St. Landry democrat., 1881-05-21
Sold into Slavery.
Cincinnati Commercial.

STEUBENyILLE, w., April e.
Since the colored slaves of the
South we're given their liberty we
imagined slavery was at an end.
Rut in this we were deceived. A
short time ago we heard of the way
they disposed of paupers in Han
cock County, w. Va, just across
the river, and the custom struck
us as so barbaric and unlike what
should be the custom of civilized
people that your correspondent took
the noon train for McCoy's, from
which place we crossed the river to
Hancock County. In Slavery times
there were very few slaves owned
in that part Of West Virginia, as it
was so near both Chic and Penn
sylvania that they could easily
make their escape to Il of these
States, in either of which they could
find numerous persons who, think
ing, like William Lloyd Garrison,
that slavery is a sin against God
and humanity, would willingly aid
them in making their way North to
the Canadas. TO such an extent
was this the case that there were
few more, if any, slaves there in
these days than they are now, the
only exception being that now there
are whites as well as blacks, with
the former color largely in the
majority.
At New Cumberland we found
that for years it had been the Gus
tom to annually offer the paupers
of the county for sale at public
auction, the lowest bidder carrying
off the prize, and often the lowest
bidder is not able to care for him
self and family, let alone any out
siders. The price bid, and which
the county pays per year for the
maintenance of it's poor per head,
runs from eighty dollars to double
that amount, with very few at the
latter price, the majority being at
less than 500. This includes food,
clothing and everything else except
medical attendance. Occasionally
the papers fall into good hands,
but more often into the hands of
the "pauper shark (who does not
pretend to work, but lives off what
the comfy allows him and what
work he can get out Of his worse
than slaves, whom he feeds just
enough to keep life any body to-
gether, and then, truly, his, or her,
life is a pitiable one.
At the sale a regular auctioneer
is employed, and the bidding is
generally very spirited, a father,
brother, sister or some other near
relative beingfound bidding against
the professional "pauper shark"
for the unfortunate piece of hui
mainly on sale.
About three years ago the good
people of the county endeavored to
have a poor farm established. They
applied to the County Court, and
obtained permission to put the
matter before the people at the
next regular election. This was
done, and the Poor Farm carried
by a majority OF several hundred.
It was then the Poor Boards place
to purchase a farm in accordance
with the wishes Of the people. That
body of men, elected by the people
to carry out the laws and look after
the county poor, rode around the
country and looked at several farms;
then sat down on the project and
each year since has witnessed the
sale Of paupers at public auction.
The Board is severely condemned
by the people of the country for
their action, as they justly should be.
Accustomed as we are to seeiEg
life in all its numerous phases, to
witnessing the hardships week by
week, your correspondent was
shocked at seeing some of the vic
Tins Of this barbaric practice, and
hearing the tale of their misfortunes,
finding old men, four score years
and upwards of age, who in times
not long ago had been respected
and tax-paying citizens Of this and
other communities, now covered
with rags barely covering their at
tenuated forms, having nothing but
a bunch of straw in a garrett Or an
clubhouse to sleep on, subsisting on
bread and water, with occasionally
a bite Of meat and a cup of coffee
to remind him of better days gone
by.
One old man, aged about ninety
years, gave us his experience with
one of the sharks spoken of above
last fall. He was compelled to
sleep in a filthy clubhouse, having
nothing for a bed, but a few old
rags. He said his whole body was
covered with filth and vermin, his
legs being alive with wringgling
maggets. He finally ran away to
the house Of a friend, who brought
the matter before the Poor Board,
and he was sold again, this time
getting a better home. This same
wolf in sleeps clothing is bidding
for victims this year.
Another case, to which our at
tention was called, was that Of an
old man and his wife, the former
about eighty-ive years of age, and
the latter about ninety. The wo-
man was blind. They also suffered
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