The spectacle was
a barbarous one, opening a wide field for reflection. It was said
that this barbarous mode of punishment was kept up as an example for
the negroes. It certainly is a very singular mode of inspiring
respect for the laws.
He had heard much of T. Norman Gadsden, whose fame sounded for being
the greatest negro-seller in the country, yet he had not seen him,
though he had witnessed several negro-sales at other places. On
looking over the papers after breakfast, his eye caught a flaming
advertisement with "T. Norman Gadsden's sale of negroes" at the
head. There were plantation negroes, coachmen, house-servants,
mechanics, children of all ages, with descriptions as various as the
kinds. Below the rest, and set out with a glowing delineation, was a
description of a remarkably fine young sempstress, very bright and
very intelligent, sold for no fault. The notice should have added an
exception, that the owner was going to get married.
He repaired to the place at the time designated, and found them
selling an old plantation-negro, dressed in ragged, gray clothes,
who, after a few bids, was knocked down for three hundred and fifty
dollars. "We will give tip-top titles to everything we sell here
to-day; and, gentlemen, we shall now offer you the prettiest wench
in town. She is too well-known for me to say more," said the
notorious auctioneer.
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