Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-04-20


some further conversation, into which he
seemed 10 enter with much freedom, ! again
OF served that | had no intention of purcha-
sing but wished TO see for my own gratlica-
ton, his establishment, if he had no obiec-
tons. None at all, sir and with that he
went TO a window on one side of the room,
opened the shutters-threw up the sash and
invited me to look out. This is our pen
sir Here continued he, while ! survey
ed an area Of about 40 feet square, enclosed
partly by the walls Of the outbuilding, and
partly by high Jail walls built for the pur-
pose, here we allow them to take exercise
and the children TO play As it was very
cold, the pen was empty. They were all
down in the cellar, the agent said. | asked
to 90 down and see them. He accordingly
led the way through a winding passage into
a temporary enclosure, which communicates
with the pen lie took out Of his pocket
a key, and opened a door which led US into
the cellar Here, in an apartment of about
25 feet square, were about 80 slaves of all
ayes, sizes and colors. | noticed one girl Of
about twelve years Of age, who seemed quite
| white, and another a little child about two
years old, of the same shade, and one OF the
most beautiful children ! ever saw. The
very small children were gamboling about,
unconscious of their situation but those OF
more advanced age were the most melancho-
ly looking beings. The wishful, inquiring.
anxious looks they cast at me (presuming,
suppose, that | came as a purchaser) were
hard TO end IRE. soon deserted the father
and his family, that saw torn away from
their former home, the day before. Where
is your master taking you 9 said the agent to
the man, in answer TO a question Of mine
put TO him, Of the same import: TO Alaba-
ma believe they call it, said the man in
tones of the deepest sadness. His wife sat
beside the stove nursing the infant, and never
once looked up all the time we were in
Not feeling at liberty TO ask questions Of
these poor things, ] soon turned away. lie
then led me TO two other apartments Of about
the same size one Of them not now used,
the other appropriated as a sleeping apart
ment TO the females. DO all OF these per-
sons sleep down in that cellar! 2 Yes, sir
all the males they lie upon the floor
each one has got a couple of blankets bot
will that room accommodate so many = 20
Lord, yes, sir, three times as many last
year we had as many as l39 in these three
rooms ! could hardly see how this was
possible without their lying on top Of each
other. We'll very few, you say of thes'
persons belong 10 you.' only a few, sir
most Of them are put here by other gentle
men. You see, we can afford 10 keep then
for nine cents apiece cheaper than they cal
at the iaill What is your charge 2 '2i
cents a day for all except children at tn
breast He then showed me a table at on,
side Of the enclosure, where their meals werl
served up. 1t was in the open air, with NJ
other protection than a covering from tn
storm. IN answer TO my inquiries he told m
that they took their meals in the open air
summer and winter. But said !. 'don
they suffer very much from the cold {
Lord, no sir, they squat down and eat thei
food in ten minutes. We give them plent
of substantial food, herring, coffee sweeten
ed with molasses, and corn bread How
many meals do you give them in a day -
Two, siI-one at 9 O'Clock, and the othe
al 81
After a good many other questions and an
swers which | have either forgotten, or deem
unnecessary to mention, we returned 10 tn
room in which | was first introduced, upol
coming 10 the house and taking seats by tn
fire we continued our conversation. ] havl
no room for None, however, i
necessary. The guilt the shame the heart
lessness ! the hypocrjsy OF this nation will b
thoughts which will naturally crowd them
selves upon the minds of your readers
These are some Of The denominations that eX
isl in the District of Columbia! the nationa
domain of the American REPUBLIC! With
sight of the Capitol and under the stars an
stripes OF our national hag!-
"The fustian flag that proudly waves
In solemn mockeTy DER a LAND OF SLAVES!
am sorry ] cannot give you a full deia
r Of all my conversation with the keeper Of Il
5 slave-prison and Of all the facts he related
= me; for the whole was TO me, and ] dou
not, wonld have been 10 your readers, reple
: with interest. But much of the informaii
d ! received apperlalned TO the HcentiousneSS
S the system of slavery. Delicacy foIbids q
e going into detail on this subject. Suffice
to say that the shameless licentiousne
e which this deleslable system engenders,
IT a moral necessity, among slaves and maste
is not known to, ANA would utterly astonl
ut abolitionists themselves.
N DO the slaves never break out Of your {
| Enlistment and escape? said l.. Very 81
= dom, sir. We have very little trouble
lie that way, sir, with any Of them, unless nc
c. and then one becomes desperate 'Thry
ne sometimes become desperate, then, do they
I'd Not often; sir. There has only one g
a of since I've been here. lie was a tello
o. that a gentleman bought Lear Hagerstow
1t and brought here. He allowed him TO
I'd ont in the city, and drive his coach, and !
of him have a good deal of liberty. Mr.. Bir'
he told him il wouldn't do, and that he won
&c get of from him. Oh, no danger, said
! owner; Biily's a good boy-he'll not lea
ne me. &C., &c. So Mr.. Birch let him Ia
n, his own way. lie was a stupid sleepy loo
tn ing. fellow-looked as il he hadn't sense
Is ough to run of. But one day he cleaI
in out. Surprising that he would go back
N the neighborhood Of Hagerstown, where
L. had left his sweetheart, they went there a
'h him. They tracked him to his old masl'
no house, bat couldn't catch him for two
r.. three weeks. They knew he was lying