[Illustration]
Murder of Slaves.
The Abbeville (S. C.) Banner states, that two of Gov.
McDuffie's slaves were killed on Friday, Feb. 13th, by two
other slaves, acting in the capacity of _drivers_! They were
killed by what the law terms "moderate correction!"
A Slave Woman attempting Suicide at Baltimore.
In June, 1846, the Baltimore Sun gave an account of a woman who
"jumped out of the window of the place in which her owner had
confined her, and immediately took the nearest route to throw
herself into the water." She was rescued. But, says the Sun,
"Upon being taken upon the deck of the vessel, she begged the
by-standers to let her drown herself, stating, that she would
'sooner be dead, than go back again _to be beaten as she had
been_!'"
A Slave Suicide effected at Richmond, Va.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer, July 25, 1846,
wrote from Richmond, as follows:--"An unpleasant occurrence
took place in this city yesterday. A man, who has a number
of negroes in his employment, was proceeding, for a slight
offence, to punish one of them by whipping, when the poor
wretch, knowing his master's unmerciful nature, implored that
he might be _hung_ at once, instead of whipped. This of course
would not answer, and on tying the negro's hands behind him
in the usual manner, the employer went into another room to
procure a cowhide, when the negro, taking advantage of his
master's absence, rushed from the room, jumped into the river,
and was drowned."
Slave Suicide and Slave Hunting in Louisiana.
In June, 1846, the New Orleans Commercial Times said--"We
learn that a few days since a negro man, belonging to Captain
Newport, of East Baton Rouge, while closely pursued by the dogs
of Mr. Roark, of this Parish, ascended a tree and hung himself.
Mr. Roark, with Captain Newport's son-in-law and overseer,
were in pursuit of a runaway slave. They did not know that
this negro was out, and were surprised upon their arrival, a
few minutes in the rear of the dogs, to find him suspended by
his neck, with his feet dangling only a foot or two from the
earth. Every effort was made to restore animation, but without
success, although on their coming up the body was still warm.
The act was one, it would seem, of resolute predetermination,
as the slave was well provided with cords, which he made use of
to perpetrate his suicidal purpose."
More Murders of Slaves.
The Palmyra (Mo.) Courier, in August, 1846, says:--"We
understand that a gentleman, living in Macon county, while
out hunting with his rifle, last week, came suddenly upon
two fugitive slaves, who gave him battle. He shot one, and
split the other's skull with the barrel of his gun. He then
started for home, but before reaching it he met a man in the
road, who inquired if he had seen or heard of two runaway
negroes--describing them. The gentleman replied, that he had
just killed two, and related the circumstance. On proceeding to
the spot, the stranger identified them as his slaves."