(accompanied by the committee) again called for an expression of sentiment in relation to the sentence passed upon me; again the vote was unanimous in approbation of it, and again did he express his gratification at the good order by which the whole proceeding had been characterized. Whilst some of the company were engaged in stripping me of my garments, a motion was made and seconded that I be exonerated altogether from the punishment. This brought many and furious imprecations on the mover's head, and created a commotion which was appeased only by the sound of the instrument of torture and disgrace upon my naked body.

I knelt to receive the punishment, which was inflicted by Mr. Braughton, the city officer, with a heavy cowskin. When the infliction ceased, an involuntary feeling of thanksgiving to God for the fortitude with which I had been enabled to endure it arose in my soul, to which I began aloud to give utterance. The death-like silence that prevailed for a moment, was suddenly broken with loud exclamations, "G-d d- -n him, stop his praying." I was raised to my feet by Mr. Braughton, and conducted

by him to my lodging, where it was thought safe for me to remain but for a few moments.

And though most of my friends were at the campground, I was introduced into a family of entire strangers, from whom I received a warm reception, and the most kind and tender treatment. They will ever be remembered with grateful emotions.

On the ensuing morning, owing to the great excitement that was still prevailing, I found it necessary to leave the place in disguise, with only what clothing I had about my person; leaving unsold property to the amount of nearly three hundred dollars, and sacrificing at least two hundred on my barouche, horse, &c., which I was obliged to sell. Of my effects at Nashville, I have heard nothing. since my return, though I have frequently written to my friends concerning them.

Cincinnati, August 25, 1835.

AMOS DRESSER.

THE GENERAL TREATMENT OF SLAVES AT THE SOUTH-WEST.

Two Letters to the Editor of the N. Y. Evangelist.

No. I.

The opportunity for observing facts, enjoyed by the writer of the following letters, is not more apparent than the candor and caution with which he writes. His statement will carry conviction to all thinking minds which become acquainted with it. It accords with what we know of human nature, when placed in similar circumstances. And furthermore it is called forth at the hazard of the personal interests, perhaps the safety of the writer. We request and hope for it a careful perusal.

NATCHEZ, May 24, 1835. BROTHER LEAVITT,-Is it possible! I have just been reading an article in No. II, of the Anti-Slavery Record,

entitled Compensation, in which it is said, as an allegation of the writer's opponents, "But we are told that this is very seldom the case at the South," (that is, that the holder over-drives and under-feeds his slaves)—" the slaves are very happy-better off than northern free laborers." Again I exclaim, Is it possible! I had supposed that after all the testimonies that had been given, and the facts piled upon facts that had been presented to the public-circulated through newspapers, and promulgated in public addresses, this subject was set at rest— that no one had any longer the least doubt upon the subject. And certainly I was not a little surprised to find it a sentiment still rife at the North, that the slaves at the South" are seldom over-worked and under-fed-that they are very happy-better off than northern free labo, ers. It is possible that my surprise might have arisen in part, or chiefly, from my living among them and having daily palpable evidence entirely to the contrary, without reflecting that the same amount of evidence was not before every eye at the North. No one here thinks that the slaves are seldom over-driven and under-fed. Every body knows it to be one of the most common occurrences. The planters do not deny it, except perhaps to northerners, whom they take to be uninformed on the subject-or when on some particular occasion they wish to carry a point. True, they try to make the thing appear as fair as possible, and are in the habit of holding it up to themselves and others in its most favorable light. But then no planter of intelligence and candor denies that slaves are very generally badly treated in this country. I wish to be understood now at the commencement, that intending as I do that my statements shall be relied on, and knowing that, should you think fit to publish this communication, they will come to this country, where their correctness may ́ be tested by comparison with real life, I make them with the utmost care and precaution. But those which I do make are made without the least apprehension of their being controverted. It occurs to me that perhaps one reason why the public mind at the North is no more satisfied on this subject is, that the facts and statements re

specting slavery at the South have not been of a sufficiently general application. Particular instances of hard driving, ill feeding, severe flogging, and other cruelties, have been given without making any statements from which a definite conception of the extent and frequency of such treatment could be formed. I hope to avoid this, and to give such facts and sketches as will enable you to form a correct, and as far as may be, an accurate idea of slavery as it really exists in the South-west.

It is seen here undoubtedly in its worst form in the United States, and I shall not vouch for the correctness of my statements when applied to any other section than this say the four States of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Portions of the northern parts of the two former States might also be excepted.

In the first place, with respect to labor. The time of labor is first to be noticed. It is a general rule on all regular plantations that the slaves rise in season in the morning to be in the field as soon as it is light enough for them to see to work, and remain there until it is so dark that they cannot see. This is the case at all seasons of the year; so that during the summer they are in the field at least fifteen hours. This does not include the time spent in going and returning; that must be done while it is too dark to suffer them to work, even if the field, as is frequently the case, is a mile distant. It is literally true, what one of them remarked to me the other day, that "they never knew what it is to sleep till daylight." They always eat their breakfast and dinner in the field, for each of which they are allowed from twenty minutes to half an hour. In the heat of summer and when the work is not pressing, they are sometimes allowed a longer time at dinner. Their suppers they have to prepare and eat after they return home, which, at this season of the year, takes them until nine o'clock: so that, without leav. ing a moment of time for any other purpose, they can have but seven hours sleep before four in the morning, when they are called. This is certainly quite little enough for a man that labors hard fifteen hours daily. In the winter, as the days are shorter, their period of daily labor

is not quite so long. They usually have no respite on Saturday. Some planters give them most of Saturday afternoon to work in their patches, where they have any, and to wash their clothes and do such other work as is.

always necessary to the existence of man. But these are exceptions. On most plantations they are compelled to wash their clothes and work their patches on the Sabbath, or to rob nature of those hours which she clamorously demands for repose. I need hardly say that it is usually done on the Sabbath; although there are some noble exceptions, where pious men choose rather to rob themselves of necessary sleep than God of his holy day. With regard to work on the Sabbath, it is not generally required, except perhaps some little odd jobs which might break in upon the labors of the field; such, for example, as the erection or moving of buildings, making hoe handles, grinding hoes, axes, &c., &c. All such things must be done on the Sabbath, or after the labor of the day is finished. In this state, the law has interposed and forbidden the compulsion of the ordinary labor on the Sabbath. It is not an uncommon thing, however, in crowding seasons, to procure the performance of the ordinary labor on that day, either by compulsion or otherwise. Among the French in Louisiana, Sabbath labor is very common, though not as much so now as formerly. In order that what is said respecting the severity of labor may be fully understood, it may be necessary, for the sake of those who are not acquainted with plantation arrangements in the extreme South-west, to make some explanatory remarks on this subject. The plantations in the four states of which I am speaking are, with few exceptions, either cotton or sugar plantations; and there is no sugar of account made north of latitude thirty degrees. On each cotton or sugar plantation it is common to raise corn enough in part to supply the wants of the plantation. Indeed, the common notion of a perfect plantation is, that there should be corn enough raised on it to supply itself entirely; but this is seldom done.

A respectable plantation will have about five hundred acres in cotton and about a hundred and fifty in corn.