Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-16
A LETTER FROM THE SOUTH.
From the National Anti Slavery Standard
LIBERTY LODGE, SLAVE STATES,
November | 1854

for the present yearl Since copied the last ex.
tracts that sent you from my diary, have travel
led several hundreds of miles, and have spoken
with several hundreds of bOndsmen on the subject
of slavery. have travelled both by land and wa
ter; by railroad and on foot. For ten consecutive
days, travelled foot in the States of North and
South Carolina-from whence sailed to my watch
tower here. | claim therefore, the right have
sought to acquire by many long and weary iuur-
neys, and innumerable conversations with persons
of colour, in Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas
and Georgia, Of speaking for the slaves of the At
lantic Southern States rs with the voice of one
having knowledge and not rs the politicians. |
have partaken of their bread and slept in their cab
ms, have trusted them and been trusted by them.
| have spoken, also, with the slayers, rs well as
with the slaves.
Brothers! Rejoce--and cork! Wherever have
gone have found the bondsmen discontented, and
the Shareholders secretly dismayed at recent
victories in the Northern States. Little did many
of them think, as they confessed to each other in
my presence, that "the fanatics" would force
them to abolish slavery before many Years were
Ioyer-little did they think that they were talking
in the company Of an Abolition Spy of one who
solemnly swore, when child, to devote his life to
avenging the oppressed; and who glories in beray
ing tyrants. If had recorded all the sayings of
the slaves | have met with, and chronrled the
confessions of all the slavers have talked with, it
would am convinced have given great delight to
our good and brave friend, Mr. Garrison, who so
nODlY DeHdn IHc nOIy war Ol Ifebuun NHen HO
cheering sign encouraged the philanthrcpist's exer
tons. Rejoice, brothers! for our abours have net
been in vain; and WORK with renewed zeal, for the
final struggle is at hand!
For reasons that do not think it necessary to
explain, will not at present. describe the incidents
of my journey. | shall merely state n few facts
that gathered in the Of my wanderings,
and add few remarks on the programme of Mr..
Phillips and Mr.. Seward. NORTH CAROLINA COULD
DE INvoLuNTARILY MADE A MEMBER OF TIE FREE
STATES by GENERAL STAMPEDE OF TIE SLAVES if
the Abolitionists would send down a trusty Band
; Of "Liberators," provided with compasses pistols
) and little money for the fugtives. l am convin-
ced that Virginia is equally at our mercy; but
am ready to vouch for North Carolina. / ques-
toned the slaves of that State this subject al
most exclusively.
Christmas is good season for the distribution
S of such glts-as, at the time, the Virginia and
North Carolina slaves, who are hired South during
the year. are near to the North, by being at their
-. Iuwners residence.
I If tho Abolionists of Boston and New York
could secure the cooperation of the Captains Of
vessels that sail to southern ports several hundreds
r of slaves could easily be liberated every month
1t would be necessary for Liberators, however, to
: act in concert with the Captains. Can you secure
such co-operation?
C The Manchester and Wilmington Railroad owns
4 the majority of the slaves who work that line
Their allowance varies, as it depends on the over
SeGrs. The average allowance is--One peck Of
Indian meal and two pounds and half Of bacon
week; two suits OF clothes, blanket and a hat Il
year. No money. This road runs through the
; most desolnte-looking country in the Union. NJ
thing but pine trees can be seen from Wilmington
until you enter South Carolina, when pleasant
? change is visible. In the pine tree country, the
' slaves are employed in manufacturing turpentne.
The allowance of the 'turpentine hands" varies
n very much. Slaves everywhere in the rural dis
tricts ol Virginia. the Caru!inns and Georgia, re-
a ceve one peck Of Indian meal per week, On the
turpentne plantations some bosses allowed in
addition one quart of mOlasses and five pounds OF
pork; others, the quart of mulasscs and three
!, pounds of pork others again. two pounds or TWO
e pounds and II half without the mnlasses On many
plantations, the slaves allowed one peck of meal
: ! week, without any other provisions. In such
' cases, believe, they are generally permitted to
Y keep poultry whose eggs they dispose of on Sun
i days; and with the money they buy pork and vegc
, TALES. They bake the meal into cakes, or dump
: nSs, or use it to make mush with. One peck OF
n meal is rs much as any person can consume in Il
week: no slave ever complained to me of the guam
5 tity OF his allowance. Several who received no
2 pork, or only two pounds Il fortnight, complained
e that yves not fed nuf massa, for the work they
takes out on u.s." and others said the sameness OF
the diet was sicknng Everywhere, however, the
n slaves receive one peck of meal IL week; nowhere
except in cities and on some turpentne plantations
do they receive any money. | heard of one mar
:; ii hard taskmaster too, it is said-who gave his
N
e extra amount of labour. This is the only instance
of such conduct ever heard of. The only money
:, ever given to hired-out slaves-plantation hands
: nerer have money-is at Christmas, when some
owners give their hands $40 or Sl5. The majority
:, however, give rot one cent.
&c The "Raroad hands" sleep in miserable shantie:
u along the line. Their bed is an inclined beard
nothing softer, as | can certify from my own expo
rence. Their covering is blanket. The fire
l. places in these cabins often are cumsily con
Il. lazA l.. Il.
of dfusing itself in the cabin. In such cases, tn,
temperature Of the cabin is bitterly cold at night
| frequently awokc, at all hours, shvering, nnC
found shivering slaves huddled up near the fire
Is Of course, the boys are not released from thc
!, work until sunset and az, after coming to thei
i cabin they have to cook their food, these huts ar
lie not remarkable for their cleanly appearance. Poo
y fellows! in that God-forsaken section of country
u they seldom see woman from Christmas to Christ
~ mas II they are mai ried men, they are tantalze
~ with the thought THAI their wives are performin
u for rich women of another those services thN
T. would gladden. their dreary life. They may pei
~ haps-who knows?-haye still sadder refet
's q tions. ,.....,. ,.., -
N One night | slept in plantation cabn-hardl
- larger than n decentsized pig-sty-in which
- = besides myself, reposed six negroes and mu
y. alto woman From the talk of the boys at night
, you would not have imagined that any woman wa
~ present. How can clergymen forget the fact tha
W slavery cannot exist without creating what the
anathematze as Crime? Adultery, ferncatio
and still viler acts the necessary consequence
I'd of the domestic institutions of the South / bclon
y to the ruling race: dare female slave resist m
d advances? By false statement before magi'
e. trate, or by blow, can punish her if she does
d. Her word is not taken at Court and she dare nc
We return my blow. l am rich man, and the femal
We slave is without cent: is it likely that she wi
a refuse to grant my request, criminal though
ot be?
m 1t is neither likely nor so! Once again, am
lie white man, and know that the muato wome
ch almost invariably refuse to eohaht with blacks
fl are even averse to connection with persons
mt their own shade, but gratifed by the advance
n of Saxons, whose intimacy may make them tn
he mothers of children almost white--Whioh is III
qrad7oan gir,', an,bition--is it likely, hcu, ,ha