CHAP. XV.] NEGRO SLAVERY. 209 



Had some legislative provision been made with this view before 

 the annexation of Texas, a period being fixed after which all the 

 children born in this state should be free, that new territory 

 would have afforded a useful outlet for the black population of 

 Virginia, and whites would have supplied the vacancies which 

 are now filled up by the breeding of negroes. In the absence 

 of such enactments, Texas prolongs the duration of negro slavery 

 in Virginia, aggravating one of its worst consequences, the in 

 ternal slave trade, and keeping up the price of negroes at home. 

 They are now selling for 500, 750, and 1000 dollars each, ac 

 cording to their qualifications. There are always dealers at 

 Richmond, whose business it is to collect slaves for the southern 

 market ; and, until a gang is ready to start for the south, they 

 are kept here well fed, and as cheerful as possible. In a court 

 of the jail, where they are lodged, I see them every day amusing 

 themselves by playing at quoits. How much this traffic is ab 

 horred, even by those who encourage it, is shown by the low social 

 position held by the dealer, even when he has made a large for 

 tune. When they conduct gangs of fifty slaves at a time across 

 the mountains to the Ohio river, they usually manacle some of the 

 men, but on reaching the Ohio river, they have no longer any 

 fear of their attempting an escape, and they then unshackle them. 

 That the condition of slaves in Virginia is steadily improving, 

 all here seem agreed. One of the greatest evils olf the system 

 is the compulsory separation of members of the same family. 

 Since my arrival at Richmond, a case has come to my knowl 

 edge, of a negro who petitioned a rich individual to purchase 

 him, because he was going to be sold, and was in danger of being 

 sent to New Orleans, his wife and child remaining in Virginia. 

 But such instances are far less common than would be imagined, 

 owing to the kind feeling of the southern planters toward their 

 &quot; own people,&quot; as they call them. Even in extreme cases, 

 where the property of an insolvent is brought to the hammer, 

 public opinion acts as a powerful check against the parting of 

 kindred. We heard of two recent cases, one in which the pa 

 rents were put up without their children, and the mother being 

 in tears, no one would bid till the dealer put the children up 



