The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-12
Misrtllnntuns.
FrOn Erred. Dosgissss Autobiography.
SLAVERY IN MARYLAND.
Col. lloyd, Plantation, trhsre Fred. Doug
lass rds Born and Brought Up..

tGtS uuS DOFN uItt DEUuRW Up.
It is generally supposed that slavery in
the State OF Maryland exists in its mildest
form, and that il is totally divested Of those
harsh and terrible peculiarities which mark
and characterize the slave system in the
southern and southwestern States Of the
American Union. The argument in favor Of
this opinion is the contiGuity Of the free
States, and the exposed condition Of slavery
in Maryland to the moral, religious and hu.
name sentiment Of the free States.
l am not about to refute thi, argument,
so far as it relates to slavery in that State
generally; on the contrary, am willing to
admit that, to this general point, the argu-
ment is we'll grounded. Public opinion 10,
indeed, IN uniailing restraint upon the cruel.
iy and barbarity OF masters, oyerse,rs and
slave drivers, whenever and wherever it can
reach them bu, there are certain secluded
and out-Of the.way places, even in the State
Of Maryland, seldom visited by a single
healthy public sentiment - where slavery,
wrapt in its own congsnial midnight dark
ness, can and docs develop all its malisn and
shocking characterissic,-where il can be In
decent without shame, cruel without apprs.
hension or fear Of exposure.
Just such seclured, dark and out-of the
way place j, the home plantation " Of Col
Edward Lloyd, on the Eastern Shore, Mary
land. 1t is far away from all the great thor.
oughiaies, and is proximaie to no town or
village. There is neither school house nor
town house in its neighbOrhood. The school
house is unnecessary, for there are no chill
dren to 20 to school. Tho children and
grandchildren Of Colonel Lloyd were taught
in the house, by private tutor-a Mr.. Page
"a tall, gaunt sapling Of man, who did
not speak dozen words to slave in whole
year. The overseers' children 90 OF some-
where to school; and they, therefore, bring
no foreign or dangerous influence from
abroad, to embarras tho natural operation
Of the slave system Of the place. Not even
the echanics-through whom. there 10 an
occasional outburst OF honest and telling in
dignation, at cruelty, and wrong on other
plantations-ar white men, on this plan.
tation. Its whole public is made up OF and
divided into three classes - Shareholders
slaves and overseers. Its blacksmiths, wheel
rights, shoemakers, weavers and coopcrs ART
slaves.
Not even commerce, selfish and iron. heart.
ed as !, is, and ready, rs it ever is, to side
with the strong against the weak-the rich
against the poor -is trusted or permitted
within its secluded precincts. whethe'
with view Of guarding against the escape
Of its secrets, know not, bu, it is fact
that every leaf and grain Of the produce O
this plantation, and those Of the neighbor
ing farms belonging to Colonel Lloyd, ART
transported to Baltimore in Colonel Lloyd''
own vessels; every man and boy on board
of which-except the captain arc owned
by him. lu return, everything brought tC
the plantation comes through the Same chan
mel. Thus, even the slimmerins and un
steady ligh. Of trade, which sometimes ex
er,s civiliIins influence, is excluded from
this "tabOOned" spot.
Nearly all the plantations or farms in th,
vicinity Of the "hcme plantation" Of Colone
Lloyd belong to him; and those which Dc
not, are owned by personal friends Of his
as deeply interested in maintaining the slave