Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-01-21
A Wan Selling his own Daughter

The peculiar horrors of the system Of
American slavery but seldom come TO the |
knowledge of the people of the North. We
read in Southern papers of TIE sale OF ne
groes, and the price at which they were
knocked down, but none can know the mis-
cry and anguish that attend these everyday
occurrences. A moving incident came TO
our knowledge last week, which we lay be
fore our readers. We suppress names, for
reasons obvious to every one.
Near Louisville, KY, lives planter OF
wealth and standing. He was the possessor
of hundred negroes, and he WIS noted for
his thrifty, money-making disposition. He
4 had never been married. and was an incor-
rigible bachelor of fifty His house was
MANAGED by young lady about twenty, his
daughter by a quadroon, whose complexion
was lighter by far than his own--and in
whom The negro blood was scarcely visible.
The mother died ten years ago, leaving her
daughter with its fathers solemn promise
that she should be educated. and should live
as a free woman, rather than as a slave,
and that she should pas as his daughter,
as She was. The planter gave this prom
ise because be had been really attached to
4 the dying woman, and was greatly attached
10 her and his beautiful chill. And so she
grew up radiantly beautful-receiving a
reasonable education, all that her father
could rive her and in time took the man
agement of his household. She never knew
that there was any negro blood in her veins,
and never dreamed that she was a slave.
I Last fall, series of misfortunes overlook
4 the planter. His house burned down, and
L a.,
i posed large portion Of his fortune. His
crops failed to a great degree, and some
heavy speculations in which he was en-
gagged resulted disastrously. Added to all
this, he bad lost heavily at play, the beset-
ting sin of Southern gentlemen, and had
completely exhausted all his ready means,
and found himself in The terrible situation
of having more money to pag than he could
possibly raise in a given time.
E He applied to his attorney for counsel in
his extremity. The attorney, after exam
ining the situation of his affairs, advised
: him to sell off a portion of his negroes
, The planter objected strenuously, first OBJ
iecting to the sale of negroes, and second
/ ly, that his force was barely sufficient tc
; work his plantation. But, after full delib
: Grafton, he found this 10 be the only alter
! native, and sorrowfuIly consented. A lis
was made out, and every head that conlC
: possibly be spared was put down. Attei
! all was done, and the most favorable prices
! for them, the aggregate fell FIVE Thousand
dollars short of the sum.
D The attorney remarked quietly that h'
j had not included all that could be spared.
Il have put down all can dispense with
e replied the planter.
|. i do not see Mary, your housekeeper'
n name, in the list replied the lawyer. She
5; if offered to the right person, would max
u up the deficiency. | would give that TO
c her myself And the eyes of the lecherou
e brute sparkled with unholy passion.
is At any other time, the planter would hav
II taken the suggestion as an insult, but nc
cessiiy is a hard master. and he grasped 9
$ the idea, and before an hour the transactio
is was closed. 1t troubled him not little
| disclose the matter to her, but the fear {
he bankruptcy and ruin drove him to il. Tl
re poor girls horror and distress may be in
- agined She had been sold, and was the
~ the property, soul and body, of one VIII
n purchased her merely for the graiihcatic
Of his beas,ly lusts. The idea was too no
ne rible. and she swooned, remaining almo
ve delirious for several days.
VS. There was another upon whom the i
Int teIligence came with crashing weight.
rd Junior mariner in a produce house in Lou
vo Vile had frequently visited the planter
,r- house on business, and struck with the bea
.y and intelligence Of the supposed daug