The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-04-07
From the Randolph County Journal
Southern SketcheS.--NO.2 =.
BATON RuuGE, Feb. Is, l85'

bright sunshinv day, such as We have IN
Indiana in May. My wife and | went to
visit the NatioBal Barracks,-they are sltua-
ted on beautiful piece OF ground adjoining
the city on the north, immediately on the
bank Of the Mississippi. We entered the
premises BY large gate on the south side Of
the grounds 4 wide brick walk lined on
each side with a row OF shade trees. led up
TO one Of the buildings, some three or four
hundred feet from tie gate. There was one
of Uncle Sans boys, with pretty buttons on
his coat, feather IN bis hat, and big gun
on his shoulder. marching backward and
forward Ia front OF the building, fst-
7olc To the left AMI near the bank OF the
river is the old family mansion Of Gen. L.
Taylor Ii Is a one story frame building,
without tenant, and IS fast going to rum.
As we trod its empty rooms We were re-
minded how soon decays all earthly great
ness Passing up the walk we came to the
man with the gun. and being informed by
/ him that we were not intrudng, we passed
on through The building. Here we saw a
great many cinnon. In another lot We saw
at least fifty cords of cannon balls. There
are twenty five or thirty acres iii all, upon
which had been erected eight or ten fine
buildings, and preparations are being made
/ 10 build more. TIE walks were kept nicely,
the grass was green. the flowers Were IN
bloom the birds were singing; all nature
seemed to rejoice. But the question arose 10
our minds, Why are these fine buildings here
to what use are these beautiful grounds
conseerated? To teach man to Kill his tel
low scientifically. Poor use, thought We
Jan. 8 We crossed the river. in company
with lady from Ohio, TO visit a sugar plan
tatiou. Two teams were hauling wood, aud
and four or FIVE were hauling cane. The
cane is deposited under a large shed, whence
an endless chain (simiiar to those used on
our thrashiny machines to carry off straw
oar,ies it into the main building. where It
masses between two large iron rollers which
completely ex racts the juice. Another end
less chain conveys the stalk into large fur
mace where it is burnt. The liquid is caught
IN a tank below the rollers, and is carried III
n;pas to the boiling kettles. These ar
srauged in a row On one side OF the building.
Five or six of these kettles hold from twenty
TO thirty barrels EACH As it boiis 1t Is dip
ned from one to the other, until it reaches
The finishing kettle Here it is drawn off
into large cooling vat When partly cool,
ed it is drawn into a small box car, and upon
a wooden railway is pushed down into the
eraining room. Here. upon each side at
the railway track are cooling watts, which
about twenty inches deep, into which the
syrup is drawn, where it is stirred occasion
ally until it grains Il is then put into hogs
heads. which stand over large cistern, into
which the molasses is drained.
After looking until we were satisfied, we
started for home; but having curiosity 10
see the inside of slave hut, We stopped be
tore one Of them and aske Tor water. i
middle aged mulatto woman gave US seats,
ar1 brought water. We soon entered lnto
conversation with her She told Us that
during the planting and uing season, they
were called up at three 0 clock in the morn
ing and at daylight were marched to the
fields, where they worked until noon. when
their children brought them their dinners
which they ate standing iu the rows They
then worked on till da:k. when they wors
dismissed. This she Told Us she had to dc
when her babes were bdt a few weeks oil
,he children carving them 70 the field 10 bt
uursed, which was done standing IN th'
row. which had to be hoed through with th'
others. The grinding commences IN Sep
tember, aud usuaiiy lasts about four months
During this time, the hands are divided int
two companies, and they neither stop 70
San4av, night or storm. While talking, w
could see ven geance in her dark eyes.
IN nv first I told yoa believed the sssv
70 be happier than the master. Nitiloa
..tnperance, morality. and religion, behey
no tne can be truly happy. 1t needs buf
careless glance Al society IN the slave o.aie
10 see who are the temperance people Tue
prohbit the sale of liquor to the slave. II
is therefore a temperate man. That slave
hnl1er can be a christian at all, IS quesLIo
lin the minds of many. As far as l c9ui
! sindse, their morals were better than the
J masters. Many OF them are over woFke
. and i'll fed, but the miseries arising fro
5 this bear no comparison to the suffering
!, bronrht upon the master by his siolartoa
: tleslay Of God which says. in the sweat
thv face shalt thou eat bread Inc slat
sufg-rS from the dread OF being sold, an Il
] fear of being punished but Il Is not eqaas
? he sting Of the master : conscience whea
th..ss os .he robbery he Is cor9a1lt'i9s up
: I,he slave. oz The fear be has that Tie sIa'
] viii rise II rebellion, and either destroy -
I or make him be the ''heweF OF wooa AZ
9r.-var of water Aud uniess there b.
7 e.Is1ee IN their domestic relations, the Ia
: 1aq,e4 evil will come upon them Ike I'M
= u I,;a night" Tns reader may say he
4 ! M danger OF this; but look al the past al
: the present. and then judge Of the future
d 4 few wears aso not State in the l nl
d hat what the white population predo'
'e mated over the slave; nov IN many
rf ,barn the slaves oatnumber the whii
-aore than two to one, and at prese
his disproportion is greatly on the ineree
The high prices of slaves in the sugar a
co.tan regions, with the insecurity of q
. human properly in the border States.
= swelling the slave population Of the e1trel
=. southern States al fearful rate. while |
= free white population. from causes Of viii
j. / may hereafter speak, searcel ) increases
i Al. Already they have all they can m'
Sc aye. In all the cities the slaves are al le
$ one half white Many Of them can read. a
:, are intelligent. Daring the excite meat
!; the slave insurrection two years ago, on
I, b.rders of Kentucky and Tennessee. u
Il whipped and burned to dea'h more than Il