Part 3 (2/2)
Wilson was every inch a democrat, and early resolved that ”his people,”
as he called his slaves, should be well-fed and not over-worked, and therefore laid down the law and gospel to the overseer as well as to the slaves. ”It is my wish,” said he to Mr. Carlingham, an old school-fellow who was spending a few days with him,--”It is my wish that a new system be adopted on the plantations in this State. I believe that the sons of Ham should have the gospel, and I intend that mine shall have it. The gospel is calculated to make mankind better and none should be without it.”
”What say you,” said Carlingham, ”about the right of man to his liberty?”
”Now, Carlingham, you have begun to harp again about men's rights. I really wish that you could see this matter as I do.”
”I regret that I cannot see eye to eye with you,” said Carlingham. ”I am a disciple of Rousseau, and have for years made the rights of man my study, and I must confess to you that I see no difference between white and black, as it regards liberty.”
”Now, my dear Carlingham, would you really have the negroes enjoy the same rights as ourselves?”
”I would most certainly. Look at our great Declaration of Independence!
look even at the Const.i.tution of our own Connecticut, and see what is said in these about liberty.” ”I regard all this talk about rights as mere humbug. The Bible is older than the Declaration of Independence, and there I take my stand.”
A long discussion followed, in which both gentlemen put forth their peculiar ideas with much warmth of feeling.
During this conversation, there was another person in the room, seated by the window, who, although at work, embroidering a fine collar, paid minute attention to what was said. This was Georgiana, the only daughter of the parson, who had but just returned from Connecticut, where she had finished her education. She had had the opportunity of contrasting the spirit of Christianity and liberty in New England with that of slavery in her native State, and had learned to feel deeply for the injured negro.
Georgiana was in her nineteenth year, and had been much benefited by her residence of five years at the North. Her form was tall and graceful, her features regular and well-defined, and her complexion was illuminated by the freshness of youth, beauty, and health.
The daughter differed from both the father and visitor upon the subject which they had been discussing; and as soon as an opportunity offered, she gave it as her opinion that the Bible was both the bulwark of Christianity and of liberty. With a smile she said,--
”Of course, papa will overlook my difference with him, for although I am a native of the South, I am by education and sympathy a Northerner.”
Mr. Wilson laughed, appearing rather pleased than otherwise at the manner in which his daughter had expressed herself. From this Georgiana took courage and continued,--
”'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' This single pa.s.sage of Scripture should cause us to have respect for the rights of the slave.
True Christian love is of an enlarged and disinterested nature. It loves all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, without regard to color or condition.”
”Georgiana, my dear, you are an abolitionist,--your talk is fanaticism!”
said Mr. Wilson, in rather a sharp tone; but the subdued look of the girl and the presence of Carlingham caused him to soften his language.
Mr. Wilson having lost his wife by consumption, and Georgiana being his only child, he loved her too dearly to say more, even if he felt disposed. A silence followed this exhortation from the young Christian, but her remarks had done a n.o.ble work. The father's heart was touched, and the sceptic, for the first time, was viewing Christianity in its true light.
CHAPTER VIII. A NIGHT IN THE PARSON'S KITCHEN
BESIDES Agnes, whom Mr. Wilson had purchased from the slave-trader, Jennings, he kept a number of house-servants. The chief one of these was Sam, who must be regarded as second only to the parson himself. If a dinner-party was in contemplation, or any company was to be invited, after all the arrangements had been talked over by the minister and his daughter, Sam was sure to be consulted on the subject by ”Miss Georgy,”
as Miss Wilson was called by all the servants. If furniture, crockery, or anything was to be purchased, Sam felt that he had been slighted if his opinion was not asked. As to the marketing, he did it all. He sat at the head of the servants' table in the kitchen, and was master of the ceremonies. A single look from him was enough to silence any conversation or noise among the servants in the kitchen or in any other part of the premises.
There is in the Southern States a great amount of prejudice in regard to color, even among the negroes themselves. The nearer the negro or mulatto approaches to the white, the more he seems to feel his superiority over those of a darker hue. This is no doubt the result of the prejudice that exists on the part of the whites against both the mulattoes and the blacks.
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