The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-04-28
ftoLH III ENAhloiF "A tNuHE} JoLIhsI
Southern SkctcheS.-.NO. 4.
BAToz RouSs, La, Feb, SO

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/ to attend the sale of sugar plantation, ne
groes, mules, cattle. ect. We went FIRST to the
sugar house, and found no one there but the
operatives who were busy making sugar. We
had expected TO fad the stock collected to-
gether for the inspection Of the bidders. We
then went to the dwelling, where were Is or
20 persons in the parlor and walking about
the yard. Several of them VIC had met be
fore. Some were urging the proprietor TO
commence the sale. Efe said dinner would
be ready in a few minutes. which vas soon
announced. and, being invited, we went in to
partake with them. They had a very good
dinner, with brandy and champaign in abun-
dance.
There were Is of us at the table, and, ez-
eepting myself, there wss none present who
worth less than one hundred thousand
dollars, and three or four of them were poss-
essed Of more than half a million each
Among the number was McHatten, the man
who has 5. A Douglass negroes leased
He pays fifteen thousand dollars year for
them. There are sixty of these slaves. Ihad
hoped to get to sec them, but Nell. has
them upon plantation in Mississippi.
After dinner we went 10 the parlor, when
the planter took out his papers and read the
conditions Of the sale also the number of
mules and wagons. OF the number of cat.
tie and hogs, he did not kuow-he had, per-
haps, 10 head of each. He said counting the
one that ran away in September, he had So
slaves, and he would sell SO with the chance
of getting the one that had gone astray.--
The names ages, ect., of the slaves were then
called for. As the proprietor read the list. he
told us their qualities. One was an excellent
teamster, another was a good field hand
Margaret was an excellent field haud-thls
one never was sick-another had been sick,
but was convalesent, ect The first bid was
one hundred and ninety thousand dollars
The lot was sold for two hundred thousand
dollars.
Many of the planters are very much in,ol-
we'd. 1t was the case with this one. He
was obliged to sell. One of them. whose in
come was forty thousand dollars / was told.
did not live within his income
Jan. 19th.-We visited the Deaf and Dumb
and Blind Asylum. The building is large
and handsome, the yard is large and laid off
n good taste and well filled with evergreens
md flowers. 1t is under the management OF
Mr.. and Mrs Brown, formerly of Indianapo-
lis. The matron showed US through the in.
,titution. The children looked neat and
,lean. The blind girls sang and played very
we'll. There were about sixty five pupils in
surprise at the apparently small number, we
were reminded that the white inhabitants Of
the State were few.
Jan. 22d.--Went aboard the steamer Met
cor bound for New Orleans. The day was
pleasant. We took our station in the pilot
house and had fine view of the country
The first sight is very pieasant-the planters
splendid mansion is almost hid in the rich
growth of eyergreens and orange trees. tbs
white washed slave huts are farther back be-
hind the moss covered trees. But the eve
becomes weary with the monotony of the
scene. From Baton Rouge to New Orleans
there Is scarcely anything raised but sugar
cane. The towns arc few and small, and
present very poor appearance. We lad an
Old widow lady aboard who was very taka-
tive, and told all about the process of
sugar making; also gave US much interesting
in regard to the management of
negroes She said she worked forty bands;
that they had made a very good crop; had
ast finished, but had not taken the product
out Of the sugar house. The negroes were
having their Christmas. and she was fearful
the oyerseer would let them burn up the
premises. She had so much trouble with
them when they were sick-she had to nurse
them and give the medicine. And the slaves
did not care whether they were sick or veil.
She has mason for whom she refused four
thousand dollars. He had been very sick;
The doctor said he must take his medicine reg
Ilarly, and not have anything TO eat. She
stayed until after night, and left the medicine
with some 81 the negroes; but at bed time,
getting uneasy, she went back to the quart
srs, when she found the sick mans wife, who
lived on neighboring plantation. dressing a
chicken she Lad brought with her. She or
iered her home inmcdi lately, telling her If
she caught her there again she would inform
her overseer and have her taken to the whip
ping post The next night was very dark
ana stormy, and the quarters beirg some dis
lance from the house, the wife thought she
would see her husband again, thinking tia.
the storm would certainly keep the mistress
at home; but the fear Of losing the four
thousand dollars induced her to brave the
storm, and again she faced the poor wife
This time she was seat home with note to
the oyerseer. who sd that she did not again
visit her husband during his sickness.
Jan 24th.-This was the coldest s was
Of the season. The ice il Ney 81 r. I'll
ra., an ,nIm Jaatson ms Many Of the how
saFaeh l 10 iSaeksol1by Saekso1 the freeze. yet tney
80 80 -"rery pleasant sight The statue
g Tsl.s3n on horseback, in the center of the
:. .arSden, is fine work ofart. From here we
vent 10 the depot of the worldrenowned
Lake Ponchetraine railroad, and half an hour
% tarry before car time. The ladies' parlor
vas about IL feet square, with wooden
benches without backs-but the cars are
coming. and We must away. P.
nt-.u rrry e