The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-19
CHARLES MAcKAY IN A sLAvE-PEN


The following is from recent letter of
Charles Msckay to the London Illustrated
Neos:
On my first arrival at New Orleans, / fingered
for a few moments at the open door of a slave
depot, without daring to go in, lest / should
oe suspected OF espionage, or mere curiosity,
and expelled. But seeing among the company
an eminent merchant of Newly ork, whose friend.
ship had been fortunate enough to make, and
whom knew to be no slave dealer or supporter
OF Slavery, | walked in, and Joined his party,
drawn thither like myself by curiosity On one
side OF the room, the male slaves, with clean
linen and shining new has and boots, were ar
ranged and, on the other side, the females
were disposed in their best attire, most of them
exceedingly neat, but some bedizened with rib.
bons, of colors more faring and twadry than
elegant or appropriate. was in Immediately be-
set with entreaties to purchase.
Buy me, said young negress, who spoke
French, and no English ~ am a good cook
and a good needle woman Buy me-"
buy me-" said another, in tie same lam
guage; 81 am accustomed to children, and can
make myself useful in the nursery"
feit sensation somewhat similar to that of
the first qualm of sea-sickness to be go ad
dressed by my fellow creatures FEELING of
nausea, as if | we're about to be i'll. | told the
poor woman that / was a stranger, who had
not come TO buy. But they were incredulous
and when at last convinced, thew returned tn
their seats with sigh and an expression of deem
disappointment on their dark and good. humored
features. entertained such hatred of SIs-
very, that, had it been in my power to abolish il
IN one instant of the face of the earth by the
mere expression of my will, at that instant Sla-
very would have ceased to exist
I than walkad m ~ ,,olo
mart, where was beset by similar entrea,ies
urged in every variety of tone and manner. and
by almost every variety of laborer and handi
craftsman. Some were accustomed TO the rot
ton and some to the sugar plantation; some
we're carpenters, some gardeners, some coach
men, some BARRIERS, some waiters-but all equal
ly anxious to be sold. One man-who. to nv
inexperienced eyes, seemed as white ss myself
and whom at once put down in my own mind
as al lrishman OF the purest quality, of the
county OF Cork-got up from his seat as /
passed, and asked me to buy hun.
ana good gardener, your honor" said
he, with an unmistakable brogue; al am also
bit of a carpenter, and can look after the
horses, and do any sort of job about the
house."
I" But you are joking" said l, "you are an
Irishman2"
I" My father was an Irishman," he said
At this moment the slsve-dealer, and owner
of the depot, came up
Is there not a mistake here ?" innuirad
" This is a white man."
dis n other was Niger" he replied. owe
have sometimes much whittier men for sale than
he is. Look at his hair and lips. There ia no
mistake about him."
Again the sickness came over me, and /
longed to get into the open air to breathe a
purer atmoshere.
Il would like to buy that man. and set him
free l said to one of our party.
" You would do him no coed 81, !" VA, the 5spIy.
ance or energy. Slavery 80 degrades and Grip
pies the moral faculties of the negroes, that
they require the crutch, even in freedom. and
cannot walk alone. They ind it impossible to
compete with the poor whites, and, if left to
themselves, sink into the lowest and most mis-
erably.paid occupations"
You are An Englishman and a traveller
said the slsve-dealer, Sand should be much
obliged to you if you would put any questions
10 the negroes"
What questions" said l. "Shall a,f them
whether they prefer Freedom or Slayery?"
Il don't mean that, he replied. "Ask them
whether l do not treat them well-whetber
am lot kind to them--whether they do not
have plenty to eat and drink while they are
with me?"
told him l had no doubt of the fact: that
they looked clean, comfortable, and we'll fed
but-and in that "but" lay the whole case,
though the worthy dealer of New Orleans was
totally incapable OF oomprehending it. The
same feeling seems to exist all through the
slave States; but more of this hereafter"