XLII.

Slavery in the south-west--Southern feelings--Increase of

slaves--Virginia--Mode of buying slaves, and slave-traders

--Mode of transportation by sea--Arrival at the mart--Mode

of life in the market--Transportation by land--Privileges of

slaves--Conduct of planters toward their negroes--Anecdotes

--Negro traders--Their origin.

In my desultory sketches of the white and negro population of the

south-west, my intention has not been to detail minutely their social

relations and domestic economy. To convey a general idea of their

condition alone enters into my present plan. Having enlarged upon that

of the white population, I will devote a portion of the following pages

to a brief sketch of a variety of the human species, which has ever

presented an interesting field for the efforts of the philanthropist.

The origin of slavery is lost: but there is no doubt that it prevailed,

in the early post-diluvian ages, among all the infant nations of the

earth.[18] Sacred history assures us of its existence shortly after the

flood; and divine economy, in regulating the political and domestic

state of the Jews, permitted its existence. But Jewish, and all ancient

slavery, was a species of warlike retribution against enemies taken in

battle. Civilization and Christianity had not then established the

modern treatment and disposal of prisoners. Then they were held in

bondage by their conquerors during life; now their detention is but for

a limited time; then, they were individual, now they are national,

property. Christianity, in this enlightened age, has taught conquerors

to mitigate their severity toward the conquered; and national policy has

found it most expedient to make other disposition of them than holding

them in bondage.

But the establishment and preservation of slavery in the south-west, are

more immediately the objects of my remarks. If any people can repudiate

with justice the charge of originating it, the Mississippians can do so.

The Spaniards introduced it here; the first American settlers of this

state found slaves attached to its soil, after the Spaniards resigned

the country to the government of the United States, and they received

them as a portion of the possessions, which fell into their hands by

treaty or purchase. Finding them here they retained them--for the

slavery question, like many others in those days of innocence, had not

been agitated--or they might have sent them after their Spanish masters.

There was, of course, nothing more natural and easy than the increase of

this property. The process of generation was too slow, however, and men

commenced purchasing, not free men from slave ships, but Africans who

were already slaves. Virginia, where the lands were worn out, and slaves

were numerous, and almost useless, afforded them facilities for

purchasing; emigrants from that and other slave-holding states also

brought great numbers with them, and in a few years this species of

property had accumulated to a great extent. Planters' sons, and all new

planters, must be supplied from the same fountain--losses by death and

elopement must be made up, till, almost imperceptibly, slavery became

firmly established here, and is now a state institution; and Virginia,

with the Carolinas and Georgia, and recently Kentucky, has become the

great mart for slave purchasers from the south-west.

The increased demand for slaves led many farmers in Virginia, whose

lands were unavailable, to turn their attention to raising slaves, if I

may so term it, for the south-western market. Hence a nursery for slaves

has been imperceptibly forming in that state, till now, by a sort of

necessity, a vast amount of its capital is involved in this trade, the

discontinuance of which would be as injurious in a pecuniary point of

view, to those who raise them, as the want of the facilities which the

trade affords, would be to the planter. Thus Virginia has become the

field for the purchaser, and the phrase--"he is gone to Virginia to buy

negroes," or "niggers," as is the elegant and equally common

phraseology, is as often applied to a temporarily absent planter, as "he

is gone to Boston to buy goods," to a New-England country merchant.

Negroes are transported here both by sea and land. Alexandria and

Norfolk are the principal depots of slaves, previous to their being

shipped. To these cities they are brought from the surrounding country,

and sold to the slave-trader, who purchases them for about one-half or

one-third less than he expects to obtain for them in the southern

market. After the resident slave-dealer has collected a sufficient

number, he places them under the care of an agent. They are then shipped

for New-Orleans, with as comfortable accommodations as can be expected,

where one or two hundred are congregated in a single merchant vessel. I

have seen more than one hundred landing from a brig, on the Levee, in

New-Orleans, in fine condition, looking as lively and hearty as though a

sea voyage agreed well with them. They are transferred, if destined for

the Mississippi market, to a steamboat, and landed at Natchez. The

debarkation of a hundred slaves, of both sexes and all ages, is a novel

spectacle to a northerner. Landing on the Levee, they proceed, each with

his bundle, under the charge of their temporary master or conductor,

toward the city, in a long straggling line, or sometimes in double

files, in well-ordered procession, gazing about them with curiosity and

wonder upon the new scenes opening before them, as they advance into the

city, and speculating upon the advantages afforded as their home, by the

beautiful country to which they find themselves transplanted. Nothing

seems to escape their attention, and every few steps offer subjects for

remark or laughter; for the risible muscles of the negro are uncommonly

excitable.

On arriving on the "Hill," in view of the city, and obtaining a glimpse

of the fine country spread out around them, their delight is very great.

Full of the impression, which they early imbibe, that the south is

emphatically the grave of their race, and daily having it held up before

their imaginations at home, _in terrorem_, to keep them in the line of

duty, if insubordinate, they leave home, as they proudly and

affectionately term Virginia, with something of the feelings of the

soldier, allotted to a "forlorn hope." It cannot be denied that many

have died shortly after being brought into this country; but this was

owing to indiscretion, in transporting them at the wrong season of the

year--in the spring, after a winter spent at the north; or in autumn,

during the prevalence, in former years, of the epidemics, which once

were almost annual visitants of this country. Experience has taught

those who introduce slaves, in late years, to bring them quite late in

autumn. Hence, the two great causes of mortality being removed, the

effects have, in a great measure, ceased; and slaves, when they arrive

here, and gaze with surprise upon the athletic figures and gray heads of

their fellows, who meet them at every step, as they advance into the

city--find that they can live even in the south, and grow old on other

plantations than those in "Ol' Wirginny." "I see no dead nigger yet,

Jef."--"No--nor no coffin pile up neider in de street,"--said another of

a gang of negroes passing through the streets, peering on all sides for

these ominous signs of this "fatal" climate, as they trudged along to

their quarters in the slave-market. This too common opinion of master

and slave must soon be exploded, for it has now no foundation in fact.

Passing through the city in procession, sometimes dressed in a new

uniform, purchased for them in New-Orleans, but often in the brown rags

in which they left Virginia, preceded by a large wagon, carrying the

surplus baggage; they are marched beyond the city limits, within which,

till recently, they were publicly sold, the marts being on nearly every

street. Arriving at their quarters, which are usually old unoccupied

buildings, and often tents or booths, pitched upon the common, beside

some stream of water, and under the shade of trees, they resort, in the

first place, to a general ablution, preparatory to being exposed for

sale. The toilet arrangements of one hundred negroes, just from a long

voyage, are a formidable affair. Both the rivers, Alpheus and Peneus,

would hardly suffice for the process. Two or three days are consumed in

it; after which, all appear in new, comfortable, uniform dresses, with

shining faces, and refreshed after the fatigue of travel. They are now

ready for inspection and sale. To this important period, the day of

sale, they cheerfully look forward, manifesting not a little emulation

to be "sol' fust." The interim between their arrival and sale--for they

are not sold at auction, or all at once, but singly, or in parties, as

purchasers may be inclined to buy--is passed in an _otium cum dignitate_

of a peculiarly African character, involving eating, drinking, playing,

and sleeping. The interval of ease enjoyed in the slave-market is an

oasis of luxury in their existence, which they seldom know how to

appreciate, if we may judge from the wishful manner in which they gaze

upon gentlemen who enter the mart, as though anxious to put a period to

this kind of enjoyment, so congenial to their feelings and temperament.

Probably two-thirds of the first slaves came into this state from

Virginia; and nearly all now introduced, of whom there are several

thousands annually, are brought from that state. Kentucky contributes a

small number, which is yearly increasing; and since the late passage of

the slave law in Missouri, a new market is there opened for this trade.

It is computed that more than two hundred thousand dollars' worth of

slaves will be purchased in Missouri this season, for the Natchez

market. A single individual has recently left Natchez with one hundred

thousand dollars, for the purpose of buying up negroes in that state to

sell in Mississippi.

The usual way of transporting slaves is by land, although they are

frequently brought round by sea; but the last is the most expensive

method, and therefore, to "bring them through," is accounted preferable.

This is done by forming them into a caravan at the place where they are

purchased, and conducting them by land through the Indian nations to

this state. The route is for the most part through a continuous forest,

and is usually performed by the negroes, on foot, in seven or eight

weeks. Their personal appearance, when they arrive at Natchez, is by no

means improved, although they are usually stouter and in better

condition than when they leave home, for they are generally well fed,

and their health is otherwise carefully attended to, while on the route.

Arrived within two or three miles of Natchez, they encamp in some

romantic spot near a rivulet, and like their brethren transported by

sea, commence polishing their skins, and arraying themselves in the

coarse but neat uniform, which their master has purchased for them in

Natchez.

A few Sabbaths ago, while standing before a village church in the

country, my attention was drawn to a long procession at the extremity of

the street, slowly approaching like a troop of wearied pilgrims. There

were several gentlemen in company, some of them planters, who gazed upon

the singular spectacle with unusual interest. One sooty brown hue was

cast over the whole horde, by the sombre colour of their tattered

garments, which, combined with the slow pace and fatigued air of most of

those who composed it, gave to the whole train a sad and funereal

appearance. First came half a dozen boys and girls, with fragments of

blankets and ragged pantaloons and frocks, hanging upon, but not

covering their glossy limbs. They passed along in high spirits, glad to

be once more in a village, after their weary way through the wilderness;

capering and practising jokes upon each other, while their even rows of

teeth, and the whites of their eyes--the most expressive features in the

African physiognomy--were displayed in striking contrast to their ebony

skins. These were followed by a tall mulatto, with high cheek-bones, and

lean and hungry looks, making rapid inroads into a huge loaf of bread,

whose twin brother was secured under his left arm. A woman, very black,

very short, and very pursy, who breathed like a porpoise, and whose

capacity for rapid movement was equal to that of a puncheon, trudged

along behind, evidently endeavouring to come up with the mulatto, as her

eye was fixed very resolutely on the spare loaf; but its owner strode

forward deliberately and with perfect impunity. She was followed by

another female, bearing an infant in her arms, probably born in the

wilderness. Close behind her came a covered wagon, from which she had

just descended to walk, drawn by two fine horses, and loaded with young

negroes, who were permitted to ride and walk alternately on the

journey. Behind the wagon, at a long distance, came an old patriarch,

at least eighty years of age, bent nearly double with the weight of

years and infirmity. By his side moved an old negress, nearly coeval

with him, who supported her decrepit form by a staff. They were the

venerable progenitors of the children and grandchildren who preceded

them. This aged couple, who were at liberty to ride when they chose, in

a covered wagon behind them, were followed by a mixed crowd of negroes

of all ages, and of both sexes, with and without staff, hatless and

bare-footed. The office of the negro's hat is a mere sinecure--they love

the warm sun upon their heads--but they like to be well shod, and that

with boots, for the lower region of their limbs about the ancles is very

sensitive. Behind these came a wretched cart, covered with torn,

red-painted canvass, and drawn by a mule and a horse;--Sancho Panza's

mule and Rosinante--I mean no insult to the worthy knight or his

squire--if coupled together, would have made precisely such a pair. This

vehicle contained several invalids, two of whom were reclining on a

matrass laid along the bottom. Around it were many young slaves of both

sexes, talking and marching along in gleeful mood. Two or three old

people followed, one of whom, who walked with both hands grasping a long

staff, stopped as he passed us, and with an air of affecting humility,

and with his venerable forehead bowed to the earth, addressed us, "hab

massas got piece 'bacca' for ol' nigger?" An old gentleman standing by,

whose locks were whitened with the snows of sixty winters, having first

obtained leave to do so from the owner of the drove, who, mounted on a

fine blooded horse, rode carelessly along behind them, gave the old

slave all he had about him, which, fortunately for the petitioner,

happened to be a large quantity, and for which he appeared extremely

grateful. Several other negroes, walking along with vigorous steps, and

another white conductor, with a couple of delicately limbed race-horses,

enveloped in broidered mantles, and ridden by bright-eyed little mulatto

boys, and two or three leashes of hounds, led by a slave, completed the

train. They had been seven weeks on the road, through the "nation," as

the southern wilderness is here termed--travelling by easy stages, and

encamping at night. Old people are seldom seen in these "droves." The

young and athletic usually compose them. But as in this instance, the

old people are sometimes allowed to come with the younger portion of

their families, as a favour; and if sold at all, they are sold with

their children, who can take care of them in their old age, which they

well do--for negroes have a peculiarly strong affection for the old

people of their own colour. Veneration for the aged is one of their

strongest characteristics.

Nor are planters indifferent to the comfort of their gray-headed slaves.

I have been much affected at beholding many exhibitions of their kindly

feeling toward them. They always address them in a mild and pleasant

manner--as "Uncle," or "Aunty"--titles as peculiar to the old negro and

negress, as "boy" and "girl," to all under forty years of age. Some old

Africans are allowed to spend their last years in their houses, without

doing any kind of labour; these, if not too infirm, cultivate little

patches of ground, on which they raise a few vegetables--for vegetables

grow nearly all the year round in this climate--and make a little money

to purchase a few extra comforts. They are also always receiving

presents from their masters and mistresses, and the negroes on the

estate, the latter of whom are extremely desirous of seeing the old

people comfortable. A relation of the extra comforts, which some

planters allow their slaves, would hardly obtain credit at the north.

But you must recollect that southern planters are men--and men of

feeling--generous and high minded, and possessing as much of the "milk

of human kindness," as the sons of colder climes--although they may have

been educated to regard that as right, which a different education has

led northerners to consider wrong.

"What can you do with so much tobacco?" said a gentleman--who related

the circumstance to me--on hearing a planter, whom he was visiting, give

an order to his teamster to bring two hogsheads of tobacco out to the

estate from the "Landing." "I purchase it for my negroes; it is a

harmless indulgence, which it gives me pleasure to afford them."

"Why are you at the trouble and expense of having high-post bedsteads

for your negroes?" said a gentleman from the north, while walking

through the handsome "quarters," or village for the slaves, then in

progress on a plantation near Natchez--addressing the proprietor.

"To suspend their "bars" from, that they may not be troubled with

musquitoes."

"Master, me would like, if you please, a little bit gallery, front my

house." "For what, Peter?" "Cause, master, de sun too hot" (an odd

reason for a negro to give,) "dat side, and when he rain we no able to

keep de door open." "Well, well, when the carpenter gets a little

leisure you shall have one." A few weeks after I was at the plantation,

and riding past the quarters one Sabbath morning, beheld Peter, his

wife, and children, with his old father, all sunning themselves in their

new gallery.

"Missus, you promise me a Chrismus gif'." "Well, Jane, there is a new

calico frock for you." "It werry pretty, missus," said Jane, eyeing it

at a distance without touching it, "but me prefer muslin, if you please;

muslin de fashion dis Chrismus." "Very well, Jane, call to-morrow and

you shall have a muslin."

These little anecdotes are unimportant in themselves, but they serve to

illustrate what I have stated above, of the kindness and indulgence of

masters to their slaves. I could add many others, of frequent

occurrence; but these are sufficiently numerous for my purpose.

Probably of the two ways of bringing slaves here, that by land is

preferable; not only because attended with less expense, but by

gradually advancing them into the climate, it in a measure precludes

the effect which a sudden transition from one state to the other might

produce. All slaves, however, are not brought here by negro traders.

Many of the planters prefer going on and purchasing for themselves, for

which purpose it is not unusual for them to take on from twenty to forty

and fifty thousand dollars, lay the whole out in slaves, and either

accompany them through the wilderness themselves on horseback, or engage

a conductor. By adopting this method they purchase them at a much

greater advantage, than at second-hand from the professional trader, as

slaves can be bought for fifty per cent. less there, than after they are

once brought into this market. The number of slaves introduced into the

south-western market is annually increasing. Last year more than four

thousand were brought into the state, one-third of whom were sold in the

Natchez market. The prices of slaves vary with the prices of cotton and

sugar. At this time, when cotton brings a good price, a good "field

hand" cannot be bought for less than eight hundred dollars, if a male;

if a female, for six hundred. "Body servants" sell much higher, one

thousand dollars being a common price for them. Good mechanics sometimes

sell for two thousand dollars, and seldom for less than nine hundred.

Coachmen are high, and house servants are worth at all times, from ten

to thirty per cent. more than field negroes. The usual price for a good

seamstress, or nurse, is from seven hundred to one thousand dollars.

Children are valued in proportion to their ages. An infant adds one

hundred dollars to the price of the mother; and from infancy the

children of the slaves increase in value about one hundred dollars for

every three years, until they arrive at mature age. All domestic slaves,

or "house servants," which class includes coachmen, nurses, hostlers,

gardeners, footmen, cooks, waiting-maids, &c., &c.--all indispensable to

the _menage_ of a wealthy planter--are always in great demand, and often

sell at the most extravagant prices. Some of these, born and raised in

this climate, (acclimated as they are termed,) often sell for eighteen

hundred and two thousand dollars apiece, of either sex. But these are

exceptions, where the slave possesses some peculiarly valuable trait as

a domestic.

Negro traders soon accumulate great wealth, from the immense profit they

make on their merchandise. Certainly such a trade demands no trifling

consideration. If any of the worshippers of Mammon earn their gold, it

is the slave-dealer. One of their number, who is the great southern

slave-merchant, and who, for the last fifteen years, has supplied this

country with two-thirds of the slaves brought into it, has amassed a

fortune of more than a million of dollars by this traffic alone. He is a

bachelor, and a man of gentlemanly address, as are many of these

merchants, and not the ferocious, Captain Kidd looking fellows, we

Yankees have been apt to imagine them. Their admission into society,

however, is not recognised. Planters associate with them freely enough,

in the way of business, but notice them no farther. A slave trader is,

nevertheless, very much like other men. He is to-day a plain farmer,

with twenty or thirty slaves, endeavouring to earn a few dollars from

worn-out land, in some old "homestead" among the Alleghanies; which,

with his slaves, he has inherited from his father. He is in debt, and

hears that he can sell his slaves in Mississippi for twice their value

in his own state. If there is no harm in selling them to his next

neighbour, and coming to Mississippi without them, he feels that there

can be no harm--nay, justice to his creditors requires that he should

place them in the highest market--in bringing them into this state, and

selling them here. He rises in the morning, gathers his slaves, prepares

his wagons and horses, takes one or two of his sons, or hires a

neighbour, who may add a few of his own to the stock, to accompany him;

and, by and by, the caravan moves slowly off toward the south and west.

Seven or eight weeks afterward, a drove of negroes, weary and worn, from

a long journey, are seen within two or three miles of Natchez, turning

from the high road, to pitch their tents upon the green sward, beneath

some wide-spreading tree. It is the caravan from the Alleghanies. The

ensuing morning a bright array of white tents, and busy men moving among

them, excites the attention of the passer-by. The figure of the old

Virginia farmer, mingling among his slaves, attracts the notice of a

stranger. "Who is that old gentleman?" he inquires of the southerner

with whom he is riding in company. "A negro trader," is the reply. This

is the first step of the trader. He finds it profitable; and if his

inclinations prompt him, he will return home, after selling his slaves,

and buy, with ready money, from his neighbours, a few here and a few

there, until he has a sufficient number to make another caravan, with

which he proceeds a second time to the south-western market. He follows

this trade from season to season, and does it conscientiously. He

reasons as I have above stated; and if there is no harm in selling the

first, there is none in selling the last. This is the metal of which a

slave trader is moulded. The humane characteristics of the trade will

be, of course, regulated by the tempers and dispositions of the

individuals who engage in it.