Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-04-04
BAYOU SARA PLANTATION, }
March 4th, 1851. (

BAYOU SARA PLANTATION, I
March 4th, 1851.
To the Editor ofthe Telegraph.
Dear Sir As | have heard great deal
said by our northern friends in behalf of the
slave, and Notwithstanding so much has been
said, if they could have witnessed the reality of
their degraded condition, as have, their SYM
pathes would be moved afresh, and new i'm
pulse would compel them to agtate more thor
oughly this question, till the curse of slavery
would be eftectuay removed from the nation
wish to give you correct account of things
as | witnessed them on two different sugar plan
tations in Louisiana ; remained on the one
about weeks, on the other, about months
working at my trade On these plantations,
there are about $40 slaves. A great deal is
said in the North about how we'll the slaves are
used. AS far as my experience goes, am OBJ
llged to say they arc very cruelty treated ; they
are worked Is hours out of 81, Sundays not ex-
copied. Their rations are one peck OF corn meal
and four pounds of pork per week, TO each hand,
and that is all they get
They are miscrably clad, and live in very filthy
state, never having clothes for an exchange
The women are compelled to do all kinds of
work that the men do they drive, do the plow-
ing, rail-sphtting, wood-chopping, and logging.
4 great many of the slaves are three-fourths
white; | noticed one, in particular, with blue
eyes, straight light hair, ana white the
majority of white people. None of all that null
titudc, Except onc,) could read or write few
knew their ages. Their children are very nu-
merous they are never allowed to leave the
plantation without pass On the first planta-
ton at which | stopped, man stripped and
whipped every two or three days in the most
cruel manner, and this, too, for the most trifing
offences, such as falling asleep when overcome
bv fatigue, &c, &c. The second day came
on to that plantation, there were five whipped );
sometimes they would tic their feet and hands
together at other times they would stretch them
out by their arms and legs, and then whip with
out mercy. About week after | came here,
one of the negroes ran away they set two;
packs of blood hounds after him, and caught him
in the second days chase. The hounds had torn
him almost to pieces called to see him the
next day he is ravingly insane from his mise
ry, and cannot live long. The other day wit
messed a sight which will haunt me like spec
tire, the rest of my life heard the crack OF the
drivers whip, and with il there were mingled
the groaas of a slave. Oh God, what sound
summoned tho energies of my sickened soul,
and determined to SEE the narrowing sight the
driver had one OF the negroes stripped, and tied
down to the floor, and he was whipping in
manner that would put a devil to the blush, while
the negro, in most piteous and beseeching ac-
cents was begging for mercy. He gave him
one hundred and tifty-nine lashes. and the floor
was streaming with human gore But this did
not satisfy this impersonaton of brutality He
ordered HIM united, aud then had large oaken
barrel brought, ont of which the heads were ia
ken; hole was made in one head just the size
Of the negro's neck which was inserted in the
opening, and then the heads were closed togeth-
er and replaced in the chimes of the barrel, the
hoops were then driven hard, and he was COM
PEELED to carry the barrel the res; of the day, by
which, of course, he was deprived of the priyi-
lege of sitting or lying down. or rest in any po-
sition. He is now sick abed but the slaves
are treated better than white folks are at the
North" The drivers always carry their whip
and six shooter. 1t is unsafe for man to open
his head in compassion for the slave, however
cruelty and unjusty he is punished. There is
man here now from Cleveland, who expressed
his sentiments on tho subject of slavery; the
next day they had him arrested, and proved
enough against him to commit him for trial
He is now in Jail at Baton Rouge. He has
wife and family in Cleveland.
Yours truly, J. B. Jr.
This Is not an nl9 stnrr. II nccrrrnI Lat