the paddle.-Attempts to sell myself by Garrison's direction.-Amusing interview with a sla

sell a portion of his slaves there, and stopped for three

s to inspect slave property that was brought to that market for sale. He examined our backs to se

ck up the skin on the back of their hands, and if the person is very far advanced in life,

alities connected with the life of a slave. In fact, it undermines the whole fabric of his chattelhood; it prepares for what slaveholders are pleased to pronounce the unpardonable sin when committed

often by slave traders, and cotton planters, while I was there for market. After conversing with me, they have sworn by

y trouble, for the sum of one thousand dollars. But for fear he might not get me off at so great an advantage, as the people did not like my appearance, he could do better by sell

so pious and honest that I would not runaway for ill treatment; which was a gross mista

ve prison on the corner of St. Joseph street. This was a common resort for slave traders, and planters who wanted to buy slaves; and all clas

blic for sale. Every one's head had to be combed, and their faces washed, and those who were inclined to lo

hey had to answer it as promptly as they could, and try to induce the spectators to buy them. If they failed to do this, they were severely paddled after the spectators were gone. The object for u

of the victim, the blood gushes through the holes of the paddle, or a blister makes its appearance. The persons who are thus flogged, are always stripped naked, and their hands tied together. They are then bent over double, their knees are forced between th

e of the rooms, with his paddle in hand, swearing that he would paddle her; and I could afford her no protection at all, while the strong arm of the law, public opinion and custom, were

confined among the other slaves. I do not speak with vanity when I say the contrast was so great between myself and ordinary slaves, f

oarding houses, &c.-tell them that my wife was a good cook, wash-woman, &c,-and that I was a good dining room servant, carriage driver,

h better dressed than usual that I felt quite gay. He would not allow my wife to go out with me however, for fear we might get

vants. Such commonly are called Creoles. They are better treated than other slaves, and I resembled this class in appear

t down two rafts of lumber for market, and I thought if I could get him to buy me with my family, and take us to Tennessee

e the man was pointed out to me standing on board of his raft, I

o purchase a lot of servants and I

his hands together, and replied by saying: "Yes sir, I am glad to see you. It is a part of my business here to buy slaves, and if I cou

ght up the same objection that others had brought up,-that I was too white; and that they were afraid that I could read and write; and would never serve as a slave, but run away. My re

on to my light complexion my being dressed up in Garrison's old slave trading clothes might have caused the man to think that I

ful apprehensions that the golden link which binds together husband and wi

ing the great danger of our being sold off at auction the next day and parted forever. That this might not come to

very pious soul, being a deacon of a Baptist church. As the regulations, as well as public opinion generally, were against slaves meeting for r

ing him to buy me and my family. When I approached him, I felt much pleased at his e

you are desirous of

e replied, "Yes, I do want to

th my wife a

I was for sale, speaking of my wife and child, giving us

e the truth like a good boy, perhaps I may buy you with your family. In the first place, my b

was in th

run away? Don't tell me no stories now, li

e whole truth, I only gave him a part of i

tioned me to tell him the truth, and asked

that I was

and making a long grunt saying, "That's

Ohio, and other free states, and even to Canada; besides

month-neither did I tell him that I had not run away more t

at I ever saw. He looked like a saint-talked like the best o

e thousand for my wife and child. He also bought several other slaves at the same time, and took hom

llowed them per week, was one peck of corn for each grown person, one pound of pork, and sometim

's horn was sounded two hours before daylight for them in the morning, in order that they should be ready for work before daylight. They were worked from daylight until after dark, w