The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-19
From the Southern (Mississipp) Journal, Aug g.
The Barbecue at tho Plantation OF the Hon
s. A. Douglas.

Mn EDIroR: had the pleasure OF attending the bar.
becue given by Mr. James Strickland the agent and
of the Hon. s. A. Douglas. OF Illinois, al the plana
ton OF this gentleman Pearl river, in this county, on
the 30h ultmo. The barbecue intended really for
the slaves the place. in accordance with yearly Gus.
tom which Mr.. Strickland has adopted. but there
goocy number OF ladies and gentlemen present from the
Immediate neghboIhool.
The arrangements were all in excellent taste, and
the tables gfoaned beneath profuson of all the good
things OF this life. The barbecued meats were dressed
ia the fines, aud relshable style. and the adjoining
river and lakes had been forced 10 add their supply Of
dain,ies TO the feast. noticed, 100, that there was
real superabundance OF deli, hiul cake OF all sorts,
shapes, sizes, and ingredients; but being almost
greedly engaged in the demolition of the subsan-
tia portions OF the dinner, feel incompetent TO pass a
distinct judgment, upon the same. My friend, Jack
-, expressed, think, the sentiment OF the crowd,
when, with two tender ribs OF mutton in hts mouth and
delicate piece of well-browncd fish his fork, he
hoarsely whispered" II is good and pleasant thing
to be here"
The negroes followed III invited guests at the tables
and sat down the danlies and delicaces which
bad jus, afforded much satisfaction 10 our palates
They numbered hundred and forty in all. II
was good!y sight TO see their dark counenances light
ed up with pleasure the sight OF the ea,abes before
them the entire obani lon with which they pitched into
the good hngs the extreme decacy of the female por-
ton of the crowd, ordering the delighted waters with
astdous taste and careless toss OF the bead 10 "fetch
the incest pieces OF The sheep they could hnd, or
q big slice OF de cake wild dc icing H." or to
stand nrder hack and not crowd on de lady when she
war drinking her Coffee
The most amusing part OF the scene was table full OF
little ballssome forty in number, and all about
one size and age They the blacklist oil black lit
tie nirgers" Their heads rolled from eide to side as
they crammed in the food, and more particularly the
cake, in pure repeton OF animal enjoyment They did
enjoy it, Tears in their large rolling eyes. but tn ey
were tears produced by safety of cake. They wep,
because they could #E. s4 .+Ht 4
--"Eu more - sss-e
There was not one OF the slaves little or big but who
was dressed Clearly, and OF them almost elegantly
for there is s'ange may sound 10 The Of some)
fully much taste for deess among negroes as among
the whites. The little rugged of in their white
cotton Shirts The old familiar plantation dress for the
children OF the Sou,h-whiic well as black. Here
was comfort, hssft, and hoppinsss displayed
My object, MIR. Editor, in thus detailing the scene which
Witnessed this plans alton, is to call the attention OF
your readers (and IL may be who are no to the fac,
that here in county OF Lawrence in the State of
Mississippi. is large plantation OF negroes owned by
northern United States SENATOR and that these negroes
better fed better clothed and their bodily comforts better
provided for, than many Of even the white labo'ips
classes of the Norhpassinx by for the present The
dton OF it's free negro population. The negroes of Sen
Douglas have divine service regularly performed,
and for their special benefit Their spiritual. well
their bodily wants attended Ia. Now, the thought
struck that il would have been most instructive
lesson to certain free soil consuens'of Senator Doug
las to have been present THE occasion would like
TO have seen The exponent and Embodiment Of "All
Young America make his appearance just his slaves
seated themselves the tables in order that he nigh,
Ia We taken in at single glance the real condition OF the
.poor African Of The South" II would have added new
eloquence to his tongue strength TO his genius and
new energy his soul to have been able TO witness such
scene an this, and afterwards. when fanatc'sm should
drop the sanderons fasehood from s,ongu TO have de.
scrbed in his strong and vivid language, the sight
he beheld the banks Of the Pearl in the slave State
of Mississippi, and to have told the Ievlles OF our in
sitnons with his natural bojness, that this was mol An
sola,ed instance OF the sou,hernefs humanity to the
.lavc-bui that IL the same everywhsre--over The
fun length and breadth Of our beautiful and smiling
South 1t would have been good hint TO snch man ~
Douslas TO have told those charlaans in literature, those
pbarsees in philanthropy, and that mmodest woman
hood OF the North wha, we knew The ESth to be from
sc,.sl observation MUTTON.