slave. I resided in Augustine five months, and had I not made particular inquiries, which most northern visitors very seldom or never do, I should have left there with the impression that the slaves were generally very well treated, and were a happy people. Such is the report of many northern travelers who have no more op. portunity of knowing their real condition than if they had remained at home. What confidence could we place in the reports of the traveler, relative to the condition of the Irish peasantry, who formed his opinion from the appearance of the waiters at a Dublin hotel, or the household servants of a country gentleman ? And it is not often on plantations even, that strangers can wit. ness the punishment of the slave. I was conversing the other day with a neighboring planter, upon the brutal treatment of the slaves which I had wit. nessed he remarked, that had I been with him I should not have seen this. "When I whip niggers, I take them out of sight and hearing." Such being the difficulties in the way of a stranger's ascertaining the treatment of the slaves, it is not to be wondered at that gentlemen, of undoubted veracity, should give directly false state. ments relative to it. But facts cannot lie, and in giving these I confine myself to what has come under my own personal observation.

and receive 305 blows with the paddle on the fleshy parts of the body. Two others received the same kind of punishment at the time, though I did not count the blows. One received 230 lashes. Their crime was stealing mutton. I have frequently heard the shrieks of the slaves, male and female, accompanied by the strokes of the paddle or whip, when I have not gone near the scene of horror. I knew not their crimes, excepting of one woman, which was stealing four potatoes to eat with her bread! The more common number of lashes inflicted was fifty or eighty; and this I saw not once or twice, but so frequently that I can not tell the number of times I have seen it. So frequently, that my own heart was becoming so hardened that I could witness with comparative indifference, the female writhe under the lash, and her shrieks and cries for mercy ceased to pierce my heart with that keenness, or give me that anguish which they first caused. It was not always that I could learn their crimes; but of those I did learn, the most common was non-performance of tasks. I have seen men strip and receive from one to three hundred strokes of the whip and paddle. My studies and meditations were almost nightly interrupted by the cries of the victims of cruelty and avarice. Tom, a slave of Col. N. obtained "The negroes commence labor by daylight in the permission of his overseer on Sunday, to visit his morning, and, excepting the plowboys, who must son, on a neighboring plantation, belonging in part feed and rest their horses, do not leave the field to his master, but neglected to take a 66 pass." till dark in the evening. There is a good deal of Upon its being demanded by the other overseer, contention among planters, who shall make the he replied that he had permission to come, and most cotton to the hand, or, who shall drive their that his having a mule was sufficient evidence of negrocs the hardest; and I have heard bets made it, and if he did not consider it as such, he could and staked upon the issue of the crops. Col. W. take him up. The overseer replied he would was boasting of his large crops, and swore that take him up; giving him at the same time a he made for his force, the largest crops in the blow on the arm with a stick he held in his hand, country.' He was disputed of course. On ri- sufficient to lame it for some time. The negro ding home in company with Mr. C. the conver- collared him, and threw him; and on the oversation turned upon Col. W. My companion re-seer's commanding him to submit to be tied and marked, that though Col. W. had the reputation whipped, he said he would not be whipped by of making a large crop, yet he could beat him him but would leave it to massa J. They came himself, and did do it the last year. I remarked that I considered it no honor to Col. W. to drive his slaves to death to make a large crop. I have heard no more about large crops from him since. Drivers or overseers usually drive the slaves worse than masters.—Their reputation for good overseers depends in a great measure upon the crops they make, and the death of a slave is no loss to them.

"Of the extent and cruelty of the punishment of the slave, the northern public know nothing. From the nature of the case they can know little, as I have before mentioned,

"I have seen a woman, a mother, compelled, in the presence of her master and mistress, to hold up her clothes, and endure the whip of the driver on the naked body for more than twenty minutes, and while her cries would have rent the heart of any one, who had not hardened himself to human suffering. Her master and mistress were conversing with apparent indifference. What was her crime? She had a task given her of sewing which she must finish that day. Late at night she finished it; but the stitches were too long, and she must be whipped. The same was repeated three or four nights for the same offence. I have seen a man tied to a tree, hands and feet,

to massa J.'s. I was there. After the overseer
had related the case as above, he was blamed
for not shooting or stabbing him at once.-After
dinner the negro was tied, and the whip given to
the overseer, and he used it with a severity that
was shocking." I know not how many lashes
were given, but from his shoulders to his heels
there was not a spot unridged! and at almost
every stroke the blood flowed. He could not
have received less than 300, well laid on.
his offence was great, almost the greatest known,
laying hands on a white man! Had he struck
the overscer, under any provocation, he would
have been in some way disfigured, perhaps by
the loss of his ears, in addition to a whipping:
or he might have been hung. The most com
mon cause of punishments is, not finishing tasks.

But

"But it would be tedious mentioning further particulars. The negro has no other inducement to work but the lash; and as man never acts without motive, the lash must be used so long as all other motives are withheld. Hence corporeal punishment is a necessary part of slavery.

"Punishments for runaways are usually severe.

* A piece of oak timber two and a half feet long, flat and wide at one end.

who

Once whipping is not sufficient. I have known whipping, remarked that a planter in Grunaways to be whipped for six or seven nights had whipped a great deal, at length got tired in succession for one offence. I have known of it, and invented the following excellent others who, with pinioned hands, and a chain method of punishment, which I saw practised extending from an iron collar on their neck, while I was paying him a visit. The negro was to the saddle of their master's horse, have been placed in a sitting position, with his hands made driven at a smart trot, one or two hundred miles, fast above his head, and fect in the stocks, so being compelled to ford water courses, their that he could not move any part of the body. drivers, according to their own confession, not abating a whit in the rapidity of their journey for the case of the slave. One tied a kettle of sand to his slave to render his journey more arduous.

"Various are the instruments of torture devised to keep the slave in subjection. The stocks are sometimes used. Sometimes blocks are filled with pegs and nails, and the slave compelled to stand upon them.

"While stopping on the plantation of a Mr. C. I saw a whip with a knotted lash lying on the table, and inquired of my companion, who was also an acquaintance of Mr. C.'s, if he used that to whip his negrocs? "Oh," says he," Mr. C. is not severe with his hands. He never whips very hard. The knots in the lash are so large that he does not usually draw blood in whipping them."

"The master retired, intending to leave him till morning, but we were awakened in the night by the groans of the negro, which were so doleful that we feared he was dying. We went to him, and found him covered with a cold sweat, and almost gone. He could not have lived an hour longer. Mr.- found the stocks' such an effective punishment, that it almost superseded the whip."

How much do you give your niggers for a task while hoeing cotton," inquired Mr. C———— of his neighbor Mr. H—————.

H. "I give my men an acre and a quarter, and my women an acre."*

C. "Well, that is a fair task. Niggers do a heap better if they are drove pretty tight."

H. "O yes, I have driven mine into complete subordination. When I first bought them they were discontented and wished me to sell them, but I soon whipped that out of them; and they now work very contentedly!"

C." Does Mary keep up with the rest?"

H. "No, she does'nt often finish the task alone, she has to get Sam to help her out after he has done his, to save her a whipping. There's no other way but to be severe with them."

C. "No other, sir, if you favor a nigger you spoil him."

"It was principally from hearing the conversation of southern men on the subject, that I judge of the cruelty that is generally practiced toward slaves. They will deny that slaves are generally ill treated; but ask them if they are not whipped for certain offences, which either a freeman would have no temptation to commit, or which would not be an offence in any but a slave, and for non-performance of tasks, they will answer promptly in the affirmative. And frequently have I heard them excuse their cruelty by citing Mr. A. or Mr. B. who is a Christian, or Mr. C. a preacher, or Mr. D. from the north, who "drives his hands tighter, and whips them hard. er, than we ever do." Driving negroes to the utmost extent of their ability, with occasionally a hundred lashes or more, and a few switchings in the field if they hang back in the driving seasons, viz in the hoing and picking months, is perfect-known some use shovel and tongs. It is, howly consistent with good treatment!

"While traveling across the Peninsula in a stage, in company with a northern gentleman, and southern lady, of great worth and piety, a dispute arose respecting the general treatment of slaves, the gentleman contending that their treatment was generally good-O, no interrupted the lady, you can know nothing of the treatment they receive on the plantations. People here do whip the poor negroes most cruelly. and many half starve them. You have neither of you had opportunity to know scarcely any thing of the cruelties that are practiced in this country,' and more to the same effect. I met with several others, besides this lady, who appeared to feel for the sins of the land, but they are few and scattered, and not usually of sufficiently stern mould to withstand the popular wave.

"Masters are not forward to publish their "domestic regulations," and as neighbors are usually several miles apart, one's observation must be limited. Hence the few instances of cruelty which break out can be but a fraction of what is practised. A planter, a professor of religion, in conversation upon the universality of

"The whip is considered as necessary on a plantation as the plough; and its use is almost as common. The negro whip is the common teamster's whip with a black leather stock, and a short, fine, knotted lash. The paddle is also frequently used, sometimes with holes bored in the flattened end. The ladies (!) in chastising their domestic servants, generally use the cowhide. I have

ever, more common to commit them to the driver to be whipped. The manner of whipping is as follows: The negro is tied by his hands, and sometimes feet, to a post or tree, and stripped to the skin. The female slave is not always tied. The number of lashes depends upon the character for severity of the master or overscer.

"Another instrument of torture is sometimes used, how extensively I know not. The negro, or, in the case which came to my knowledge, the negress was compelled to stand barefoot upon a block filled with sharp pegs and nails for two or three hours. In case of sickness, if the master or overseer thinks them seriously ill, they are taken care of, but their complaints are usually not much heeded. A physician told me that he was employed by a planter last winter to g to a plantation of his in the country, as many of the negrocs were sick. Says he-"I found them in a most miserable condition. The weather was cold, and the negroes were barefoot, with hardly enough of cotton clothing to cover their nakedness. Those who had huts to shelter them

*Cotton is planted in drills about three feet apart, and is hilled like corn.

were obliged to build them nights and Sundays., as though I could hardly stir.'
Many were sick and some had died. I had the
sick taken to an older plantation of their
masters, where they could be made comfortable,
and they recovered. I directed that they should
not go to work till after sunrise, and should not
work in the rain till their health became establish-
ed. But the overseer refusing to permit it, I de-
clined attending on them farther. I was call-
ed,' continued he, by the overseer of another
plantation to see one of the men. I found him
lying by the side of a log in great pain. I asked
him how he did,O,' says he, I'm most dead,
can live but little longer.' How long have you
been sick? 'I've felt for more than six weeks

Why didn't you
tell your master, you was sick? I couldn't see
my master, and the overseer always whips us
when we complain, I could not stand a whip-
ping.' I did all I could for the poor fellow, but
his lungs were rotten. He died in three days
from the time he left off work. The cruelty of
that overseer is such that the negroes almost
tremble at his name. Yet he gets a high salary,
for he makes the largest crop of any other man
in the neighborhood, though none but the hard-
iest negroes can stand it under him.
"That
man," says the Doctor, "would be hung in my
country." He was a German.

TESTIMONY OF REV. WILLIAM A. CHAPIN.

Rev. WILLIAM SCALES, of Lyndon, Vermont, | has furnished the following testimony, under date of Dec. 15, 1838.

"I send you an extract from a letter that I have just received, which you may use ad libitum. The letter is from Rev. Wm. A. Chapin, Greens borough, Vermont. To one who is acquainted with Mr. C. his opinion and statements must carry conviction even to the most obstinate and incredulous. He observes, 'I resided, as a teach. er, nearly two years in the family of Carroll Webb, Esq., of Hampstead, New Kent co. about twenty miles from Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Webb had three or four plantations, and was considered one of the two wealthiest men in the county: it was supposed he owned about two hundred slaves. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was elected an elder while I was with him. He was a native of Virginia, but a graduate of a NewEngland college.

"The slaves were called in the morning before daylight, I believe at all seasons of the year, that they might prepare their food, and be ready to go to work as soon as it was light enough to see. I know that at the season of husking corn, October and November, they were usually compelled to work late-till 12 or 1 o'clock at night. I know this fact because they accompanied their work with a loud singing of their own sort. I usually retired to rest between 11 and 12 o'clock, and generally heard them at their work as long as I was awake. The slaves lived in wretched log cabins, of one room each, without floors or win. dows. I believe the slaves sometimes suffer for want of food. One evening, as I was sitting in

the parlor with Mr. W. one of the most resolute of the slaves came to the door, and said, 66 Master, I am willing to work for you, but I want yourself." I learned that the slaves had been something to eat." The only reply was, "Clear without food all day, because the man who was sent to mill could not obtain his grinding. He went again the next day, and obtained his grist, and the slaves had no food till he returned. He had to go about five miles.*

"I know the slaves were sometimes severely whipped. I saw the backs of several which had numerous scars, evidently caused by long and deep lacerations of the whip; and I have good reason to believe that the slaves were generally in that condition; for I never saw the back of one exposed that was not thus marked,—and from their tattered and scanty clothing their backs were often exposed."

*To this, Rev. Mr. Scales adds, "In familiar language, and in more detail, as I have learned it in conversation with Mr. Chapin, the fact is as follows:

to mill. It was his custom not to give his slaves anything to
"Mr. W. kept, what he called a 'boy,' i. e. a man, to go
eat while he was gone to mill-let him have been gone long-
the slaves would become hungry; hence indignant, and
er or shorter--for this reason, if he was lazy, and delayed,
abuse him--this was his punishment. On that occasion he
went to mill in the morning. The slaves came up at noon,
and returned to work without food. At night, after having
worked hard all day, without food, went to bed without
supper. About 10 o'clock the next day, they came up in a
company, to their master's door, (that master an elder in
address him. This he did in the most respectful tones and
the church), and deputed one more resolute than the rest to
terms.
can't work without food; we want something to eat."
"We are willing to work for you, master, but we
and in the morning were driven away to work without food.
"Clear yourself," was the answer. The slaves retired;
At noon, I think, or somewhat after, they were fed."

TESTIMONY OF MESSRS. T. D. M. AND F. C. MACY.

This testimony is communicated in a letter | intelligence I can vouch unqualifiedly; the forfrom Mr. Cyrus Pierce, a respectable and well mer has furnished me with the following stateknown citizen of Nantucket, Mass. Of the wit-ment. nesses, Messrs. T. D. M. and F. C. Macy, Mr. Pierce says, "They are both inhabitants of this island, and have resided at the south; they are both worthy men, for whose integrity and

the island of St. Simon, Glynn county, Georgia. "During the winter of 1832-3, I resided on There are several extensive cotton plantations on the island. The overseer of the plantation on

"When it rained, the slaves were allowed to collect under a tree until the shower had passed. Seldom, on a week day, were they permitted to go to their huts during rain; and even had this privilege been granted, many of those miserable habitations were in so dilapidated a condition, that they would afford little or no protection. Negro huts are built of logs, covered with boards or thatch, having no flooring, and but one apartment, serving all the purposes of sleeping, cook. ing, &c. Some are furnished with a temporary loft. I have seen a whole family herded together in a loft ten feet by twelve. In cold weather, they gather around the fire, spread their blankets on the ground, and keep as comfortable as they can. Their supply of clothing is scanty-each slave being allowed a Holland coat and pantaloons, of the coarsest manufacture, and one pair of cowhide shoes. The women, enough of the same kind of cloth for one frock. They have also one pair of shoes. Shoes are given to the slaves in the winter only. In summer, their clothing is composed of osnaburgs. Slaves on different plan. tations are not allowed without a written permission, to visit their fellow bondsmen, under penalty of severe chastisement. I witnessed the chastisement of a young male slave, who was found lurking about the plantation, and could give no other account of himself, than that he wanted to visit some of his acquaintance. Fifty lashes was the penalty for this offence. I could not endure the dreadful shrieks of the tortured slave, and rushed away from the scene."

that part of the island where I resided was a Georgian-a man of stern character, and at imes cruelly abusive to his slaves. I have often been witness of the abuse of his power. In South Carolina and Georgia, on the low lands, the cultivation is chiefly of rice. The land where it is raised is often inundated, and the labor of preparing it, and raising a crop, is very arduous. Men and women are in the field from earliest dawn to dark-often without hats, and up to their arm-pits in mud and water. At St. Si mon's, cotton was the staple article. Ocra, the driver, usually waited on the overseer to receive orders for the succeeding day. If any slave was insolent, or negligent, the driver was authorized to punish him with the whip, with as many blows as the magnitude of the crime justified. He was frequently cautioned, upon the peril of his skin, to see that all the negroes were off to the field in the morning. Ocra,' said the overscer, one evening, to the driver, if any pretend to be sick, send me word-allow no lazy wench or fellow to skulk in the negro house.' Next morning, a few minutes after the departure of the hands to the field, Ocra was seen hastening to the house of the overseer. He was soon in his presence. Well, Ocra, what now? Nothing, sir, only Rachel says she sick-can't go to de field to-day.' Ah, sick, is she? I'll sec to her; you may be off. She shall see if I am longer to be fooled with in this way. Here, Christmas, mix these salts-bring them to me at the negro house.' And seizing his whip, he made off to the negro settlement. Having a strong desire to see what would be the result, I followed him. As I ap. proached the negro house, I heard high words. Rachel was stating her complaint-children were "I went to Savannah in 1820. Sailing up the crying from fright-and the overseer threatening. river, I had my first view of slavery. A large Rachel.-'I can't work to-day-I'm sick.' Over- number of men and women, with a piece of seer. But you shall work, if you die for it. board on their heads, carrying mud, for the purHere, take these salts. Now move off-quick-pose of dyking, near the river. After tarrying a let me see your face again before night, and, by G-d, you shall smart for it. Be off-no begging-not a word;'-and he dragged her from the house, and followed her 20 or 30 rods, threatening. The woman did not reach the field. Overcome by the exertion of walking, and by agitation, she sunk down exhausted by the road side was taken up, and carried back to the house, where an abortion occurred, and her life was greatly jeoparded.

"It was no uncommon sight to see a whole family, father, mother, and from two to five children, collected together around their piggin of hommony, or pail of potatoes, watched by the overseer. One meal was always eaten in the field. No time was allowed for relaxation.

"

It was not unusual for a child of five or six years to perform the office of nurse-because the mother worked in a remote part of the field, and was not allowed to leave her employment to take care of her infant. Want of proper nutriment induces sickness of the worst type.

"No matter what the nature of the service, a peck of corn, dealt out on Sunday, must supply the demands of nature for a week.

"The Sabbath, on a southern plantation, is a mere nominal holiday. The slaves are liable to be called upon at all times, by those who have authority over them.

The remainder of this testimony is furnished by Mr. F. C. MACY.

while in Savannah, I went down to the sea
islands of De Fuskee and Hilton Head, where I
spent six months. Negro houses are small, built
of rough materials, and no floor. Their clothing,
(one suit,) coarse; which they received on Christ.
mas day. Their food was three pecks of pota-
tocs per week, in the potatoc season, and one peck
of corn the remainder of the year. The slaves
carried with them into the field their meal, and
a gourd of water. They cooked their hommony in
the field, and ate it with a wooden paddle
Their treatment was little better than that of
brutes. Whipping was nearly an every-day
practice. On Mr. M's plantation, at the
island De Fuskee, I saw an old man whipped;
he was about 60. He had no clothing on, except
a shirt. The man that inflicted the blows was
Flim, a tall and stout man. The whipping was
very severe. I inquired into the cause. Some
vegetables had been stolen from his master's gar.
den, of which he could give no account.
I saw
several women whipped, some of whom were in
very delicate circumstances. The case of one I will
relate. She had been purchased in Charleston, and
separated from her husband. On her passage to
Savannal., or rather to the island, she was de-
livered of a child; and in about three weeks after
this, she appeared to be deranged. She would
leave her work, go into the woods, and sing.

Her master sent for her, and ordered the driver | ing out of the roof He ordered him back: he to whip her. I was near enough to hear the obeyed. In a few moments he attempted it

strokes.

"I have known negro boys, partly by persuasion, and partly by force, made to strip off their clothing and fight for the amusement of their masters. They would fight until both got to crying.

One of the planters told me that his boat had been used without permission. A number of his negroes were called up, and put in a building that was lathed and shingled. The covering could be easily removed from the inside. He called one out for examination. While examining this one, he discovered another negro, com

again. The master took deliberate aim at his
head, but his gun missed fire. He told me he
should probably have killed him, had his gun
gone off. The negro jumped and run.
master took aim again, and fired; but he was sɔ
The
far distant, that he received only a few shots in
the calf of his leg. After several days he return-
ed, and received a severe whipping.
"Mr. B-
confessed, that he kept one of his slaves as a mis-
-, planter at Hilton Head, freely
tress.
This, I think, is a very common practice."
She slept in the same room with him.

TESTIMONY OF A CLERGYMAN.

The following letter was written to Mr. ARTHUR TAPPAN, of New York, in the summer of 1833. As the name of the writer cannot be published with safety to himself, it is withheld.

The following testimonials, from Mr. TAPPAN, Professor WRIGHT, and THOMAS RITTER, M. D. of New York, establish the trust-worthiness and high respectability of the writer.

"I received the following letters from the south during the year 1833. They were written by a gentleman who had then resided some years in the slave states. Not being at liberty to give the writer's name, I cheerfully certify that he is a gentleman of established character, a graduate of Yale College, and a respected minister of the gospel.

"ARTHUR TAPPAN."

"My acquaintance with the writer of the fol. lowing letter commenced, I believe, in 1823, from which time we were fellow students in Yale College till 1826. I have occasionally seen him since. His character, so far as it has come within my knowledge, has been that of an upright and remarkably candid man. I place great confidence both in his habits of careful and unprejudiced observation and his veracity.

"E. WRIGHT, jun. "New York, April 13, 1839." "I have been acquainted with the writer of the following letter about twelve years, and know him to be a gentleman of high respectability, integrity, and piety. We were fellow students in Yale College, and my opportunities for judging of his character, both at that time and since our graduation, have been such, that I feel myself fully warranted in making the above unequivocal declaration.

"THOMAS RITTER.

"104, Cherry-street, New York."

66

'NATCHEZ, 1833. "It has been almost four years since I came to the south-west; and although I have been told, from month to month, that I should soon wear off my northern prejudices, and probably have slaves of my own, yet my judgment in regard to oppression, or my prejudices, if they are pleased so to call them, remain with me still. I judge still from those principles which were fixed in my mind at the north; and a residence at the south has not

|

enabled me so to pervert truth, as to make injus tice appear justice.

"I have studied the state of things here, now for years, coolly and deliberately, with the eye of an altogether unprepared to state to you some facts, uninterested looker on; and hence I may not be and to draw conclusions from them.

"Permit me then to relate what I have scen; and do not imagine that these are all exceptions to the general treatment, but rather believe that thousands of cruclties are practised in this Chris tian land, every year, which no eye that ever shed a tear of pity could look upon.

"Soon after my arrival I made an excursion into the country, to the distance of some twenty miles. And as I was passing by a cotton field, where about fifty negroes were at work, I was inclined to stop by the road side to view a scene which was then new to me. comparing this mode of labor with that of my While I was, in my mind, own native place, I heard the driver, with a rough oath, order one that was near him, who seemed to be laboring to the extent of his power, to "lie down." In a moment he was obeyed; and he commenced whipping the offender upon his naked back, and continued, to the amount of about twenty lashes, with a heavy raw-hide whip, the crack of which might have been heard more than half a mile. Nor did the females escape; for althan three were whipped in the same manner, and though I stopped scarcely fifteen minutes, no less that so severely, I was strongly inclined to interfere.

unmoved: I could no longer look on such cruel"You may be assured, sir, that I remained not ty, but turned away and rode on, while the echoes of the lash were reverberating in the woods around liar to me. But then the full effect was not lost; me. Such scenes have long since become famimingled feelings of pity, horror, and indignation and I shall never forget, to my latest day, the that took possession of my mind. I involuntarily exclaimed, O God of my fathers, how dost thou permit such things to defile our land! Be mer. ciful to us! and visit us not in justice, for all our iniquities and the iniquities of our fathers!

"As I passed on I soon found that I had escaped from one horrible scene only to witness another. A planter with whom I was well acquanted, had caught a negro without a pass. ment I was passing by, he was in the act of fasAnd at the mo