The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-05-12
From The Petersburg, Va, Express.
Black Matt VI. how a Slave sold his Ow Ii
Master.

| Black Matt; Or. how Slave sold his own
| Master.
Matthew IIobson generally called
| Black Matt, on acc ,unt OF the daf kness
pt his compleXion) was we'll known among
the inhabitants Of the seabord of Virginia
some Years ago AS IL slave dealer and an ac-
comi.lished brcaktr-in of bad flesh He
once purchased Il bright mulatto by the
name OF Sam. at very low price, on
count OF his numerous bad qualities, such
| ~ thievn". lying and drunkenness sam
was intelligent, with all his taults-could
read and write, and ape the airs of most
polished gentleman. He was so far
moved, too. from the pure African race
that he could scarcely be distinguished
from a white man On his becoming the
property of the slavedealer he received
several severe adnonition-, in order that
he mi -iit have foriaste of the temper of
his master. Secretly he vowed vrnyaEce
Tor III" striking proofs of Mats affection.
/ and IN a short time. an opportunity offered
to crafty that vengance.
Matt made up his gang, and shipped
them at Norfolk The barque arrived
safely, at New Orleans and was brought to
the wharf IN order that Sam mi ght bring
a good price he was logged otiin fine clothes.
calf skin boot, ii silk hat, and kid gloves.
Matt thought hy his external show, 10 rea-
lie ut least 5000 for the mulatto, a. the
body servant of some rich planter. sam
Was consequently allowed TO 20 on snorc.
III order tu show himself OF lie proceed
eel 10 the tlhauibra auu there >tluttrd
among the best at them. Hearing pprtly
gentleman remark that lac wished 10 pur-
chase Il good body servant he went up tC
him and with an independent swa.ser.
said
Ny dear sir, lave got just ,:e boy
that will suit you
la r'.Dii,ed the planter, % ! am glad TO
hear YOU say so, .,r / have been looking
Tor one for several days. What do YOU ask
for him
Nine hundred dollars" replied Sam.
and cheap a. drt at that, He has every
quality, can shave dress hair brush boots
aud is L,,,!des polished in his manners
could have got $500 Tor him, but iog
one fault
IIa " calculated the planter, and pray
what k!nd o. fault i that
Why. sir, "A r.diyulou, one. lie ina
gines himself TO be white man"
\ white man exclaimed the planter
laughing, that IS a funny conceit, iudeed;
bat can soon cure linn OF that--lv We had
considerable experience IN training and
man i.ln2 gentlemen .! color.
Oh III. continued sam, there i bat
lrti, doubr that h- can b,- curcd--tLou- ia
YOU may find some troubl,- at first
We'll. sir youappear to he gentleman.
-aId the planter. vino VA, rather too
..mA!vu, ANA conid,u- ! WI. tahc him OH
your observation-disclosures Where l. uc noy.
~Ou board the barque-yondcr at the
wharf YOU can see nlln ~ any moment,
Replies. sam.
-Good exclaimed tie planter, am
muci pleased with your honest! ana cali
don. ai.i IN order to -.y, tiue-hcgc are
S.'u1. please 10 give u biii Of sale
Sam got the clerk 10 draw up i bill OF
,.i.. sl.u,d the name oi Samuel Hopkins.
HOck.t-.i the money. and told the planter
10 ak The captain for Black Matt, he
would himself BE- on board A. soon ~ ne
had closed = bargain with another gentle
man no WAS dc>IGou, ot purchasing one
oi ni, i.-ld hands
sis- Iur-y planter made his wav to the
tlIguc and demanded of the captain To see
the Uuy Black Mat The officer pointed
to Matthew i!ob~on, who sat ON the. gIlr-
tcld-ck smoking his sc-ar and suIeriuteiI-
d.uL ii.- drbIrhat!"n at Ia, slaves
A.- y"u Black Matt. INV tine fellow
a-h,d the planter. addressing the slave
ni,I,haut
Folks ell me 50 TO hum. was the reply.
but h,.., NV r!tnr Is Matthew llob-ou,
what do yul. wLut
ted ynu Matt. what | want want
you You - i iIhrly looking fellow, and
y.u viii just suii me
10 .t> ~ here, stranger, sail Matt,
firm. az, " !uty Uc yOu doat k..Ow who
yea are >l,rikl-g l".
Yes d,tiud -h-you r INV property
bbu.n; yuu ut Your muster, IA IIucl Hop
ku-. just nuH, aIii
YyI bou int IN eHrl me NJ
stauull,. W ..t full Ic. I'll. he.ore the ,lat.-
ter " HI AID tie devil s:r--l III i white
man
Come, come non. calmly said the man
' !; wo..I l do-l know you-you can hum
bug the WIKI Your cunceil>-Ili whip il
out oi YOU sill Il teach You
Here Matt drew back aid aimed d blow
at ti- ruddy nose oi the planter, who seized
i...n 10y the throat, and beloved for the
police. An officer happened 10 he on the
. icvcc he. AT the instance OF the PLANTER
seized the refractory slave and bore him To
+ the calaboo~e. where he Icmaiaed until
evidence could be procured identifying him
a, i flee born white citizen OF the United
States.
sam. in the mean time got on board 4
ship that was just wcIgiI!ug anchor for 4
European port, AN never las been heard OF
. since. Thus has the rascal had his revenge
Matt lost his slave, aud the green' lat
gentleman his money.