The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-03-24
from the lad iana Journal
a Democratic Display.
Far Hundred -fen and Uromes Sod?


4 correspondent Of the New York Tribune at
tended the Sale Of MIR. Pierce Buffers Iegroes a
Savannah last week, and makes quite an interest
ing report of il. Mr. Pierce Butter has hereto
fore beer known the husband of Fanny KEN
ole Hereafter be will Or less pleasantly recown
Cd as the vendor of four hundred human beings
whose feelings which Contrary 20 the Cinciuu a.,
Platform and the Died Scott Decision they had
permitted be harassed bv their sale into strange
hands and lands, he soothed by the present of
dollar apiece The slaves wegepart of his tata
ers property, descended to him on his father.
death. The sale and some of the scenes attend
1t, present some features OF interest, which We
copy.
WHERE THE NEGROES CANE FROM.
The negroes came from .wo plantatons-the
one rice plantation near Darien, in the State OF
Georgia not far from the great Okefonokee
Swamp and the Others a cotton plantation on the
extreme northern point of st. Slmons Island-a
little bit of island the Atlantic, cut off from
Georgia main land by slender arm of the sea-
/ Though the most of the stock hal been accus-
toned only to rice and cotton planting and cul.
/ ture. there were among them a number of very
passable mechanics, who had been Taught to do
all the rougher sorts of mechanical work on the
plantation. There were coopers carpenters,
shoemakers and blacksmiths, each one equal in his
various craft to the ordinary requirements of a
plantation-that IS, the coopers could make rice
iierces, and possibly pinch, rude tubs and
buckets. The carpenter could do the rough car
pentry about the negro quarters The shoemaker
could make shoes OF the fashion required for the
slaves, and the blacksmith adequate to the
manufacture of hoes ani similar simple tools, and
to such trifing repairs in the backsmithng way
as did not require too refined skill. Though
probably no one of all these would be called
superior even Average workman among the
masters of the craft, their knowledge of these va
rious trades sold. in some cases, for nearly as
much the man-that Is. man without trade
who would be valued at 5000. would readily bring
$1,000 81 700 if he passable blacksmith
cooper.
Out of this great family. none had ever been
sold consequently the selling now came all the
harder.
THE WAY THEY WERE KEPT AND LOCKED.
The negroes were kept for the day of sale in
sheds on the race course, which had been erect
ed for horses and wagons attending the races
Here is description Of the scene and the peo-
pie
In these sheds were the chattels haudcuffed to-
gether on the floor there being no sign of a bench
table They ate anu slept on the bare boards
their food being rice and beans, with occasionally
4 bit Of bacon and corn bread. Their huge b m
dies were scattered over the floor, and thereon the
slaves sat reclined, when not restieSsly mo ing
about, or Catered into sorrowfut groups. discus
sing the chance of heir future fate. On the IA
Of all vas an expression Of heavy grief. some
appeared be resigned 10 the hard str oke OF for
tune tina. had torn them from their homes and
sadly trying to make the best of l.: some sat
broodng noodiiy ovef their sorrows, their ch;ns
resting on their hands their eyes staring vacan.!y
their bodies rocking to and fro, with restless
motion that was stiiled; few wept as the
place public and The drieers too near tho
some occasionally tlrued aside to give ~ to a
sipie variety cf 4aGoutA and hIJas'c sar5. In ee-
cry style and Of every imaginable color; the tex
tuIe Of the garments were in al cases coarse.
most of the mea being clothed IN the rough cloth
that is made expressly for the slaves. The dresses
assumed by the negro minstres, when they give
limitations Of plantation character are By 40
means exaggerated; AMI they instead, weak
and unable to come up 10 ths original. There
vas every variety of hat, with every INA aginable
siouch aud there was every cut and style OF coat
az pautaloons made with every conceivable 10.
genuity OF misit aud tossed on with a general ap-
pearance Of perfect looseness that is perfectly in
iescribaoie except to say that a Southern negro
always looks as If he could shake his clothes off
without taking his hands out OF his pockets
rhe women, true to feminine instinct, had made
in almost every case, some effort at hnery, All
gorgeous turbans generally manufactured
an instant out of gray coiored handkerchief
5y sudden and graceful twist of the fingers;
rurban-a turban complex and mysterious got up
With care aud ornamented with a few beads or
bright bits Of ribbon. Their dresses mostly
coarse stuff, though there were some of gaudy
cacoes few had ear rings, and one possessed
be treasure of string OF yellow and blue beads
Che little children were always better and more
carefully dressed than the older ones, the parental
bride coming out in the shape Of yellow cap
1oirted like mitre or Jacket with strip Of
red broa :cloth round the bottom. The children
we're of all slzes-the youngest ing fifteen DAYS
old. The babies generally good naturad
though when would set up a yell the CON-
plant so on attacked the Others, and full chorus
would be the result. A young negro baby looks
like an animated bit of india rubber, and has
powerful properties of suction. They were very
prevalent in the loog show room where all the
stock was couggegsted the day OF the sale and
those who were old enough to have defined ideas
/ of locomotion were perpetually crawling away
/ from their mothers, and getting under the feet Of
visitors. They have passion for elm biug and
made strenuous eXertons to scale the legs of peo-
pie who didn't belong to them: if a man stood
still for moment, he was certain TO have baby
hanging to each leg like crab. They didn't
object TO being Knocked down, ard rolled over. or
that sort; but it seemed to disconcert them 10
step on their fingers
ONE OF THE rScIDESTs-
The following curiously sad scene is type o
a thousand Others that were there enacted.
"Elsha" chatteI No. ) in The catalogue had
taken fancy to - benevolent looking. middle
aged gentleman who was inspecting the stock
snd thus used his powers OF persuasion 10 induce
the benevolent man to purchase him with hi.
wife, boy and g,rl-No.ly, Israel and Seyauda-
cha'tels No 8, ! and s The earnes:uess viii
which the poor fellow pressed hi- suit knowing
be did. tha. perhaps the happiness Of bis who'll,
life depeoded on his success vas interesting. ant
the arguments he used were most pAthe.c II:
made NJ appeal TO the feelings Of the buyer: b
res.ei his hope on MS charity and Kindness. bu
oa'7 st-ove y show hov veiI worth his dollar
we're the blood be vas eGtreat,as him To bnv.
Look 4 sne, nasr an prime rice pl4nte-; sho
yod woa. dad a better MAJ den ne; no bet,ep .!
de whole p!sufaiioa; rot bit oil vet: do mo