The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-12-18

45O sons for this opinion rests on 4 trifnr Il.
Richmond, Virginia.

Leavingt his document for further con-
sideration, pass to history of the days.
proceedings. 1t was now ten minutes to
ten o'clock, and Wide awake and l be-
ing alike tired of waiting, We went off in
quest of sales further up the street. Pass
ing the second Office, in which also no.
body was to be seen, we were more fortu.
nate at the third. Here, according &c
the announcement on the paper stuck &c
the flag, there was to be sold, lnf4
"a woman and three children; young
woman, three men, a middleaged wo.
man and little boy. - - y
Already a, crowd had met, composed
! Should think, of persons mostly from
the cotton plantations of the South. A
few were seated near the fire on the right
hand side, and others stoud around an
iron stove in tie middle OF the apartment
The whole place had a dilapidated appear
ance. From back window there was a
view into ruinous court yard; some
distance beyond which in hollow, acces-
sible by a side lane, stood shabby brick
house, on which the word s'Jail' was
inscribed in large black letters on white
ground. | imagined it to be depot for
the reception of negroes.
On my arrival, and while making these
preliminary obs syrva'ions, the lots for sale
had not made their appearance. In
about FIVE minutes afterwards they were
ushered in, one after the .otker under the
charge of mulatto, who seemed to act
as principal assistant. l saw no whips,
chains, or any other engine of force
Nor did such appear to be required. All
the lots took their seats on two long forms
near the Stove; none showed any sign Of
resistance; nor did any one utter word.
Their manner was that Of perfect humili-
ty and resignation. -...-...
As soon as all were seated, there was
a general examination of their respective
merits, by feeling their arms. looking in
to their mouths, and investigating their
hands and fngers-this last being evi-
denlly an important particular. Yet there
was no abrupt rudeness in making these
xaminations-no coarse or domineering
language was employed The three ne
81,
ner- in gray woolen clothing. The wo-
man with the three children, excited my
particular attention. She was neatly at
Ii ed, with colored handkerchief bound
around her head, and wore white apron
over her gown. Her children were all
girls one of them baby at the breast,
three months old, and the others two and
three years Of age, respectfully rugged out
n white pinafores. There was not :ear
or an emotion visible in the whole party.
Every ything seemed to be considered as a
matter Of course, and the change OF own
ers was possibly looked forward to with
as much Indifference as ordinary hired
servants anticipate removal from one
employer to another.
While intending purchasers were pro-
ceeding with personal examinations of
the several lots, took the liberty of put
ting a few questions TO the mother of the
children. The following was the conver-
sation:
care you married woman?"
eyes, sir f...t......-..t. 7-u..5.--..
"How many children have you had?"
"Seyen.'' t.
"Where is your husband?'"
''In Madison county
when did you part with him?"
"On Wednesday-two days ago." +,
"Were you sorry to part with him?''
eyes, sir" she replied. with a deep
sigh; my heart W as a most broke" ---
Why is your master selling you?"
Il don't know-he wants money tc
buy some land-suppose he sells me fol
that. z7--
There might not be word Of truth to
these answers, for had no means of test.
ing their correctness; but the woman
seemed to speak unreservedly, and an
inclined to think that she said nothing
but what. if necessary, could be substan
tiated. l spoke, also, to the young wo
man, who was seated near her. She, like
the others was perfectly black. and ap
peared stout and healthy, of which SONS
of the persons assured themselves by feel
ing her arms and ankles. looking into he
mouth, aud causing her 10 stand up.--
She told me she had several brothers ant
sisters, but did not know where the,
we're. She said she was a house servan
and would like to be bought by a goo'
master looking at me. as if ! should no
be unacceptable. ansad 5s1 su1l ,,s5
u have said that there was an entire alb
sence OF emotion in the party of men, wo
men and children, thus seated preparato
~ to being sold. This does not CORES
pond with the ordinary accounts of slav
sales, which are represented as tearfu
and narrowing. My belief is that none Q
the parties felt deeply on the subject, o
NJ looet tbot INV dictress thew experienc