The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-24
A SLAVE AUCTION IN VIRGINIA.
RICHMoND, Va, March 3, 1853


nal Declaration of Independence, and have
seen it " illustrated here in this place. Oh,
my God Oh, my country!
have beS2 an eyewitness this morning TO
scenes such as never have been described, and
never can. You and have been told by some
of the doughfaceS of the North, that the evils
of slavery are exaggerated. But they have not
been half told, and | have neither the ability
nor the heart to describe the scenes | have
this moment come from witnessing.
have spent two hours at the public sales of
slaves. There are four of them and all in the
same street, not more than two blocks from the
Exchange HOTEL where we are staying. These
slave dep0ts are in one of the most freauented
streets Of the place, and the sales are conduct
ed in the building on the first floor, and within
view OF the passers-by. There are small screens
behind which the women of mature years are
taken for inspection; but the men and the boys
are publicly examined in the open store before
an audience of full one hundred. These exam
nations are carried on by various persons in
terested, and are enough to shock the feelings
of the most hardened You really cannot con-
ceive that men in human form could conduct
themselves 30 brutally; each scar or mark is
dwelt upon with great mnuteness-its cause,
It's age, its general effect upon the health, &c,
are questions asked and readily answered.
saw full twenty men stripped this morning and
not more than three or four of them had what
they termed clean backs" and some of them,
| should think full one-q quarter of then, were
Scared with the whip to such an extent as to
present frightful appearance; one in partic-
ular was so cut that am sure you could not
lay your finger on any part of his back without
coming in contact with scar These scars
were from the whip and were from two inches
to one foot in length. These marks damaged
his sale; although only about As to so years
old, he only brought $46O but for these marks,
he would have brought $3.50 to $500
saw several children sold the girls brought
the highest price. Girls from ~ to Is years
old brought from $500 to $500.
| must say that the slaves did not display as
much feeling as | had expected as a general
thing-but there was one noble exception--God
bless her! and save her too as hope he will
in some way, for if he does not interpose, there
were no men there that would.
She was fne-looking woman, about rs
years old, with three beautiful children Her
children, as well a. herself, were neatly dress
ed. She attracted my attention at once on en-
tering the room, and took my stand near her.
to learn her answers to the various questions
put to her by the traders One of these ira
ders asked Der what was the matter with her
eyes? Wipng away the tears, she replied, 81
spose have been crying" Why do you cry?
Because have left my man behind, and his
master won't let him come along" "Oh, if
buy you, will furnish you with better hus-
band, or man, as you call him. than your old
one" IL don't want any better, and won't have
any other as long as he lives" "Oh, but you
will, though, if buy you" "No massd, God
| helping me, l neuer tciHo
Did Mrs. Stowe exaggerate the spirit in the
slave No, no. | saw Castles" character
in this woman, fully and fairly sticking out
Her answers to other inquiries, put by another
man, were quite as Il" liberty Glowing" as these
indicated. The most indecent questions were
put to her, all of which, after little hesitation,
she answered
But when asked if she thought she could
turn out child a year, she replied, No, mas
sd, neuer hare any more, and sorry | got
| these
Just before she was put up, | left the room,
| for am sure could not have stood the scene
and should have betrayed myself
A scene occurred in this last room, which
"may yet be heard from" Just before the sale
commenced, a young, well-dressed gentleman
| Vheoi0u 'hV iooHi' PiuCiuS uinlscil III one CUT
ner OF the room, began to take a sketch, and
had proceeded quite far before he was no
ticed by any one but myself; Mt last he at
tracted the attention of some of the by-standers,
until full twenty or more were looking over
his shoulder They all seemed pleased with
what he was doing, 80 long as the sketch was
q mere outline; but as he began to finish up
the picture, and form his groups of figures, they
| IN hot ba o1n "a
one went up privately to the auctioneer (who
had by this time got one or two sold and in
formed him what the man was doing He came
down from the stand, went and overlooked
what was doing for a moment and saw himself
written down for perhaps the first time in his
life" tie inquired of the man what he was do
ing The reply was, I" do not know that
am bound to answer your inquiry Mr. Auc-
tioneer took his stand again, but was evidently
80 enraged that he could not 20 on, for by this
time the whole company was aware of what
was being done; and while some proclaimed
with loud oath that the likeness was I'D
/ fine" "most splendid" others were for "foot-
ing him" The artist took the hint, however
without the kick, and left the room. But now
we had q specimen of Southern braverp They
were all sure siat he was an Abolitonist, and
they all wanted to lend FOOT to kick him /:
while one small gentleman said he would pay
twenty-five dollars to hire negro to do it, The
excitement passed over, not however, without
leaving on my mind the truth Of the maxim,
"that he who fights and runs away, may live
to fight another day"
But cannot 90 further. This subject grows
on my hands, and if should say only half what
| think and feel just at this time, should tire
your patience. | am ehuek full, and shall re-
serve the overflow until see you But think
me not untrutAful from this unavoidable excne-
ment don't tell half the truth have said
nothing Of the brutality Of the audiences saw
at four OF these auctions. | tell you for a
truth that saw full one hundred Legrees, and
even worse than he.
These auctions are held daily, and they pay
each other the courtesy TO wait for each other.
so that the second does not begin until the first
has concluded, and 30 on to the last The
auct0neer of the second is on hand at the first
auction 10 announce" Gentlemen, the sale of
few fine field hands, including the usual as
sortment of boys, girls, &c, will now take place
on the corner above, TO which your attention
il directed Suting the action to the word he
leaves, followed by the whole audience, myself
included, to his own store, and 80 on until four
sales have been held The usual wall street
honesty is observed in the sales if not sold,
the aactoneer announces, withdrawn, gentle
men,
II, this morning had been possessed of the
wealth of VIM. B. Aston, should have laid out
some money in "stock" That would have
eased my conscience, IL it had not paid a good
interest Let this be my conclusion II God
spares me my reason and my conscience, new
err will vote again for pro-slavery man, From
this time forth, promise and declare that |
am bound for the fight Freedom or death y
shall be the "watchword and the cry" (of