Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-11-20

no Wdhcu up lHiOuSh thO r'"H, L
! looked in vain for poor and dilapidated
+ houses, and that want of taste and beauty,
that is falsely attributed to southern cities
and villages. l had to wait for the stage,
and of course attended the barbecue-a
new thing to me. While the great con-
course of people listened to the orators,
the dinner was prepared; which consisted
of FIVE hundred beeves, oxen, and sheep,
roasted, and bread. thought it was as
good dinner as l ever had; and after five
thousand people had eaten, there were not
twelve baskets left, save the bones.
The roads of Kentucky and Tennessee
lie through the woods--are well shaded
and very pleasant to travel. The large
plantations are situated distance from the
roads. Occasionally we would come to
large fields of tobacco, which is the chief
product. l remained nearly week in
GAINESVILLE; took trip up toward Nash
vile, and finally came to this place.
have studied the customs, and endeavored
to inform myself, as much as possible, with
regard to slavery. The people are very
hospitable, and kind Every person man
iiests an interest in the welfare of others
There is more sociability here than north;
indeed, the people have more time to be
soclable. | was requested to tell you all
about slavery. First, let me say that La
fayette is only one mile from Tennessee
line, and that slavery exists here the same
as throughout Tennessee.
There are many erroneous opinions in
the North, respecting the institution.
have seen none of those horrors and heart
rendng miseries, when are currently be-
lieved, by people of the North. to be con-
nected with slavery, even in Kentucky and
Tennessee. The negroes, as a general
thing, eat of the same food as their masters.
They are not worked hard On Sunday
they dress well, and are frequently seen in
''Nh Ni'iio Ahey Have meeting mere
every Sunday, if they desire it. Whites
preach to them, but they generally prefer
their own eloquent speakers. From all APP
pearances they are the happiest people ev-
er saw. Even while write, hear their
merriment; their clarion voices ring out
upon the air; and the melodious violin, and
their sweet songs, tell me that their spirits
are light and free.
Sundering the marriage tie, is not so in
human thing, as supposed by many
They see their wives only about two or
three times week. Nothing like the sa-
cred marriage relation can be said to exist
between them; and they do not so regard it.
y gentleman, who was raised in a free
State, and now lives at Sycamore, uea
Nashville, said to me, when l were there
About year ago, purchased woman
and two children. She urged me, with
tears, to buy her husband, Of whom she
seemed to think great deal. 1 promised
her would, and made arrangements to do
so; but before 1 could do so-before two
weeks had elapsed--she had another hus-
band. This" continued he, lis but a fair
specimen Of their regard for marriage obi
cations"
l have been told OF several negroes who
have run away, staid few years in the
North, and returned. There are flee ne
groes in this place, who have the means to
go North, but prefer to stay here. There
is occasionally cruel. heartless man, to
be found, who abuses his slaves; but he is
despise6, and condemned by all around
him. AS general thing, you will find
men who own slaves, kind, and ready to
protect them from any insults, and undue
seventies.
| do not mean to say, that there are no
miseries connected with slavery. Some of
the slaves fare badly, no doubt. You find
misery, and unkindness, in every grade of
society--in every phase of human exist
ence--fror, the king down to the serf. The
free and intelligent, have the "bitter with
the sweet The breeze which watts per-
fume and pleasure to one, bears misery to
his neighbor. Says the immortal bard:
at was, we own, subject of much debate,
And worthy men stood up, opposing sides,
Whether the cup of mortal life had more
OF Sour or Sweet"
Since this is the case, how easy it is to
exhibit the woes and ills of life Who
does not know, that had Harriet Beecher
Stowe written the life Of some unfortunate
son Of Erin--who had been landed in one
of our large cities; beaten and kicked about
in grog-shops; worked and whipped to death
on rail roadside could have told as sor-
rowful tale, as she did about Uncle Tom.
The millions Of earth cannot all be en-
lghtened and happy. The nations can
never be upon the same plane of intellect