Life at the South, or, "Uncle Tom's cabin" as it is : being narratives, scenes, and incidents in the real "Life of the lowly"

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CHAPTER I. "old tirginta."

" Who is not familiar with the history of the Old Dominion f " remarked a portly-appearing gentleman, seated at his ease in the portico of the United States Hotel, at Washington, some years since. " And where is her eqnal, sir, in all that's good and chivalrous?" he added, with the view of engaging th^ attention of a member of Congress, who just then took a seat by his side.

" Ah, Mr. Erskine," replied the person addressed, "I find you 'still harping on my daughter.' Her history is good so far as it goes ; but it does not go far enough. It is the unwritten pages which we of the North take exceptions to."

" Beg your pardon, Mr. Pettibone, but if you will allow me, sir, I say not one of her sons would consent to strike out one iota of that history. We are proud.

sir, of our lineage, and customs, and polity, and we would record it — all of it, for the benefit of our descendants."

" Ah ! yes, Mr. Erskine, yes, yes, that 's all very well. But, we of the North hear of many scenes and events, daily occurring upon your plantations, which disturb our sensibilities ; and as we have good authority for believing that all men are bom free and equal, we, that is to say, myself and those who act with me, are determined to take the matter in hand ourselves, and relieve the oppressed."

" That is to say, Mr. Pettibone, you will pass by the abuses and unhappiness of your own home and fireside, and interest yourself exclusively with those of your neighbor. And then '• —

"No, no!" interrupted Mr. Pettibone, in rather a sharp tone of voice, evidently nettled at this oppor^ tune intimation.

" And then," continued Mr. Erskine, who was determined to conclude his reply before Mr. Pettibone, who was then rising from his. seat, passed out of the portico, "you flatter yourselves with an impression that you are ameliorating the ijondition of the downtrodden, and call this service philanthropy 1 "

Mr. Pettibone was, all of a sudden, in a hurry to get up to the capitol, as he had the floor that day in the "House."

Mr. Erskine, as the reader perhaps may have already anticipated, was a Virginia " gentleman of the old school," of refined sentiments and manners, and the owner of a large landed estate, situate in the county

I imOLE TOM'b OABm AS IT IS. 16

of Frederick, west of the Blue Ridge range of mountains. That estate had been his home for more than half a century, and came into his possession as the legitimate inheritance from his ancestor. Plentifully stocked with negroes that were bom and reared there, the plantation was " well worked," and yielded, from year to year, an abundant harvest. Notwithstanding he was thus favored with the riches of this world, and the blessings and pleasures consequent thereon, he did not occupy a singular position, nor was he isolated from his fellow-citizens. It was not a remarkable nor uncommon condition in that latitude. Whoever, at the time of which we write, or at this day, should traverse the country lying between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghany mountains, would pass over many a plantation, as fair and pleasant as that of Mr. Erskine, and as well supplied with an abject race of humanity. We say abject, but do not mean worthless; for the traveling observer would find the race really " hewers of wood and drawers of water," such as it had been through a long series of generations. And if, with the calm and unbiased feelings of an enlightened philanthropy, the traveler should stop to inquire into the reason of this servitude, and with his own personal observation inspect its condition and diversified relations, in their almost endless variety and multiplicity of detail, he probably would not fail to discover, long before the task was completed, an unexpected ligament existing between master and slave — one, indeed, most difficult to sever, even if

the statutes of the Commonwealth were annulled —

2*

IT) iji- J. Ai I ill. >->i . li ; mu

namely, the strong cord of aftVjction; and composed, if we may be allowed the expression, of the strands of uniform kindness and sincere attachment compactly and finnly twisted together.

The manners and customs of the inhabitants of this region if country, to which we have referred, may have undergone some modification, or change, in the year 1839, from what it was during the first quarter of the present century. Some of their descendants, at intervals, may have bidden adieu to the land of their nativity, and passing into other states, there taken up their abode: some settling themselves upon plantations beneath a more southern sky and in a balmier climate, and adding to their "worldly stock of goods" by a steady annual income derived from their luxuriant fields of rice and cotton; and others, peopling the marts of the south and southwest, occupying the time in trade and traffic, or embracing the "learned professions," spending their lives in expounding the law, preaching the gospel, or healing " the ills which flesh is heir to." In fact, the state of Virginia, which has been so appropriately styled " the mother of presidents," has also been to a very great extent tlie mother of states. Many a son of her's was the first to fire the rifle, use the axe and spade, and build the log cabin, in all that great area of country washed by the watei*8 id' the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and their countless tributaries. Her laws and institutions have made their impress upon the minds of lawgivers, given shape and tone to legislation, imtil, under their benign

UNOLE TOM's cabin AS ITIS. 17

influence, the forest, savanna, and prairie have been converted into towns, hamlets, and cities, and occupied by people in the enjoyment of the comforts and pleasures, elegancy and refinement of civilization.

But if the " looker on in Vienna " desires to take a more extended observation, and, descending from the higher or middling classes, view Southern society in its humblest form, the vision should not be strained through the magnifying lenses of idle rumor and imaginative story. The life and livelihood of the slave should be seen with the naked eyesight, and viewed as it is ; not confining the observation to extreme cases of happiness or misery, but scanning it " as a whole," wherever the institution of slavery is recognized by the law of the land. And then, if this impartial examination should satisfy the mind that the natural laws of humanity had been violated ; and the gratification of that sentiment which is common to all mankind — the love and pursuit of happiness — not allowed, and beyond the pale of hope, the philanthropist might murmur with propriety, and look around for the remedy — some potent elixir — which would remove this cancer from the body politic.

As it is not our desire, so we do not deem it to be our duty, to grope our way through the labyrinthian mazes of a speculative philosophy, and endeavor " to catch a sight" of some fanciful object of philanthropy in the distempered imaginings of an excited brain. The true moralist is content to view nature as he finds it, and rehearse to the listener the actual, every-day Eocenes of life, as they ordinarily occur in their various

18 i-iii^ AT Tin: snuiii ; oi:

phases. And the story which is recited in the following pages will discover to the reader an unvarnished narrative of what has occurred more than once, during the last dozen years, north of the Potomac.

To return from our digression to Mr. Erskine. He had now (we may as well mention the time, it was in the winter of 1839,) for the first time in many years, visited the federal metropolis. He had a two-fold purpose in view, for making the visit at the present time. Fii-st, for pleasure and the improvement of his acquaintance ; and secondly, to inform himself of the real state of the slavery question before thfe country. As he had observed, in reading over the proceedingR of Congress, that the subject was frequently discussed there, and sometimes with great warmth, and apparently with the belief that it was an evil and a curse, he was becoming somewhat alarmed, for he did not know what might be the result of this agitation in Virginia. No sooner had he arrived in Washington than he commenced his inquiries. He paid his respects to the President, and was informed by that high functionary that there was no occasion for any uneasiness; that the debates in the " House " were a mere fanfaronade got up for political effect, and intended for a different meridian. And being further informed by the chief magistrate of the republic, that a large majority of the freemen of the Old Dominion were too much loved and respected by the party in power, ever to allow them to be disturbed in the enjoyment of their hereditary rights ; and that all assaults upon their political privileges, come from whatsoever quarter they might,

UNCLE TOH's cabin AS IT IS. 19

would be trininphantly repelled, the fears of Mr. Erskine were allayed, and he left the White House with hearty thanks for the intelligence he had received, and promenaded Pennsylvania Avenue with perfect composure.

It was the following morning, that the colloquy occurred between him and Mr. Pettibone, as above detailed. As the latter-named personage remarked, when he left the portico, that he had the floor that day in the Ilouse^ Mr. Erskine at once determined to go up to the capitol himself, and remain a quiet spectator of that day's sitting. He stopped for a moment in the corridor leading from the rotunda to the galleries of the House^ and not observing the member from the Frederick District, he presently wound his way up the marble stairs, and reaching the door of the gentlemen's gallery, he took his diagram and examined it attentively, for the purpose of finding Mr. Pcttibone's seat, so as to locate himself in full view of the orator. His desire was very easily gratified, for all the benches were unoccupied. The speaker had not as yet called the House to order, and but few members were at their desks. Mr. Erskine amused himself in glancing at the beautiful architecture, and admiring the elegance and grandeur of the hall. In a few moments, the honorable members began to come in, and among them Mr. Pettibone. Busy in conversation, and giving the usual salutation to each other, the echo of their voices created such a buzz as to make the sensation quite painful to the ears of Mr. Erskine. The Speaker's mallet, however, soon brought order out of chaos,

20 LIFE AT THB SOUTH: OB

and the clerk was reading the journal of the previous day, with such impetuous rapidity that its contents were imperfectly understood by the stranger. The eyes of Mr. Erskine fell upon the orator of the day, who was seated at his desk, perusing a newspaper, with as much nancJialance as if he had been lounging in the reading-room of an hotel. Such lack of urbanity, and such inappropriate demeanor — at least in tho estimation of Mr. Erskine — so shocked his sense of propriety, and was such gross and almost unpardonable infringement of the most common code of politeness, that he was almost inclined to leave the gallery, or to treat the expected speech with disdain, and not pay it the respect of attentive listening. But, upon casting his eyes around the Uouse^ he observed many of the menibei"s occupying the time in the same way, or else opening their little mail bags, and untying and unfolding, and casting a mere glance at, or reading at length, letters and papers — i)arcel after parcel — so much so, that he concluded such behavior was provided for "by the rules," and that perhaps an opposite line of conduct would there be deemed an anomaly, if not an eccentricity. Never having had the honor of a seat in a legislative assembly, and ignorant of all parliamentary conduct save that contained in Jefterson'g Manual, the surj^rise of Mr. Erskine on this occasion ought not to be wondered at by those who are familiar with Congressional deportment. Be this as it may, Mr. Erskine remained patiently in his position, and ih due time the Speaker announced the "special order."

It turned out to be the question whether a petition, praying for the passage of an act abolishing the traflSc of slavery in the District of Columbia, should be respectfully received or thrown under the table. Mr. Pettibone being entitled to the floor^ rose in his place, and proceeded to give his views in the affirmative. Mr. Erskine, from the fame of the orator,-;- at least in the frequent mention of his name in the newspapers — expected to see a crowded auditory; but perceiving nearly all the benches unoccupied, he was surprised at its thinness. And then again was he surprised, that Mr. Pettibone's arguments or eloquence failed to enchain the attention of his fellow-members ; and, instead of an attractive, appeared to possess, so far as he could discover, a reiKjlling influence. For one seat after another was gradually becoming vacant, until, if a couiit had been taken, scarcely a quorum was in attendance ; and not even that, if the sergeant-at-arms had omitted the stragglers in the lobby. Nevertheless, however inauspicious such circumstances might be of a good, sensible, or brilliant speech, Mr. Erskine's desire to hear the sentiments verbatim et literatim of this renowned opponent of the "domestic institution," remained unabated, and so he resolved to " sit it out." Mr. Pettibone proceeded to deliver his views at random, as it seemed to Mr. Erskine ; for he had an ass's load of pamphlets and periodicals at his elbow, which he referred to and read from in rotation ; some of them giving an account of the adventures and hair-breadth escapes of the friends of the colored man, and others containing graphical descriptions of slavery and its,

22 UFB AT THE SOtTTH ; OB

evil tendencies. But like the race-horse, which on the last quarter quickens his speed for the winning iH)St, Mr. Pettibone, as ho approached tlie termination of his speech, became more and more rapid in his elocution, and more frequent in his gesticulation. These movements were communicated by the pages in attendance to the honorable gentlemen outside, who now began to flock into the " Hail," with the same alacrity that the horse-courser and jockey repair to the judges' stand on the race-ground. The pointer of the clock, which was placed directly over the main entrance, and in full view of the speaker, soon designated the hour specified for the committee to rise, and the rap of the mallet brought up Mr. Pettibone " all standing." lie was not quite through, and asked for further time. But the " party in power" did not fancy the topic under debate. His request was not acceded to, and he very reluctantly resumed his seat. Mr. Erskinc regarded the speech as a mere harangue, and he would have left the gallery much disapi)ointed, were it not for the suggestions of the President, which prepared his mind in advance for something of the sort he had heard. Although meant for an attack on Southern rights, he believed it would be perfectly harmless, and his feelings were becoming more and more gratified, that he had taken the trouble to visit Washington. A man of candor himself, he thought Mr. Pettibone the same. And as he conjectured that Mr. Pettibone took the course he was pursuing, on the subject of slavery, from erroneous sentiments founded upon false statements, he made up his ^ind to avail himself of the fii-st opportune ty lie might

UNCLE TOM's cabin AS FT IS. 23

haye, to set Mr. Pettibone right. Especially, as he again and again, on that day, had reiterated that he relied,, "for the rectitude of his conduct," upon the facts, as he was pleased to term them, which he recited at length to the audience, Mr. Erskine thought he should perform an act of kindness to him, and at the same time, in a quiet and gentlemanly way, vindicate himself and neighbors from the false and ungenerous imputations which it was becoming fashionable in certain quarters constantly to cast upon them. And believing that Mr. Pettibone was actuated solely by the impulses of genuine philanthropy, he did not anticipate much difficulty in undeceiving him. Mr. Erskine accordingly retired from the gallery in a happy mood, and returned to his hotel.

Some few days afterward, Mr. Erskine met Mr. Pettibone at a private dinner-party given by the member from Frederick. Mr. Pettibone was fond of hilarity and a good joke, and so was Mr. Erskine, and they were passing together a very jovial hour. As they were becoming merry enough to throw off the restraint or coldness which on other occasions probably would characterize their conduct toward one another, Mr. Erskine improved the opportunity to rally his companion upon the slavery topic, with the view of testing his sincerity.

" I never had the honor of listening to a speech in Congress until I heard you," said he, " and I listened with attention."

Mr. Pettibone's vanity was his great weakness, and he received Mr. Erskine's remark as a compliment, and replied accordingly.

" From what passed between us that morning at the hotel, I expected to hear some of the unwritten history of my state," added Mr. Erskine, dryly, " but I perceived that you occasionally read from — may I ask from what?"

" Yes, sir, certainly,'' replied Mr. Pettibone, shoving back his chair from the table sufficiently to enable him to turn it aslant toward Mr. Erskine, " why cer- -^ tainly, sir," he continued, beginning to think that he \ had made an impression on the mind of Mr. Erskine, " the facts which I narrated in my speech I obtained from the ^Emancipator,' and the documents from which I read to the JETmise are pamphlets compiled with much particularity " —

"I noticed the jparUcularity^^'* interrupted Mr, Erskine.

" And with great care and accuracy, by compilers at the North who have traveled through many parts of the Southern country."

"And it is upon such data that you form your opinions of us slaveholders ? "

" Oh ! sir, those are only a small sample of the innumerable wrongs inflicted upon our colored brethren. The half, sir, has not been told."

" It would really be quite gratifying to me," very pleasantly remarked Mr. Erskine, " to know where, in all the South, such scenes occur — "

" They are common to all parts of slavedom; I hear of no exceptions."

UNCLE Ton's CABIN AS ITIS. 25

"And, Mr. PettiboDC, tlic circumstances — the circurnRtances, sir, under which they occur. For I can readily imagine that isolated instances may occur. The lash with us may supply the place of the felon's cell with you ; and the colored man of the South, I presume, labors in the field and shop, just like the white man at the Korth."

" With this marked difference," quickly responded Mr. Pettibone, under the belief that he had his adver- BOiy an the hi-p^ " the white man labors according to hiB own will, and is master of his own wages."

"Yes, ah! yes, Mr. Pettibone; and if I am not wrongly posted up, you also have your poor houses for the idlers and su})crannuatcd, and your jails for your spendthrifts and insolvents."

Mr. Pettibone felt his inability to sustain himself in this teU a tete^ unless he took higher ground.

"You will nndei-stand us, Mr. Erskine, to take the position we do, nut because we desire to carp at your manners and customs, but becaoBe we think your institutioji incompatible witli our religious notions and sensations, and uncongenial with true republican liberty."

" And therefore you do not hesitate to set at naught that sacred ark of our liberty — the Constitution — which tolerates all religions; and are in too much haste to await the gradual emancipation of the slaves in the order of time allotted by Providence."

" You are facetious, Mr. Erskine ; trifling, sir. Perhaps you have not been over on the island," said Mr.

y"

26 LIFK AT THE SOUTH; OR

Pcttibone, evidently annoyed hy the replies of the planter.

" Ah ! what have vou there? "

"What 18 called, in coumion parlance, a slave pen."

"A slave pen! and pray, wBat use is made of that?"

"Oh! a sort of sty, to shut up the blacks in — a place to jockey in for human flesh, sir!" said Mr. Pcttibone, with considerable vehemence.

"Ah, yesl a slave-mart," replied Mr. Erskine, with great composure.

"Common — common, I presume, sir, with you in the South ; for I perceive it occasions you no surprise."

"Kot at all ; not at all. It is the firet I have visited. We do not have such in Old Virginia. If we part with one of our blacks, it is at our own door; and that 's done hardly once in an age."

"Great evil; all wrong, Mr. Erskiue. It *s a curse to the country — a libel on free America."

"It is very easy so to say. But, Mr. Pcttibone, if slavedom was converted into freedom, what 's to become of the poor creatures i You could not hire them, I '11 be bound, to go away ; and if they stayed, would not know how to live."

"Such might be the case with the present grown generation. But the younger, and their future descendants, would be educated, and would learn how to live. We look forward to the future."

"And, Mr. Pcttibone, do you really think that they would be happier? "

UNCLE tomb's cabin AS IT IB. 27

"Tee, both now and hereafter; they would be, then, moral beings — accountable beings ; not only the semblance, but the substance of humanity."

" As for their present state, they could not be happier; and so far as the future is concerned, I leave that to the theologians. The argument that they are not now accountable beings proves too much for you, I suspect. As to their welfare in the world to come, they may be classed with ^ the little children ' spoken of in the Testament, for aught I know."

^^ISo body that holds a human soul can be happy in chains, be it black or white, either in a heathen or christian land."

"There it is — you now meet the point, Mr. Pcttibone. I have been fearful that such sentiments obtained in the Free States. The mistake is unfortunate."

"Oh I no mistake — no mistake, sir," rejoined Mr. Pettibone, with a smile on liis countenance.

"But, I affirm it is a mistake," said Mr. Erskinc, with more earnestness of manner; " and," he continued, " it would delight me to convince you^ by a personal observation of that society, of which you now get your notions at second hand. Come, go with me into the interior of Old Virginny, and view the life of the lowly, as it is."

'^ Tliank you, Mr. Erskine, thank you. My duties at the capitol are to9 pressing to allow me that pleasure. It 's the short session, you are aware, and we are already into February." ^

" It would be impolite to urge you. Tour company, however, would give me infinite gratification, sir."

y

" Thank you, Mr. Erskinc, thank you."

''The spring with you is not half so delightful as it is with us. Say after the adjournment — any time you may please to name, and I shall be happy to entertain you."

" Really, Mr. Erskine, you are very kind. I should enjoy Virginia hospitality, I know; besides, I have never passed an hour upon a plantation."

" So I supposed. I venture to predict new views to you."

'^ Perhaps, more practical. May I ask when you leave Washington? "

" To-morrow."

" I will retain your invitation, and write you in a few days, if agreeable."

" Do, and I hope that you will find it convenient to make the visit"

Mi\ Pettibone bowed very amiably, and having an engagement to fulfill that evening, excused himself from the dinner^board, and withdrew. Mr. Erskine remained to participate in the further entertainment of his repreaentative, and reached his apartment at the hotel at a late hour.

UHOLB tom'b oabin ab niB. so

CHAPTER IL

TIIE PLANTATION — T7N0LB TOli'fl LAZINESS

" The riTer nobly foams and flows.

The chann of this enchanted .ground. And all its thousand turns disclose

Some fresher beautj varying round ; The haughtiest breast its wish might bound.

Through life to dwell delighted here; Nor could on earth a spot be found

To nature and to me so dear."

A few miles from the town of Millwood, in the coxmty of Frederick and state of Virginia, was situated the plantation of Mr. Erskine. Viewed in all aspects, it was as fine a plantation as the sun ever shone npon. Its proprietor was bom and bred there. It, in the year 1839, had been his home, and to all intents and purposes his world, for more than sixty years. The lovely waters of the Shenandoah meandered in graceful curves through the valley ; and the banks of the river were studded, at intervals, with the beautiful, wide-spreading, and lofty trees of the forest, some of which had stood there beyond the recollection of the eldest inhabitant. The high hills and bluff mountains, witli their crags and precipices, called the Blue Kidge,

80 UFE AT THB SOUTH; OK

skirted the eastern horizon, and far away to the west could be discerned, in the dim distance, the swelling peaks and towering summits of the Alleghanies.

The domain of Mr. Erskine extended along the river for nearly a mile ; and not far from the center, upon a slight acclivity near its bank, had stood for many years the family mansion. It lay, as it were, embowered amid " some oaks and elms," whose uppermost limbs seemed to repose upon the roof. A lawn, lined on each side with a row of high poplars, reached from the piazza to the public road, tastefully graveled ; and a garden lay upon the left, with its beds and walks, the work of years. The river made a large bend here ; and, if traced upon paper, it would have the resemblance of a semicircle. The mansion was so located, that a view of the river could be obtained from either extremity of the main hall, which was opened into, both front and rear, by doors of similar size. There was nothing peculiar in its architecture from many others upon the wayside; commodious, and partitioned into suitable rooms, and furnished with simple but elegant furniture, it presented an inviting appearance, and was worthy of its occupant.

The plantation was worked by slaves, reared there, and who formed "part and parcel" of the estate. Com and tobacco were the staple articles of production. The land was easy to till, and yielded an abundant harvest. The outbuildings, fences, and implements of industry — the pastures, meadows, and other enclosures, wore the appearance of thrift ; and above all, the long range, or, more accurately speaking, hamlet of

1TNC3LE TOM's CABIN AS ITIB. 31

small white buildings, which occnpied a long knoll of ground at the distance of, say some two hundred rods from the mansion, appeared to be the abode of con tentment and quiet hapj)iness. The traveler would pause to view the prospect, and as he passed along the highway, gaze with lingering admiration. In the woods, there was plenty of game, whilst the river, and the numerous creeks which flowed into it from the neighboring hills, furnished an unfailing supply of trout and pickerel ; and frequent and great was the fun and merriment enjoyed there by both "bond and free."

Mr. Erskine's slaves were commensurate in number to the extent of his possessions ; and like others, of similar condition, he entrusted the direction of the " heavy work " to an overseer. The reader must not suppose that all toiled in the field. Their duties and ordinary routine of labor, were as various and independent as those of citizens of some northern village. Some labored in the tillage of the land, and others were mere servants ; but all acknowledged a common master.

The winter of the year to which wa have referred, was uncommonly rigorous for this latitude. Snow, to the depth of several inches, covered the earth as late even as the first days in March; and the overseer was " behind in getting in the spring crops." He, therefore, hurried the work on the plantation, and urged the slaves to toil the harder. It was high time that the corn-fields, in particular, should be put into proper condition, and the seed planted. Mr. Ersldne was

83 UFE AT THB SOUTH; OB

absent, at "Washington, when the overseer commenced in earnest the spring work. The slaves had a desire, if not some sort of pride, to get the seed into tlie ground; for they even had an indistinct, but, as it seemed, not a very forcible impression, that unless the