Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-07-19
4 Soukherrn Picture.

southern Eletures Near 20 Hae sugar
house on a plantstion in this parish, was
. row Of negro cabins, or they might be
more properly termed residences SEEM
ingly bpt lately built, which attracted our
attention by reason of their handsome
and commodious appearance, their neat
ness and comfort, and the home luxuries
which seemed to peryade them. They
we're frame buildings, about twenty feet
square we should think, and built about
two feet from the ground, with a substan.
tial brick chimney. Opposite to each
was a garden of some half acre in size,
neatly fenced in, and each also had q neat
rooted notwithstanding to prove, from
the similarity Of the improvements, that
they were thus made by the order of the
proprietor. Around each dwelling was a
handsome green sward, where numerous
shade trees were recently planted. Ia
one Of the apparently well cultivated gar
dens was an aged negroes, at work with
her hoe and ia front of one of the ca
bins sitting on a stool, sat a little girl
nursing an infant. What happier picture
could be presented Of plenty, comfort and
contentment! s.
II was evident that in this negro quar-
ter there were TO be found more of the
true happiness and real enioyments of
life. than existed in the neighbprhoOds of
the poorer classes in the Northern States,
70 say nothing Of Europe and the idea
occurred to US that if a commission
could be got up at the North, from among
those who oppose slavery from principle,
and from their belief IF the suferings of
slaves, and be sent here, with the under.
standing that they would on their return,
as high minded and honorable men, make
a report Of the true condition of our slave
population, give a true picture Of their
comforts. their happiness and enjoyments,
which could not fail to meet the eyes of
such men which ever way their steps
we're turned, we believe that such a re-
port would go farther towards a~llaying
the present excitement, if not in destroy
ing the slavery agitation altogether, than
any other mode that could be adopted, or
all the laws OF compromises that could be
passed or effected upon that sabject.
Slavery at the South is not understood.
This fact is eEidesss, for rhe reason that
all Northerners who coune here to reside,
with scarcely an exception perhaps, ac-
knowledge that they had no idea of the
comfort and contentment of the slave po-
pulatiOn, which they can now bear wit
ness to.
As q general thing, the negro quarters
Of our planters, or the cabins which ON
pose them, are all commodious and com.
Portable. It is the masters interest to
make them so, to preserve the health Of
his Slaves, should humanity have nothing
to do with it. They are also allowed
their little patches of land to cultivate,
and Use their masters teams to bring
their produce to market; and the mer-
chants in Our country villages, mostly
from the North, know how to appreciate
the advantage Of having the negro pat
ronage Of Que of u large plantations
and were they to send to the North @ true
account of the money they receive thro'
the year from such a source, for dry
goods and jewelry, hardware and groce-
ries. we have no idea that their statement
would be credited. Our slaves ali have
money, except those who are too lazy to
work. They have mora of the real bIes1
sings Of life perhaps than the poor white
class in the neighhorhood Of those who
are making such a to do about their suf.
ferings and miseFies as slaves; who, If
liberated tomorrow, and sent away from
their old homes, would leave with weep
ing eyes and heavy hearts, while they
would curse the hand that had thus wan
tOnly driven them forth, to be a wretched,
wandering race, never more to feel that
Q protecting arm 10 over them, nor to be
nuEsed and cared for in their age.
Let but such a commission as we AZ.
luded to above, be sent to the South, if
any really honest me- can be found in
the ranks Of the abolitiOnists; les them
look with - uHprejudiced eye at the con-
tsntnucut n dhappiuess Of our slaves, and
much good might result from ii.