Volume III Part 12 (1/2)

”They suffer them, both male and female, _to go without clothing_ at the age of ten and twelve years”

Rev. Phineas Smith, Centreville, Allegany, Co., N.Y. Mr. S. has just returned from a residence of several years at the south, chiefly in Virginia, Louisiana, and among the American settlers in Texas.

”The apparel of the slaves, is of the coa.r.s.est sort and _exceedingly deficient_ in quant.i.ty. I have been on many plantations where children of eight and ten yeas old, were in a state of _perfect nudity_. Slaves are _in general wretchedly clad_.”

Wm. Ladd, Esq., of Minot, Maine, recently a slaveholder in Florida.

”They were allowed two suits of clothes a year, viz. one pair of trowsers with a s.h.i.+rt or frock of osnaburgh for summer; and for winter, one pair of trowsers, and a jacket of negro cloth, with a baize s.h.i.+rt and a pair of shoes. Some allowed hats, and some did not; and they were generally, I believe, allowed one blanket in two years.

Garments of similar materials were allowed the women.”

A Kentucky physician, writing in the Western Medical Reformer, in 1836, on the diseases peculiar to slaves, says.

”They are _imperfectly clothed_ both summer and winter.”

Mr. Stephen E. Maltby, Inspector of provisions, Skeneateles, N.Y., who resided sometime in Alabama.

”I was at Huntsville, Alabama, in 1818-19, I frequently saw slaves on and around the public square, _with hardly a rag of clothing on them_, and in a _great many_ instances with but a single garment both in summer and in winter; generally the only bedding of the slaves was a _blanket_.”

Reuben G. Macy, Hudson, N.Y. member of the Society of Friends, who resided in South Carolina, in 1818 and 19.

”Their clothing consisted of a pair of trowsers and jacket, made of 'negro cloth.' The women a petticoat, a very short 'short-gown,' and _nothing else_, the same kind of cloth; some of the women had an old pair of shoes, but they _generally went barefoot_.”

Mr. Lemuel Sapington, of Lancaster, Pa., a native of Maryland, and formerly a slaveholder.

”Their clothing is often made by themselves after night, though sometimes a.s.sisted by the old women, who are no longer able to do out-door work; consequently it is harsh and uncomfortable. And I have very frequently seen those who had not attained the age of twelve years _go naked_.”

Philemon Bliss, Esq., a lawyer in Elyria, Ohio, who lived in Florida in 1834 and 35.

”It is very common to see the younger cla.s.s of slaves up to eight or ten _without any clothing_, and most generally the laboring men wear _no s.h.i.+rts_ in the warm season. The perfect nudity of the younger slaves is so familiar to the whites of both s.e.xes, that they seem to witness it with perfect indifference. I may add that the aged and feeble often _suffer from cold_.”

Richard Macy, a member of the Society of Friends, Hudson, N.Y., who has lived in Georgia.

”For _bedding_ each slave was allowed _one blanket_, in which they rolled themselves up. I examined their houses, but could not find any thing like _a bed_.”

W.C. Gildersleeve, Esq., Wilkesbarre, Pa., a native of Georgia.

”It is an every day sight to see women as well as men, with no other covering than a _few filthy rags fastened above the hips_, reaching midway to the ankles. _I never knew any kind of covering for the head_ given. Children of both s.e.xes, from infancy to ten years are seen in companies on the plantations, _in a state of perfect nudity_. This was so common that the most refined and delicate beheld them unmoved.”

Mr. William Leftwich, a native of Virginia, now a member of the Presbyterian Church, in Delhi, Ohio.

”The only bedding of the slaves generally consists of _two old blankets_.”

Advertis.e.m.e.nts like the following from the ”New Orleans Bee,” May 31, 1837, are common in the southern papers.

”10 DOLLARS REWARD.--Ranaway, the slave SOLOMON, about 28 years of age; BADLY CLOTHED. The above reward will be paid on application to FERNANDEZ & WHITING, No. 20, St. Louis St.”

RANAWAY from the subscriber the negress f.a.n.n.y, always badly dressed, she is about 25 or 26 years old. JOHN MACOIN, 117 S. Ann st.