Part 186 (2/2)
[The number of persons thus re-enslaved was 134.]
The following are the decrees of the Courts, ordering the sale of those freemen:--
”Perquimans County, July term, at Hartford, A.D. 1777.
”These may certify, that it was then and there ordered, that the sheriff of the county, to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, expose to sale, to the highest bidder, for ready money, at the court-house door, the several negroes taken up as free, and in his custody, agreeable to law.
”Test. WM. SKINNER, Clerk. ”A true copy, 25th August, 1791. ”Test. J.
HARVEY, Clerk.”
”Pasquotank County, September Court, &c. &c. 1777.
”Present, the Wors.h.i.+pful Thomas Boyd, Timothy Hickson, John Paelin, Edmund Clancey, Joseph Reading, and Thomas Rees, Esqrs. Justices.
”It was then and there ordered, that Thomas Reading, Esq. take the FREE negroes taken up under an act to prevent domestic insurrections and other purposes, and expose the same to _the best bidder_, at public vendue, for ready money, and be accountable for the same, agreeable to the aforesaid act; and make return to this or the next succeeding court of his proceedings.
”A copy. ENOCH REESE, C.C.”
THE PROTECTION OF ”PUBLIC OPINION” TO DOMESTICS TIES.
The barbarous indifference with which slaveholders regard the forcible sundering of husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, and the unfeeling brutality indicated by the language in which they describe the efforts made by the slaves, in their yearnings after those from whom they have been torn away, reveals a 'public opinion' towards them as dead to their agony as if they were cattle.
It is well nigh impossible to open a southern paper without finding evidence of this. Though the truth of this a.s.sertion can hardly be called in question, we subjoin a few ill.u.s.trations, and could easily give hundreds.
From the ”Savannah Georgian,” Jan. 17, 1839. ”$100 reward will be given for my two fellows, Abram and Frank. Abram has a _wife_ at Colonel Stewart's, in Liberty county, and a _sister_ in Savannah, at Capt. Grovenstine's. Frank has a _wife_ at Mr. Le Cont's, Liberty county; a _mother_ at Thunderbolt, and a _sister_ in Savannah.
WM. ROBARTS. Wallhourville, 5th Jan. 1839”
From the ”Lexington (Ky.) Intelligencer.” July 7, 1838.
”$160 Reward.--Ranaway from the subscribers living in this city, on Sat.u.r.day 16th inst. a negro man, named d.i.c.k, about 37 years of age. It is highly probable said boy will make for New Orleans as _he has a wife_ living in that city, and he has been heard to say frequently that _he was determined to go to New Orleans_.
”DRAKE C. THOMPSON. ”Lexington, June 17, 1838”
From the ”Southern Argus,” Oct. 31, 1837.
”Runaway--my negro man, Frederick, about 20 years of age. He is no doubt near the plantation of G.W. Corprew, Esq of Noxubbee County, Mississippi, as _his wife belongs to that gentleman, and he followed her from my residence_. The above reward will be paid to any one who will confine him in jail and inform me of it at Athens, Ala. ”Athens, Alabama. KERKMAN LEWIS.”
From the ”Savannah Georgian,” July 8, 1837.
”Ran away from the subscriber, his man Joe. He visits the city occasionally, where he has been harbored by his _mother_ and _sister_.
I will give one hundred dollars for proof sufficient to _convict his harborers_. R.P.T. MONGIN.”
The ”Macon (Georgia) Messenger,” Nov. 23, 1837, has the following:--
”$25 Reward.--Ran away, a negro man, named Cain. He was brought from Florida, and _has a wife near Mariana_, and probably will attempt to make his way there. H.L. COOK.”
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