscd to part wi ih as maater. but determincd nevev go to sleep at ïis work again. He lived in the faniily nbont vo years afterwardsdied of ihe consumptijn, rejoicing: in the gospel. Ilis vii"e, i belieVe, is stiH living.