Extracts From the Letters of the Agent of the Philadelphia Free Produce Association
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Title
Extracts From the Letters of the Agent of the Philadelphia Free Produce Association
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Selections.
From the Non-Slaveholder.
EXTRACTS.
From the Letters of the Agent of the Philadelphia Free Produce Association.
Having been called upon from various quarters by our friends, for some account of the visit to the South, last winter, of the "Philadelphia Free Produce Association of Friends," for the purpose of collecting information of the production of cotton, sugar and rice labor, we are now enabled to lay before our readers sundry extracts from his letters, written while travelling through parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.
LETTER NO. I.
Lafayette Co., Miss., 1st Mo. 11th, 1848.
"A.H. and I.T., owners of a gin furnished by the Philadelphia Free Produce Association of Friends, think there will be no difficulty in procuring two hundred bales of free grown cotton in the vicinity of their gin." Near the close of this letter the writer says: "There might be thousands of bales of free cotton collected through this country, but for the ginning and packing, or baling."
NO. II.
Yalabusha Co., Miss., 12th mo. 20, 1847.
"I am now at my very kind and hospitable friend _______, near Coffeeville, eighty-five miles form Memphis. I must take occasion to say, that during much of the time I have been in this State, there has been a gloom over my mind - my eyes pained with seeing, and my ears with hearing; but since I arrived here the cloud has considerably disappeared. My friend, though a Louisianian and a slaveholder, is one of the finest men I have met with. His whole soul appears to be in the great case. He has been proving his faith by his works in liberating a part of his slaves, and intends doing likewise with those he has on hand when he can get those who are connected in marriage with then, but do not belong to him. I wish I had space to give a history of his trials and difficulties. His enemies have arraigned him before the Grand Jury, but failing there, they resorted to an organized mob, firmly bound by a written article, but in this too they failed in executing their fiendish design. He has a considerable and increasing number of friends, and the excitement has died away in some degree."
NO. III.
Lafayette Co., Miss., 1st mo. 6th, 1847,
The writer has been in Chickasaw County, and found a considerable number of free laborers, but no gin worked by free labor. He had some encouragement that one would be procured by a father ant three sons. "The father appears to be a pious man, refuses to hold slaves, though fully able to own them, nor will he hire one." About 60 bales of cotton might be collected there.
" ______ _______, of Yalabusha Co., a very intelligent man, says he will engage to furnish 1500 or 2000 bales of free cotton - purchase at the market price at various shipping points, pay storage, attend to shipping and insuring, devote his whole time to the business, and have the cotton ginned by free labor - giving security for the right performance of the whole."
NO. IV.
Marshall Co., Miss., 1st mo. 14th, 1848.
"Since my last, I have directed my course this way, and, after some serious difficulties with high water, arrived at my friend ______ ________. He has done us efficient aid, by preparing the minds of the people in this neighborhood for our operations. This is the man we talked of sending a gin to when we sent one to _____. Since that time a gin has been erected in this settlement, managed entirely by free labor, by two brothers named _____, which performs well, and this neighborhood affords one of the best opportunities for procuring free cotton that I have heard of. Only three or four families hold slaves in the whole settlement - all appear content without them. * * Several with whom I have conversed think the cultivation of this kind of cotton will increase rapidly, if our arrangement is gone into, so that they can have a market that will justify them in handling their cotton nice and clean, which they all prefer. But the large planter, by having a large lot of cotton, and purchasing a great quantity of groceries , gets very nearly as much as the small clean lots bring, which discourages the small growers from taking as much pains as they otherwise would. - Some of these, not being keen traders, are swindled out of at least part of the price; so that a system of fair dealing would, I have no doubt, soon gain the confidence of this class of the community."
After giving the names of the cultivators of 249 bales of the free grown and free gained cotton, the letter concluded thus: I shall, Providence permitting, still continue my labors unabated in the most favorable regions of country. This business is, as I knew before I came this time, trying to the natural man - often meeting the frowns and the scoffs of the aristocratic part of the community: yet all here readily agree that we cannot be consistent without adopting our course. There is no difficulty in the people here seeing this, and strange it is to me that there should anywhere, but especially among a people professing what we do."
NO. V.
Tennessee, 1st mo. 25th, 1848.
"I am happy to state that we found the opportunity of getting free cotton far better in this county (MacNairy) than we anticipated, or expected to find anywhere. A large portion of the citizens came from Friends' settlements in North Carolina, and can readily understand our operations, many entertaining similar feelings. The land being broken, there is no chance for large farmers to work their slaves. Among these small but contented farmers, there is a considerable number of gins managed entirely by free labor."
The writer then gives the names of the cultivators of 771 bales of free grown and free ginned cotton, and adds: "I am every day more and more confirmed in the rectitude of our course. Five minutes is time enough to convince any one of the consistency of it. I sometimes fear that the light we have at the North will arise and condemn many. Be encouraged and persevere, is my desire, let if fare with us as it may." * * * While last at Memphis, I was introduced by one of my friends to a merchant of New Orleans, who told me that there was living with him a sugar planter who was now trying the experiment of paid labor. He had hired thirty Germans, and was going to plant one hundred acres in cane." * * * "It is the opinion of all here that free labor will increase in this part of the country. We are now at the house of _____ _______, who tells me there are but two slaves in his neighborhood." * * * "I hear of a number of other gins in this and the adjoining county, owned and managed entirely by free laborers, which we intend visiting."
NO. VI.
Jasinto, Miss., 2d mo. 2d, 1848.
"My last was mailed at Adamville, containing an account of 771 bales of cotton that could be had in that section. Since that date, we have made several other arrangements, which will accompany this. Thus far we have succeeded far better than our most sanguine anticipations could have imagined."
The writer gives the names of the cultivators of 311 bales of cotton, and says: "I cannot close without expressing something of my feelings when in MacNairy and Hardin counties, Tenn. A large portion of the citizens there came from Guilford county, South Carolina. I think I never saw so clearly the necessity of Friends being consistent and faithful, as when among those kind people. When taking my hand, they would recur back to early times, to impressions made at an early day by the consistent, orderly walking of the Friends. It is sweetly recollected by them now in their hoary locks. I am satisfied that if Friends had stood their ground in the South, things here would be in a better condition. But instead of hearing a firm and faithful testimony, they have congregated in the northwest, become honorable and opulent, too much forgetting the poor slave, and we have only to open our eyes to see the consequences. I think I said in my last, that five minutes was time enough to satisfy any person in this country that we had met with of the consistency of our course, and it will not be too much to say it again. Oh, what an influence it would have if all were willing to come up square to the mark! I thought I had a specimen of this while at ____ ________'s gin. While I was taking the names of his customers, eight or nine men standing by, and the principal slaveholder in the neighborhood among them, I was introduced by the gin-holder - a rough-spoken old man - as a gentleman buying cotton for an Abolition Company to manufacture. This drew forth some remarks, and I proceeded to take the names of the neighbors - of course omitting this slaveholder. He being a little to one side, observed to the gin owner, that it was hard, after he had worked and got a few niggers, he must be kicked out of society. I was delighted to hear _____ ________, give the character of one of his customers - a cultivator of cotton, and a free man of color - as one of the most upright and pious Christians in that country."
NO. VII.
Hollysprings, Miss., 2d mo. 7th, 1848.
"In my last I mentioned some free labor gins that we expected to visit; we accordingly did so, and herewith send an account of 383 bales."
"We were advised to call on ____ ______, a Baptist minister. He has a gin and two slaves, but was bold to denounce the system before we told our business, and says he intends to liberate them as soon as he can make arrangements to do so. He had brought them from a cruel master, and thought in so doing he would be justified; but he does not feel so. When we told what arrangements we wanted to make to procure free cotton, he understood it immediately, and is anxious to enter into it with us. His neighborhood is a good one to operate in, having but few slaves in it. He says many of his neighbors are of the same sentiment with himself, and he thinks the cultivation of free cotton will increase there. If you engage with him, he will not allow his slaves - one of whom is a house-woman, wife of the other - to touch the cotton while it is ginning and preparing, until he secures their emancipation. He thinks he can get several hundred bales in Tishamingo and Tippah counties, (Miss.,) if you should think proper to employ him to collect. I inquired into his character, and the people of Ripley told me he could get the best security to any amount for the correct performance of anything he promised to do. I hope you will attend to him; he needs kind and brotherly treatment, and I trust he will be useful to the cause. His gin is now worked entirely by white laborers."
"We have made an arrangement with _____ ________, a Methodist minister, and owner of a gin worked by free labor. He at first laughed at the idea of a people refusing to use the productions of slave labor, but on hearing it explained, he readily saw the consistency of such a course, and willingly consented to enter into an arrangement to sell us his cotton."
NO. VII.
On board Steamboat Saladin, from Memphis
to New Orleans, 2d mo. 20, 1848.
"I am pursuing my journey alone, having left my wife at Memphis; and expect, Providence permitting, to go by water to Galveston, Texas, then travel through that country and Arkansas." * * *
"In a previous letter I mentioned ____ ______, of New Orleans, who gave encouragement about sugar. Since that time I have had an opportunity of inquiring into his character. I learn that he is a Christian professor, and stands rather remarkably fair as a merchant of uprightness and honesty. I chanced to meet with him the other day at Memphis; he took my arm, and said he was happy to meet me, for he was of the same opinion with me in this matter, and would gladly give assistance in our undertaking. He said he had been proving his faith by his works, in emancipating several slaves, who are now in New York. He gave me the name of the sugar planter alluded to, and says he will not own a slave: he keeps everything nice upon his farm, and all dine at one table with much order and decorum. ____ _______ speaks highly of the intelligence and piety of many of the people of color in New Orleans; and says: 'Give them a fair chance, and MIND WILL UP.'
"I was introduced to a cotton merchant in Memphis by the name of ____ ______, formerly of Virginia. He was acquainted with Friends in Virginia - much admired them, and expressed an entire willingness to aid us any way he can. Although he is a slaveholder, he sees the consistency of our testimony.
" ____ ______, a slaveholder, has rendered me efficient aid in prosecuting my business. He has an extensive acquaintance in the South, and gave me names and introduced me to persons of congenial feeling. He has emancipated some of his slaves, and intends to clear himself this season of the system."
____ ______, a slaveholder, who lives near ____ ____, Mississippi, was raised among Friends in Wayne county, N. Carolina, is now a high professing Methodist. He esteems Friends and their testimonies very highly, and is not satisfied in holding slaves, but intends to come out of it. He sees the consistency of our testimony, and, having a water cotton gin, says if we will trust to him, he will gin all the free cotton in his neighborhood himself, hire white men to bale it, and give what encouragement he can to our cause.
" ____ ______, a slaveholder, of same post office, but in another settlement, formerly a merchant in N. Alabama, has traded to Philadelphia. He became acquainted with Friends there, and attended their meeting. He fully understands our course, and its consistency, and says that no southern gentleman of good understanding will object to our undertaking. His objection to the Northern people, is their inconsistent, hypocritical pretensions to liberty, while the free colored man if fettered there. Oh, what a work is before us, if we are but faithful!
"I might instance many similar cases, but time and space forbid it. I give these to encourage you to persevere in this work of mercy, justice and love. I have my times of trial and discouragement, but am compelled in the midst to exclaim, The work is on the wheel! There were some signs of excitement when I first got to Mississippi, but I visited all those places, and some of them more than once; and I am happy to say, I believe it had mostly subsided when I left. You will observe, in corresponding with those whom I have recommended, not many noble are called,' but thousands of the poorer order here have the good seed springing up ready to bloom, and even bear fruit, to the honor of the Great Husbandman."
This letter gives an account of about 120 bales of free cotton.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
From the Non-Slaveholder.
EXTRACTS.
From the Letters of the Agent of the Philadelphia Free Produce Association.
Having been called upon from various quarters by our friends, for some account of the visit to the South, last winter, of the "Philadelphia Free Produce Association of Friends," for the purpose of collecting information of the production of cotton, sugar and rice labor, we are now enabled to lay before our readers sundry extracts from his letters, written while travelling through parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.
LETTER NO. I.
Lafayette Co., Miss., 1st Mo. 11th, 1848.
"A.H. and I.T., owners of a gin furnished by the Philadelphia Free Produce Association of Friends, think there will be no difficulty in procuring two hundred bales of free grown cotton in the vicinity of their gin." Near the close of this letter the writer says: "There might be thousands of bales of free cotton collected through this country, but for the ginning and packing, or baling."
NO. II.
Yalabusha Co., Miss., 12th mo. 20, 1847.
"I am now at my very kind and hospitable friend _______, near Coffeeville, eighty-five miles form Memphis. I must take occasion to say, that during much of the time I have been in this State, there has been a gloom over my mind - my eyes pained with seeing, and my ears with hearing; but since I arrived here the cloud has considerably disappeared. My friend, though a Louisianian and a slaveholder, is one of the finest men I have met with. His whole soul appears to be in the great case. He has been proving his faith by his works in liberating a part of his slaves, and intends doing likewise with those he has on hand when he can get those who are connected in marriage with then, but do not belong to him. I wish I had space to give a history of his trials and difficulties. His enemies have arraigned him before the Grand Jury, but failing there, they resorted to an organized mob, firmly bound by a written article, but in this too they failed in executing their fiendish design. He has a considerable and increasing number of friends, and the excitement has died away in some degree."
NO. III.
Lafayette Co., Miss., 1st mo. 6th, 1847,
The writer has been in Chickasaw County, and found a considerable number of free laborers, but no gin worked by free labor. He had some encouragement that one would be procured by a father ant three sons. "The father appears to be a pious man, refuses to hold slaves, though fully able to own them, nor will he hire one." About 60 bales of cotton might be collected there.
" ______ _______, of Yalabusha Co., a very intelligent man, says he will engage to furnish 1500 or 2000 bales of free cotton - purchase at the market price at various shipping points, pay storage, attend to shipping and insuring, devote his whole time to the business, and have the cotton ginned by free labor - giving security for the right performance of the whole."
NO. IV.
Marshall Co., Miss., 1st mo. 14th, 1848.
"Since my last, I have directed my course this way, and, after some serious difficulties with high water, arrived at my friend ______ ________. He has done us efficient aid, by preparing the minds of the people in this neighborhood for our operations. This is the man we talked of sending a gin to when we sent one to _____. Since that time a gin has been erected in this settlement, managed entirely by free labor, by two brothers named _____, which performs well, and this neighborhood affords one of the best opportunities for procuring free cotton that I have heard of. Only three or four families hold slaves in the whole settlement - all appear content without them. * * Several with whom I have conversed think the cultivation of this kind of cotton will increase rapidly, if our arrangement is gone into, so that they can have a market that will justify them in handling their cotton nice and clean, which they all prefer. But the large planter, by having a large lot of cotton, and purchasing a great quantity of groceries , gets very nearly as much as the small clean lots bring, which discourages the small growers from taking as much pains as they otherwise would. - Some of these, not being keen traders, are swindled out of at least part of the price; so that a system of fair dealing would, I have no doubt, soon gain the confidence of this class of the community."
After giving the names of the cultivators of 249 bales of the free grown and free gained cotton, the letter concluded thus: I shall, Providence permitting, still continue my labors unabated in the most favorable regions of country. This business is, as I knew before I came this time, trying to the natural man - often meeting the frowns and the scoffs of the aristocratic part of the community: yet all here readily agree that we cannot be consistent without adopting our course. There is no difficulty in the people here seeing this, and strange it is to me that there should anywhere, but especially among a people professing what we do."
NO. V.
Tennessee, 1st mo. 25th, 1848.
"I am happy to state that we found the opportunity of getting free cotton far better in this county (MacNairy) than we anticipated, or expected to find anywhere. A large portion of the citizens came from Friends' settlements in North Carolina, and can readily understand our operations, many entertaining similar feelings. The land being broken, there is no chance for large farmers to work their slaves. Among these small but contented farmers, there is a considerable number of gins managed entirely by free labor."
The writer then gives the names of the cultivators of 771 bales of free grown and free ginned cotton, and adds: "I am every day more and more confirmed in the rectitude of our course. Five minutes is time enough to convince any one of the consistency of it. I sometimes fear that the light we have at the North will arise and condemn many. Be encouraged and persevere, is my desire, let if fare with us as it may." * * * While last at Memphis, I was introduced by one of my friends to a merchant of New Orleans, who told me that there was living with him a sugar planter who was now trying the experiment of paid labor. He had hired thirty Germans, and was going to plant one hundred acres in cane." * * * "It is the opinion of all here that free labor will increase in this part of the country. We are now at the house of _____ _______, who tells me there are but two slaves in his neighborhood." * * * "I hear of a number of other gins in this and the adjoining county, owned and managed entirely by free laborers, which we intend visiting."
NO. VI.
Jasinto, Miss., 2d mo. 2d, 1848.
"My last was mailed at Adamville, containing an account of 771 bales of cotton that could be had in that section. Since that date, we have made several other arrangements, which will accompany this. Thus far we have succeeded far better than our most sanguine anticipations could have imagined."
The writer gives the names of the cultivators of 311 bales of cotton, and says: "I cannot close without expressing something of my feelings when in MacNairy and Hardin counties, Tenn. A large portion of the citizens there came from Guilford county, South Carolina. I think I never saw so clearly the necessity of Friends being consistent and faithful, as when among those kind people. When taking my hand, they would recur back to early times, to impressions made at an early day by the consistent, orderly walking of the Friends. It is sweetly recollected by them now in their hoary locks. I am satisfied that if Friends had stood their ground in the South, things here would be in a better condition. But instead of hearing a firm and faithful testimony, they have congregated in the northwest, become honorable and opulent, too much forgetting the poor slave, and we have only to open our eyes to see the consequences. I think I said in my last, that five minutes was time enough to satisfy any person in this country that we had met with of the consistency of our course, and it will not be too much to say it again. Oh, what an influence it would have if all were willing to come up square to the mark! I thought I had a specimen of this while at ____ ________'s gin. While I was taking the names of his customers, eight or nine men standing by, and the principal slaveholder in the neighborhood among them, I was introduced by the gin-holder - a rough-spoken old man - as a gentleman buying cotton for an Abolition Company to manufacture. This drew forth some remarks, and I proceeded to take the names of the neighbors - of course omitting this slaveholder. He being a little to one side, observed to the gin owner, that it was hard, after he had worked and got a few niggers, he must be kicked out of society. I was delighted to hear _____ ________, give the character of one of his customers - a cultivator of cotton, and a free man of color - as one of the most upright and pious Christians in that country."
NO. VII.
Hollysprings, Miss., 2d mo. 7th, 1848.
"In my last I mentioned some free labor gins that we expected to visit; we accordingly did so, and herewith send an account of 383 bales."
"We were advised to call on ____ ______, a Baptist minister. He has a gin and two slaves, but was bold to denounce the system before we told our business, and says he intends to liberate them as soon as he can make arrangements to do so. He had brought them from a cruel master, and thought in so doing he would be justified; but he does not feel so. When we told what arrangements we wanted to make to procure free cotton, he understood it immediately, and is anxious to enter into it with us. His neighborhood is a good one to operate in, having but few slaves in it. He says many of his neighbors are of the same sentiment with himself, and he thinks the cultivation of free cotton will increase there. If you engage with him, he will not allow his slaves - one of whom is a house-woman, wife of the other - to touch the cotton while it is ginning and preparing, until he secures their emancipation. He thinks he can get several hundred bales in Tishamingo and Tippah counties, (Miss.,) if you should think proper to employ him to collect. I inquired into his character, and the people of Ripley told me he could get the best security to any amount for the correct performance of anything he promised to do. I hope you will attend to him; he needs kind and brotherly treatment, and I trust he will be useful to the cause. His gin is now worked entirely by white laborers."
"We have made an arrangement with _____ ________, a Methodist minister, and owner of a gin worked by free labor. He at first laughed at the idea of a people refusing to use the productions of slave labor, but on hearing it explained, he readily saw the consistency of such a course, and willingly consented to enter into an arrangement to sell us his cotton."
NO. VII.
On board Steamboat Saladin, from Memphis
to New Orleans, 2d mo. 20, 1848.
"I am pursuing my journey alone, having left my wife at Memphis; and expect, Providence permitting, to go by water to Galveston, Texas, then travel through that country and Arkansas." * * *
"In a previous letter I mentioned ____ ______, of New Orleans, who gave encouragement about sugar. Since that time I have had an opportunity of inquiring into his character. I learn that he is a Christian professor, and stands rather remarkably fair as a merchant of uprightness and honesty. I chanced to meet with him the other day at Memphis; he took my arm, and said he was happy to meet me, for he was of the same opinion with me in this matter, and would gladly give assistance in our undertaking. He said he had been proving his faith by his works, in emancipating several slaves, who are now in New York. He gave me the name of the sugar planter alluded to, and says he will not own a slave: he keeps everything nice upon his farm, and all dine at one table with much order and decorum. ____ _______ speaks highly of the intelligence and piety of many of the people of color in New Orleans; and says: 'Give them a fair chance, and MIND WILL UP.'
"I was introduced to a cotton merchant in Memphis by the name of ____ ______, formerly of Virginia. He was acquainted with Friends in Virginia - much admired them, and expressed an entire willingness to aid us any way he can. Although he is a slaveholder, he sees the consistency of our testimony.
" ____ ______, a slaveholder, has rendered me efficient aid in prosecuting my business. He has an extensive acquaintance in the South, and gave me names and introduced me to persons of congenial feeling. He has emancipated some of his slaves, and intends to clear himself this season of the system."
____ ______, a slaveholder, who lives near ____ ____, Mississippi, was raised among Friends in Wayne county, N. Carolina, is now a high professing Methodist. He esteems Friends and their testimonies very highly, and is not satisfied in holding slaves, but intends to come out of it. He sees the consistency of our testimony, and, having a water cotton gin, says if we will trust to him, he will gin all the free cotton in his neighborhood himself, hire white men to bale it, and give what encouragement he can to our cause.
" ____ ______, a slaveholder, of same post office, but in another settlement, formerly a merchant in N. Alabama, has traded to Philadelphia. He became acquainted with Friends there, and attended their meeting. He fully understands our course, and its consistency, and says that no southern gentleman of good understanding will object to our undertaking. His objection to the Northern people, is their inconsistent, hypocritical pretensions to liberty, while the free colored man if fettered there. Oh, what a work is before us, if we are but faithful!
"I might instance many similar cases, but time and space forbid it. I give these to encourage you to persevere in this work of mercy, justice and love. I have my times of trial and discouragement, but am compelled in the midst to exclaim, The work is on the wheel! There were some signs of excitement when I first got to Mississippi, but I visited all those places, and some of them more than once; and I am happy to say, I believe it had mostly subsided when I left. You will observe, in corresponding with those whom I have recommended, not many noble are called,' but thousands of the poorer order here have the good seed springing up ready to bloom, and even bear fruit, to the honor of the Great Husbandman."
This letter gives an account of about 120 bales of free cotton.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Source
The North Star
Date
10.6.1848
Collection
Citation
“Extracts From the Letters of the Agent of the Philadelphia Free Produce Association,” No Stain of Tears and Blood, accessed October 22, 2026, https://productsoffreelabor.com/items/show/20.
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