Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-08-19
Charles Mackay in a Slave Pen

The following Is from q recent letter OF
DR.. Mackay to the Illustrated London
NeUs:
On my first arrival at New Orleans, l lin
gered for few moments at the open door
of slave pen. without daring to go in,
lest should be suspected of espionage, or
mere curiosity, aud expelled. But seeing
among the company an eminent merchant
of New York, whose friendship had been
fortunate to make and whom knew 10 be
no slave dealer or supporter OF slavery, l
walked in and joined his party, drawn
thither like myself by curiosity. On one
side of the room the male slaves, with clean
lnnen and shining new hats and boots,
were arranged; and on the other the fe-
males were disposed in their best attire,
most of them exceedingly neat but some
of them bedizened with ribbons of eolors
more fiaring and tawdry than elegant or
appropriate. | mas Immediately beset
with entreaties to purchase.
"Buy me" said young negress, who
spoke French and no English; Il am a
good cook and needlewoman. Buy me-"
''Buy me-"
Said another in the same language.
IL am accustomed 10 children, and can
make myself useful in the nursery"
felt sensation somewhat similar to
that of the first qualin of sea sickness to
be so addressed by my fellow Creatures
feeling of nausea, as if were about 10 be
ill. told the poor women that l was a
stranger, who had not come to buy. But
they were incredulous and when at last con-
vinced, they returned to their seats with a
sigh and an expression of deep disappoint-
ment on their dark and goodhumored fea-
lures. entertained such hatred of sla-
very that, had it been in my power to
abolish il in one instant off the face of the
earth by the mere EXPIRE sion of my will at
that instant slavery would have ceased TO
exist.
l then walked to the male side of the
slave pen, where was beset by similar en-
treaties, urged in every variety of tone and
manner, and by almost every variety of la
borer and handiciaftsman. Some were ac-
customed to cotton and some to the sugar
plantation; sone were gardeners, some car
penters, coachmen, BARRIERS, waiters,-but
all equally anxious to be sold. One man
who to my inexperienced eyes seemed as
white as mvself, and whom l at once
put down in my own mind as an
Irishman Of the purest quality of the
county of Cork-got up from his as l pass
and asked me to buy him.
81 am n good gardener, your honor,
said he, with an unmistakable brogue. Il
am also bit of a carpenter and can look
after the horses, and do any sort of job
about the house"
"But you are are joking you're an Irish
man?"
"My father was an Irisbman," he said
At this momant the slavedealer and
owner of the depot came mp.
as there not mistake here?" / in
quired. This is white man.
"His mother was nigger," he replied.
"We have sometimes much whittier men
for sale than he is. Look at his hair and
lips. There is no mistake about him."
Again the sickness, came over me, and
l longed to get in the open air to breathe
purer atmosphere.
81 would like to buy that man and set
him Free l said to one of our party.
"You would do him no good" was the
reply. "a manumitted slave has seldom
any selfreliance or energy. Slavery so
degrads and cripples the moral faculties of
the negroes that they require the crutch,
even in freedom, and cannot walk alone.
They find it impossible to compete with
poor whites, and if left to themselves sink
into the lowest and most miserably paid
occupations.
"You are an Englishman and travel
ler," said the slavedealer, "and l should be
much obliged to you if you would put any
questions to the negroes"
"What questions"
'Shall l ask them whether they prefer
edom or slavery?"
fre"I don't mean that" he replied. "Ask
them whether do not treat them we'll
whether l am not kind to them-whether
they do not have plenty to eat and drink
while they are with me?"
l told him I had no doubt of the feet; /;
that they looked clean and comfortable,
and well fed; but-and in that "but" lay
the whole case, though the worthy dealer
of New Orleans was totally incapable of
comprehending it. Thesame feeling seems
to exist all through the Slave States, but
more of this hereafter.