An Auction Scene

In the winter of 1840 and '41, having business in Western Virginia, where the peculiar instilution flourishes in its mildest form, (be it remembered at thi time I was oppósed to ami-slavery principies,) December 28th, I found myself in Martinsburg, the county seat of Berkley.- About 10 o'cloclc of the aforesaid day I observed a crowd congregaled in :he public square, in front of a suspicious looking building, which had very much the appearance of a jai!, as it proved to be. On enquiry of my landlord concerning the cause of the meeting, he said it was "a hiring"- in other words a negro sale- as I afierwards found that a number were hired for Jife. I walked down ío the markef, and to obfain a better view, I mounted a Ia rge wagon in the street directly opposite of the auctioneer, who had commenced his work. He was álárge man, dresscd in aristocratie style, with a profusión of ruffles, gold finger rings, watch seáis, and last and not least, a large whip, called by drirers a londed whip. The hireing I understood to be of a number of slaves of a certain estáte, who were hired out from year to year to the highest bidder, for the benefit of the heirs. These sales take place between Christmas and New Yearg, the holydays, quite a recreation for the -slaves who are to change masters. Aftera number had been disposed of in this way, the crier announced that he would offer for sale six slaves. He thenput up two, father and son. The old man was nearsixty years of age, a crippie ; the son was about twenty-three, a perfect specimen of a man. There was present two Georgia soul-drivers, who bid eight hundred dollars for bolh. When the crier remarked it was n small bid for both, the Georgian replied, ho would give eight hnndred without the old man, as he was of no account. The young man gave the bidder a look that would have shamed the devil; the old man wept bitterly. This son sold at the bid, and the father was sold forsixty dollars to an old farmer who had nevar kept a slave in his life. Thus fathcr and son was separated. The next caso was ihat of a girl, fifteen years of age. (These slaves had been hired out Lo difierent individuals the past year). She was brought crying upon the stand. With an oath he bid her to stop " blubberine," and "then proceedeil with ihe sale.ter enumerating her quattties, he stated that the prospect was good for an increase of the property, saying which, the brutal wretch placed his whïp benealh her apron and raised it above her head, oxhibiiing to the enlightened multitude, the spectacle of a girl fifteen years old far advanced in pregnancy ! She was sold for one hundred and fifty dollars. The next case was that of a young white voman, sixteen years old, witha voung child. I say white woman, bccause the auctioneer said, she was only one-eighlh black, and 1 have seen many of the fair girls of Ohio who could not boast of as fair complexión or as good figure or feiturcf. Slie carne upon the stand with her infant in her arms, in tho deepest misery. A gentleman who had taken his seat beside me, observing that I was very interested, remnrked he thought I wasastranger in that country, 1 answered that 1 was. " These things look odd to you ?" M They do." Said he, " you see that man in the crowd," pointing to one within a few paces of the stand - "that is Dr. C. he hired that girl last year, and that child is his! The Georgian bid t h ree hundred dollars ;some one bifi four ; the Georgian bid four fifty ; the girl cast a piercing glance at the crowd, her oyes rested on Dr. C. who instantly averted his face. Sho gazed one moment, then burst into a torrent oftears. She was knocked ofTto tlte Goorgian. Thus the fiend saw his chiM and its mother, sold into Souihern. bondage. My God ! thought I, is it possible ? was curfid of my proslavery principies. The writer of tho foregoing says - " 1 om a poor mechanic, n noisy son cf