The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-12
SOLD BY HIS OWN SLAVE.
A Strange Tale Of Ante-Boum Days Down
South.

The patriarchal idea was, as all the
world remembers, ut once tho moral
foundation and Justification Of tho
| slavery system in the South under tho
Old regime. But in none OF the slave
States was this idea carried into tho
practical everyday life Of tho people
| SO fully and consistently as Virginia.
And this again, was particularly true
OF Eastern, or Tidewatcr, Virginia.
Tho condition Of affairs, both moral
aud material, growing out Of the situa-
tion thus created had already become
critical whom 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 ut whatever cost.
The man who sold 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 u handsome rove ,
nue. with, lot us say, 100 slaves, found
their substance consumed and their
profits destroyed by the increase of
principles and the moral sense of the
community would not allow them to
dispose Of down South"
1t was this overplus of the negro
population which made slaves go CHEAP
IN Virginia and the business Of the
slave spoculator 80 profitable. For
when ruin overlook an old estate, then
was the harvest time Of the despised
"nigger dealer" Slaves which would
sell for $lOO or $500 in Virginia readily
! brought $1,000 on more in Now Or
nd
always on the alert for such oppor-
tunities, which were all too few to
satisfy their trade. It was the custom
In Virginia for the friends of an en-
oarrassed man to purchase, so far as
their means allowed, the best of his
Slaves, to savo them from being sold
away"
One OF tho most successful negro
spcculptors who operated on tho Pen
lnsuia In the forties was u man named
Hubbard. lie lived upon his own
estate at Yorktown, and was accounted
one of the wcalthicst mon in those
pnrta. The nature OF his business,
however, dcbarred him and his family
from all social intercourse with the
better class Of whites, and his whole
energy was concentrated upon tho ac-
cumulation of wealth, in whi ch he was
, eminently successful. He left, at his
deatl very considerable fortune for
those days to each OF his two sons, who
were both gallant soldiers in the Con,
, fcdorato army, tho eldest dying in one
Of the battles Of the Wilderness
About the year 1915 james Murder,
a young man, last in the male line OF
ono Of tho old colonial families died
suddenly, leaving his large estate
, completely involved. 1t was necessary
t to sell OIL everything to satisfy his
creditors. Among his slaves was a
| body servant called Mack" who was
nearly tho same age as his deceased
master. The two boys bad been allow
/ cd to enjoy all tho educational advan-
tagcs Of his master, OF which, as was
sometimes the case, hc made far better
| use. he had lived for some wears
: abroad with young Murder, and
through constant and close association
with good society in many countries
had acquired an ease and grace of
manner and tiucncy Of speech which,
combined with his handsome person.
, would have made him an ornament to-
, any society. There was worry little
= pure negro blood In his veins and he
Y anywhere. Between Mack and his
t former master there had been an inti-
Y macy and affection which had we'll
> nigh o5litcrHtcd the social gulf between
3 them, AMI tho faithful servant and
0 friend Of the unfortunate Murder was
2 held in high esteom by all tho latter's
, friends.
q. 1t was therefore determined that
Mack should bn saved from the hands
: OF the spccuiator and find Il purchaser
= among his mistors friends. Accord
l lngly, upon the first day Of the year,
D which was tho date established by
y custom for tho sale and hire q, negroes.
4 number Of gentlemen attended at the
t Court House in williamsburg prepared
: TO pay a long price for the accomplish
: cd young lncsro. Janlos Hubbard was
y also there. He was familiar with
. Mack MA 3 history and talents. He knew,
too, thar the Wiliiamsburgh people
= were detcrnncd to prevent Mack from
T. going to tho New Otleuns market.
. therefore he sworc an oath that he
" would have that nigger If il cost
/ him his fDrtune.' For Hubbard had
0 O. two-loid grudYo 10 crafty. Many u
3 time before the WiilinmsDu.gh men
| had prevented hiu from securing
r bargain Oh such 'c%s.5ionI as this {;
and no WAS very bitter against them
bccauaH of Jl.n snciat .strau:sm which
} his business had brought upon his
family. So that in the end Mack was
: Knocked down to Hubbard for price
: seldom paid for slave in Virginia.
~ fow days later Hubbard started
south with his band OF negroes, taking
} Mack with him as u body servant.
Hubbard was " man Of powerful
physique and COARSE manners. His
hair and eyes were intensely black
and his complexion 30 swaPthy that
he would have suffered by comparison
with many Of the hannah chattels he
doult in. Gu their arrival at New
O:lcans, Hubbard soon disposed of his
negroes to-; good advantages, but retain
cd Mack in his personal service, either
because no could not and buyer for
him at the high figure he had paid, or
because he had become vain at having
SO accomplished valet. At any rate,
! Mack was still in his possession &ftor
! couple Of weeks in tho Gull metropolis.
Mack had soLle money Of his own, and
as u matter Of pride az we'll as bus-
ness Hubbard dressed him like q gen
| tcman. A great deal Of liberty was
| allowed him, and he took advantage
! # 4 n fn nf hn ~.