The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-19
English seamstrcss slavery

English seamstress slavery.
What ia slavery :" A slave" says Dr. Noah Webster
in his dictionary published al New York, is person
wholly subject TO the will OF anotheri one who has no
will OF his own, but whose person and services are
wholly under the Will Of snoahsr Inc Learned rex.
qu ainied with The rights oil The subDec-proceeds 10 IN
form that in the early ages OF The world prisoners oil
war were considered and treated as slaves The slaves
of modern lines" he adds, general purchased like
horses or oxen" Our own Dr. Johnson defines slave
as being :" mancipated 10 a master, not fireman.
dependant one who has lost the power OF stance
Mr. Charles Richardson, on the other hand considers
slave person who is reduced TO captivity, 10 seTv
ude, TO bondage; who is bound or compelled to serve,
labor toll for another" There is always some little
trouble about definition, and probably requires the
cobblng and filing OF more than one generation 10 pro-
duce anything like perfect one There are, however,
certain conditions OF life which any photographer would
endeavor TO include in his dTag-ne if he attempt
ing to give definition OF slavery We are all agreed
about the Uncle Toms and colored population OF the
southern States OF the American Union. they slaves
only in name but in fact kindly treated we believe,
in the majority OF instances, but still essentially slaves
When we endeayor 10 go Little further we lind our
selves considerably embarrassed. is the slave OF
his bad passions, of his lust after gain power.
But this will scarcely do; for by enarging the definition
TOO much the essence and reality OF the thing 10 be de-
fined is altogether lost.
tmayperhaps be better to begin at The other end, and
ascend from particulars to generals Granting that me
negro gangs who are worked on the cotton grounds OF
the southern States OF North America, in the sugar
plantations OF Brazil, slaves, in what way should we
speak of persons who crcumsianced IN the manner
We about 10 relate Lei US CONSIDER nen da inhao-
,,anls OF distant region-say Of New Orleansno mat
about the color OF their SKINS and then ask ourselves
what should be opinion OF nation in which such
things are tolerated They OF and the least
qualified to struggle with the hardships of their lot
Young women for the most part between 10 and 80 years
OF age rs would not deal in exaggerauons, we
would premise that take them at their busy season.
Just as writers upon American slavery careful TO
lect the OF picking and sugar-crnshng as
illustrations of their theories The young female slaves,
then. OF whom speak. worked in gangs in Ill
ventilated rooms that not ventilated at all;
for it is found by experience that if air be admitted il
brings with il "blacks" OF another kind which damage
the work upon which the seamstresses are employed
Their occupation is to from morning till night and
night till mornng-slilch. stitch, stch-wlhout pause,
without speech without smile. without sigh. In the
gray OF emorning they must De al Work-say al SIX
oclock-baving quarter of an hour allowed them for
breaking their fast The food served out 10 them is
scaniy and miserable enough, but still, in all probability
more than their ievered system can digest We do net
however wish to make out case OF starvation The sui
ferng Of another kind, equally dreadful OF endurance
piece OF dry bread is served each seamsess but still abe
mus, stitch At o'clock 20 minutes are allowed Tor
dnne-a slice of mea, and potato, with glass OF toast
and " alter to each workwoman Then again 10 work
stitch s,ch-until five o'clock when fifteen minutes
again allowed for tea The needles are then Get in motion
once more-stch, sti,ch-unl nine O'Clock. when nj
teen minutes are allowed for suPper-a piece OF dry
bread and cheese and glass Of beer From nine o'clock
at night until one, two, and three O'Clock in The morn
ing stitch, stitch the only break in this long period be-
! ing minute or two-just time enough TO swallow a
cup of strong tea which SUI piled lest the young peo
pie should feel sleepy" AT three o'clock, D. m, TO bed
at six O'clock M, out OF Il again 10 resume the du-
lies OF the following day There must be good deal oil
mono,ony in the occupation.
But when have said that for certain months in the
year these unfortunate young persons are worked In the
manner we describe, have not said all Even du-
ring the few hours allotted 10 seep-should not rather
say TO a feversh cessation from ,o-the miseries con-
tinue. They are cooped up in sleeping pens, ten in
room which would perhaps be sufficient Tor the accom-
mediation OF Two persons The alienation is from the
lreadmill-and what a readmi!-io The Black Hole
of Calcutta. Not word oil Temonsrance Is allowed, or
is possible The seansiresses leave the mill, no
doubt but what awaits them the other side OF the
door 2siarvalon, if they be honest not, in all proba
by, prostitution and lis consequence They would
scarcely escape from slavery that way Surely this 10
terrible OF things, and Inch claims The ANXIOUS
consideration OF the ladies OF England who have pro-
nounced themselves 80 loudly against The horrors OF ne
gro slavery in The United States. Had thus system OF
oppression against persons OF their sex been really
exercised in New Orleans would have elected from them
many expressions OF sympathy for the suefes and Of abb
horence the cruel task masters who could cruelty
work wretched creatures so untitled TO the toll II
idle to use any further nysuhcaon IN the matter The
scenes OF misery have described exist al our own
doors, AMI in the most fashionable quarters OF luxurious
London. II is in the dressmaking and millinery esas
lsbmens OF the Westend" that the system is steadily
pursued. The continuous labor is bestowed upon the
gay garments which the ladies' OF England" love TO
adorD themselves II is 10 satisfy their whims and
prices that their wrelcbed sisters undergo these days aud
nights OF suffering and toll Its fright that we should
confess the fault does not lie much at The door OF the
customers with the principals OF these establishments
The mners and dressma kers OF the metropolis will moi
employ hands enough TO do The work. They increase
Their profits from the blood and life OF The wrelched
lures in then employ Certainly the prices charged for
articles OF dress at any OF the great West end establish
ments sufficiently high--as most English heads of
families know their enable the propreors 10
retain competent stat OF work people and at the same
time TO secure a very handsome PROFIT TO themselves
Wherein, them lies the remedy Will the OF these
poor seamstresses be betered II the ladies' OF Engand alb
stain partially, 10 great measure, from giving Their usual
orders their usual houses Ia that may be said
some OF the seamsresses will be dismissed TO starvation
and the remainder will be oyerworked as before. We
freely confess do not our way through the diff
Guilty for hold The improbable event in our So
cal arrangements to be the fact that lady OF fashion
will employ second.rate instead OF hfst-rae house Tor
The purchase of her annual hnery. The leading mliners
and dfessmakes OF London have hold OF English society
al both ends They hold the ladies by their vanity and
their love oil hne clobes and the seamsiresses by what
appears TO be their neres, and by their love OF life Now
love OF fine clothes and love OF life two very strong
motive springs OF human action.
correspondent who has addressed us upon this Sub.
ect suggests that the ladies Of Eng andhe censures OF
American siavery-with the Duchess OF Sutherland al
their head should refuse TO give their patronage TO any
houses in which the twelve-hour system not strictly
adhered TO- We confess difficulties IN the way,
but not greater than "woman's win might overcome If
fairly brought 10 bear upon the question The customers
the principals the seamstfesses are all women They
are more competent TO deal with each other than men
could by any possibility be. II the Sutherland. house
committee would fairly Sc, the example, and carry out
their design with sufficient vigilance, doubt not they
could execute the task. They did not shrink from the
wholesale difficulty OF emancipatng the three or four mil
lions OF negroes OF the United Staes--why hesitate al
graphing with the London manua MAKERS who are de.
pendent for their existence upon The good will and patron
a