Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-03-26

The American Siacs Code IN theory and prac-
tice; Hs distinctive features shoDn BY its stat.
utss, judicial decisions and Wpstratice ftcts--
By William GoodeK Nep York, American
and Foreign AHG. Siarery Society.
This is the book of which we announced the
publication few weeks since II presents the
system,as legal "institution" in its true, start
ling and abhorrent aspect. 1t is book to be
used by abolitionists, and should be read by the
nation. II is no fiction, and deals not in fancy
or exaggeration. 1t quotes from statutes and
judicial decisions, ano illustrates the working of
the Code by well nttcsted facts-facts as revolt.
ing to humanity as any of the details of Uncle
Toms Cabin, and well attesting its fidelity.
The following extract will show something
of the character of the work. The author is
illustrating the primary maxims Of the Slave
Code, that "Me end Of siarcry is ihe pro6t of
the master" "That the Stare is one doomed to toll
that others may reap The fruits"
He says:-
at will be easy to show that in this use of
slave property, in some of the slave States, it
is systematically and deliberately so used ns to
be used up, and destroyed in a manner that
would be shameful and wicked, even If brute
! beasts were the victims.
"Dr. Demming, gentleman Of high rcspec-
liability residing in Ashland, Richland county,
Ohio, stated to Prof. Wright, at New York
city:
! "'That during q recent tour at the South,
while ascending the Ohio river on the steam
boat Fame, he had an opportunity of convers-
ing with a MIR. Dickinson, a resident of Pitts
burgh, in company with a number of cotton
planters and slave dealers from Louisiana,
Alabamn,a and Mississippi, Mr.. Dickinson stated
as fact, that the sugar planters upon the sugar
coast in Louisiana had asccrtoincd that, as it
was usually necessary to employ about t,ciee
tho amount Of labor during tho boiling season
that was required during tho season of raising,
they could by excessive driring day and night,
during the boiling season, accomplish the whole
labor icih one set Of hands. By pursuing this
plan they could afford TO sacrifice one set of hands
once in seren years! He further stated, that
this horrible system was now practiscd to con-
siderable extent The correctness OF this state
ment was substantially admitted by the slave
holders then on board" (weld's :" Slavery as
it is" p. 3o)
"' The late Mr.. Samuel Blackwell a highly
respected citizen of Jersey City, opposite the
city of New. York, and a member or the Pres
bytc;ian Church, visited many of the sugar
plantations in Louisiana, and says: That
the planters generally declared to him that they
were Obliged so to ovcrwork their slaves, during
the sugar-making season. (from eight to ten
weeks), as to USE THEM UP u, serea or eiqht
years. For, said they, after the process is COM
menced, it must be pushed without cessation,
night and day, and we cannot afford to keep a |
sufficient number of slaves to do the extra work
at the time of sugar making, as we could not |
profta6Iy employ them the rest of the year.
Rev. DIR. Reed, Of London, who went thro'
Kentucky. Virginia and Maryland, in the sum.
mer of 1884, gives the following testimony:
al was told, confidently, from excellent au-
morisy, that recently, at a meeting of planters
in South Carolina, the question was seriously
discussed whether the slave is more profitable |
to the owner If well fed, well clothed, and
worked lightly or, if made the most of at
once, and exhausted in some eight years. The
decision was in favor of the last alternative
That decision will, perhaps, make many shud
der. But to my mind, this is not the chief
evil The greater and principle evil is consid.
ering the slave as property. II he is only pro.
perty, and my property, then seem to have
some right to ask how may mako that proper
ty most araila6lc.'
"Other testimony might be added. South.
ern newspapers have published the proceedings
Of Agricultural Societies, in which, after dis.
CUSTOM it had been agreed that the more pro.
htable method was to use up Il gang of ne.
groes once in seven or eight years, and then
purchase fresh supply OF the dealers"