The North Star (Rochester)/1848/01/14/The Land of Liberty
THE LAND OF LIBERTY.
This is the title of a very accurate picture of "our glorious country," by that distinguished artist, philosopher, and reformer, Punch. Of all the intelligent and distinguished persons whom we had the honor to meet is London, none seemed to possess more complete information respecting our "peculiar institutions," than this same Mr. Punch; and we may do him the justice to say, that few make better use of their knowledge than he. It is not now, however, our purpose to draw a picture of Mr. Punch, but to give our readers some idea of the picture he draws of the present aspect of our "glorious country."
As might be expected, the artist has bestowed the greatest amount of labor and skill on slavery, that most prominent feature of the American face, to which the people, old and young—priest and politician, bow with the utmost reverence and admiration. The slaveholder is drawn to the life. His person stretched out on two chairs, resting his right leg over the back of one, and his left on the head of a pro-trait bust of Washington. Around his person is a belt of arms, containing a bowie knife and a seven-barrel revolving pistol. Under his arm is a knotted "cat-o'-nine tails." On the left of him is a chest, upon which are papers labelled, Texas—Oregon—Dollars. Behind, is a woman half naked, tied to a whipping-post. In front of him is a group of slaves and slave-drivers. Prominent in the group are two female slaves kneeling with their hands closely tied behind their backs. One driver is in the act of flogging a woman; another, with a look of Satanic indifference, is branding a kneeling woman on the back with a hot iron,—the smoke of her broiling flesh and blood rising from the wound. Off in the distance is a coffle of slaves driven by two while men, with long-lashed whips. They seem to have just landed from an American slave-ship. Above this scene is floating our star-spangled banner, raised upon a lofty staff, crowned with a capacious liberty cap. On the right of the flag is a representation of Lynch law—a mob in the act of hanging a negro. On the left is a picture of repudiation, illustrated by a well-drawn American in the act of stealing the handkerchief of an Englishman. Above this scene are two pictures representing our duelling practices. Still further on, we have the war with Mexico; stabbing, shooting, hanging, robbing churches,—bayonets, swords, guns, cannons, bombs,—all enveloped in fire and smoke. And above all this horrid confusion of blood and slaughter, is a terrific picture of Satan brooding over the whole scene with a grin of infernal satisfaction.
Now, what a picture is this to be looked upon abroad! and what American has the folly or audacity to deny its truthfulness! At the hazard of making many enemies, and losing some friends, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Punch for the picture, and beg him, in the name of three millions of our enslaved brethren, to continue to notice us, in his world-read journal. It is not impossible that we may wring from a sense of shame what we have been unable to gain from American sense of justice.