Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-08-13

| nv a. S6bs
The following is from a recent lettc
of Charles Mackay to the London Illus
trated News
Oa my first arrival at New Orleans.
fingered for a few moments at the one,
door OF IA slave depot. without daring t,
90 in, lest should be suspected of es
pionasc, or mere curiosity, and expelled
But seeing among the company an cmi
nent merchant Of New York whose friend
ship L had been fortunate enough I,
make, aud whom [ knew to be no slav,
dcaicr or supporter of slavery, | walk &c
IN and joined his patty, drawn thithc,
like myself by curiosity. On one sid,
OF the room thcmalc slaves. with clear
linen and shining new hats and boots
were arranged; and on the other tn.
females were disposed in their best attire
most OF them exceedingly neat, but some
ocdlzencd with ribbons, Of colors more
tiarlnS and tawdsy than elegant or appro
plate. | was Immediately bcset witt
entreaties to purchase.
buy me, sad young ne,rcss, who
spoke French and no English, Il am a
good cook, and a good needlewoman.-
Buy mo-
Buy me- said another, in the same
language; i am accustomed to children,
and can make myself useful in the nur.
sery.'
felt a sensation somewhat similar tc
that OF the first qu1lm of sea-sickncss tc
be So addressed by my fellow creatures -
feeling ofnausea, as if were about te
be Ill. | told the poor woman that
was stranger, who had not come te
buy. But they were incredulous: and
when at last convinced, they returned t.
Their seats with sigh and an cxprcssi N
OF deep disappointment on their dark
and good humored features. entertain
ed such hatred of slavery. that, had it
been in my power to abolish it in one
instant off the face of the earth bv the
mere expression of my will at that ins.,n,
slavery would have ceased to exist,
| then walked to the male side of the
slave mart, where | was besct by simila,
entrcaties, urged in every variety of ton,
and manner, and almost every variety OF
laborcr and Eant,icrafts mo,.. Some were
accustomed to the cotton and som,
to the sugar plantation; some were ear.
peners, some g trdenerS, some coachmcn
some BARRIERS, some waiters-but al
equally anxious to be sold. One man :
who to my inexperienced eyes seemed a.
white as myself, and whom at once pu
down in my own mind as an lrishma,
Of the purest quality, Of the county o
Cork-got up from his seat as | passc,
and asked me to buy lin.
L am good gardener. your honor.
said he with an unmistakablc bro 5ue; !
am also bit Of a carpenter. and eat
look after the horses, anl do any sort o
a job about the house
But you are joking, said |, 'yo1 art
an lrishmcn =
My father was an Irishman.' he said
At this moment the slavcdealer ane
owner ofthe drpot came up.
is there not mistake here : | in
quired. This is a white man.
His mother was a nig5er he replied
I'VE have have sometimes much winter
men for sale than he is. |. }oil at hi,
hair and lips. There is no m; stake abou
him..
Again the sickness came over me. ant
l lonsei to get into the open air to breath
a purer atmosphere.
Il would like to buy that man and So
him free, said to one of our party.
You would do him no COOL, was thu
reply. A manumittcd slave has sci
dom any self-rcliancc or energy. Shaver
SO degrades and cripplcs the moral tacu
ties of the negroes that they require tn
crutch, even in freedom, and canno
walk alone. They find it impossible to
compete with the poor whites, and if let
to themselves, sink into the lowest AM
most miscrably paid occupatons.'
! You are an Enslishman aud a trav
eller, said the slavedealer, and shoul,
be much obliged to you if you woulc
put any questions to the negroes.
What questions said |. Shall | ask
them whether they prefer freedom o
slavery
4 don't mean that he replied. 'A,b
taem whether do not tg.at them wei
whether am not kind to them
whether they do not have plenty to ca
and drink while they are with me :
| told him had no doubt of the fact
that they looked clean, comfortable an,
we'll fed; but-and in that but lay tn,
. whole case though the worthy dealer o
New Orleans was totally incapable o
comprehcndlns it. The same felin.
seems to exist all through the slave stat
bat more of this hereafter.