Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-28
From the N. Y. Tribune.
A Slave Auction In Virginia.

we give it place in our columns
RICHMOND, Va. March 8, 1863
Since | left New York have seen the original
Declaration of Independence, and have seen it
ssilIustrated'' here in this place. Oh, my God!
Oh, my Country!
have been an eye witness this morning TO
scenes such as never have been described, and
never cam 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 mo-
ment come from witnessing.
| have spent two hours at the public sales OF
Slaves. There are four Of them, aud all in the
street, not more than two blocks from the Ex
change Hotel, where are staying. These
Slave depots are in one of the most frequented
streets of the place, and the sales are conducted
in the building on the first floor, and in 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 examinations are
carried on by various persons interested, and are
enough to shock the feelings Of the most harden
ed. You really cannot conceive that men in hui
man form could conduct themselves so brutay;
each scar or mark is dwelt upon with great nil
nuteness-i cause, its age, its general effect up
on the health, &C., &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--I should think full one quarter of
them-were scared with the whip to such an exc
tent as to present frightful appearance; one in
particular 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 bis sale;
although only about As to so years old, he only
brought SS460; but for these marks he would
have brought $3.50 to $500.
| saw several children sold; the girls brought
the highest prices. Girls from IL to Is years old
brought from $500 to $500.
| must say that the slaves did not display as
much feeling | had expected, as a general
thing-but there was one noble eXcepton-God
bless her! and save her tool! as hope he will in
some way, for he does not interpose, there were
no men there that would.
She was fine looking woman, about 25 years
old, with three beautiful children. Her children
as well as herself were neatly dressed. She at
tracted my ettentian at once on entering the room
and took my stand near her to learn her an
swers to the various questions put to her by the
traders. One Of these traders asked her what
was the matter with her eyes? Wiping away
the tears. she replied, 81 s'pose have been cry-
ing 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 husband, or man, as you call
him, than your old one'' 81 don't want any
better and won't have any other as long as he
Iives.'' ''Oh,but you will though il buy you.''
"No, Massa, God helping me, Ine0er wll."
Did Mrs. Stowe exaggerate the spirit in the
slave? No. no. saw ''Cassie's'' character in
this woman fully and fairly sticking out Her
answers to other inquiries, put by another man.
were quite as ''liberty loving' as these indicated.
The most indecent questions were put to her.
all of which, after a little hesitation, she an
swered.
But when asked, if she thought she could turn
out child gear! she replied, 't.No, Massa, /
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 COM
menced young, well dressed gentleman enter
ed the room, and placing himself in one corner of
of the room began to take sketch, and had pro-
ceeded quite far before he was noticed by any one
but myself-at last he attracted the attention of
some of the bystanders - until full twenty or
seemed pleased with what he was doing SO long
the sketch was outline but as he began
to finish up the picture, and form his groups of
figures, they began to see what he was about and
then some one went up privately to the auctioneer
(who had by this time got one or two sold) and
informed him what the man was doing He came
do Nn from the stand, went and overlooked what
doing for moment, and saw himself "writ-
ten down for perhaps the first time in his life
He inquired of the man what he was doing. The
reply vast do not know that l am bound to
answer your inquiry" Mr. Auctioneer took his
stand again, but was evidently so enraged that he
could not go on, for by this time the whole COM
pany was aware of what was being done. and
while some proclaimed with loud oath that the
likeness was Odd fne.,' ''most splenaid''
others were for "footing him. The artist took
the hint, however, without the kick and left the
ROOM But now we had specimen of Southern
bravery. They were all sure that he was an abo-
itionist, 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 soon passed over, not how
ever, without leaving on my mind the truth of the
maxim "that he who fights and runs away. NAV
live to fight another day."
But cannot go further This subject grows
on my hands. and if should only say half what
think and feel Just at this time, L should fire
your patience. l am chock full, and shall reserve
the overflow until, see you. But think me not
untruthful from this unavoidable excitement I
don't tell half the TRUTH have said nothing of
the brutality of the audiences | saw at four
of these auctions. l tell you for a truth that
saw full one hundred Legrees, and even worse
than he.
These auctions are held daily and they nav
each other the courtesy TO wait for each other.
so that the second does not begin until the first
has concluded, and so on to the last The auc.
tioneer of the second is on hand at the first auc-
ton to announce-'Gentlemen the sale of a few
fine field hands, including the usual assortment
of boys, girls, &C., &C., will now take place on
the corner above, to which your attention is d.
rected." Suiting the action to the word he leaves
followed by the whole audience, myself included.
to his own store, and so on until four sales have
been held. The usual "Wall-st honesty" is OBJ
served in the sales if not sold, the auctioneer an
nounces Withdrawn, gentlemen"
If this morning had been possessed Of the
wealth Of w. b. Astor,l should have laid out some
money in "stock." That would have eased nv
conscience, if it had not paid good interest. :.
Let this be my conclusion: II God spares me nv
reason and my conscience, never will vote for a
pro-slavery man. From this time forth / promise
and declare that I am bound for the fga. Gree
dom or DEATH" shall be the ''watchword and the
cry.p (0f cnitrse I only adont tho esa,yn NJ thn