"DOMESTIC SLAVE-TRADE."
"The traffic in slaves is irreconcilable with the principles of
justice and humanity."--_Treaty of Ghent._
No description of ours can give any adequate idea of the extent of this
terrible trade. It is as regular a branch of business as any other that
can be named. The city of Washington licenses persons to "traffic in
slaves for profit"! The trade is carried on between Maryland, Virginia,
North and South Carolina, Kentucky,--or the slave-raising States,--and
Alabama, Mississippi, and the other slave-consuming States. Depots, or
private jails, are erected at convenient places.
In the "American Beacon" (published at Norfolk, Va.), Jan. 24, 1848,
appear the two following advertisements:--
"NEGRO REPOSITORY.--The undersigned has, at a very considerable
expense, erected, and fitted up in a style of comfort and
convenience, a commodious two-story building on Union-street, second
door east of Church-street, for the safe keeping and accommodation
of negroes, both male and female (the apartments being entirely
separate), which are brought to this market for sale. This building
is admirably adapted to the object proposed, having airy and
pleasant rooms, and every convenience which could be desired,
besides large yards, _walled in high_, a capacious cistern, &c.
which, whilst they secure the comfort of the negro, likewise
guarantee the most ample security for his safe keeping.
"In addition to boarding negroes for sale, the undersigned proposes
keeping on hand from time to time, for sale, such negroes as may be
in demand in this market, embracing every description of house and
field-hands, male and female, young and old, that may be called for,
and upon terms entirely accommodating.
"Besides the boarding and the selling of negroes, he will also make
exchanges, giving or receiving such boot as the difference in age,
character, qualifications, and appearance may notify.
"The highest cash market prices paid for negroes of both sexes at
all times. WM. W. HALL."
"CASH FOR NEGROES.--I will pay the highest cash for likely young
negroes of both sexes, from 10 to 30 years of age. All those that
have such to dispose of would do well to give me a call before
selling. I will also attend to shipping of negroes to any of the
Southern ports, free of charge, when left with me; _as I have a
private jail for the safe keeping of servants_. For further
information, inquire at my office at Union Hotel, Union-street, or
through the post-office. G. W. APPERSON."
The following is taken from a New Orleans paper:--
"SLAVE DEPOT.--J. Buddy.--Slave-yard and boarding-house, 159,
Gravier-street, second door from Carondelet.
"House-servants and field-hands for sale at all times. Slaves will
be received on board or sold on favorable terms. The building is a
large three-story brick house, and _very commodious as a slave
depot_. Particular attention will be paid to the health and
cleanliness of all slaves placed in this yard."
From the "Missouri Republican," St. Louis, July 13, 1849:--
"REMOVAL.--Blakey & McAfee have removed to No. 93, Olive-street, six
doors west of their old stand. They are prepared at all times to pay
the highest prices for negroes. _They have also a good secure yard,
with a strong jail attached_, and are prepared to board negroes sent
to this market for sale. Persons having negroes for sale will please
call and see us. Those wishing to purchase can find what they want
at our yard. BLAKEY & MCAFEE,
No. 93, Olive-street."
Hon. Horace Mann has described to us the slave-pen in the city of
Washington; and another member of Congress informs us, that the United
States jail in the District of Columbia is frequently used for the
purpose of storing human beings for sale! Thus, in the "National
Intelligencer" (Dec. 19, 1844), we find the following notice:--
"FOR SALE,--A likely young negro, in the jail of Washington. He is a
most excellent teamster, and well acquainted with the care of
horses. Persons wishing to purchase will apply to Mr. Ball, at the
jail, where the boy may be seen, and further information given."
The activity of this trade may be inferred from these advertisements,
which constitute but a small portion of what might be produced.
In the "National Intelligencer," March 28, 1836, three slave-traders in
the District of Columbia advertise for _twelve hundred_ negroes, and a
fourth offers to buy any number! Here is one of the advertisements:--
"CASH FOR FIVE HUNDRED NEGROES, including both sexes, from ten to
twenty-five years of age.--Persons having likely servants to dispose
of will find it their interest to give us a call, as we will give
higher prices in cash than any other purchaser who is now or may
hereafter come into the market. FRANKLIN & AMFIELD, Alexandria."
In a later number of the same paper are the following:--
"CASH FOR NEGROES.--I will give cash and liberal prices for any
number of young and likely negroes, from eight to forty years of
age. Persons having negroes to dispose of will find it to their
advantage to give me a call at my residence, on the corner of
Seventh-street and Maryland Avenue, and opposite Mr. Williams's
private jail. WILLIAM H. RICHARDS."
"CASH FOR NEGROES.--The subscriber wishes to purchase a number of
negroes for the Louisiana and Mississippi market. Himself or an
agent at all times can be found at his jail, on Seventh-street.
WM. H. WILLIAMS."
In a later number, June 24, 1843, Mr. Richards is not so eager:--
"CASH FOR NEGROES.--The subscriber wishes to purchase twenty or
thirty negroes, and will pay the highest market price. Persons
having negroes to sell will find it to their interest to give him a
call before they sell. I can be always found at my residence,
corner of Seventh-street and Maryland Avenue. All communications
through the post-office will be promptly attended to.
WM. H. RICHARDS."
In a still later number, July 22, 1843, appears this:--
"CASH! CASH!--The subscriber wishes to purchase any number of
negroes for the Southern markets. The subscriber will at all times
give the highest market price in cash for likely negroes, mechanics
and house servants included. Himself or agent can at all times be
seen at the corner of Seventh-street and Maryland Avenue. All
communications will receive prompt attention. THOMAS WILLIAMS."
The following are samples of some of the advertisements of Maryland
traders. The original of all of these advertisements will be found at
the Anti-Slavery office, Boston. We begin with one of Hope H. Slatter:--
"NEGROES WANTED.--Having returned from New Orleans, I will now pay
the highest cash prices for all likely negroes that are slaves for
life and good titles. All communications will be promptly attended
to. HOPE H. SLATTER, Pratt-street.
"N.B. On the 7th day of June, 1844, Jonathan M. Wilson (my former
agent), by mutual consent, withdrew from my employment, and is no
longer my agent. HOPE H. SLATTER.
"Baltimore, July 29."
"CASH FOR FIVE HUNDRED NEGROES, at the old establishment of
Slatter's, No. 244, Pratt-street, Baltimore, between Sharp and
Howard-streets, where the highest prices are paid,--which is well
known. _We have large accommodations for negroes, and always
buying._ _Being regular shippers to New Orleans_, persons should
bring their property where no commissions are paid, as the owners
lose it. All communications attended to promptly by addressing
H. F. SLATTER."
"NEGROES WANTED.--I have removed from my former residence, West
Pratt-street, to my new establishment on Camden-street, immediately
in the rear of the railroad depot, where I am permanently located.
Persons bringing negroes by the cars will find it very convenient,
as it is only a few yards from where the passengers get out. Those
having negroes for sale will find it to their advantage to call and
see me, as I am at all times paying the highest prices in cash.
J. S. DONOVAN, Baltimore, Md."
"NEGROES WANTED.--O. C. & S. Y. Harris, of Upper Marlboro', wish to
purchase any number of negroes, for which they will give the highest
market price in cash. They will be in Port Tobacco once in every
week. Any communications left in their absence with Mr. Lyne
Shackelford will be promptly attended to."
"NEGROES WANTED.--The highest market prices will be given for
negroes at all times. Persons having negroes for sale will please
call at my office, No. 26, Conway-street, between Charles and
Hanover. Communications promptly attended to.
"Also negroes will be received and kept at twenty-five cents per
day. B. M. CAMPBELL.
"April 7, 1846."
"NEGROES WANTED.--Persons wishing to sell their negroes will find it
to their advantage to give me a call before selling elsewhere. _I
have all the facilities that the trade will admit of in the New
Orleans and other markets._ Such being the case, I can give as much
as any one else, which I am determined to do. Any communication
addressed to me, either in Baltimore or Port Tobacco, will be
attended to immediately. JOHN G. CAMPBELL,
"Jan. 1, 1847. Agent for B. M. Campbell."
"TAKE NOTICE.--Persons wishing to dispose of their servants would do
well to give me a call before they sell to the traders. By paying a
small commission to an agent, they can get from $75 to $100 more; as
_I receive monthly from New Orleans, Savannah, Georgia, and
Charleston, S.C. the full market prices for slaves_.
"SCOTT'S Intelligence Office, No. 10, Exchange Place."
The following is taken from the "Wilmington (Va.) Journal" of Sept. 3,
1847:--
"NEGROES WANTED.--I wish to purchase a large number of negroes, of
both sexes, from the age of 14 to 30, for which I will pay the
highest cash market price. As I intend making a long stay in
Wilmington for that purpose, persons from the country would find it
to their advantage to bring such slave-property to town as they have
to dispose of. Also wanted some good carpenters, blacksmiths,
coopers, and bricklayers.--Apply to me, at the Carolina Hotel.
ANSLEY DAVIS, of Petersburg, Va.
"Wilmington, May 7, 1847."
The following is extracted from an advertisement of Lewis A. Collier, a
trader in Richmond, Va.:--
"NOTICE.--This is to inform my former acquaintances and the public
generally, that I yet continue in the slave-trade, at Richmond,
Virginia, and will at all times buy and give a fair market price for
young negroes. Persons in this State, Maryland, or North Carolina,
wishing to sell lots of negroes, are particularly requested to
forward their wishes to me at this place. Persons wishing to
purchase lots of negroes are requested to give me a call, as I keep
constantly on hand at this place a great many for sale; and have at
this time the use of one hundred young negroes, consisting of boys,
young men, and girls. I will sell at all times at a small advance on
cost, to suit purchasers. _I have comfortable rooms, with a jail
attached, for the reception of the negroes_; and persons coming to
this place to sell slaves can be accommodated, and every attention
necessary will be given to have them well attended to; and, when it
may be desired, the reception of the company of _gentlemen dealing
in slaves_ will conveniently and attentively be received. My
situation is very healthy, and suitable for the business.
LEWIS A. COLLIER."
The "St. Louis Daily Union" of August 26, 1847, contains the
following:--
"ONE HUNDRED NEGROES WANTED.--The subscriber wishes to purchase one
hundred negroes, of both sexes, for which I will pay the highest
price, in cash. I can be found at all times at No. 104,
Locust-street, by Gerard's stable. WM. JOHNSON."
"NEGROES WANTED.--For two hundred negroes, the highest prices will
be paid by B. W. POWELL, City Hotel, or
51, Front-street."
The "Daily Reveille" (St. Louis), of the same date, contains the
following:--
"WANTED to purchase, thirty or forty young negroes, by
CURLE & GODDIN, 79, Olive-street."
The following is taken from the "St. Louis Republican:"
"NEGROES WANTED AND BOARDED.--The highest cash price paid for young
likely negroes, at 104, Locust-street, between Third and Fourth,
adjoining Gerard's stables.
"N.B. Our house will be well secured, and afford the _advantages of
a jail surrounded by walls, and a basement cell in it_.
WHITE & TOOLY."
The following two are found in the "Evening Mercury" of Jan. 14, 1848,
published in New Orleans:--
"SLAVES WANTED.--Wanted to purchase, slaves of every description, at
the New Orleans depot, No. 156, Common-street, for which liberal
prices will be paid. Slaves will also be sold on commission, and
purchasers are invited to call and see a well-selected lot of slaves
offered at low prices. ELIHU CRESWELL."
"SLAVES WANTED.--E. Creswell, No. 163, Gravier-street, will pay the
most liberal price for slaves of all descriptions; and those who
have slaves for sale will do well to give him a call before selling
to others. He will also exchange slaves, sell slaves on commission;
and those who wish to purchase will do well to give him a call
before buying elsewhere, _as he keeps on hand a good selection of
slaves_, sold under full guarantee, and good reference for titles
given."
The foregoing advertisements give us some faint idea of the demand for
slaves. Those which follow are of slaves for sale. We cannot commence
more appropriately than with these, taken from the "New Orleans
Picayune:"--
"SLAVES FOR SALE.--Hope H. Slatter, who has retired from the trade,
has sold to me his establishment in Baltimore, and leased for a
number of years his old stand at the corner of Esplanade and
Moreau-streets, at which place _I shall keep up a large and general
assortment of slaves for sale, imported direct from Maryland and
Virginia_. WALTER L. CAMPBELL,
Successor to Hope H. Slatter."
"NEGROES, NEGROES.--Just received, and for sale at No. 7,
Moreau-street, Third Municipality, a large and likely lot of
negroes, consisting of field-hands, house-servants, and mechanics.
_Will be receiving new lots regularly from Virginia during the
season._ WM. F. TALBOTT."
The same paper of Oct. 18, 1846, contains the following two:--
"SLAVES FOR SALE, No. 165, Gravier-street.--The subscriber has
always on hand a number of slaves, consisting of house-servants,
field-hands, and mechanics, which will be sold low, for cash or
negotiable paper. Persons desirous of purchasing will find it to
their interest to call and examine. The subscriber will also receive
and sell on consignment any negro that may be entrusted to his care.
"He would also respectfully notify persons engaged in the
slave-trade, that he is prepared to board them and their slaves on
the most reasonable terms. WM. H. MERRITT.
"Reference: J. Barelli, C. J. Mansoni."
"NEGROES FOR SALE.--We, the subscribers, have for sale, at our
establishment, No. 159, Gravier-street (block in the rear of St.
Charles Exchange), a large lot of valuable slaves, suitable for
plantation, house-servants, &c. &c. Persons desirous of purchasing
will find it to their interest to call and examine.
"We will also receive and sell on consignment any negroes that may
be entrusted to us. We would also respectfully notify owners of
negroes, _and persons engaged in the slave-trade_, that we are
prepared to board negroes, and furnish traders with rooms, &c.
"Our house is roomy, airy, and dry. Terms reasonable.
JOHN BUDDY.
WM. H. MERRITT."
Mr. Wm. H. Bolton, whose name is appended to the next advertisement, is
from Tennessee:--
"NEGROES FOR SALE.--I have again returned to this market, with
eighteen or twenty likely negroes. I have located on the corner of
Main and Adams-streets. I have plough-boys, men, women, and girls,
_and some very fancy ones_. _I intend to keep a constant supply
through the season, and will not be undersold by any in market._ My
motto is, 'the swift penny; the slow shilling' I never get.
"I will also pay the highest cash price for young negroes.
"November 21, 1846. W. H. BOLTON."
To what uses these "very fancy" girls are put may be inferred from the
following advertisement,[R] taken from the "Norfolk Herald:"--
"NOTICE.--For sale, a colored girl, of very superior qualifications,
who is now in Mr. Hall's jail in Norfolk. She is what speculators
call a fancy girl; a bright mulatto, fine figure, straight, black
hair, and very black eyes; remarkably neat and cleanly in her dress
and person. I venture to say, that there is not a better seamstress,
cutter and fitter of ladies' and children's dresses in Norfolk, or
elsewhere, or a more fanciful netter of bead bags, money-purses, &c.
"Any lady or gentleman in Norfolk or Portsmouth, who may wish to
purchase a girl of this description (whom I consider the most
valuable in Virginia), may take her and try her a month or more at
my risk, and, if she does not suit and answer the description here
given, may return her to Mr. Hill.
"The cause of offence for which I intend, though reluctantly, to
sell her, is, that she has been recently induced by the persuasions
of some colored persons to make her escape with them to the North,
in which she failed, and is now for sale.--Apply to the subscriber,
in Suffolk, or to James Murdaugh, Esq. or to C. C. Robinson, of
Portsmouth, for further information. JOSEPH HOLLADAY."
Tennessee can also claim the honor of having such careful traders as Mr.
J. S. Curtis:--
"ONE HUNDRED "A NO. 1" NEGROES.--I have on hand one hundred negroes,
men, women, boys, and girls, at my depot, in Gaine's brick building,
immediately back of Howard's Row, between the Gayoso and Herron
House. I have judicious men purchasing in North Carolina, Kentucky,
and Middle Tennessee, and will keep constantly on hand a large
number.
"Persons wishing to purchase will do well not to trade, without
first calling to see my stock. J. S. CURTIS.
"Memphis, November 20, 1846."
The "Spirit of Liberty" contains the following:--
"SOUTHERN PLANTERS, wishing to purchase negroes, would do well to
give me a call before they make their purchases, as it would be
greatly to their advantage. Negroes purchased and sold on reasonable
commission. Apply at
SCOTT'S Intelligence Office, No. 10, Exchange Place."
In the "Daily Richmond Enquirer," Sept 1, 1847, we find this:--
"NEGROES AT AUCTION.--On Monday, the 6th of September (Albemarle
Court day), at Charlottesville, there will be sold at public auction
about sixty valuable negroes, of every description.
"August 31."
In the same paper, Jan. 25, 1848, we find this:--
"TWENTY NEGROES.--Will be sold Friday, 28th inst. at 10 o'clock,
twenty likely young negroes, viz. ten able-bodied men, three boys,
four women, and three girls.
"Will be added to the above sale, a negro-man, 40 years of age, who
is a first-rate carpenter by trade, also a rough blacksmith.
"BENJ. DAVIS, Auctioneer,
No. 3, Wall-street."
The following is taken from the "Alabama Argus," published at Dayton,
Ala.:--
"FOR SALE SIXTY NEGROES.--By order of the Hon. the Orphans' Court of
Marengo County, the undersigned, administrator of the estate of
Moses W. Alexander, deceased, will, on Monday, the 5th of February,
1849, at the plantation of said Moses W. Alexander, deceased, in the
Cane Brake, one mile south of Col. Pickens's mills, offer at public
sale, to the highest bidder, a lot, numbering sixty, of the
likeliest and best negroes ever sold in the South. They are all
family negroes,--not bought up by speculators from every State in
the South, but raised by different men, in families from five to
twenty each. Among this stock of negroes are some able-bodied,
stout, and valuable negro-men, and several likely young boys, from
10 to 18 years of age; also some likely negro-women, girls, and
children. Among the same, A No. 1 cotton-pickers; a good weaver; and
also one negro, who is a very good carpenter and blacksmith.--Terms
of sale, twelve months' credit, with approved security.
J. M. ALEXANDER, Administrator.
"January 5."
The following advertisement is before us ("Spirit of Liberty"):--
"VALUABLE SLAVES AT AUCTION.--I will sell on Saturday, the 14th
inst. in front of the Market-house, one woman and her child. The
woman is about 24 years old; and the child, a girl, about 5 years of
age. The woman accustomed to house-business, also to the farm. The
negroes are very likely, and warranted sound. They will be sold on
a credit of sixty days for negotiable paper satisfactorily endorsed.
"Nov. 5. CHARLES PHELPS, Auctioneer."
The following is taken from a paper published at Opelousas (La.):--
"AUCTION SALE.--The undersigned will offer for sale, through the
ministry of a public auctioneer, on her plantation, near Carancro,
in the parish of St. Landry, on Monday the 5th day of February next,
and the following days, one hundred choice slaves, of both sexes and
different ages, among which is a good blacksmith and several other
mechanics. These slaves will be sold separately, and under full and
satisfactory guarantee of titles.--8 ox-carts, 69 work-oxen, 20
mules, 20 work-horses, 1,500 barrels of corn, 12,500 cypress
pickets.
Conditions of Sale.--The slaves will be sold on a credit of one and
two years from the day of sale; purchasers giving sufficient
security to the satisfaction of the vendor, and the slaves remaining
specially mortgaged until final payment of principal and the
interest which may accrue thereon, at the rate of eight per cent per
annum from time due until final payment. The conditions of the sale
of the movable property will be made known on the day of sale.
WIDOW HYPOLITE CRETIEN.
"Opelousas, January 3d, 1849."
Literally speaking, tens of thousands of such advertisements as these
might be adduced. You can hardly open a Southern paper without finding
several.
Part of the trade is carried on by water. This part of the trade is
regulated by Act of Congress (Act March 2, 1807, sect. 8-10), and
slavers sail apparently with commendable regularity. The following
notice is taken from the "National Intelligencer" a few years since:--
"ALEXANDRIA AND NEW ORLEANS PACKETS.--Brig Tribune, Samuel C. Bush,
master, will sail as above on the 1st January; brig Isaac Franklin,
William Smith, master, on the 15th January; brig Uncas, Nathaniel
Boush, master, on the 1st February. They will continue to leave this
port on the 1st and 15th of each month, throughout the shipping
season. _Servants that are intended to be shipped will at any time
be received for safe keeping at twenty-five cents a day._
JOHN AMFIELD, Alexandria."
The two following advertisements are taken from the "American Beacon" of
January 24, 1848, published at Norfolk, Virginia. They are
advertisements of the same person, who, as we have just seen, offers to
"attend to shipping of negroes to any of the Southern ports:"--
"FOR NEW ORLEANS.--Virginia and Louisiana Line Packets. The
fast-sailing packet barque Bachelor, Page, master, will sail for the
above port from the 20th to the 27th inst. For freight, cabin or
steerage passage, for which she has good accommodations, apply to
G. W. APPERSON."
"FOR NEW ORLEANS.--Virginia and Louisiana Line Packets will commence
their regular trips to the above port the 20th September, and
continue monthly throughout the season. They consist of the
following vessels, to wit, barque Parthian, Capt. G. W. Allen;
barque Bachelor, Capt. Hiram Horton; barque Phoenix, Capt.
Nathaniel Boush.
"The above vessels are all of the first class, and commanded by long
and experienced commanders.--For further information, apply to
G. W. APPERSON."
This Capt. Nath. Boush is probably the same man who figures in Mr.
Amfield's advertisement. But _Southern_ traders by no means have a
monopoly of this coastwise slave-trade. The barque Parthenon, Mellish,
master, cleared from the port of New York, October 10, 1846, for
Richmond, Virginia, _avowedly_ "_to load with slaves for the port of New
Orleans_."
How business-like is the following letter from a North Carolina
slave-trader to his consignee in New Orleans! ("A Reproof of the
American Church," p. 22):--
"HALIFAX, N.C. November 16, 1839.
"Dear Sir,--I have shipped in the brig Addison, prices as
below:--No. 1, Caroline Ennis, $650; 2, Silvy Holland, $625; 3,
Silvy Booth, $487.50; 4, Maria Pollock, $475; 5, Emeline Pollock,
$475; 6, Delia Averit, $475.
"The two girls that cost $650 and $625 were bought before I shipped
my first. I have a great many negroes offered to me; but I will not
pay the prices they ask, for I know they will come down. I have no
opposition in market. I will wait until I hear from you before I
buy, and then I can judge what I must pay. Goodwin will send you the
bill of lading for my negroes, as he shipped them with his own.
_Write often, as the times are critical, and it depends on the
prices you get to govern me in buying._
"Yours, &c.
G. W. BARNES.
"Mr. Theophilus Freeman, New Orleans."
The number of slaves thus bought and sold can never be known with
perfect accuracy. Hon. John G. Palfrey, in his excellent Papers on the
Slave Power (p. 83), estimates the number annually sold from the more
northerly Slave States at not less than _forty thousand_! We think his
estimate within the truth.
In the course of a single year, 1835-6, no less than forty thousand
slaves are said to have been sold out of Virginia alone! ("Niles's Reg."
Oct. 8, 1836.) The "New York Journal of Commerce" of Oct. 12, 1835,
contained a letter from a Virginian, whom the editor calls "a very good
and sensible man," asserting that _twenty thousand_ slaves had been
driven to the South from Virginia during that year, of which nearly one
fourth was then remaining. But 1835 and 1836 were years of great
speculation. In 1837 the consequent severe pressure in the money market
was attributed by a committee of the citizens of Mobile (Ala.) in part
to over-trading in slaves. Their report states, that purchases by
Alabama of that species of property from other States since 1833 have
amounted to about ten million dollars annually.
The slaves increase in about the same ratio in all of the Slave States.
If the warmer latitudes of the extreme South are more congenial to them,
and favor their increase more than the climate of Virginia, this effect
is, at least, fully balanced by the great amount and unhealthy character
of much of the labor on the sugar, rice, and cotton plantations, and by
the great extent to which slave-breeding is carried in the more northern
States. The following table exhibits the rates of increase of the
slaves, every ten years, from 1790 to 1840:--
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 1790-1800 | 1800-1810 | 1810-1820 | 1820-1830 | 1830-1840 |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
| 27 | 33 | 29 | 30 | 28 |
+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
Accordingly, for the fifty years ending in 1840, the slaves increased on
an average a little over twenty-eight per cent every ten years. We adopt
this as a fair statement of what should be their decennial natural
increase in all the States; and, by natural increase, we mean increase
from births. The following tables explain themselves:--
SLAVE-EXPORTING STATES.
+----------------+---------+---------+-------------+---------+---------+
| | | | Number | | |
| | | | which ought |Decrease | Annual |
| Name of State. | Slaves | Slaves |to have been |every ten|decrease.|
| | in 1830.| in 1840.|in each State| years. | |
| | | | in 1840. | | |
+----------------+---------+---------+-------------+---------+---------+
|Delaware | 3,292 | 2,605 | 4,214 | 1,619 | 162 |
|Maryland | 102,294 | 89,737 | 130,936 | 41,199 | 4,120 |
|Dis. of Columbia| 6,119 | 4,694 | 7,833 | 3,139 | 313 |
|Virginia | 469,757 | 448,987 | 601,289 | 152,302 | 15,230 |
|North Carolina | 235,601 | 245,817 | 301,569 | 55,752 | 5,575 |
|South Carolina | 315,401 | 327,038 | 403,713 | 76,675 | 7,668 |
|Kentucky | 165,213 | 182,258 | 211,473 | 29,215 | 2,922 |
|Tennessee | 681,904 | 829,210 | 872,837 | 43,627 | 4,363 |
+----------------+---------+---------+-------------+---------+---------+
| Total | |2130,346 | | 403,528 | 40,353 |
+----------------+---------+---------+-------------+---------+---------+
SLAVE-IMPORTING STATES.
+----------------+---------+---------+-------------+---------+---------+
| | | | Number | | |
| | | | which ought | Extra | Extra |
| Name of State. | Slaves | Slaves |to have been |decennial| annual |
| | in 1830.| in 1840.|in each State|increase.|increase.|
| | | | in 1840. | | |
+----------------+---------+---------+-------------+---------+---------+
| Georgia | 217,531 | 280,944 | 278,440 | 2,504 | 250 |
| Florida | 15,501 | 25,717 | 19,841 | 5,876 | 587 |
| Alabama | 117,549 | 253,532 | 150,462 | 103,070 | 10,307 |
| Mississippi | 65,659 | 195,211 | 84,043 | 111,168 | 11,117 |
| Louisiana | 109,588 | 168,452 | 140,273 | 28,179 | 2,818 |
| Arkansas | 4,576 | 19,935 | 5,857 | 14,078 | 1,408 |
| Missouri | 25,081 | 58,240 | 32,104 | 26,136 | 2,614 |
+----------------+---------+---------+-------------+---------+---------+
| Total | | | | 291,011 | 29,101 |
+----------------+---------+---------+-------------+---------+---------+
The census of 1840, therefore, exhibits an annual unnatural decrease of
over forty thousand of the slave-population in the exporting States. But
this census, at least so far as statistics touching slaves and free
colored persons are concerned, is notoriously and grossly incorrect.
Either it or the tables prepared from it in the State Department have
been dishonestly prepared, or very much garbled, apparently with the
intent to prove that slavery was better calculated to secure the health
of the negro race than a state of freedom. What figures will tell in
favor of slavery?--not, what figures will tell the truth?--seems to have
been the principle on which the last census was taken. Such being the
case, we feel confident that the census makes the slaves in the
exporting States decrease as little as possible. In 1830, Virginia had
469,757 slaves. In 1840 she ought to have had this number, and their
natural increase for ten years, 135,532. Instead of this, all the
natural increase is gone, and 20,770 besides! All will see that such a
statement would tell too strongly against slavery to be admitted into a
census got up under such slave-supporting auspices, unless the statement
was really _within the truth_.
We believe, therefore, that the census of 1850, if truly taken, will
exhibit a much larger annual unnatural decrease of the slave-population
in the exporting States. This decrease, whatever it may really be, has
not been owing to manumissions. It has not been caused by slaves running
away. For the effects of both these causes, the surplus over 40,000
would be a liberal allowance. This unnatural decrease must, then, be
caused by the slave-trade, and the migration of planters with their
slaves. The fact is beyond all question, that every year forty thousand
men, women, and children are torn from their homes and friends, and
driven to the South and West. So truly did the Rev. Theodore Clapp speak
(Sermon, p. 46), when he declared, "Slaves possess the inappreciable
benefits which grow out of the endearing ties of friendship, kindred,
sympathy, and the whole class of domestic affections. Parents and
children, husbands and wives (it is true), are sometimes separated by
being involved in those calamities which sweep away the possessions and
prosperity of the master. But, take it all in all, they are as free and
undisturbed in the enjoyment of their domestic relations, as the white
inhabitants of the Northern States"! Forty thousand fathers, mothers,
brothers, sisters, and children are every year carried from the places
of their birth, like so many cattle, although the terrible fact is well
known that at least one fourth of them must die in the process of
acclimation![S] So very tender is man of man, when he holds his brother
in slavery, and makes merchandise of his sister! So eager is the
soul-driver to coin his brother's blood into dollars! So ready are those
whom "God has appointed masters" to sacrifice the lives of one fourth of
those committed to their charge, in order greatly to advance the market
value of the survivors!
We have no data from which to infer the number of planters who go South
with their slaves. But, allowing that five hundred thus remove, and that
on an average they have ten slaves each (proper estimates we believe),
we have left thirty-five thousand as the number of human beings who are
every year sold to the speculators in human flesh!
Now, Mr. Barnes's "lot" of his fellow-creatures averaged in value over
five hundred dollars apiece; and those were times when, from his
account, the market was glutted, and the prices accordingly low. "Young
and likely" negroes are more easily acclimated, and are better able to
work, than others. Consequently, they are the ones most sought after by
judicious traders. We should consider five hundred dollars for a young,
healthy negro, warranted sound, as really a low price. But, if we
suppose the slaves annually exported to be worth less than any of Mr.
Barnes's lot,--considering them as worth only $450 apiece,--we have, as
_the sums of money every year invested in the trade in slaves, the very
moderate sum of fifteen millions seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars_! This is _exclusive_ of the cost of all the private jails, of
transportation by sea and land, food, wages of drivers, &c.; which
cannot but very largely increase this sum. This sum, $15,750,000, would,
in less than three years, double the number of miles of railroad which
were in operation in all the Southern States in 1846 (Parker's "Letter
on Slavery," p. 52). It would, in only two years, more than double in
length all the railroads which were then in operation in all the Slave
States, except Maryland. It costs every year five millions more to carry
on the domestic slave-trade than it does to fit out and victual all the
whale-ships of the United States! ("American Almanac, 1843," p. 178.)
Over one fifth of the entire value of the cotton, sugar, rice, and
tobacco raised in the fifteen Slave States in 1839, and over one third
of the value of articles manufactured in the South, was invested in
slaves! Nearly twice as many slaves are carried South and West every
year as there are men in all the Slave States engaged in the learned
professions!--so terribly prominent is this trade in men and women! Who
will venture to conceive, much less express, the deep degradation which
must be caused by a trade of such fearful character and
magnitude;--degradation not only to the immediate sufferers, but to all
those who may be subjected to it?