Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-10-12
scorrespOnaence ofthe NoFtt.- carolina standard
M1DIsoN eoosrY, Mss sEpr al 1a5a

Correspondence Of the North Carolina STANDARD:
MADISON Co1sTY, Mss, SEPr 25 1868.
Mr. w. w. HoLDEN Dear SIR saw in the
Standard of the 31st uItmo an extract from the
~Southern Journal written by 8 Mutton giving an
account of barbecue dinner by Mr.. Strickland,
agent and oVerseer on the plantation of Hon. s. a.
Douglas, to the slaves ON said p lantation.
No doubt many of your readers have concluded
+ that : Mutton was SO much delighted with those
: nice tender ribs OF mutton which he enjoyed as
well as his friend Jack that he has eulogsed the
barbecue too highly. Others may think he wrote to
please Mr.. Douglas; while some farther North will
say: Ali Judge Douglas is Northern nan, and as
such treats his slaves with humanity But those of
us who have long been acquainted with the customs
of Mississippi in this respect believe every thing that
Mutton wrote. Yet he only wrote hdLf:-while he
gave correct description of that dinner he ought
have stated that the practice as 1llrersdt and not
only annually but twice year. Sometime in July
the hands have two days hollyday and feast as
described by Mutton, and again during the Christ
mas hollydays. We know of no exception to this
rule; and at those barbecues any EpacUre could
make hearty meal. So you the practice is not
confined to Mfr. Strickland on Hon. S. A Douglas
plantation but it has been universal practice long
before Judge Douglas owned plantation in thc far
sunny South
We had the pleasure of attending one of these
barbecues last July in this County given by Mr.. I.
B. Barnett, formerly of your State on the
plantation of Col Sterling FL. Lester, formerly of
Virginia. The Col. with of his family had
come from his residence jackson to see the ne
groes enjoy themselves About II o'clock his ne
groes formed procession in large and beautiful
grove around their quarter with the music IN front,
and then the oldest negroes and so on down to the
little ones of three and four years old, male and
female together. In this manner they proceeded to
and around Mr.. Barnett's house and halted in the
shade when they received that which they love so
WELL " a dram. " They then returned in the same
way to long table loaded with the fat of the land,
so well described by Mutton" 1t really in
tercsting to them marching in such good order,
q fIU md nla ant1U with
ribbons and laces flying by the gentle breeze and
their bottles of cologne in the hands of those not
much accustomed to style; others had used their
cologne bottles freely efore leaving their cabins and
to their countcnances beaming with joy and pride
and we say truly that we never before heal
ther, lkeer, better looking parcel Of negroes
in any country. And they appeared to be perfectly
happy. Then there were Col Lester with some of
his family Mr. and Mrs Barnett and several of their
neighbours all gratited at seeing the negroes hap
Ply. Every thing wore a pleasing aspect, and every
thing vent off fnely-not the least disseminated or
dissatisfied look did we witness that day. Every
thing which could be done was done to add to the
grocs happiness. And yet while the negroes enjoyed
themselves so much, and did not APPEAR to be the
least cramped but perfectly free and easy not sin
gle one mlSbehaVed in the slightest manner. When
ever Col. Lester MIR. Barnett spoke to them they
were all attention and remarkably respectful though
not the least embarrassed.
After dinner they repaired to convenient place
and commenced dancing. Now their happiness ap-
peared to increase, Qor negroes are remarkably fond
of dancing). AT o'clock, P. they returned to the
table to eat supper We noticed the table ithey
left and there was abundance left for two more
meals After supper they resumed their dancing |
until II o'clock, when they ali retired to their cab
ms Now, Sir, if you, any of your readers doubt !
both g Mutton " and 'Pg," if you will take a trip |
out to the far sunny South next Christmas we will |
give you cordial reception and convince you with |
' pie and cake. Methinks hear some say: yes, |
you make great flourish over these barbecues, but
how do you treat them every day? We will tell |
You that too, if you will have little patience.
They are required to do good work, to work with |
brisk lively gait and to do this they are furnished
but the best of tools his plantation and they kept
in good repair Then there rocks to interfere
and the work is light nimble work all the time
They are kept under good wholesome discipline;
they are aceU fed aceU clothed and have good COM
Portable cabins. In country have neg
roes comfort more cared for than in this If a man
wishes to sink himself just let him neglect the COM
forts OF his to feed and cIothe them
well, and he will find the finger of scorn and
contempt pointing at him. and find that his name
has been before the Grand Jury. The usual weekly
allowance of meat is lbs of good bacon side, or A
lbs of ham and shoulder and that is to be well cook
ed with plenty of vegetables and then they have
great deal of milk, (that is, for every negro who
goes to the field, little big,) and frequently dur
ing the year they are given parcel of sugar, coffee
molaSSeS and flour for them to have their Sunday
dinners On plantations of 80 hands or more there
is woman to cook for the field hands, second Wo-
man to cook for and attend to the negro children
ana Clru 10 COOK 1or the OVelSeef LII the employ
er lives on the plantation (unless his overseer is
single man, if he is he eats at his employers table)
he has his cook. On most of the plantations, min
ster is employed to preach to the negroes monthly.
Ny object in this communication is to state that
the practice of giving negro barbecues is general
one and to give your numerous readers idea
Of the treatment toward the slaves in Mississippi;
for we know that many even in the Old North State
entertain ideas to their treatment and
if so, is it any wonder that those living in free
State should be deluded? We have met with many
negroes here from North Carolina and Virginia, and
some we know had good masters there yet we have
never the first one that wanted to return.
Yours, PIG.