The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-08-16
{ Correspondence Of the Cincinnati G"zete.
A SEA-ISLAND SENSATION.
COngoes at Chwh- 4frtcan PSaiuaody--Miz-
ed Worship of God, Mr Chase, aud General
Sa1l0n-A Curious Scene

THE sEA,IsLAND SLAVES.
The most degraded slaves in the South, it
has been commonly testified by Soujherners
themselves, were 10 be found in South Car
ollna aud on The sugar plantations in the
southwest. OF the South Carolina slaves,
the most ignorant and debased, beyond all
question, were those on the Sea Islands
about Port Royal, engaged in unhealthy
work, TO which none but the coarsesi of
fiber were likely 10 be subjected, ard steep
ed in the normal ignorance of the rice
swamp and The cotton field, they were like
wise isolated on their islands aud shut out
from that mysterious transmission OF intel
Iisence concerning their own interests
which seemed 10 permeate like magnetic
current all large communities of negroes.
They were nearly all of The pure Congo
type there was no mixture of white blood;
intelligent mechanics and '.smari niggers"
generally were TOO valuable to be sent here.
VISIT TO THE CENTRAL ISLAND CHURCH.
Overlooking all The churchyard, flooding
the road through which our carriages could
hardly be driven, and backing up against
the graveyard, were the negroes, gay with
holiday attire, many colored kerchieis and
the best their earnings (and The suffers ex-
torions) would permit them 10 bny The
woods back OF the church were filled with
csris and wagons, the hoFses were unhar-
messed and lied 10 the trees and fed their
owners were gathered in groups about the
carts discussing the condition of the cotton
crop or The price Gum had paid for ",hat
new mar" and how muchFAunt Sukie was
giltin down TO Bufor for DEM dis years pul
let's"
THE ST. HELENA CHURCH.
The interior of the low plain brick church
was deserted, the deacons having decided
that there was not room for the ;hrong in
al,endauce-sn event, as we afterwards
learEed,. of almost constant occurrence
Three times in the week these people had
filed he praise meetings. on their respect
i've plantations, and already there had been
another such meeting on Sunday before
they stared 10 church; yet here was grea,
throng which The church could not contain,
and still the roads for miles in each direc-
ton sNarmed with those vet coming.
TIE "MsETIN."
While our party stood looking about this
scene OF the past, whiie-wooied deacon
came, with The poIi,eness il not the grace
of an old-world master OF ceremonies, TO
summon Us TO one of the present "De peo-
pie is gathered, sab, aud was ready Tor de
services TO begin' There was a not on.
natural sensation as the major generals, the
chief Justice, and The ladies of the party
were led through the crowd TO the lille
platform under the live oaks; but i, was
when Rev. DR.. Fuller,-'ole massa Rich
ard"-maGe his appearance, that the won
dering stare frightened and eyes grew
moisi, and ancient negTesses could be
heard vehemently whispering "bress de
Led, bress de Lod ~ "Hebenly Master ~
-'Gra-e-ate King i; No word had been senl
OF our coming, and it was but within the
last half hour that the old slaves OF Dr..
Fuller had heard that be was to address
them. There was no way of estimating 2
The number OF those in attendance-hs had
owned between two and three hundred, but
probably half of them were now at Beau
fort. Every adult negro in the assemblage,
however, seemed 10 know him.
The scene was a striking one. In front
of US was The old church: behind, the new
school house. Half a dozen superb live
oaks spread their gnarled branches over US,
the silvery. pendnlous sireamers OF Span
sh moss floaing down and hecking with
he sunlight the upIurued faces of the great
of negroes, while the hreezes
made modrnful music among the leaves
and the mockine birds sent back a livelier
refrain. The valley beiweeG the platform
and the church was finally packed with ne
roes, all standing, and as the deacon told
Us "eaeah for the Wud." They clustered,
TOO, about the platform, leaned over :he
railing behind and al the sides, and spread
away in all directions among the carts and
wagons that formed a sort of outer line of
deienses and shut in he scene. The cars
were of every color aud cut and age. There
were a lew straw bats on the heads OF the
younger females, and cotton gloves. CANDY
calico dresses and criuolInes were abund-
ant bu: The older ones clung TO the many
colored handkerchief, wound turban-wise
about the head, and affected gowns that
cIung closely to their not graceful figures.
Altogether they were dressed as we'll as the
average Of day laborers' families at the
NoHh would be, but in taste that even
such Northern families would pronounce
barbarous.
8 quaint old African, clad in cotton
checks and bowed with many years OF cot
ton hoeing. stepped out on the platform