Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-09-17

An Auction Scene,

In the winter of 1910 and Al, having bust
ness in Western Virginia, where the peculiar in
sttution fiourishes in its miIdes FORM (be it re-
membered at this time was opposed to anti
slavery principles,) December 29th found my
self in Martinsburgh, the county seat of Berkly
About 10 o'clock of the aforesaid day obsery-
ed a crowd congregated in the public square, in
front of spacious looking hiding, which had
very much the appearance of a Jail, as it proved
to be. On enquiry of my landlord concerning
the cause Of the meeting, he said it was " a hire
lng"-in other words negro sale--as after
wards found that number were hired for life
walked down to the market, and to obtain a
better view, mounted large wagon in the
street directly opposite the stand of the auction
eer, who had commenced his work He was a
large man, dressed in aristocratic style, with a
profusion of rudes, gold finger rings, watch seals,
and last and not least, large whip, called by
drivers " a loaded whip" The hireing under
stood to be of number of slaves of a certain
estate, who were hired out from year to year to
the highest bidder, for the benefit of the heirs,
New Years, the holidays, quite a recreation for
the slaves who are to change masters
After number had been disposed of in this
way, the crier announced that he would offer for
sale six slaves. He then put up two, father and
SON. The old man was near sixty years of age,
a cripple; the sou was about twenty-three, a
perfect specimen of man. There was present
two Georgia souI-drivers who bid eight hundred
dollars for both When the crier remarked il
was small bid for both, the Georgian replied
he would give eight hundred without the old
man, as he was of no account. The young man
gave the bidder look that would have shamed
the devil the old man wept bitterly This son
sold at the bid, and the father was sold for sixty
dollars to an old farmer who had never kept a
slave in his life. Thus father and son were sep.
arated, The next case was that of girl, fif
teen years of age CThese slaves had been H.
red out to different individuals the past year.)
She was brought crying upon the stand With
an oatII he Lid her to stop bubbering," and
then proceeded with the sale. After enumera
ting hel qualities, ne stated that the prospect
was good for an increase OF the property, saying
which, the brutal wretch placed his whip be-
meath her apron and raised it above her head
exhibiting to the enlightened multitude the spec.
tacle of girl fifteen years old far advanced in
pregnancy She was sold for one hundred and
fifty dollars.
The next case was that of young white wo-
man, sixteen years old, with young child,
say 'ohttc woman, because the auctioneer said
she was only one-eighth black and have seen
many of the fair girls of Ohio who could not
boast of as fair complexion or as good figure oil
features. She came upon the stand with her in
FAINT in her arms, in the deepest misery. A gen
tleman who had taken his seat beside me, OBJ
serving that was very interested, remarked he
thought was a stranger in that country. | an
swered that | was " These things look odd tC
your" "They do" Said he, "you see tina
man in the in the crowd" pointing to one with
in few PAGES of the stand" that is DR. G. h
hired that girl last year, and that child is his
The Georgian bid three hundred dollars; SOM
one bid four; the Georgian bid four fifty; tn
girl cast a piercing glance at the crowd, he
eyes rested on DR.. c., who instantly averted hi
face. She gazed one moment, then burst int
torrent of tears She was knocked off to tn
Georgian. Thus the fend saw his child and ii
mother, sold into Southern bondage. My God
thought |, is it possible? I was cured Of M
prO-Slarery principles. CARLOS