The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-02-18
AN OLD SLAVE MARKET.
cbOusands Of Slaves Once Sold In
LOulaYille. Georgia.


cbou.ands OF slaves once sold In
Louisville. Georgia.
There stands in the center of the
principal street of the quaint old town
of Louisville. Ca. queer structure 1t
was built so long ago that those who
have grown old and gray in this former
CT pital of the state cannot tell of its
early history. Somewhere in the early
days before the "Yazoo speculation"
inis old ''slave market" was erected,
and, although built of wood, it has
stood the storms of time, and the hewn
post oak beams and pillars are as
sound now as on that day when the
wrought-iron nails were first driven
into them, and the bell. which now
hangs cracked and toneless as curl
osity, pealed' forth its brazen tones,
calling the dealer to bid at the "nigger
sale"
A very few people know that Louis
vile was ever the capital of Georgia.
The star of empire taking its way west
ward came first TO Savannah. then Au-
gusta, and on the 10th day of May, 1898.
the seat of government was changed
from Augusta to this little island vii
lage, and here remained until 1904
after which Milledgeville was selected.
and, at a cost of $115. 900. a capitol was
erected.
1t was at Louisville that the papers
giant swindle, the "Yazoo frauds" were
burned by Gen. James Jackson.
The story of the Yazoo frauds is a
long and intricate history. 1t is stated
that more than 100 duels were fought
about it. The pith Of the story is about
as follows:
During the first years subsequent to
the revolution few wealthy and un
scrupulous men under oath of secrecy
formed what was known as the Com
bined society.
Their scheme was to bride the Georgia
legislature and to buy from the state
100000 acres of land in western
Georgia. Ala bama and Mississippi, and
the price for all this territory was only
to be 100000.
This purchase would have taken in
what is now the best part of three pop
ulous states. These old-time swindlers
only wanted a part of the earth. This
would have been a deed to all Atlanta,
Chattanooga, Memphis, to say nothing
of 10000 smaller towns. The arch
swindler was one Thomas Washington.
alias Walsh, man of wonderful parts
History tells of how the giant specu-
lator failed principally through the
courageous efforts of Gen. James Jack
son. The conspirators actually car
ried their bill through both houses of
the legislature and the governors sig
nature was attached.
On January %. 1906, the general as
sembly met and rescinded the action of
the former body. Gen. jackson, for
merly United States senator, resigned
his seat in the senate, came home and
was elected a member of this legisla-
ture from Chatham county. He en-
gineered the rescinded bill through.
On the day following. by the order of
both houses, fire was kindled in the
square and all the records and docu-
ments were publicly burned.
The clerk of the house was required
to cry in loud voice: God save the
state and long preserve her rights, aud
may every attempt to injure her per-
ish as these wicked and corrupt acts
now do"
This occurred in the year of our Lord
1899. Ninety-eight years ago. Yet
there can be seen in the courthouse
yard. under the spreading shades the
shallow excavation in the ground into
| which the papers were piled.
The old governors mansion was only
torn away last year. the capitol disap-
peared many years ago. and the old
slave market which inspires this sketch
will soon. too. give way before THE
| march of nineteenth century push 4
water tower will probably take the
place of this hoary sentinel of time.
An old gentleman whom l met on the
streets of Louisville, and whose gray
hair and tottering form could not hefI
| comparing to the ancient landmark
said:
II know I've seen a thousand niggers
bid off here. The bell which hangs in.
side you will notice bears the French
coat of arms and is stamped 17z2
have heard that this bell was captured
in colonial days from the deck of 9
| French privateer. 1t has only beer
cracked since few years before tn.
| war;"
The strangest part of the story is tn,
wonderful preservation Of the timber.
in the old structure. They are all hew1
oak. put together with wrought-iror
nails, and the wood is so hard that
don't believe 1t would be possible t.
drive q nineteenth oaD<prx ao;1 ;,<o |: