Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-08-21
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part OF the; S0nt1 and is one we admire
greatly, not so mi real enjoyment that we
have in attending for the mutual benefits
which result to bd lister and servant therefrom.
All who reside in the South Of the strong
attachment Of slaves to their owners and the many
acts of kindness on the part of owners to their
slaves, in order that this feeling of affection and
gratitude may be strengthened. It is only that class
who are totally unacquainted with these things
who have never seen for themselves the practical
workings of our system-that doubt the fact that
our slave population is the hsppest laboring popu-
ation in the world. If those who are at all skepti
cal about it could attend a barbecue on one Of our
Cowikee plantations which are given annually to
the negroes they would soon be convinced that the
Southern negro needs no sympathy from Northern
phianthropists, and that his condition could not
easily be bettered.
We had the pleasure of attending one of these
barbecues short time since at the plantation of
Mrs. Shorter in Russell county, and, together with
several other gentlemen who had been invited by
the intelligent and gentemany overseer, Mr. Towns,
enjoyed ourself greatly.
When we arrived at the quarters, which was
about IL o'clock, A. NJ, found all the darkies
rugged out in holiday attire, and looking perfectly
happy and contented. Most of the gentlemen pre-
sent, who were in attendance by invitation of Mr..
Towns being planters and overseers of the neigh
borhood the principal topic of conversation was,
a matter of course, planting. The quality of land,
the cotton and corn crops the management of ne.
x
cussed, and really great deal of valuable informa
ton might have been gathered from their inter.
change of opinions, and the result of their different
experiments notwithstanding the "tall " Dragging
in which some of the overseers present INDUCED.
This kind of gas work. by the by is not contend to
with many who are engaged in what are considered
more polite, # not in more useful occupations
One gentleman present, who had been talking
rather extravagantly about his crop, and what
enormous yield he expected from a certain cotton
field, was suddenly brought up call standing" by
an old gentleman who is we'll known as hard case,
especially in the "banke: stretching" line. This
old cove, who had been quietly smoking his pipe
and listening to the conversation, observed, that
he knew Mr.. Ms cotton was fine, and
heavily fruited, but that it could be compared
with some he had" Being asked by waggish
replied, "Tve got field of 'Boyd's Proif cotton,
that every limb on the stalks has from seven to ten
bolls to every joint and the joints not than
four inches apart" and offered to bet hundred
dollars on it. Here the Dragging ended.
About one o'clock dinner announced, and the
white folks did ample justice to the good things set
before them in the great house, whilst some seventy
five or hundred darkies made barbecued shoat and
mutton hastily disappear from long table set out
in the yard. There the greatest abundance of
everything in the way of good eating. and surely
nothing ever passed off more pleasantly.
After the tables cleared away, e cat gut and
horse hair" soon summoned all hands out in the
we'll swept yard, and the dancing commenced The
old negroes seated around convenient places
to witness the performance, whilst the young folks
pitched in with will, and danced only negroes
can dance. There such thing cessation
when tired another ready to take his place.
It truly amusing to watch the motions of juve-
nile Africa under the inspiration of the fiddle. The
little fellows take naturally to dancing young
ducks to water In several instances it was tight
struggle between the desire to sleep after getting
full belly, and the passion for dancing. Now and
then little fellow would get off to himself so
tn attract rnnrh aitAnsnn, and try, tho uar
GUS steps and extravaganzas, which he admired
much in bis seniors. After exercising violently
awhile. the drowsy god would get hold Of him, then
would come the struggle; but il would not be long
before he would sink down on the sand utterly OBJ
livious of the lively scenes passing around him.
This is but faint description of what took place
at the barbecue. What enacted there, is re-
peated almost every plantation in this section at
least once year.
AS the sun was fast sinking in the west, we left
them still in full blast. We suppose they kept up
the froc, as is usual, till the night far advanc
ed. We thought, we wendell our way home
ward of the mistaken notions that prevail in refer
ence to our peculiar institution" by those who
have never seen it. who have never taken the
pains to inform themselves correctly concerning it.
How we wish that the freedom shrekers" could
witness such scene. Perhaps they would then re-
alize the reverse of the picture which they SO
wont to draw of slavery as it exists at the South.
No one who will look at it right, and dvest himself
of prejudice can help admitting that instead of its
beng moral and social evil it is blessing to all
concerned, and will recognize in it the hand of
Providence, directing it fer the ameioration of the
condition of degraded race.
JEWS IN PARLIAMENT SWEARING IN OF BARON