Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-02-26
Society in Kentucky.
Correspondence IF Me ohio Observer.

DONlNtl III hIHluthN'
Correspondence IF the Ohio Observer.
For fifteen or twenty niles south of Gin
cinnati the country has been long settled,
with many good buildings and much appear
ance of wealth. From that towards LeXinr-
ton Is about as new as Lorain or the more
southern parts of Ashtabuia county. The
section. though billy, is quite pleasant and
very fertile. The land is divided into farms
about as it is on the Reserve, and they are
generally paid for. But the poorest class of
people there have more of the comforts Of life
than are enjoyed by the common farmers
here. Nhena kenluckiau buildsa log house
he cOn,emplates it as a residence for life
For warmth he depends more upon a large
fire than a tight building. Convenience en-
tiers very little into his calculations. For the
first time within the last thirty years, | have
had a drink Of water brought to me in gourd
shell.
In point Of education and general i%ntelli-
gence the common people here are lar below
any part Of Ohio that ! have seen. Judging
from the houses that | have visited, not one
family in ten take a periodical of any kind.
The most prominent vice | have Witnessed is
profanity. Spirit drinking is very common,
though | have seen no person disguised with
liquor. No people, probably, are more kind,
social and hospitable to strangers.
Slavery is found here in as mild n form as
any where in the United States. Very few
own more Than one family Of slaves, and pro-
vision being abundant, there is no induce
ment to stint them in their food. Those who
do not now own them will not buy, because
the 'down river trader" will pay more than
any one can afford to give here, and risk their
escape. When a family increases beyond
profitable employment, a part ale sold of 10
the dealers in human flesh. they will buy
those only between twenty and fifty years Of
age, Some hcart-rending separations must
of course take place. have often been told
botl in Ohio and Kentucky, that the slaves
hcrs are better conditioned than the colorcd
pebble in the free States-that they fare as
we Hrs their masters, or their hired people at
the most and that with few exceptions they
are as contented and happy as any other class
Of people. But when different parties are
concerned, it is well to hear beth Sides
Seeing a slave thSt appeared 10 feel very well,
asked him if he had a kind master. Look
ing TO see if any one was within hearing, he
replied, "bout middlin'." | then asked him
if the slaves here were generally well treat
ed. With some pleasantly he replied that,
"if hard work and no pay was good treat
ment, they had plenty Of it,"
became very much interested in a slave
at another house, apparently about fifty years
Of age. He had travelled considerably with
his master, and for an uneducated man was
quite intelligent. His wife and child was
owned by another man, four miles Distant
His master was kind to him, and he had nc
T.,r, - I,;,r ralI 4. lii - tI,,l. Ii
children would be but said he could not tel
what might take place. | asked his opinion
as 10 what the slaves would do, if enamel.
pated. He said he believed that it would be
with them Just as it would be with the white
well. They would have a greater induce
ment to labor then, because they would have
the benefit of it. For himself, he knew that
if free, he could not only get a better living
than his master gives him, but could take a
heap more comfort by living with his family.
My sympathies were touched for the poor
man, when he exhibited all the tender feel
ings for his family, that are ever seen in white
people. o how much unseen and untold
misery lies pent up in the bosom of this down
trodden race! This man has frequently been
to Ohio with his master, and knew when
there that he was free by the laws OF thai
State. But he returned because he could no
leave his family. This is one Of the very
cases so often cited to prove that when well
: treated, the slaves become attached to thel'
masters and prefer their condition to freedom
= Probe the matter to the bottom, and 1t amount;
TO nothing more than the fact that coniuga
and parental feelings predominant over th'
love of liberty.
When a slave is full fed, comfortably cloth
ed, not over-worked, has his p%asiimes an'
holidays, he is supposed 10 be as happy az
his nature will admit. This is the secret o
all that good treatment Of which we hear 81
much at the north.
To see them at their daily business-a
work perhaps with their masters or mis-
t~resses, or ~mingling with the family pretty
much as the hired persons do at the north. o
enter into ordinary conversation with them
and we might suppose them to EMO.
;, life about the same as other people. But 81
down BY the side of a slave, and yet him /
! open his heart to you, and you will find
; qnawing worm in his bosom. He know
. that by being robbed Of his liberty he is abu'
ed and dcgraded. The happiness of the slav
: here is only Of the negative kind-mere eN
! emption from bodily suliorings. As far as
; can learn, they are seldom whipped, an
: generally sufficiently clothed to protect thel
, from the weather. To the latter remarl
y however, I have seen some very sad eXceI
: lions. Their common clothing is general
= dirty, ragged, or very much patched. Tai
II any class Of females and c%onfine them TO sue
. apparel as is worn by the black women her
: aud they will soon lose their self-respect an
sink into degradation.
| have heard no man in Kentucky speak
= tina subject, but wishes that slavery did n