The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-07-08
Russess secs ! slave Auctiou.

RussoiI Sees = slave Auction.
The correspondent Of the London Times,
who has been doing his best to cottonisc
Great Britain, occasionally ventilates scene
down South, which viii be very likely to be.
get sympathy for the slaves rather than the
Shareholders Of the South. Here, for in
stance, 10 40 account OF slave auction,
which will not Aend TO popularise the pecu.
lisr institution amongst the readers OF news.
papers on the other side Of the Atlantic:
On leaving the hotel, which 10 like email
Wizards, 30 far As the crowd 10 the ball il
concerned, my attention was attracted to .
group Of people TO whom Q man was holding
forth in energetic sentences. The day was
hot, but ! pushed near to the spot, for like
tn hear . stump speech, or to pick up stray
morsel Of divinity in the Uiud sacra Of strange
cities, and it>appeared a. though the speak r
wae delivering an grafton OF sermon. The
crowd was small-thI ee or four men in rough,
homeepun, make shift uniforms. leaning
against the iron rails inclosing y small pond
OF foul, grecn-looking water, surrounded by
brick work, whicha deoorates the space 10
front OF the Exchange Hotel. The speaker
stood on % empty deal packing case. A
man ia cart was listening With lack luster
eve to tho address. Some three or four 9th
ere, in sort OF vehicle which might either
be = hearse or piano van, had also drawn
up for the benefit Of the address. Fivs or
six other men, 10 long black coats and high
hats, some whiting sticks, and chewing to
baoco, and dischlrging streams Of ooiored
saliva, compistea the group. Shine b hun
nerd end FIFTY dollars! Only nine b.hun
nerd and fisy dollars offered for him |" ex
claimed the man, in the tone OF Injured dig
ni,y. remonstranoe and surprise, which can
be insinuated by all true auo.ioneers into the
dryest numericai statements. Twill no one
make any advance on nine hundred and ffty
dolIars?" A man near me opened bis mouth
spat, and said, "Twsnty i've" "Only nine
hLnd red and seventy Eve dollars offered for
him. Why ats radaklous--only nine hun
drsd andsesenty FIVE dollars! Will no one, /"
etc. Rseide the orator auctioneer stood .
steus young man Of ave and twenty years Of
age, with bundle 10 his hand. He was q
muscular fellow. broad shouldered. nArrox
Hsuked, but rather small in stature; be had
| Dn,E broad, greasy, old wide-awake, = hlns
jacket, . coarse cotton shirt, loose aud rather
ragged trowsers, and broken shoes. The
expression Of his face Was heavy and sad,
OF bic thick lips, broad nostrils, and high
chsek bones. On this head was wool instead
of hair. | am neither sentimensalist, nor
black republican, nor negro worshiper, bat
confess the sight caused = strange thrill
through my heart. tried 10 vain TO make
myself familiar with the fact, that l could
Tor the sun OF S975, become a. absolutely
| tho owner Of that mass OF blood, bones, sin
oew, flesh, and brains, he Of tho horse tha,
etnod hy wv side. There 80. &C :ccs::..V
khieh could persuade me the man was not I
man.
| And here 10 another allnsion to the sbsAu
ties, Of the institution which will be opt "a
make John Bull shrug his shoulders:
| There is large negro population, and /
considerable OF color which forces ~ %
doubt the evidence Of my senses rsshsflthau
the statements made to me BY some Of nv
| friends that the planters affect the character
or parent in their moral rclstions merely With
the negro race. waiter at tho hotel---s
tall, handsome young fellow, with the least
/ tinge Of color in his cheeks, not ~ dark a
the majority of Spaniards " ltsli4Ds--as.
toDished me in my ignornnos to-day when,
in reply TO u question asked BY one OK our
party, in consequence OF disoassion on the
point, be informed ms be "wAs slave.''--
ftu nun, Az hg said 80, l001S0 S6nflsed, his
manner altered. lie had bsen talking In
mllarly 20 Us, but tn moment he replied
81 am slave, sir, biz loQaaoity diSsp peArsd,
and he walked hurrisdly and il silence oai
!. Of the room.