Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-12-01
A Woman,s Observations In the
South.

A Woman's Observations I'm the
South.
The Steamboat that carried US dowr
the Alabama River had on board large
gang of negroes, in charge of most 10.
human driver, a second Legree in looks
My brother talked with him little, and
found his face good index of his charac.
ter
4 fatter myself said he, 'that under
stand managing niggers little better than
most folks do. Whipping is worn out;
they know what that is, and will bear il
even to death; besides it hurts their looks,
if they live. They won't sell as well with
their backs deeply Scared
"l'll just tell you how l manage mine
and if you have any unruly ones, you can
try the treatment on them (supposing my
brother to be a Southern man.) just take
the nigger alone-tie him-blindfold him
bare his back-and then take some
sticks of sealingwax and a candle, and let
the burning wax drop all over his back
He'll think be is being dissected alive!-
You never hare TO wax nigger but once.
1t does no harm-only works upon him
powerfully, and he never knows what was
done to him."
In visiting plantations, have often
been urged by female slaves to talk with
their masters about having a regular cere-
mony performed when they are married.
They are sometimes legally married, and
have large party given them, but such
occasions are not frequent. One day !
went into cabin (after the hands had
come in from tbe field) where were half.a
dozen young women carcssing their little
ones. Said one to me, Misses, desc are
our chil'ren, and there amt enc of Us mar
ried as white folks are. When we got big
enough, massa built some more cabins and
put two together in cabin and told US we
were married! dat we must lib together
like man and his wife. Some of US love
our men well enough, but We want to be
married; and We want you to ask massa
to make party for us and let US stand up
and promises! Pears you wouldn't like
to be married widout saying noting your
self, would you?a Taiut right no-how
but massa won't take word from US; he
will from you, misses And, following
me to the house they listened eagerly for
'massa's' reply to my request. The prom
ised party party and grand wedding never
came off; it was made only to quiet the
slaves for the time. The same master
called up 10 him bright little fellow Of
six years, and said: "Now tell mistress
how much you'll old massa." The child
put its finger in his mouth and began to
look very sullen, without saying a word.
"Say, my massa feeds and clothes me wei" I"
said the master, sternly. In quick mo-
notonous, and uninterested way the child
my massa feeds and clothes me
we'll" 'Massa is very kind to me- sharply
suggested the master. 'Massa berry kind,
said the child, hurriedly. Il love massa
very much Again: 4 lub ole massa
berry much This was sufficient, aud the
master triumphantly exclaimed that The
whole of his his little niggers loved him
as well as that one,' He was evidently
satisfied that he had made deep impress
sion on my mind that slaves had a strong
affection for their master.
In one cabin, lying upon the ground, l
one day found white child, with blue
eyes, and soft, bright, strait hair. was
visiting this plantation with the mistress
and his daughter. The overseer was the
only white person on the place. The lit
tie child was very i'll, asked whose child
is that? 1T is mine,' said light mulatto
girl, standing near. It cannot be- l said,
see how fair she is she is as white as T.
who was her father!' I asked. 'She
hain't any, replied the mother. A snicker
burst from some one standing by, who said,
Its de oberseer's-dat's plain enuffp l
was there alone, without the mistress, as l
thought, and | exclaimed 4 do hope this
child will der What's that YOU said 2
and pair of black eyes flashed into my
face. repeated, 4 hope this child will die p
'Whys What do you meauF said she.-
1T will be the most valuable niger on the
would not take Two black
ones for it, And, mother, when the mig
gers are divided, remember, l had rather
have this one than any two black children
said the young Miss D.. l had to
speak out, and tell them of the child's
fate, if she lved-all the worse for her
beauty-but all in vain.
A young lady of great beauty and
wealth married gentleman of great tai
ent, soon after he completed bis Studies at
one of our colleges, and they went to live
upon their plantation. Itwas not long be-
fore she became jealous of her husband,
and suspicious of one of her slaves. She
insisted upon her husband whipping the
young slave-girl (who had been estranging
her husband from her, as she declared) as
long as she desired him to. He whipped
her to dealh-to satisfy his wife-and be-
came a hopeless maniac himself. The
young wife soon got divorce, and was
married while was South. l saw her as
a bride at the time of her second marriage.
With her husband and negroes she started
Tor her river plantation. When the steam
boat she missed her husband from the
state-room, and rushed down upon the low
sr deck among the negroes, screaming for
her husband like an insane person. She
was taken back to her room. and ber bus