Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-04-10
Things in Virginia.
From Correspondent of the Free Presbyterian.

AUGUSTA Co., Va, March 13, 1852.
In company with friend, left Stnun,on
the capital of Augusta county, for village
called Mt. Solon, some six miles from one
Of the ranges of mountains that surround
this section Of Virginia. They cover hun
dreds Of thousands Of acrss, which, judge
will never be brought under cultivation
They ure used, however, very extensively,
for grazing cattle, large numbers Of which
are driven TO them in the spring, and gather
ed up in the fall.
spent the Sabbath at Mt Solon; and in
the morning observing small, but very nent
church building, inquired of the lady of
the house to what denomination II belonged.
The reply was, TO the NJ. T.. Church North.
! asked if Shareholders we're admitted to
membership. Yes was, the reply. ! OBJ
served that with us, the impression was en-
deavored TO be made that this branch Of the
church had little or no connection with sla-
very. She replied that here it made no di-
ference; that shareholders continued in mem
bership, and that when the division took
place, the ministers here went round with
paper, and got the members to sign a pledge,
that they would stay with the Church North,
assuring them that there was no occasion for
leaving, as they occupied the same ground as
before their separation.
RICHMOND, March %.
We left Stanton at 3 o'clock; and distant
about fifteen miles, came to the Blue Ridge.
Through this the Central Railroad is to pass
aud they arc now tunneling it for this pur-
pose. The tunnel, when finished, will be
1000 feet in length, and through very hard
rock. They are driving the work night aud
day, from both sides Of the mountain. AS it
runs close by the road, we went into it OH
the side where we approached, u distance of
about three hundred feet 1t is a most for
miduble undertaking; aud shows that the
spirit of enterprise is not altogether dead IN
Virginia. She has commenced too late in
the day with her improvements to change
the current of trade. She once had the van
tage ground, but she has lost it--tlIinking it
more beneficial TO cherish her "peculiar in
stitution" of slavery, aud to sing praises TO
her famous "resoutions of YS." AS a
thought suggested here, IN conversation with
an editor of one of the city papers, he told
me that, being down at Yorktown few days
since, lie saw the old building yet standing
through which the New York merchants for
mery received their goods. Whit n con-
trnst is now presented!
AT Charlottesville, we took the cars at
o'clock, on the l9lh, for Richmond, distant
81 miles. We did not pass, in the whole
distance, village containing dozen houses;
and neither life nor activity appeared in them.
The improvements in the country, with rnrc
exceptions, are slovenly, and unpleasant TO
the eye; und wherever anything of good
building does present itself, il is surrounded
by a number of uiseemly log huts-tle res
licences of the slaves of the owner of the
plantation.
The external appearance of Richmond i'm
pressed nc very fhvorahly; und in muny
things, this favorable impression was rather
increased. There is benuty and taste dis
played in very many of the buildings, botll
public aud private, which have rarely seen
cqualled. There is great deal of wealth
here, and those who possess it willingly ex-
pend il for public display.
Observing in one of the daily papers that
a slave sale was to take place on Saturday
morning, at Hills auction rooms, l went
down to visit il. When l arrived there,
found the room pretty well filled with men
who had assembled TO speculate in the bo.
dies and souls Of their fellows; and obser-
wing n crowd in one corner, between which
and the street door screen was placed,
stepped up, when saw young Negro man
stripped TO the shirt, and, amid the ieers o.
traders, examined in manner too revolving
to iehearse except it were in papers publish
ed IN a community where such things are
desired, sex forms no barrier. The auctioneeI
announcing that the hour of sale having ar
rived, man slave, aged about 20 or 25, wa:
placed upon the block; and the crier com
menced with enumerating his good qualities
and asked for bid. $500 was the first Of
fercd, aud soon run up to 5000; then to 500
lie was then ordered to get down and wall
across the room and back again; and severa
came up asking questions, and examining
his teeth, as horse jockey would the hors
he was bidding for. lie again mounted tn
block; and bidding continued until $500 WA
offered. lie was again ordered down, and
similar course of examination took place.
lie was finally knocked off at $500. Mex
came lad aged about l5. The same pre-
cess was gone through with, as with the frs
aud he was knocked of at $685.. Next cam
girl Of l8 to 20; the sane routine of exh
bition and examination gone through will
and knocked off at $605. Whether the
were bought for transportation or not, di
not learn: These closed the sale for that da
the number being unusually small.
My feelings were shocked at the indecer
cies exhibited, and the perfect henrtlessnes
attending the sale; But these were only III
appendages; the crowning sin, 10 my mint
was the trafiic-the placing Of an immorii
being upon the stand, and selling him MS
brute beast. And yet these results grow OF
Of the system itself. Establish the proport
relation as right ard just, aud il have
right to hold, have equally the right TO bu
and sell, and this makes really no difference
whether transacted in public or private
whether singly or by the hundred. Aud whl
Witnessed was slavery as it exists by Law
as practiced in accordance with law; and u
such, declared by one popular church I
"iorm no bar TO Christian communion" an
with which almost all the popular churche
are in fra,erna embrace. Stranger still, man