Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-25
From the Deloaoae Republican.
Slavery As II Is.

We find the following letter of Dr. Harvey of
this county, published in the Pennsylvania Free
man of last week
CnADD's FORD, Dec. 25, 1916.
Dcr Sir Myself and two others lately Wis
tied the eastern part of Virginia to see the cheap
lands much talked of now in agricultural articles,
and there saw a slave auction. My friends were
not abotionists before, and pitied my credulity
when told them the horrors of Slavery; but
one week in the Old Dominion has added two
staunch adherents to our cause. ! wish every
.pro-savery man and woman in the north could
witness one slave auction.
We attended a sale of land and other proper
ty near Petersburg, and unexpectedly saw slaves
sold at public auction The slaves were told
that they would not be sold and were collected
i'll front of the quarters, gazing on the assem-
bled multitude, The land being sold, the auction
GERS loud voice was heard g bring up the mig
gers" A shade of establishment and alright
passed over their faces they stared first at each
and then at the crowd of purchasers whose at
tention was now directed to them. When the
horrible truth was revealed to their minds that
they were to be sold and nearest relations and
dearest friends parted forever the effect was in
discribably agonizing. Women snatched up
their babes and ran screaming into the huts-
Children hid behind the huts and trees, and the
men stood in mute despair. The auctioneer
stood on the portco of the house, and the "men
and boys" were ranged in the yard for inspection.
1t was announced that no warranty of SOundneSS
was given, and purchasers must examine for
themselves A few old men were sold at prices
from $l3 to S25, and it was painful to see old
men bowed with years Of toll and suffering, stand
up to be the Jest Of brutal tyrants, and to hear
them tell of their disease and worthlessncss, fear
ING that they would be bought by traders for the
southern market.
white boy about IL years old, was placed on
the stand. His hair was brown and straight
his skin exactly the same hue as other white per-
sons, and no dtscoyorable trace of negro features
in his countenance.
Some coarse and vulgar jests were passed on
his color, and $500 was bid for him, but the
auctioneer said " that it was not enough to begin
on for such a likely young niger p Several re,
marked that thy would not have him as a gift y
Some said white niger was more trouble than
he was worth. One man said it was wrong tc
sell white people. asked him if it was more
wrong than to sell black people He made nc
reply Before he was sold, his mother rushed
from the house upon the portico, crying in fran
tic grief, +" My son, no, my boy, they will TAXI
away my dear--." Her voice was lost, a
she was rudely pushed back and the door closed
The sale was not for moment interrupted, ant
f none of the crowd of ruthless tyrants appeare
: to be in the least degree affected by the scene
: The poor boy, afraid to cry before SO many stran
$ gers, who showed no signs Of sympathy or pity
\ trembled and wiped the tears from his cheek
: with his sleeves He was sold for about $25t
The monsters who tore this child from his motf