New-York daily tribune., 1854-05-01
,SLAFERYDES SCRIBED BYANEYE-WIINESS.

T. he Editor Of The v y Tribune
SIR Last August visited a retired agricultural district
Of virginia wishing my friend and TO look at slave
rv with nv own eyes. sailed from New-ioFk IN the
Good steamship Roanoke for Richmond On the upper
part of the covering g. the pad ewhee noticed the figure
Of built with hs foot spon the neck OF pros
rate fcue Of masy man, with these words under them
Sc semper tyrannis let always be to yranis.
If the prostrte figure were white and the other black no
such ship would land at port in Virginia. We had
DELIGHTFUL sail and found the best OF company on board
We reached Norfolk mex. day in the afternoon never
had seen slave and as soon as the ship was secured
landed and took stroll through the town The slaves ap-
resred TO me 10 be dressed nearly well as aborers in
rec country bu, cealy From what had heara
of slaves supposed they would bow and crouch 20 me
when passed them and be exceedingly bland and ooSe
cuous in their ocrs hut in place OF this they were mol
% much so as free people. When met them they did
,o even seem TO notice me- and when spoke to them,
,bov answered in the ewest possible words was much
.,rck with tie sad and sorowul expression OF their
c.rn.erances They generally looked as white men do
when ,hey are helpless and without hope This accounts
fr the plar;ive air OF the negro melodies SAD & le
song Of TIE oIl-cssed heart
I, vos dark wien We left Norfolk and 50 could see
noipr of tie slaves along tie banks OF the james hi'eE
mill tie morning. We reached Richmond about noon
time Tie country along the banks OF the river a. lar Is
il lar llieIluI ~ i'1' o-''5 'i
The rdcl,es O. the planters along the james RIVER are
No. ecuel 70 those Of the farmers and Newio reIred
ien-s IN tie North River, AMI the negro hus around
M l,n,er houses are rot ct all ike the beautiful thriving
IA to.,-,v VILLAGES OF the Hudson. A. far az could
dce from tie slip tic negro hus were low and large
rt lr only one ROOM wihou! windows, and generaly
i.br. cbnsvs In one end Of he hut aAd up near the
80. ,isre = Sliding board which, when gusned 10 ohe
- a4i,s The liclt and ar wien tie door Is closed
reached ~ friends plantation entered soE o'
80 tu, As general thing they have Little OK ~ iuT'
80 No chairs no beds, nor anYihln9 alInosi "hien
r.,sv adrn the home the poorest free workman %
could 20 into liz huis ao9g the railroad between
rImcnd and Char...esvle thsy we're II 'he same con
5on Is il wcnd I'D that tLcy ru2 away oIn 'ach com
/ icrtlcss homes ,..o- r. =, .oo-r
Ae General thng the slaves II that seeiioh o. TIC co
49,, are no, driven very hard. and yet N ano9 every trac
of FIVE u,s YOU would hear O. some severe ma
sI.v,l ~ in Charlottesville told LIE OF master "A
held ,au.a,on next 10 his This Inan began u sIl'V
Io5;, ! If by lrn- himself as en- oyerseer' AMER ~!
inc ~ r,,lc money he rented pan'a'.oh anu nlle
~ - VOL il. H gave these slaves p'eny O' go
tr drove them with the whip at tAeir WORK
,.kea unfit them ior their wofk D! Us "i4'l
- They were never, answered he
o., that account, Besides, conILue" ~
- >. le knew how 70 whip them 90 Is 20 sNe L.
49,. ,.;u with tie least lasting injury. lie us'u =
tbew On ther faces snd whip them MIN SS'A'' ''S'