The Forrest City times., 1898-01-28
AN OLD SLAVE MARKET.
Thousands of slaves Once sold In
Louisville, Georgia.

principal street of the quaint old town
of Louisville, Ga, a queer structure. 1t
was built SO long ago that those who
have grown old and gray in this former
capital of the state cannot tell of its
early history. Somewhere in the early
days before the "lazoo speculation"
dhis old slave market" was erected,
and, although built of wood, 1t has
stood the storms of time. and the hewn
post oak beams and pillars are as
sound now is on that day when the
wrought-iron nails were first driven
into them, and the bell. whica cow
hangs cracked and toneless as a 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. 17o5,
the seat of government was changed
from Augusta to this little island vii
lage, and here remained until 1901
after which Milledgevlle was selected,
and, at cost of Si15,00o. capitol was
erected
1t was at Louisville that the papers
and documents connected with that
giant swndle, 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 IL duels were fought
about it. The pith of the story is about
as follows:
During the first years subsequent 10
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 bribe the G Georgia
legislature and to buy from the state
3o,0O0,000 acres of land in western
Georgia. Alabama and Mississippi, and
the price for all ilhis territory was only
to be 100000.
Ihis purchase would have taken in
what is now the best part of three pop
ulous states. These old time swindIers
only wanted part of the earth. This
would have been deed to all Atlanta.
Chattanooga, Memphis. to say nothing
of 10000 smaller towns. The arch
swindler was one Thomas Washington.
alias Walsh, u man Of wonderful parts.
History tells of how the giant specu-
lator failed principally through the
courageous efforts of Gen. James Jack
son. The consprators actually car
ried their bill through both houses of
the legislature and the governors sig
nature was attached.
On January %. 1706, 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sembly met and rescinded the action of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. and
may every attempt to iniure her per-
ish as these wicked and corrupt acts
now do
This occurred in the year of our Lord
1799. 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 ws!ch inspires this sketch
Will soon, too. give way before the
march OF nine'ccath century push. A
water tower will probably take the
place of this hoary sentinel of time.
An old gentleman whom | met on the
streets OF Louisville. and whose gray
hair and tottering form could not hello
comparing to the ancient landmark.
said:
Il know I've seen thousand nigpers
bid off here. The bell which hangs in
side you will notice bears the French
coat OF arms and is stamped I772.
have heard that this bell was captured
in colonial days from the deck of n
French privateer. 1t has only been
cracked since few years before the
war"
me strahgest part OF the story is the
wonderful preservation of the timbers
in the old structure. They are all hewn
oak. put together with wrought-iron
nails, and the wood is so hard that 7
don't believe II would be possible to
drive nineteenth century nail into il
with an ak.
Louisville of to-day is still unpreten-
tious. 1t is the county seat of .Jeffer-
son-named from that great father of
democracy and declarations.
Louisville has a one-galus railroad.
which blows long blow Is minutes be-
fore the train starts back to the Central
railroad connection at Wadley. Ga.
The old town has many beautiful
homes and quiet. aris;ocratic families.
who trace their lineage back to colonial
times.-Atlanta journal.