clothed. The poor mother, with her child in her arms, was the first object that drew my attention. The auctioneer had placed her in such a manner, that she and her infant should be the first object seen by those who entered the market. The customers, as they entered, cast their eyes upon the group so worthy of pity, to satisfy their curiosity, and examined them as if they were gazing at some chef d'œuvre produced by the chisel of Canova. I could not help shuddering with indignation, in considering the indifference and gross rudeness with which these insensible men treat their slaves. Betsy was the only one who appeared to feel all the rigors of her situation; her eyes remained constantly fixed upon her infant, and if she raised them for a moment, it was to obey the order of a purchaser, who wished, probably, to assure himself that they were strong enough to support labor by day and by night; but she had scarcely yielded to his injunction, ere they fell again upon the miserable infant which reposed on her bosom; she even replied to all their questions without raising here eyes to the person by whom she was addressed.

It was not the same, however, with the other slaves; they smiled at every jest, and their large white eyes, like brilliants fastened to their foreheads, sparkled with joy at the gay conversation and at the witty remarks- -of the gentlemen who had come hither with the intention of purchasing human beings at a fair price. But the moment of the sale approaching, and several persons were assembled in the hall the crier invited them to come out, and upon a table placed before the door in the middle of

the street, was exposed one of the slaves who were for sale.

Betsy and her child had the honor of figuring first. The crier stood upon a chair placed near. I discovered in the crowd a dozen negroes at least, who passing at the time, were drawn by curiosity to approach, and appeared to follow with attention the progress of the sale; I could not forbear sympathizing with the unhappy beings, in reading upon their countenances the interest with which their companions in misery inspired them. "Let us proceed, gentlemen," cried the seller of human flesh in a stentorian voice;" let us proceed, a woman for sale!"

"An excellent woman; not a fault! and a little boy in the bargain. How much for the mother and child-250 dollars; very well, sir, $250 to begin. Some one has bid $250. Truly, gentlemen, they sell cattle for a larger price; $250; look at these eyes, examine these limbs-shall I say $260 ? Thanks, gentlemen, some one has bid $260. It seems to me that I heard $275;-go on, gentle. men; I have never sold such a bargain. How! $280 for the best cook, the best washer and the best dressmaker in Virginia? Must I sell her for the miserable price of $280? $300; two gentlemen have said $300. Very well, gentleman; I am happy to see you begin to warm a little; some one bid 310310, going-330-335-340-340, going-upon my honor, gentlemen, it is indeed a sacrifice to lose so good a cook; a great bargain for $340. Reflect upon it a little, and do not forget there is a little boy in the bargain."

Here our auctioneer was interrupted in his ha rangue by one of his customers, a man whose appearance had inspired me, from the first monent, with a feeling of horror, and who, with the indifference and sang froid of an assassin, made to him the following observation : As for the negro child, it is good for nothing; it is not worth a day's nourishment, and if I have the mother, I will give away the child very quick; the first bidder will be able to have it at a cheap bargain."

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I glanced at the unfortunate mother, anxious to see what effect this barbarous proposal would have upon her. She did not speak, but a profound sad. ness was impressed on her countenance. The little innocent which she held in her arms, fixed his large eyes upon her, as if saying, "mamma, why do you weep ?" Then he turned toward the witnesses of this heart-rending scene, with an expression that seemed to ask, what they had done to his mother to make her weep so bitterly. No, never will this moment escape my memory; it has confirmed me for for all my life in the horror that I already felt at this infamous traffic. The auction continued, and final. ly the crier, striking a heavy blow with a hammer, pronounced the award; to Mr. for $360. The victim descended from the table and was led away by the purchaser. The other slaves were sold in the same manner as poor Betsy. Julia was sold at $326, and Augustus at $105. They both fell to the same individual who had purchased the former lot. I had judged from his appearance that he might be some young farmer, and they assured me that such was the fact. I had at least one satisfac.

tion, that of thinking they had not fallen into the hands of a slave merchant by profession. In his eyes, it is true, might be seen the contentment of one who thinks he has made a good bargain, but he treated with mildness these unfortunate beings who had become his property; he did not speak to them in a severe humiliating tone, so common to those who frequent these frightful markets.-Travels of Arfuredson.

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Extent of this traffic.

According to New Orleans papers, there were imported into that port, during the week commen. cing on the 16th ult., from various ports in the United States, 371 slaves, principally from Virginia."Niles' Register, Oct. 22, 1831.

Supposing the above to be an average number, it would follow that the Domestic maritime Slave Trade supplies New Orleans with no less than twenty thousand slaves every year, three times the annual importation from abroad into the United States, when the foreign trade was most brisk.

If to this number we add ten thousand for those landed in other states and territories, without touching at New Orleans, and twenty thousand for the inland trade, it will make a total of fifty thousand men, bought and sold like swine in this professedly christian nation, every year.

It is stated in the Natchez Courier, that during the year 1836, no less than two hundred and fifty thousand slaves were carried into Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Well hath the Great and Just ONE, said, "shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"

CHAPTER XVIII.

ABOLITIONISTS.

Their principles.

1st. We hold that Congress has no right to abolish slavery in the southern states.

2d. We hold that slavery can only be lawfully abolished by the legislatures of the several states in which it prevails, and that the exercise of any other than moral influence to induce such abolition, is unconstitutional.

3d. We believe that Congress has the same right to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, that the state governments have within their respective jurisdictions, and that it is their duty to efface so foul a blot from the national escutcheon.

4th. We believe that American citizens have the right to express and publish their opinions of the constitutions, laws and institutions of any and every state and nation under Heaven; and we mean never to surrender the liberty of speech, of the press, or of conscience-blessings we have inherited from our fathers, and which we intend as far as we are able, to transmit unimpaired to our children.

5th. We have uniformly depricated all forcible attempts on the part of the slaves to recover their liberty. And were it in our power to address them, we would exhort them to observe a quiet and peaceful demeanor, and would assure them that no insurrectionary movement on their part, would receive from us the slightest aid or countenance.