Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-05


raised from the ground; many have glass Windows; not
few are built with considerable painted white
washed and having gardens attached them, display, h
whole an air of comfort which often compares avorsby witt
that Of the cottages around the great manufacturing establish
nents Of the North In general each family has cabin
itself II its inmates lie hard is hardship to them for
having been accustomed from childhood they do not su
fer while in warm climate hard beds are healthier, ant
give greater rmness of constitution than softer lodgings
q CIorHrSa-Over all the Northern slave States th,
clothing Of slaves is far superior what il forty, thirty
or even twenty years ago. and may be said the WHOLE
be comfortable Masters have length discovered that I
the higher situdes insufficient clothing is
But this be an interested motive 1t is the result Of bets
knowledge and if experience lead to amelioraton 1t is h.
same 10 the slave as if higher motive prompted the change
In the South but thin clothing is for the greater part Of the
year required and all that is necessary health and como
is in general supplied OF this, the North should be convnc
ed as she for many years. has been the chief manufacturer
Of the negro clothing Of the South.
g. DIEr-Throughout the Northern Slave States, the diet
Of the blacks its substantial elements, is nearly the
with that Of their masters. BY restricted to few
articles nor with few exceptions, reduced below the
proper quantity This far from being the in former
times In the South, the diet s simple and uniform
always excepting, however, that Of the domestic slaves who
participate less in the varieties Of the family table
Fifty sixty years since, in Maryland, Virginia, the Caro-
linas and Georgia. the diet Of the field slaves generally
little else than rice or unground Indian corn, with such fish
they might happen CATCH The States Of the Southwes
did not then exist Louisiana and Florida that ms
European colonies and their slaves fed still thar
those of the States Just enumerated At this time the diet ID
those States much subsantal but that in the States
of Mississippi Alabama, Losisans. and Floids, say moth
ing of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri is better STILL
If any planter in those States be known withhold from
his slaves he is only desped by his neghbos but
the risk of being indicted After extensive and careful per-
sona inquiry, and the comparison Of multitude Of state-
men have asceraned that the practice in the States in the
Southwest to give the adult slave from three to three and
half pounds of saed pork week. If fall below that
amount, others rise above it. OF bread they have any
quantity they desire. But these staples by make
he whole Of their diet Those who live the rivers
he shores Of the gulf frequent meals of fish, and almost
svery cabin has may have, its poultry yard, from which
ample supplies of eggs and chickens obtained On many
plantations this branch Of rural economy is indeed
,ozed by the slaves that the mistress obliged to purchase
eggs and poultry from them. Still further, when the
annual takes place, much Of the lard and those
'arts Of the hog which not fit for picking smoking fall
the slave and these both augment and diversity his ami
noi OI raising MS own
nd thus enoyng whenever he chooses cherished u1ury
or be is not like the Irish peasant under the necessity Of
aging landlords bill with the faed shoat OF cu-
vegetables such cabbage and the common and sweet
'tato he has may have, in general an abundant supply
o with some exceptions both ground and time are furnish
for their cultivation. Of uxures he not altogether des-
ute Molasses in general use the plantations and
makes an important part of the chdrens food Coffee and
have Of late been extensively supplied and the pac-
is every day becoming general Masters are seek
by the Of Coffee diminish the candesne resort to
rdent spirits It is moreover regarded Of sautary inu-
nee health, and many plantations is served to those
Who, in summer and autumn exposed early in the morn
to the chilling dews which drip from the tall cotton plants
joe tea, sugar. aspice and wheaton -four are moever
occasional uIures with which the slave may supply him
elf and the planter is considered hard master who will
lot afford his slave the opportunity Of earning the means Of
making annual purchase Of those articles One Of the re-
ources for this purpose is the poultry yard but the chief
certain participation in the profits Of the cotton crop
privilege OF cultvatng spot OF land in potatoes Indian corn
cotton, for his own benefit sbong beyond his task for
which he paid in money The former he sells in the
eghbohood the latter goes market with the general crop
md considered point of honor for the to manage
be sale and the appropriation Of the proceeds with fidelity
Esq, Of Louisville the executor Of The will Of his father
hemp grower Of Kenucky Among the papers Of the es-
ate he found memorandum book, in which entered
he earned by the slaves Of the deceased ia breaking out
he crop Of hemp through the preceding winter each Of them
having worked beyond his task The amount thus entered
was three hundred dollars Mr. Speed paid it. and in closing
his e1ecuoshp before Chancellor Bbb now of Washington
the Judge allowed the account and all the heirs acques-
ced in the decision Of the slaves had no legal claim
on their masters estate. When in South Alabama in the
year s43 spent day the plantation Of Governor Ft1-
patrick They were engaged in pressing and bang cotton.
Towards night that Of his own, and the slaves Of an aon-
Ing plantation, brought forward. The packing was e
ected with horsepower and while the excited owners were
huryng on the horses the shaft of the press was broken
MY first impression was that threats or punishment would
follow and watched the Governors countenance but il nm
defwent no change except that of sympathy their embar
rasment, and be did utter single hasy expression
The negro always dictates to his what shall be pu
chased in New Orleans or Mobile with the proceeds of the
sale and in addition the articles Of diet which have bee
mentioned broadco'h Sunday coat and silk Dress as
nearly possible in the fashion Of those worn by the master
and mistress, are the articles most coveted .
1. ToBAcco AND WHsKEr.--Tobacco is in general mo
among the negroes Of all the slave States which have
and less unayorable their constitutions than 10
Many cultivate it, purchase it. and others are furnished
with by their Whskey almost universally sonoht
after. In this appee above all Others the negro shows bis
identity with the white If make veiant effort,
keep whiskey from their slaves Of the North who are
the professed friends Of temperance should complain The
exclusion, however, 10 BY total and hence many
slaves punished either for drunkenness for msee