Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-09
A MIssIssIPPIAN,s TESTIMONY.

lroul tue lips OF SOuthcrncrs themselves, IL may
put to silence a certain class, who are all the time
declaring that all the casos of severe treatment of
slaves reported are merely abolition lies, and hence
not to DO relied upon.
Therefore forward to you for your consideration,
the following horrible incidents Of tho cruel treat.
ment Of slaves, related to mo by a Mississippian-
one who has had his residence in that State for the
last seventeen years. And it is worthy of remark,
that he prciaced these horrible relations, by say
ing. that most of all the reports VIC get here at the
North, with regard to the workings Of slavery and
tho treatment of slaves, &C., were nothing but alb
clifton lies. lie further stated that he was no
htolitionist, neither was he q slavcholder-h took
neither side Of the question-but simply stated
such facts rs he himself was eyewitness to. This
ho did, as I believe, in all sincerity and truth for
from my interrogatories he presumed that / was
ignorant Of tho peculiar institution" and was.
anxious to be informed. And hence. l asked just
such questions as suited my purpose, to bring out
snch facts as | thought might DO turned to good
effect, in quieting objections on tho one part, and
melting to now md more energetic efforts on tho
other part; so that Tie good CAUSE might be sub.
served, and If, BY any means, the slaves salvation
might DO fastened on apace. Then give car, all
SO disbelievcrs in what the abolitionists say. and
hear from a Sjutho,ner--frJm one who is acquaint-
Ga with the peculiar in.titution," and whose
business and every day life bring him in contact
with its usoses, while he states such facts only as
have come within his own observation and know
led5c in the lone State Of Mississippi.
: A mulatto slave who was accused Of stealing n
pig, and threatened With severe punishment, ran
of and took refuge in q pond Of water, to which
hc WAS pursued by his oycrseor, and u number of
others. The ovcrsecr called on him to yield him
tef up, or thoy would kill him. lie refused to
yield, until they promised not to punish him Sc
verciy. lie then cam, ont and gave himself up to
their mercy. lo was fastened to the ground 10y u
number Of stakes, and whipped alternately ly the
COM until he had received seven hund red
lashes. They then took thirteen cedar paddles and
wore them cut, Tor rather, split them out on him.
BY this time, he was perfectly black from the
bruises ho had received, 50 that the beholder would
have taken him for a negro. Mt being able to
walk, he was carried to his hut, with the promise
of two hundred lashcs next morning. Next morn
ing came, and they met to inAict the extra two hun
dred lashes. The slave still being un able to walk
was carried out, and required to stoop himself to
the ground to receive his lashing, but he was so
stiff from his former floGging that he could neither
kneel or stoop. or bend himself in anywise. So
they took The poor laceratel wretch and laid him
On the ground, and gave him one hundred INSTEAD
Of two h%undredl lashes, thinking it was nil he
could endure. lie was again carried into his
cabin, where he remained for fve weeks, before he
could go out to do any work
Another slave who had been in the habit Of
running off and remaining in the swamps until
hunger compelled him to return to the farm, and
who had been frequently severely punished but
without curing him Of his habit. or with but little
OBJECT, was taken to a blacksmith's shop and had a
bar Of iron placed on one side from his armpit
down to the ground, with three baads to confne it
one at the anclc, another above the knee, and
another around the waist, so as to prevent him
having the free use Of one leg-and with thi,
heavy fixture he had to perform his work by day,
and to sleep by night.
With this impairment the slave hobLlcd of,
and was pursued by u number Of men and dogs,
and was owe. taken q mile and a half from the
farm. The dogs were set on, aad allowed to bite
ard worry the poor fellow, until with fatigue they
refused to do any further service. They started
for the plantation, and during the journey the dogs
were at intervals set on, AMI allowed to continue
until they Of themselves chose to quit the sport.
Before they reached the farm, the blood of the
poor wretch markell his footprints as he journicd
along. After reaching the plantation, the brand
ing iron was prepared-red holland the victim
ordered to hold his forehead until his owners
name should DO deeply burned into his broiling
flesh. When the red hot iron approached his face,
he would not, OF could not hold sufficiently still to
suit their purI ose. He was then laid on his back
on Il board, and a spike drove through each ear,
and into the board and then to their hearts con-
tent they could and did burn deep the demon
the spikes. they took a knife and slit his ears out
from them, and thus they let him co.
Another slave woman, whose business it was to
plough with Il mule and shovel plough, was while
engaged in hitching up) kicked by the animal, and
disabled in one side aud arm, so much so, that she
could not prosecute her work. She went to the
overseer, and stated the facts to him, who said she
only wanted to get clear Of work-gavc her n lash
ing, and sent her again to the plouGhing. She
found herself unable to hold the plough, and went
again to the overseer, and made known her condi
ton to him. lie ordered her to go to the quarters,
stating that he would soon make her willing to 20
20 the field again For" said he, Il will give
you one hundred lashes every norning until you &C
to work again" She went to the quarters with g
heavy heart, and was called on by her demon over
seer. and received from MIN on the first, second
third and fourth days one hundred lashes, and OF
the fourth day, soon after she received her fog,
ging, without a friend to soothe hei pangs, she
slept the sleep of death, and went to that country
where the slave is free from his MASTER
might fill many sheets with tho facts stated t.
me by tho Misssissiprian, lin the course of near d
whole days conversation with him were | to give
them in detail. | will desist from this, and merely
give a few leading points.
lie stated it was quite common for slaves to be