The newspapers of the South-western States frequently contain advertisements similar to the following, which is taken from the West Tennessee Democrat:—
BLOOD-HOUNDS.—I have TWO of the FINEST DOGS for CATCHING
NEGROES in the Southwest. They can take the trail
TWELVE HOURS after the NEGRO HAS PASSED, and catch him
with ease. I live just four miles southwest of Boliver, on the road leading
from Boliver to Whitesville. I am ready at all times to catch runaway
negroes.—March 2, 1853.
DAVID TURNER.
The largest and best "hotel" in Norfolk had been closed,
shortly before I was there, from want of sufficient patronage
to sustain it, and I was obliged to go to another house,
which, though quite pretending, was shamefully kept. The
landlord paid scarcely the smallest attention to the wants of
his guests, turned his back when inquiries were made of him,
and replied insolently to complaints and requests. His
slaves were far his superiors in manners and morals; but,
not being one quarter in number what were needed, and
consequently not being able to obey one quarter of the orders
that were given them, their only study was to disregard, as
far as they would be allowed to, all requisitions upon their
time and labour. The smallest service could only be obtained
by bullying or bribing. Every clean towel that I got
during my stay was a matter of special negotiation.
I was first put in a very small room, in a corner of the house, next under the roof. The weather being stormy, and the roof leaky, water was frequently dripping from the ceiling upon the bed and driving in at the window, so as to stand in pools upon the floor. There was no fire-place in the room; the ladies' parlour was usually crowded by ladies and then friends, among whom I had no acquaintance, and, as it was freezing cold, I was obliged to spend most of my time in the stinking bar-room, where the landlord, all the
