The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-11-18
From the Stark County Democrat.
Senator Douglass and his Slaves.

We copy the following from the Wash
ington Union Of August 10. II purports
to have originally appeared in the South
.em Journal. As both these papers are
friends to Mr.. Douglas, il is proper that
our readers should know wherein his
friends see his comeliness.
From the Southern Journal, Aug. 6.
THE BARBECUE AT THE PLANT
ALTON OF THE HON. s. A. DOU.-
GLAS. ...
Mr.. EDIroR:-I had The pleasure Of
attending the barbecue given by Mr.
James Strickland, the agent and overseer
of the Hon. S. A. Douglas, Of Illinois, at
the plantation OF this gentleman on Pearl
river, in this county on the 3oth ul.imo.
The barbecue was intended really for the
slaves on the place, in accordance with
4 yearly custom which Mr.. Strickland has
adopted, but there was goodly number
Of ladies' and gentlemen present from the
immediate ncighborhood.
Tie arrangements were all in mos,
excellent taste, and the tables groaned
beneath profrsion Of all the good things
Of this life. The barbecue meats were
dressed in the fines. and most relishable
style, and the adjoining river and lakes
had been forced TO add their supply Of
dainties TO the feast. ! noticed, too, that
there was a real superabundance Of de-
lightful clke of all sorts, shapes, sizes,
and ingredients; but being almos, greed
lily engaged in The demolition of the more
substantial portions Of the dinner, | feel
incompe,en, to pass distinct judgment
upon the same. My friend Jack -,
expressed, think, the sentiment Of the
crowd, when, with two tender ribs Of
mutton in his mouth and delicate piece
Of well>browned fish on his fork, he
hoarsely whispered-"lr is a good and
pleasant thing TO be here"
The negroes followed the invited
guests at the tables and sat down TO the
same dain,ies and delicacies which had
Just afforded so much satisfaction TO our
pa,u,es. They numbered some one
hundred and forty in all. II was goodly
sight to see their dark countenances
lighted up with the pleasure at the sight
Of the eala5les before them; the entire
abandon with which they pitched into the
good things; the extreme delicacy Of the
female portion Of the crowd, ordering the
delighted waiter with fasiidous taste and
careless toss of the head 10 "feich the
nices, pieces of the sheep meat they
could ind," or "to cut big slice Of de
cake wild de icing on it," or "to stand
furder back, and no, crowd on de lady
when she war drinking Ler coffee"
The most amusing part Of the scene
was table full of snow>balls- some
forty in number, and all sbou, one size
and age. They we're the blacklist Of
black "li;tle niggers." Their heads
rolled from side TO side as they cranmed
in the food, and more particularly the
cake, in pure repletion of animal en-
| |joyment. They did enjoy it. Tears
were in their lprge rolling eyes, but they
we're tears Produced by safety Of cake.
They wept because they could
--''Eat no more"
There was not one of the slaves, little or
big but who was dressed cleanly, and
some Of them almost eleganlly-for there
is (s,range as j, may sound to the ears of
some) fully as much taste for dress
among negroes as among the whites.
Tie little ones were rugged off in their
white cotton shirts, the old familiar plan
ta,ion dress for the children OF the South
white as we'll as black. Here was
comfort, health, happiness displayed.
My object, Mr.. Editor, in thus desail>
ing the scene which Witnessed on this
plantation, is to call the attention Of your
readers (and it may be some who are no')
10 the fact that here in our own county
8 { Lawrence, in the State ofMississippi,
lis large >plan,e,ion Of negroes owned
by northern Casued States Senator, and
that these negroes are better fed, better
clothed, and their bodily comforts better
provided for, than many Of even the
white laboring class Of the Norsh-pass-
ing for the present the condition Of its
free negro population. The negroes Of