The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-20

Inc negro Market
The market for the sale OF slaves has,
within the past week, been subject 20 a
decided depression, and the prices will
continue downward, doubtless, for some
time Bidders are few, and the market
is stocked--oVer stocked we might more
properly say--owing 20 the large num-
bers of slaves brought from The upper
counties of Virginia Parties having
slaves in such localities, and wishing 10
obtain high prices for them, would do
better 20 take them farther South, for the
present, at least Field hands now COM
mand, in Richmond, more than any other
classes Of negroes except mechanics,
proven of good stamp. A carpenter or
smith will bring from 1880 10 $4,000.
Field hands command from $1,000 TO
81 $50. Ordinary drivers, walters, &cj
$1,000 TO 1880. Boys from fourteen
70 sixteen. aud women, generally the
same. There is but slight variation. in
the prices Tor the different grades OF or
binary servants, and the above indicates
with tolerable accuracy the present prices
for male and female, young and middle
aged, sound negroes. Children are usu-
ally sold with their mothers, and when
80 disposed of bring more than they
would otherwise. The prices week
hence will, in all probability, be still
lower II Richmond Inquirer. ....
This exodus alone will soon depOpulate
Virginia of her slaves. No border State
can hope to retain its slaves while war is
convusing its people, and making all
business and pursuits uncertain. Slaves
will become worthless, and The system
will rapidly decay. before the mere pres
ence Of armies, whether the armies med
die with the slaves or not The institu-
ton is an exotic, hOt-house plant of the
most sensitive nature, and it cannot sur
vive the rude blasts of violent and pro-
lOnged popular tempest The Enqurer,
whose ardent attachment for slavery al
ways leads it TO make out its case as
favorable and hopeful as possible, says
that The fall in the price Of slaves is ''de-
cided," and that in q few days they will
probably be still lower We must re-
member. too, that these prices are paid
in Confederate money, which rests on a
basis Of lead and steel, a foundation not
much in favor with capitalists. Thus
we see that national causes, or rather
the unnatural causes Of the war are fast
sapping the strength of Mr. STEPHENS
great "chicf cornerstone" of government.
No emancipation proclamation, 10 confis-
cation act, is necessary 60 destroy it
Its destruction is already as certain as
destiny itself. In Missouri the extinc-
ton Of slave labor is still more rapid
The St. Louis Democrat and Union, say
that there are probably not City thousand |
slaves in that State, and that negroes
which brought 81, 500 two years ago. will
not fetch $500 at present Here is de-
crease of 66X per cent. in two years, and |
the decline, like the speed of falling |
stone, moves on with accelerated velocity. |
1t is estimated that all the slaves in Mis-
souri, could be bought at private sales for
$4,000 O0o-a sum which is hardly per-
ceptibIe in the aggregate wealth of that
magnificent State. No human legislation
or schemes can prevent this movement !
One might as wisely attempt to declare,
by public enactment, that there should |
be no hog cholera or thunder storms.