Chapter XVII: Appendix: (b.)

THE SLAVE TRADE IN VIRGINIA.

_From Chambers’s Journal._

“The exposure of ordinary goods in a store is not more open to the
public than are the sales of slaves in Richmond. By consulting
the local newspapers, I learned that the sales take place by
auction every morning in the offices of certain brokers, who, as
I understood by the terms of their advertisements, purchased or
received slaves for sale on commission.

“Where the street was in which the brokers conducted their
business, I did not know; but the discovery was easily made.
Rambling down the main street in the city, I found that the
subject of my search was a narrow and short thoroughfare, turning
off to the left, and terminating in a similar cross thoroughfare.
Both streets, lined with brick houses, were dull and silent. There
was not a person to whom I could put a question. Looking about, I
observed the office of a commission agent, and into it I stepped.
Conceive the idea of a large shop with two windows, and a door
between; no shelving or counters inside; the interior a spacious,
dismal apartment, not well swept; the only furniture a desk at one
of the windows, and a bench at one side of the shop, three feet
high, with two steps to it from the floor. I say, conceive the
idea of this dismal-looking place, with nobody in it but three
negro children, who, as I entered, were playing at auctioneering
each other. An intensely black little negro, of four or five years
of age, was standing on the bench, or block, as it is called, with
an equally black girl, about a year younger, by his side, whom he
was pretending to sell by bids to another black child, who was
rolling about the floor.

“My appearance did not interrupt the merriment. The little
auctioneer continued his mimic play, and appeared to enjoy the
joke of selling the girl, who stood demurely by his side.

“‘Fifty dolla for de gal—fifty dolla—fifty dolla—I sell dis
here fine gal for fifty dolla,’ was uttered with extraordinary
volubility by the woolly-headed urchin, accompanied with
appropriate gestures, in imitation, doubtless, of the scenes he
had seen enacted daily on the spot. I spoke a few words to the
little creatures, but was scarcely understood and the fun went on
as if I had not been present: so I left them, happy in rehearsing
what was likely soon to be their own fate.

“At another office of a similar character, on the opposite side
of the street, I was more successful. Here, on inquiry, I was
respectfully informed, by a person in attendance, that the sale
would take place the following morning at half-past nine o’clock.

“Next day I set out accordingly, after breakfast, for the scene
of operations, in which there was now a little more life. Two or
three persons were lounging about, smoking cigars; and, looking
along the street, I observed that three red flags were projected
from the doors of those offices in which sales were to occur. On
each flag was pinned a piece of paper, notifying the articles to
be sold. The number of lots was not great. On the first was the
following announcement:—‘Will be sold this morning, at half-past
nine o’clock, a Man and a Boy.’

“It was already the appointed hour; but as no company had
assembled, I entered and took a seat by the fire. The office,
provided with a few deal forms and chairs, a desk at one of the
windows, and a block accessible by a few steps, was tenantless,
save by a gentleman who was arranging papers at the desk, and to
whom I had addressed myself on the previous evening. Minute after
minute passed, and still nobody entered. There was clearly no
hurry in going to business. I felt almost like an intruder, and
had formed the resolution of departing, in order to look into the
other offices, when the person referred to left his desk, and came
and seated himself opposite to me at the fire.

“‘You are an Englishman,’ said he, looking me steadily in the
face; ‘do you want to purchase?’

“‘Yes,’ I replied, ‘I am an Englishman; but I do not intend to
purchase. I am travelling about for information, and I shall feel
obliged by your letting me know the prices at which negro servants
are sold.’

“‘I will do so with much pleasure,’ was the answer; ‘do you mean
field-hands or house-servants?’

“‘All kinds,’ I replied; ‘I wish to get all the information I can.’

“With much politeness, the gentleman stepped to his desk, and
began to draw up a note of prices. This, however, seemed to
require careful consideration; and while the note was preparing, a
lanky person, in a wide-awake hat, and chewing tobacco, entered,
and took the chair just vacated. He had scarcely seated himself,
when, on looking towards the door, I observed the subjects of
sale—the man and boy indicated by the paper on the red flag—enter
together, and quietly walk to a form at the back of the shop,
whence, as the day was chilly, they edged themselves towards the
fire, in the corner where I was seated. I was now between the two
parties—the white man on the right, and the old and young negro on
the left—and I waited to see what would take place.

“The sight of the negroes at once attracted the attention of
Wide-awake. Chewing with vigour, he kept keenly eyeing the pair,
as if to see what they were good for. Under this searching gaze,
the man and boy were a little abashed, but said nothing. Their
appearance had little of the repulsiveness we are apt to associate
with the idea of slaves. They were dressed in a gray woollen coat,
pants, and waistcoat, coloured cotton neckcloths, clean shirts,
coarse woollen stockings, and stout shoes. The man wore a black
hat; the boy was bareheaded. Moved by a sudden impulse, Wide-awake
left his seat, and rounding the back of my chair, began to grasp
at the man’s arms, as if to feel their muscular capacity. He then
examined his hands and fingers; and, last of all, told him to open
his mouth and show his teeth, which he did in a submissive manner.
Having finished these examinations, Wide-awake resumed his seat,
and chewed on in silence as before.

“I thought it was but fair that I should now have my turn of
investigation, and accordingly asked the elder negro what was his
age. He said he did not know. I next inquired how old the boy was.
He said he was seven years of age. On asking the man if the boy
was his son, he said he was not—he was his cousin. I was going
into other particulars, when the office-keeper approached, and
handed me the note he had been preparing; at the same time making
the observation that the market was dull at present, and that
there never could be a more favourable opportunity of buying. I
thanked him for the trouble which he had taken; and now submit a
copy of his price-current:

Best Men, 18 to 25 years old 1200 to 1300 dollars.
Fair do. do. do. 950 to 1050 ”
Boys, 5 feet 850 to 950 ”
Do., 4 feet 8 inches 700 to 800 ”
Do., 4 feet 5 inches 500 to 600 ”
Do., 4 feet 375 to 450 ”
Young Women 800 to 1000 ”
Girls, 5 feet 750 to 850 ”
Do., 4 feet 9 inches 700 to 750 ”
Do., 4 feet 350 to 450 ”

(Signed) _________________________

Richmond, Virginia.

“Leaving this document for future consideration, I pass on to a
history of the day’s proceedings. It was now ten minutes to ten
o’clock, and Wide-awake and I being alike tired of waiting, we
went off in quest of sales further up the street. Passing the
second office, in which also nobody was to be seen, we were more
fortunate at the third. Here according to the announcement on the
paper stuck to the flag, there were to be sold, ‘A woman and three
children; a young woman, three men, a middle-aged woman, and a
little boy.’ Already a crowd had met, composed, I should think,
of persons mostly from the cotton-plantations of the South. A few
were seated near a fire on the right-hand side, and others stood
round an iron stove in the middle of the apartment. The whole
place had a dilapidated appearance. From a back window, there
was a view into a ruinous court-yard; beyond which, in a hollow,
accessible by a side lane, stood a shabby brick house, on which
the word _Jail_ was inscribed in large black letters on a white
ground. I imagined it to be a depôt for the reception of negroes.

“On my arrival, and while making these preliminary observations,
the lots for sale had not made their appearance. In about five
minutes afterwards, they were ushered in, one after the other,
under the charge of a mulatto, who seemed to act as principal
assistant. I saw no whips, chains, or any other engine of force.
Nor did such appear to be required. All the lots took their
seats on two long forms near the stove; none showed any signs of
resistance; nor did any one utter a word. Their manner was that of
perfect humility and resignation.

“As soon as all were seated, there was a general examination of
their respective merits, by feeling their arms, looking into
their mouths, and investigating the quality of their hands and
fingers—this last being evidently an important particular. Yet
there was no abrupt rudeness in making these examinations—no
coarse or domineering language was employed. The three negro men
were dressed in the usual manner—in gray woollen clothing. The
woman, with three children, excited my peculiar attention. She
was neatly attired, with a coloured handkerchief bound around her
head, and wore a white apron over her gown. Her children were all
girls, one of them a baby at the breast three months old, and the
others two and three years of age respectively, rigged out with
clean white pinafores. There was not a tear or an emotion visible
in the whole party. Everything seemed to be considered as a matter
of course; and the change of owners was possibly looked forward to
with as much indifference as ordinary hired servants anticipate a
removal from one employer to another.

“While intending purchasers were proceeding with personal
examinations of the several lots, I took the liberty of putting a
few questions to the mother of the children. The following was our
conversation:—

“‘Are you a married woman?’

“‘Yes, sir.’

“‘How many children have you had?’

“‘Seven.’

“‘Where is your husband?’

“‘In Madison county.’

“‘When did you part from him?’

“‘On Wednesday—two days ago.’

“‘Were you sorry to part from him?’

“‘Yes, sir,’ she replied, with a deep sigh; ‘my heart was a’most
broke.’

“‘Why is your master selling you?’

“‘I don’t know—he wants money to buy some land—suppose he sells me
for that.’

“There might not be a word of truth in these answers, for I had no
means of testing their correctness; but the woman seemed to speak
unreservedly, and I am inclined to think that she said nothing but
what, if necessary, could be substantiated. I spoke, also, to the
young woman who was seated near her. She, like the others, was
perfectly black, and appeared stout and healthy, of which some of
the persons present assured themselves by feeling her arms and
ankles, looking into her mouth, and causing her to stand up. She
told me she had several brothers and sisters, but did not know
where they were. She said she was a house-servant, and would be
glad to be bought by a good master—looking at me, as if I should
not be unacceptable.

“I have said that there was an entire absence of emotion in the
looks of men, women, and children, thus seated preparatory to
being sold. This does not correspond with the ordinary accounts of
slave-sales, which are represented as tearful and harrowing. My
belief is, that none of the parties felt deeply on the subject, or
at least that any distress they experienced was but momentary—soon
passed away, and was forgotten. One of my reasons for this opinion
rests on a trifling incident which occurred. While waiting for
the commencement of the sale, one of the gentlemen present amused
himself with a pointer dog, which, at command, stood on its hind
legs, and took pieces of bread from his pocket. These tricks
greatly entertained the row of negroes, old and young; and the
poor woman, whose heart three minutes before was almost broken,
now laughed as heartily as any one.

“‘Sale is going to commence—this way, gentlemen,’ cried a man
at the door to a number of loungers outside; and all having
assembled, the mulatto assistant led the woman and her children
to the block, which he helped her to mount. There she stood, with
her infant at the breast, and one of her girls at each side. The
auctioneer, a handsome, gentlemanly personage, took his place,
with one foot on an old deal chair with a broken back, and the
other raised on the somewhat more elevated block. It was a
striking scene.

“‘Well, gentlemen,’ began the salesman, ‘here is a capital woman
and her three children, all in good health—what do you say for
them? Give me an offer. (Nobody speaks.) I put up the whole lot
at 850 dollars—850 dollars—850 dollars (speaking very fast)—850
dollars. Will no one advance upon that? A very extraordinary
bargain, gentlemen. A fine, healthy baby. Hold it up. (Mulatto
goes up the first step of the block; takes the baby from the
woman’s breast, and holds it aloft with one hand, so as to show
that it was a veritable sucking baby.) That will do. A woman,
still young, and three children, all for 850 dollars. An advance,
if you please, gentlemen. (A voice bids 860.) Thank you, sir,
860; any one bids more? (A second voice says, 870; and so on the
bidding goes as far as 890 dollars, when it stops.) That won’t
do, gentlemen. I cannot take such a low price. (After a pause,
addressing the mulatto): She may go down.’ Down from the block the
woman and her children were therefore conducted by the assistant,
and, as if nothing had occurred, they calmly resumed their seats
by the stove.

“The next lot brought forward was one of the men. The assistant
beckoning to him with his hand, requested him to come behind a
canvas screen, of two leaves, which was standing near the back
window. The man placidly rose, and having been placed behind the
screen, was ordered to take off his clothes, which he did without
a word or look of remonstrance. About a dozen gentlemen crowded to
the spot while the poor fellow was stripping himself, and as soon
as he stood on the floor, bare from top to toe, a most rigorous
scrutiny of his person was instituted. The clear black skin, back
and front, was viewed all over for sores from disease; and there
was no part of his body left unexamined. The man was told to open
and shut his hands, asked if he could pick cotton, and every tooth
in his head was scrupulously looked at. The investigation being at
an end, he was ordered to dress himself; and having done so, was
requested to walk to the block.

The ceremony of offering him for competition was gone through as
before, but no one would bid. The other two men, after undergoing
similar examinations behind the screen, were also put up, but with
the same result. Nobody would bid for them, and they were all sent
back to their seats. It seemed as if the company had conspired not
to buy anything that day. Probably some imperfections had been
detected in the personal qualities of the negroes. Be this as it
may, the auctioneer, perhaps a little out of temper from his want
of success, walked off to his desk, and the affair was so far at
an end.

“‘This way, gentlemen—this way!’ was heard from a voice outside,
and the company immediately hived off to the second establishment.
At this office there was a young woman, and also a man, for sale.
The woman was put up first at 500 dollars; and possessing some
recommendable qualities, the bidding for her was run as high as
710 dollars, at which she was knocked down to a purchaser. The
man, after the customary examination behind the screen, was put up
at 700 dollars; but a small imperfection having been observed in
his person, no one would bid for him; and he was ordered down.

“‘This way, gentlemen, this way—down the street, if you please!’
was now shouted by a person in the employment of the first firm,
to whose office all very willingly adjourned—one migratory
company, it will be perceived, serving all the slave-auctions in
the place. In going in the crowd, I went to see what should be
the fate of the man and boy, with whom I had already had some
communication.

“There the pair, the two cousins, sat by the fire, just where I
had left them an hour ago. The boy was put up first.

“‘Come along, my man—jump up; there’s a good boy!’ said one of
the partners, a bulky and respectable looking person, with a gold
chain and bunch of seals; at the same time getting on the block.
With alacrity the little fellow came forward, and, mounting the
steps, stood by his side. The forms in front were filled by the
company; and as I seated myself, I found that my old companion,
Wide-awake, was close at hand, still chewing and spitting at a
great rate.

“‘Now, gentlemen,’ said the auctioneer, putting his hand on the
shoulder of the boy, ‘here is a very fine boy, seven years of
age, warranted sound—what do you say for him? I put him up at 500
dollars—500 dollars (speaking quick, his right hand raised up, and
coming down on the open palm of his left)—500 dollars. Any one
say more than 500 dollars? (560 is bid.) 560 dollars. Nonsense!
Just look at him. See how high he is. (He draws the lot in front
of him, and shows that the little fellow’s head comes up to his
breast.) You see he is a fine, tall, healthy boy. Look at his
hands.’

“Several step forward, and cause the boy to open and shut his
hands—the flexibility of the small fingers, black on the one side,
and whitish on the other, being well looked to. The hands, and
also the mouth, having given satisfaction, an advance is made to
570, then to 580 dollars.

“‘Gentlemen, that is a very poor price for a boy of this size.
(Addressing the lot)—Go down, my boy, and show them how you can
run.’

“The boy, seemingly happy to do as he was bid, went down from the
block, and ran smartly across the floor several times; the eyes of
every one in the room following him.

“‘Now that will do. Get up again. (Boy mounts the block, the steps
being rather deep for his short legs; but the auctioneer kindly
lends him a hand.) Come, gentlemen, you see this is a first-rate
lot. (590—600—610—620—630 dollars are bid.) I will sell him for
630 dollars. (Right hand coming down on left.) Last call. 630
dollars, once—630 dollars, twice. (A pause; hand sinks.) Gone!’

“The boy having descended, the man was desired to come forward;
and after the usual scrutiny behind a screen, he took his place on
the block.

“‘Well, now, gentlemen,’ said the auctioneer, ‘here is a right
prime lot. Look at this man; strong, healthy, able-bodied; could
not be a better hand for field-work. He can drive a waggon or
anything. What do you say for him? I offer the man at the low
price of 800 dollars—he is well worth 1200 dollars. Come, make
an advance, if you please. 800 dollars said for the man (a
bid); thank you; 810 dollars—810 dollars—810 dollars (several
bids)—820—830—850—860—going at 860—going. Gentlemen, this is far
below his value. A strong-boned man, fit for any kind of heavy
work. Just take a look at him. (Addressing the lot): Walk down.
(Lot dismounts, and walks from one side of the shop to the other.
When about to reascend the block, a gentleman, who is smoking
a cigar, examines his mouth with his fingers. Lot resumes his
place.) Pray, gentlemen, be quick (continues the auctioneer);
I must sell him, and 860 dollars are only bid for the man—860
dollars. (A fresh run of bids to 945 dollars.) 945 dollars,
once—945 dollars, twice (looking slowly round, to see if all were
done), 945 dollars. Going—going—(hand drops)—gone!’

“Such were a forenoon’s experiences in the slave-market of
Richmond. Everything is described precisely as it occurred,
without passion or prejudice. It would not have been difficult
to be sentimental on a subject which appeals so strongly to the
feelings, but I have preferred telling the simple truth. In a
subsequent chapter I shall endeavour to offer some general views
of slavery in its social and political relations.”