The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-03-10
SOLD BY HIS OWN SLAVE.

A Strange Tale Of Ante-BelIum Days Down
South.
New York Sun.
The patriarchal lea was, as all the
world remembers, at once the moral
foundation and justification of the
slavery system in the South under the
old regime. But in none OF the slave
States was this idea carried into the
practical everyday life of the people
SO fully and consistently as Virginia.
And this again, was particularly true
of Eastern, or Tidewater, Virginia.
The condition Of affairs, both moral
and material, growing out of the situa-
tion thus created had already become
critical when the Civil War solved the
problem.
Among the slave owners of eastern
Virginia especially it was held to be q
point of honor TO protect and maintain
their human chattels at whatever cost.
The man who sold a slave, except
under absolute compulsion or neces-
sity, was disgraced. The present gen.
GRAFTON will never realize the heavi-
ness of the burden thus imposed upon
and accepted by the Virginia slave
holder. The owners Of estates which
would have yielded q handsome reve-
with, let us say, 100 slaves, found
their substance consumed and their
profits destroyed by the sincrease of q
dependent population which their own
principles and the moral sense of the
community would not allow them to
dispose of ''down South"
1t was Obis overplus Of the negro
population which made slaves so cheap
in Virginia and the business of the
slave speculator SO profitable. For
when ruin overlook an old estate, then
was the harvest time of the despised
"nigger dealer" Slaves which would
sell for $400 OF $500 in Virginia readily
brought $1,000 on more in New Or
leans, and hence the spectators were
always on the alert for such oppor-
tunities, which were all too few to
satisfy their trade. 1t was the custom
In Virginia for the friends of an en-
~barrassed man to purchase, so far as
their means allowed, the best of his
slaves. to save them from being I" sold
away"
One of the most successful negro
speculetors who operated on the Pom
insula in the forties was Ii man named
Hubbard. He lived upon his own
estate at yorktown, and was accounted
n OF the wealthiest men in those
parts. The nature of his business.
however, debarred him and his family
from all social intercourse with the
better class of whites, and his whole
energy was concentrated upon the ac-
emulation Of wealth, in which he was
%eminently successful. He left, at his
death, a very considerable fortune for
those days to each of his two sons, who
were both gallant soldiers In the Con-
federate army, the eldest dying in one
OF the battles of the Wilderness.
About the year 1916 James Murder, |
a young man, last in the male line OF
one Of the old colonial families died
suddenly, leaving his large estate
completely involved. 1t was necessary
to sell off everything to satisfy his
creditors. Among his slaves was q
body servant called MACK" who was
o remarkable character. Mack was
nearly the same g as his deceased
master. The two boys bad been allow
ed to enjoy all the educational adyan-
tages of his master, of which, as was
sometimes the case, he made far better
use. He had lived for some years
abroad with young Mnrder, and
through constant and close association
with good society hi many countries
had acquired al ease and grace of
and 6usacy OF speech which,,
combined with &is handsome person.
would have madb him an ornament TO
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