, 1860-05-05

S. ". Gray, etitor of the Cleveland Pain
dealey, {Douglaaite,) aud delegate to the
Charleston Convention, writes to TINT paper
the following account Of incidents Of the Pc
culiar institution " in Charleston:
Invent to the Slave Mart yesterday, in coul-
pany With our Republican friend Mayor Sentcr
Of Cleveland. We passed through big iron
gates into IN ochre colored room witt high walls
and nothing but iron grating in front. SO that
the interior was visible from the street. This
was the public eale or auction room. On one
side we're arranged two broud and high tables,
on which tue chattels were exposed to the yiew
Of the biddert.. 4 door opens through the
wall in the back part Of the room into large
yard in the. rear. where high yellow walls en-
close the whole.
At the farther eud Of that enclosure, i large
brick block. i've stories high, full OF rooms,
berths, hunks and places for the slaves to sleep
and eat in. He showed US round and answered
forty or fifty alsves then on hand for sale, men,
women and children. We went among them
and asked them many questions. which they re-
luctautiv answered. .TheY could tell where they
were from and what they could do, but not one
knew their OWL age. Two Young negresses, ap-
pazeutly not over 6,pointed out their husbands,
and also children, from one to four years Of age,
which they said we're theirs.
: TODAY, hearing thero WEE to be public sale,
1visfted again the mar, and found quite = col
lection OF broad b:imued planters examining
the stock. The negroes we're all arraigned BY
families On one side Of the yard, and we Wit
messed the review. TWAS strange spectacle
to Us, one Of the most revolving sights We had
seen. The "boys," IS NIL colored men are
called iu the South, we're made to show their
teeth. walk. and sumo to run, to show their con.
dltlon, the same Us horse would be examined
and exercised to show his good points. One
little group interested me much: Hwssa slave
girl with tTo children. one she held BY tne
hand, the ether in her arms, aud when the
"broad. bring" came to her she looked do1en,
but the picanuiny in her arms, black IS Jet,
looked up. and with most happy nonchalance,
| eyed the Planters all the while they we're hold
ing council over the good qualities OF bis moth
er, until he finally so interested one OF them as
TO get q kind look in return and even friendly
chuckle under his little fat chin. ;.
In no case; the keeper told me, DO they d1;
vide families, unless for faults which compel
them to sell. There are Jares in this city who
own from ten to fifteen negroes each; Who are
able to buy their own freedom aud then pc
rich, but who prefer remaining slaves, and ne
certainty Of being taken care Of By some ola
iavorlte mistress, OF wheA sickness or age comes
upon them, than to be masters OF themselves,
and trust to their kindred. It Is tau feather
IN Cude's cap here to be lae slave Of rich and
respectable master. ThsJ rise IN d1gntty III
Just tho ratio their masters are cons1de!ea ca 1!en
and respectable, and q colored man without
master is serera1 degrees below them. Inefe
are tree negroes here who own slaves, ano se1l
| their own children begotten Of slave mothers
try the stronger make slaves Of the weaker
| ana not only sell them to one another ano 70
me regular slave traders, but conquer ano os'
TouT each other.