Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-03-02


kindly interest IN these people, have cupir
80 much ct the letter ns relates To them. an
'h"li DC gralihed II you will give It an inser
'ioh. am. very truly,
Il Your hIcnd aud servant,
4 n. =. DODGE,
! .3gt Er. Com. Il. {. s.
| NASHVILLE, Tenn, Jan. II l., 1913.
| Ny Dew SI:-I have jus, returned from
visit 10 MIR. Browns plantation, aud ! cal
truly say, that never felt more interested il
any class "i persons, than have in ihcs,
slaves, 10 whom he has offered their freedom
whenever they can sail for Liberia. Lei me
describe To you visit of the last three DAYS
which have been making nj the plantation.
II drnvc ont 10 Mr. Browns which is some
'M miles from town, last "Wednesday even
lng, ON on invitation had received several
sceks ago. The old gentleman me, me upon
the piazzn, and extending his hand To me.
Nald with great corlialny, $50 you have come
to see the boys, ch! well, I'm glad to see you !!
walk in" ] followed him into the house.
winch Is one "f those long. dingy donlciles
n which u southwestern planirr delights To-
abide. turriled and piazzard from gronndsi
To raf,er, and surrounded by lab, rin'h oi
kilchens, cnbns und cottages. The court in
front Of the mansion consists of n broad es-
planade, hcdged IN by Wild oranae trees and
ligustrinns. and iasiefully laid out into par
i'rrcs aud walks beneath the broad oaks.
which are, you know, the glory oi Tennessee.
bchlhd the mansion, the ground Slopes Ia
wards small slrcanlci which waters the
plantation, along the banks %; " hirh stand the
cottages of the servants, all neatly white
washed. aud "ach The centre of little enclo-
sure which Is used aS garden by The occu
pants. The tom ensemble of The whole esisb
Ish'nrni is among the very finest Of the c"un-
try, aud though many N the suburbs of III.
town boast more evidence of wealth in the
adnrnmen's around them. have never visited
a homestead "f more simple. gnlct beauty.
'hah Is apparent IN tins Of Mr.. Brown.
II wns, however. with the internal nrrnnge.
Inents OF the plantation aud It's labnrrrs thai
i"lt The most interest, and remember never
to have spout n more delightful evening. than
dId ~ converslng with my aged host upon
HE entire success with which his plan for I
he benefit of his slaves has been attended -
i was ~ 1887 that he first determined Ia III
h"in Tor emancipation, and, during the five
'ears which have since elapsed. he has sirad H
y pursued his purpose. Ills experience If
he effect Which his plan Of improvement hns
'ad upon them IL exceedingly interesting
ma corresponds very nearly with Med.
'ougb'-, whose nnireHe account | dare saw
'"n have seen. The very knowrdyc Moi
hfy Tere 10 be Geed has seemed To act upon
hem with kind of magic power. and the
description "i the change whlci, immediately
"ok place IN their habits Of labor, ol nraincss.
t dress, at seliresp"rt. was interesting to
NJ IN the extreme. Although five years ago,
oi solitary individual among The field hands
ould read, aud but two among the house
civanis, there are now not ten among the
'h"le number of adults who comet rend amt
Tne, and not n solitary one Of them who
nnnot aud does no, read The word of (;nd.-
regard the whole plan, from IT. brginnng y
It's compete success, 10 be iraught with
"menous consequences Ia the insiIiuiions :
the South, aud when these servants shall ="
I'VE lett him, whether he live n score of y
'ars, or his memory only shall survive, be- =
we hls example will be bcacun-liyht 10 -
cry STAKEHOLDER in Tennessee. Meantime I"
At tins change has bccn going nn. great op- - :,
sltIon has been made 10 II, and that too by
Z nearest relations Of Mr.. Brown. Ofihls
does not say much himself, aud yet il Is "
ell known that the heirs of his property :,
'ud oppose IT'S diversion from ,hrin.rlvrs To ~
g last iarihing. should lIc die before his IN. ,
nlions are fully completed. do not pro-
S. |" be an ah"llloh'si, and yet from what "
have seen of these slaves, from the c0nycr. -
tons have had with Mr. Brown, from the ~
Pcc'aionS which have been excited in their ~
'ns's, and from the rrvhilnn they have M w
ned above their fellows in the State. :"
pnld pronounce II To b" n burning, arrursrd "'
ame.-a shane infinitely iouler than Ia W
nj sixty-eighi native Africans FROM the >"
niincnt aud sell them To tie BrazilS.
ntlnn" these people ~ bondage, or. worsr ""
~ all, To sell them, as they would be sold, w
q distant State. WI
f.,
There is one very interesting fact con. of
;t"d with these operations of Mr. Brown pa
rh reflects most high honor upon his too
'rncicr. Though not man of wealth. mn
je from his plantation and servants, hr had sa,
~ eXprnding his income ~ purchasing the brr
ilrcs his slaves had upon neiphburinp dire
ninfIons, so that now not n single separa Ices
! will be made in families, when they shall apr
'c the country. the
might 90 on aud tell you The accounts of Wv. ~"
own conversations with these people, but .,' au'
nr To weary You. let one incident suffice. '' Wv
SECOND mornlng Uf my visit had Come ...
! bland aud fragrant atmos phere To- my ,' wv
nbcr, and had risen early, even for the u' ,o,,
n'ry, to e,j " Iis beauty. As passed .u aI
, the courtyard to the fields, | was SUI ',"'
'd To see no one Of the laborcrs abroad, A.
had met any within the house. Saun- "'
W along the banks of the brook. and nd
ng the air ut neainess winch seemed to {
ad itself over those sleeping cottages, ! bile
g suddenly upon n copse of cvcrgreens. shire
which thought the sound of human thra
Q procncd'd Stepping quietly along, | TIVE
d soon see that lar q group Of ncprnrs 80 n
, gathered under the trees, aud, shelter mer
myself behind large hcmlnck. | wit. ia,,.
cd scene winch can never fnruct.- will
the servants, as suppose, were seated soma
circle around one " lIo was reading to
, from the Bible. Ii was q momen, be 4,
he closed, and shutting the book and .c :,
ren'ly saying. "lei us prny," all thai m,s
> nss' mbly, composed of men and women ,hy',
children, knoli before their Maker. Ia ~
hun ihrrc. under the open skv, ~ the ,''e.
m"rnlng, their simple tribute OF thanks. I'yin
y. 49," 49,.