Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-22
LANCASTER, w.T9 SATURDAY, April e. 1913

many are handsome. particularly the nursery
maids. housemaids, and other domsstics, who,
In dress and person, appear as gay, as taste
full, and tidy, as The most buxom Of our lass-
les.
The term slave sounds harshly in a British
ear, and when was told by a nice lght.heart-
ed-looking girl, that she was a Stare, | could
not help regarding her with feeling of CON-
miseratlon; she, however seemed to think MOTH
ing ofthe designation, and am glad 10 believe
il is, in the State, felt in great measure as
"but name."
What had been told Of masters selling the
otfsprings of their slaves, as we would sell
lambs, the produce of our ews, found to be
totally without foundation. On the contrary
great attention is paid to the wants and COM
fort and also the moral and religious instruo-
ZION Of slave children, and any master or fam
lly acting differently towards them would be
Secuted.
| When it happens. as often i. does, that any
one owns more slaves than he himself has oc-
casion to employ, he allows them to serve in
different capacities in the employment Of other
persons. and particularly as domestic servants,
in which capacity they receive wages from the,
employers at the rate ofeight or ten dollars a
month one-half of which goes to the master
who clothes his slaves and otherwise cares
for than. In this way il happens that many
families have slave servants not their own,
but 10 whom they pay wages.
There may be masters who are tyrannical
and cruel TO their slaves, but unhappy tyran-
ny and cruelty to dependents are not peculiar
TO slave owners. believe it might be easy to
adduce auihentica ted instances Of the treatment
ofparish apprentices in free England, the atroci-
ty and horribensss of which wonld draw tears
from the eyes Of any slave owner in Virginia.
! Far am |, however, from advocating the con-
,inuance of slavery in America. There and
every where else, even under the most humane
treatment, il is debasement Of human nature,
admitting Of no redeeming quality for though
a kind master may slacken and make gentle the
bonds ia which he holds the body of his slaves
there is yet chain that letters his miad--leav-
ing it under the influence Of all the ennobling
virtues. For his, freedom alone is the reme-
dy.
No RICH, thinking man, therefore. can APP
prove Of slavery and understand none disap-
prove oft more. or with greater sincerity de-
sire its abolition than do at this moment many
of the slave owners CT Virginia and Maryland,
although mistaken policy in other States as
yetprevenis the accomplishments Of their wish
es.
10 the meantime it is gratifying to know ,ha,
in these two States, and as far as can learn
10 all others IN which slavery is tolerated, the
condition of the slave is not peculiarly subject 10
the infections ofinhumanity or liable TO any Of
the atrocious barbarties which 10 my own coun-
try are unsparingly imputed 10 slave owners
often, believe. By persons whose zeal is great.
or than their knowledge.
Al Richmond I had n f,uoprahIa onrn,,,,;,,
of con tinuing my observation Of American az
riculure. i had brought a letter to Mr..
Marx, one of two brothers of great opuIence
and consideration, the one conducting the bust.
ness Of a banker and general merchant, the 9TH
er residing on and farming their estate consist
! ing Of 500 acres Of rich aluvial soil, on James
fiver two miles out ofRichmond. was kind.
Ily invited by the banker 10 inspect The farm,
and l gladly, along with him, there visited
his brother.
found the whole under a system Of tlage,
the crops being wheat, indian corn, and clover
with considerable breadth Of oats.
had observed. from the time entered Vir-
GINA, that oats is crop much cultivated in
that State, although the produce is very poor
both 10 quantity and quality, and in most in
stances such as our farmers would think not
worth being harvested.
On Mr.. Marks farm, from the superior
quality Of the soil, the crop Of oats was bet
ter than any had seen. but still such as would
9th us, be considered miserable; and from
what had observed, and heard from Mr.. Marx,
j, was evident that the climate Of the State Is,
from its heat and drought, unfavorable TO tho
growth Of oats; for although when the seed
is imported from Britain, the first crop is pref
ty fair, yet after that it gradually degeneraies,
and accordingly the general weight of oats here
does not exceed R8 or 80 lbs. per imperial |
bushel, a weight Of grain which would no, be
mark eiable in our country.
was sorry that Mr.. Marks mode Of hus-
bandry ! conld not approve much more than
of what bad remarked, elsewhere.
His crops were no doubt rich and more
luxorian. than any had before seen but for
this it appeared 10 me he was mainly indebted /
to the superiority of the soil and climate; and |
as an instance Of his advantage 10 this respect.
may mention that saw npon his farm 100
acres Of wheat quite ripe and Intended TO be
reaped next day, the 23d ofJune.
He keeps lille or no stock ofany description, |
and fields Of clover were destined TO be plough (
ed in as manure for wheat. This clover If /.
given to stock 10 the yard would, need hard |
ly notice. have served 10 convert bis straw in- /
10 manure, Their II lying about and going 10
waste. or partially sold in the town Of Rich
moDd. whence 10 compromising return in the 4
shape Of manure is brought TO the farm.
The consequence Of this system has been to .
pinch the land TO such a degree, that this aIlu- /
vial and naturally most fertile soil, capable M
der judicious Management, Of carrying crops. /
Of, should say fifty bushels OF wheat per .
acre, produces no more than from twenty-five 4
10 thirty.