Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-08-27

yield which they call their own-for often
they ''squat," as the phrase is, on the States
or others property-i it is difficult to say
But the best of it, on the average, would not
return ten bushels of corn TO the acre the
most Of it not FIVE. They grow sweet pota-
toes, melons, a little cotton for home use, and
now and then a bag. or half a bag for market.
But things are where they are, and as they
are, because slavery, with its biting social
ills, beat them away from a richer soil, and
keeps them hopelessIy down and debased on
the barren hills.
What are their peculiarities Of mind
The fact, that they left the neighborhood
Of large plantations, and sought a sort of
wildwood liberty, shows that they have
some notions of personal freedom. They
have. But they are very crude. 1t was their
condition which induced us to think first on
the subject of slavery, and we endeavored, in
conjunction with the lamented CRIME, to
hit upon some plan by which we could i'm
prove this. We sought them out in their
hovel-homes. We endeavored to win their
regard, and secure their confidence. We
succeeded in this, but we failed, wholly, in
every effort to induce them to change their
mode of life. The ruling idea uppermost in
their minds seemed to be, hatred gf MbDr,
under the conviction, that it degraded them.
because it put them on an equality with the
slaves. An anecdote will illustrate this fee
ling.
One Of their number had a fine intelligent
boy. lie was one that would have attracted
notice in any boyhood gathering. We propo-
sed to the father that he should be educated
"Let him go with us to town." said we,
"and we will send him to school, and see
what can be done with him"
And what them" asked he, eyeing us, as
if suspicious that something wrong was 10
follow.
"Why," we continued, "when he has been
educated, we can send him to the carriage
maker, Mr.. c., and let him learn a trade !"
"Never," he quickly, almost ferceIy, re-
Joined, with a harsh oath. my son shall
never work by the side Of your negroes, and
Mr.. IS negroes, calling certain plar-
tiers names whose slaves were being taught
the trade,) and be ordered about by Mr.. G..
as he orders them about"
He was fixed. No argument, entreaty,
appeal 10 interest, could move him. The idea
uppermost in his mind was the idea of his
ciass-that labor was degrading; and he
would rather his son should be free in the
forest, if ignorant. than debased in the city
though educated, by a mental task.
What hope is there for theml
We see none. Nothing, certainly, but the
removal of slavery can induce them 10 change
their present condition. They will not labor
in the field while they think it degrading
nor become ~artizans or mechanics while
slaves are such. And as for educating them,
scattered as they are, the effort seems almost
hopeless! Up and down the river where
these "poor laborers," that the South Carroll
ma paper talks of, live, and all around George
town, there are large rice and cotton estates,
Many of the owners of them are very veal
thy a majority rich. Yet there is no sort o
connection, or sympathy, between these plan
tiers and the sand-hi!lers! They are as IA
apart as two races well can be. We speal
r now of social separation for we are sure tn
a moment they heard the ''poor laborers" wer
starving. these planters did what was neces
sary, and more, to relieve their wants. But
we fear, coming time will find them as they
are now-alone, ignorant, degraded, the vic
tins of blighting curse!
The condition of these sand-hillers illus
trates the effect of slavery in its extreme, o
when pushed 10 its farthest limit. Take on,
town, near the centre of South Carolina, ant
make a line for ten miles south of it alon!
the river on one side, looking three mile
back, and we question whether you will fin
over ten planters! They have each from on
hundred to two, three, four or five hundre
, slaves! Many of these slaves, too, are me
chanics Necessarily, therefore, the town
wane, the poor classes emigrate, as well a
the young and enterprising and the igno
ant, or sand-hill class, escape to the barreT
for freedom! according to their notion of i
SO much for the ''poor laborers' of Blac
, River and its neighborhood for the unfort,
! nate sand-hillers Of the Carolinas !-LouiSvil
: Exam.