The barbarous indifference with which slaveholders regard the forcible sundering of husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, and the unfeeling brutality indicated by the language in which they describe the efforts made by the slaves, in their yearnings after those from whom they have been torn away, reveals a ’public opinion’ towards them as dead to their agony as if they were cattle.  It is well nigh impossible to open a southern paper without finding evidence of this.  Though the truth of this assertion can hardly be called in question, we subjoin a few illustrations, and could easily give hundreds.

From the “Savannah Georgian,” Jan. 17, 1839. “$100 reward will be given for my two fellows, Abram and Frank.  Abram has a wife at Colonel Stewart’s, in Liberty county, and a sister in Savannah, at Capt.  Grovenstine’s.  Frank has a wife at Mr. Le Cont’s, Liberty county; a mother at Thunderbolt, and a sister in Savannah.

WM. ROBARTS.  Wallhourville, 5th Jan. 1839”

From the “Lexington (Ky.) Intelligencer.”  July 7, 1838.

“$160 Reward.—­Ranaway from the subscribers living in this city, on Saturday 16th inst. a negro man, named Dick, about 37 years of age.  It is highly probable said boy will make for New Orleans as he has a wife living in that city, and he has been heard to say frequently that he was determined to go to New Orleans.

“DRAKE C. THOMPSON.  “Lexington, June 17, 1838”

From the “Southern Argus,” Oct. 31, 1837.

“Runaway—­my negro man, Frederick, about 20 years of age.  He is no doubt near the plantation of G.W.  Corprew, Esq of Noxubbee County, Mississippi, as his wife belongs to that gentleman, and he followed her from my residence.  The above reward will be paid to any one who will confine him in jail and inform me of it at Athens, Ala.  “Athens, Alabama.  KERKMAN LEWIS.”

From the “Savannah Georgian,” July 8, 1837.

“Ran away from the subscriber, his man Joe.  He visits the city occasionally, where he has been harbored by his mother and sister.  I will give one hundred dollars for proof sufficient to convict his harborers.  R.P.T.  MONGIN.”

The “Macon (Georgia) Messenger,” Nov. 23, 1837, has the following:—­

“$25 Reward.—­Ran away, a negro man, named Cain.  He was brought from Florida, and has a wife near Mariana, and probably will attempt to make his way there.  H.L.  COOK.”

From the “Richmond (Va.) Whig,” July 25, 1837.

“Absconded from the subscriber, a negro man, by the name of Wilson.  He was born in the county of New Kent, and raised by a gentleman named Ratliffe, and by him sold to a gentleman named Taylor, on whose farm he had a wife and several children.  Mr. Taylor sold him to a Mr. Slater, who, in consequence of removing to Alabama, Wilson left; and when retaken was sold, and afterwards purchased, by his present owner, from T. McCargo and Co. of Richmond.”