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Widget settings form goes hereA Narrative of Events of the Life of
J. H. Banks,
an Escaped Slave, from the Cotton State, Alabama, in America:
Electronic Edition.
Banks, Jourden H. (b. 1833)
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A Narrative of Events of the Life of J. H. Banks, an
Escaped Slave, from the Cotton State, Alabama, in America.
J. W. C. Pennington
M. Rourke, Printer
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Library of Congress Subject Headings,
21st edition, 1998
Languages Used:
LC Subject Headings:
Banks, J. H., b. 1833.
African Americans -- Biography.
African American abolitionists -- Biography.
Fugitive slaves -- Alabama -- Biography.
Slaves -- Virginia -- Biography.
Slaves -- Virginia -- Social conditions.
Slavery -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century.
Slaves -- Alabama -- Biography.
Slavery -- Alabama -- History -- 19th century.
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, Natalia Smith, project manager,
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, Lee Ann Morawski
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Chris Hill
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I AM A WITNESS AGAINST AMERICAN SLAVERY AND ALL ITS HORRORS.
A NARRATIVE OF EVENTS
LIFE OF J. H. BANKS,
AN ESCAPED SLAVE,
FROM THE COTTON STATE, ALABAMA, IN AMERICA.
        
&And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest, from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.&--ISAIAH XIV. 3.
WRITTEN, WITH INTRODUCTION,
BY J. W. C. PENNINGTON, D.D.,
AUTHOR OF &A TEXT BOOK OF THE HISTORY OF THE COLOURED RACE;&
&THE FUGITIVE BLACKSMITH;&
&A LECTURE UPON THE DESTINY OF THE COLOURED RACE IN THE UNITED STATES,& &c.
PRICE, ONE SHILLING.
LIVERPOOL:
M. ROURKE, PRINTER, SOUTH JOHN STREET,
INTRODUCTION.
TO THE FRIENDS OF UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION IN GREAT BRITAIN AND ELSEWHERE.
        
THE American slave power has assumed a most serious aspect. It now occupies the position
and as such it has initiated, and is waging in the United States, one of the most terrible civil wars hitherto known in the history of nations: a civil war which is deranging the commerce of the world, and threatens the peace of the entire Western C inasmuch as it offers a strong temptation to the restless and the ambitious, to enter upon wars of conquest, malignity, and revenge. That slavery is the primary cause of the present crisis in America, no candid man, who is at all informed in the affairs of the country, can deny.
        
Since the establishment of the Republic, eighty-six years ago, many disturbing causes have at times entered into its politics. Naturalization, Public Lands, Tariff, United States' Bank, and the Indian Questions, all have excited high feelings, and in their turn have elicited protracted and angry discussions. But for the last thirty years slavery has, with few exceptions, been the exciting topic at every session of Congress. It has entered into ev and has obtruded itself into the press, the pulpit, the church, the courts of law and of justice, into colleges, schools, and se everywhere like a peace-breaker corrupting the people, and sowing the seeds of discord.
        
During this period it has taken various forms as a political question. The Northern States never objected to the constitutional right of the South to claim and take back but finding that many free-coloured persons were taken as slaves and carried South, they enacted jury-trial laws. The South ob and on an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, she ha for that judicatory declared those laws to be unconstitutional.
        
The question came up again in connection with the admission of Texas as a Slave State into the Union. The South had it all her own way. After the Mexican War the question came up as to the right of the South to introduce slavery into the newly-acquired territory. The case was a clear one. The Missouri compromise line debared Southern slavery from every inch of the territory in question. Here the North planted her strong foot, and insisted upon the sacredness of the solemn compact. But some of her public and trusted men proved false, and betrayed the trust which was committed to them. Adhering to the charitable maxim, &nix mala mors,& I shall not name those of them who have departed this life. But the result of their default was that the Missouri compromise line, which was established in 1820, was in 1850 broken, and in connection with it the odious fugitive law was enacted. From that time our slavery troubles began to culminate with great rapidity, and to increase with great enormity the riots and bloodshed connected with the enforcement of the fugitive slave law. The reign of terror in Kansas, consequent upon an attempt to introduce slavery there, is fresh in the memory of those who read these lines. At last the North saw fit to nominate and elect for the office of
President a man of known integrity, in the person of Abraham Lincoln, of the free State Illinois, and at once the South began to prepare for arms. And President Jefferson Davis, in his first Message to the Congress of the Confederate States, places the issue of secession distinctly upon the ground of slavery, and declares it to be the sole intention of the Confederacy to maintain by arms their right to hold and retain slave property.
        
The friends of universal and Christian civilization have now then before their eyes the sad spectacle of one of the greatest nations of the world convulsed by a civil war, the avowed design of which is to extend and perpetuate African slavery. There are on the Western Continent over 12,000,000 decendants of Africa, and of that number more than 7,000,000 are in abject slavery in the Seceded States of America and Brazil. The aim of the American slave power is to unite with Brazil, and extend the dominion of slavery to the Pacific. Shall this gigantic scheme be consummated? Shall all the Southern States of America, together with Cuba, Mexico, and Central America, be devoted to African slavery interminable, or shall the Continent be freed from the scourge of that institution?
        
Others may differ from me, but I adhere to the firm belief that the decendants of Africa on the Western Continent and its dependencies are to be free, remain where they are, and eventually occupy the lands which they have watered with their sweat and tears. This is distributive justice. Legitimate commerce does not require the perpetual ens nor does Christian civilization require their expatiation to any other clime.
        
J. H BANKS, the young man whose narrative I here introduce,
is a specimen of the suffering millions in the Southern States of America. Banks shows by his spirit that he was born for a better condition than that of an abject slave. The fundamental law of American slavery is that the child shall follow the condition of the mother. This is equivalent to the law of attainder, which the United States' constitution itself forbids, Art. 1, sec. 9, says--&No bill of attainder, or ex post facto law shall be passed.&
        
This young m but at an early age his spirit revolted at the idea of ending his days in the condition of his mother, or in slavery. This aversion to the condition of slavery grew with his growth and strengthened with his strength, until like a giant he broke his chains, and sought and found his way to a free country. A more remarkable case of daring has seldom been recorded. He was sold three times. His owner was an Alabama cotton planter from whom he escaped. He fought four or five battles, and broke through three gaols on his way! He stands six feet an he weighs about 200 lbs.; and is twenty-nine years of age. I am sure that those who may read his book, or see him, will believe that he deserves well the freedom he gained by such extraordinary efforts.
        
I believe and trust that the present war will result in the
but if such should not be the case, and should another compromise be made, woe to the South at some not far distant day, when 100,000 or 200,000 blacks shall like this young man, resolve that they will not follow the condit for, with the help of the God of liberty, and the approval of all good men, they wil that is certain.
        
Let the American people then do justice, love mercy,
and let my oppressed people go free. Her salvation as a nation depends upon prompt and speedy repentance of the sin of slavery, and to do works meet for repentance, by breaking every yoke and letting the oppressed go free.
        
Now is the time for the true friends of America to use their influence for hers and the slave's best good. Now is the time for the friends of freedom to renew their fidelity to the principles of Sharpe, Clarkson, and Wilberforce, which in every case where they have been applied faithfully have abolished slavery peacefully. If the slaves in the South had brought on this crisis, we should never have heard the last of it. But here the masters have set the example. Let it never be forgotten. Keep it upon record, that not the slaves, but the masters, have brought on this crisis, and to them must the account be placed. They have broken up the Union. They have burned and wantonly destroyed public and private property. They have
and on them rests the blame of all the confusion which now fills the land, and which threatens the peace of the world.
        
Friends, let me solicit your continued interest in the cause of my suffering race, and a hearing for this noble son of Africa.
J. W. C. PENNINGTON.
LIVERPOOL, Nov. 11, 1861.
        
IN writing the foregoing pages for Mr. BANKS, I have not aimed at fineness of style, because had the work required it, I am not capable of writing in so fine a style as some readers may prefer. I have myself been a slave. I was born and remained in that condition until the age of twenty years, without any education, and have been obliged since that period to acquire, by self-exertions, all the knowledge of letters that I possess.
                         &Not that I feel that hunger after fame
                         Which souls of half-greatness are beset with.&
But knowing the heart of a slave, and especially his burning desire to tell his own story, I have done what I could to put his facts in readable English, only asking to be permitted to use the words of Terence, the African poet, in the Roman amphitheatre, H Nil Humani A. M. E. Alienum Puto.
J. W. C. PENNINGTON.
Introduction . . . . .
I.--Birth.--Parentage.--Boyhood. . . . . .
II.--Youth.--Life on the Farm.--Change of Overseers, &c.--
Breaking up of our Family, &c. . . . . .
III.--Continuation of family events.--The selling of my second sister, &c. . . . . .
IV.--Increasing troubles among us.--General feeling of uneasiness on the plantation.--The brutal beating of my mother by master.--His sickness and death. . . . . .
V.--Proceedings at the Corn Crib.--Talk with Weaver.--Attempt of Johnson to make me tell my age.--Journey to Richmond, &c. . . . . .
VI.--My stay in Alabama.--Work.--Treatment.--How I got away.--How many times I was captured. . . . . .
VII.--The flight.--The Cane Break.--The travel.--The breaking of gaols.--Arrival in Illinois. . . . . .
VIII.--Seven months in Smithland Gaol.--The breaking of the same.-- Reaches Illinois side again.--The breaking of Shelville Gaol. . . . . .
ERRATUM.--In a portion of this edition the name &Shelved[&] occurs before &Gaol.& It ought to be Shelville.
CHAPTER I.
        
BIRTH.--PARENTAGE.--BOYHOOD.
        
As many of my escaped brethren have already written and published accounts of their lives in slavery, it may seem needless for me to do the same. Some may suppose that those which have appeared, such as Douglas's, Brown's, and Asher's, should suffice to tell the story of all. But it must be remembered that each escaped slave has something in his own history and experience which makes his testimony important, aside from others. One has had a harder bondage than another to escape from, and has had a longer and more difficult road to travel, more battles to fight in order to get through, and, in this respect, I feel that I may crave a hearing, in order to show that I have something to state which is of interest.
        
I was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, January 3rd, 1833. My mother, Mary Francis, was born in Henrico, Virginia. My father, commonly called NOVEL, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia. My mother and father belonged at the time of my birth to Charles L. Yancey. The said Yancey has deceased about five years since, but they still remain with his widow.
        
Yancey had on his estate, in all, about thirty slaves. A large number of those were the offspring of my mother and father, who raised sixteen children. He had about 400 acres of land, and raised the crops usual in Western Virginia, such as wheat, corn, rye, hemp, tobacco, flax, &c.
        
My first impressions of my condition as a slave were very unpleasant. They commenced when I was quite young. My master had a son of the name of Alexander, who was about one year older than myself, and he was able to whip me, which he did frequently, until I was about five years old, when I grew too strong for him, aud began to pay him up for old scores. So whenever I whipped him he would go and complain to his father. One day after our fight, he went and complained to his father, who sent him to call me to him. I went, when the following conversation took place:--
        
Master.--&What did you strike your Master Alexander for?&-- Ans. &He struck me first.&--Ques. &Dont you know better than to strike your Master Alexander, if he did strike first?&
--Ans. &I dont know any better way to stop him from striking me, than to strike him again.& He said, &Well, I will tell you how to stop him when he strikes you, let your hands fall, and say, please Master Alexander, do not do it any more. Do you think you can recollect that?&--Ans. &Yes, sir.&
        
He then ordered Alexander to strike me on the cheek. He did so. But it raised my temper so high that I forgot in a moment, what he had told me to do, and, as usual with me, I said, &Boy, dont do that again!& My master asked me, &Is that what I told you to say?& --Ans.--&No, sir,&--Said he, &Well, come here, and I will learn you.& So he gave me three or four severe slaps on the side of my check, and told his son again to do the same. I said, &Please Master Alexander, dont do it any more?& And he did not strike me again at that time.
        
In the meantime, I made up my mind to pay him off, when we should be to ourselves. Accordingly some time afterwards, he attempted to carry out his father's plan of striking me, expecting that I would do as he told me, let my hand fall, and say, &Please Master Alexander, dont do it any more?& But I punished him for his
attempt, and as I owed him some on the old score, I gave him a few more blows to make it up. He said to me, &I will tell my father, and have you whipped again.& --Ans. &I do not care, I will not be wh it is enough for him to whip me.& He did tell his father, who tried the same thing over as before, with the hope of cowing me down. He slapped me most severely, and made Alexander repeat it. And then he asked me, &Will you do so again?& To keep from being punished, I promised I would not. I told my father all about the matter, and he told me not to take a blow from Alexander, for the more I did take, the more I would have to take. The reader will here see what was the spirit of my father, and, having imbibed it, and being thus instructed, of course, it was more natural for me to obey my own father than to obey Alexander's father. So I carried out my father's plan, and punished Alexander more and more severely each time he attacked me. My master thus finding that I would not allow Alexander to whip me when he pleased, took and adopted the plan of sending him to school, and me he sent to watch the corn field, to keep the crows away. At this time, being about seven years of age, I began to feel very keenly the hardness of my treatment as a little slave. At my age, a boy would be likely, when alone, to need some amusement, or would suffer more or less from hunger and thirst, and might bec but any thing that should draw off my attention from the corn field would give the crows a chance at the corn, and, of course, would expose me to blame and punishment. And so the dreary days my boyhood began in the field. I felt the effects of the livelong days I was constantly in dread of letting a crow light in any part of the field.
        
These birds are cunning, a and when hungry they are determined, if possible, to find some corner or part where they can get down
a often it is so that it requires the report of a gun, once in awhile, to alarm them. It is easy therefore to see what a task it would be for a lone lad of my age to run from one part to another of such large fields as they have in that country to keep off these stealthy birds. In spite of my utmost vigilance it so happened that crows would get into the corn, and whenever such was the case, master would be for punishing me, for what he regarded as a neglect of my duty, in not keeping them away. It was thus I was punished for what I did to the boy Alexander. I had to attend to this duty of watching the corn during the season of its tender growth.
        
After this, I was handed over to the mistress to attend about the house.
        
Here, again, I found my lot a hard one, very. The most unkind treatment she could give me was too good. She seemed to be bent on avenging herself upon me on account of her son. I was indeed much more unhappy than when in the corn field, for there being alone I had no one to be constantly dogging me.
        
My mistress wa she was in the frequent habit of punishing all the young ones she she would also flog such of the women as would submit, and allow her so to do. It was my lot to be overtasked, and to be driven beyond my strength, and to be harrassed with the fear of being complained of to master. I laboured under those disadvantages about ten months, when I resolved that I would rather be in the field than be under such tyranny.
        
It is generally supposed at the North that house servants fare better than field hands, and although this may be generally the case, so far as regards food and clothing, yet there are exceptions. Sometimes house servants are put out on the field as a punishment, but this is almost always for the crime of being too high-spirited. They are then put out to mortify, this I knew, and I made up my mind that in
order to get out of the hands of such a woman as my mistress, I would take my chance in the field, as I was not afraid of work. I changed my course. I had formerly been very particular to do all my work about the house in the neatest manner, and promptly, sweeping, dusting, cleaning knives and forks, and such like, were all done in the best way. But I found that the woman had no dispo so I became careless and negligent about my work, simply with the view to get them to put me out on the field. By this time also, I had now grown to be a good size for a farm boy, so that my master was quite inclined to exchange me for a smaller boy to be in the house. This I found by his manner, at times when my mistress would complain to him of me, as she frequently did. At this time, therefore, I was taken and placed on the field, to the great joy of my heart, and satisfaction of my mind, that I had got out of an unpleasant situation.
        
Now, it is well known that many who go South, come back with reports that they have seen the slaves so well dressed about the houses of their masters and mistresses. But let it be remembered, that those very slaves may have the most hateful tempered mistresses, who have it in their power to make their lives more miserable than the
and besides, those fine appearances of house slaves are often put on just for the present while company is in the house. Thus I took leave of the house service as a slave, as I never was afterwards placed in that service.
        
It will be noticed, that although there was only about one year's difference between my age and that of Master Alexander's, when we parted from our play or fighting ground, I was sent to a very different school from that
he was sent to his books, but I was sent to watch and scare the crows.
        
And this was the case with poor slave children generally. In the part of Virginia where I was born, there was no such thing known as a school for slave children.
No Sabbath school--no means or provisions made by the owners for teaching their slaves to read and write. On the other hand, they are opposed to having them learn. Any friendly white person who should be found teaching a slave to read or write, would be punished for it by a fine of 500 dollars or &100. In some cases, coloured persons manage to steal a little education, and teach others by night, but even that is a crime.
        
The slaveholders in the part where I was born make no arrangements for the religious instruction of their slaves. In the country the places of worship are very few and far between. In those houses of worship or chapels, which have galleries in them, the slaves can sometimes occupy the but if there are whites enough to fill them, then the slaves have to stand outside.
        
In those cases where the slaveholders themselves are even connected with churches as members, they never concern themselves about slaves going to attend upon divine service. They build them no chapels, and they hire no seats for them in any. They leave them outside as heathens. And, about the large towns and cities, if the slaves go to worship with their free coloured brethren, as they sometimes do, there is a white man to be present and listen, so that nothing shall be preached but a slaveholder' and any one may judge what that is. As the handle of a jug is only on one side, so the slaveholder's gospel is all on his own side. It begins with Abraham, and comes down to Paul. Abraham had slaves, and that gives him the right to have them. Paul told slaves to be obedient to their masters, and hence their slaves must be obedient. Paul sent Onesimus back to his master, and therefore it is very wicked for their slaves to run away. And hence all those at the North who will join and help to catch and send them back were regarded as friends to the South, and those who would not were regarded as enemies, and abused as abolitionists.
CHAPTER II.
        
YOUTH.--LIFE ON THE FARM.--CHANGE OF OVERSEER, ETC.--
BREAKING UP OF OUR FAMILY, ETC.
        
As soon as I went on the farm, being about eight years of age, I was put to the plough. I found a difference in both the quality and quantity of the food I received on the farm, compared to that I had r yet still I was much better pleased with the coarse food and smaller quantity, with the relief, than I was with the superior house food, and the tyranny I was under withal.
        
At this time I should state that we had no overseer on our farm. My father was the head man on the farm, and this was one reason why I was pleased with my prospect of happiness in farm life.
        
But I was destined to be much disappointed in my fortune in this respect. All things went on well for about a year. My father had the confidence of the men, and managed them well by kind treatment: they worked well after him, and the farm went on to as good advantage as could be expected. My master took it in his mind that he had not land enough. He bought 150 acres of land. On this farm was an orchard and a distillery. He became much addicted to drink, and intemperate in his habits, so that he was much more difficult to please. He would generally spend his time at the distillery on the new farm, and when after being away through the day, he would come home at evening, and find much fault, saying that nothing had been done. This went on till at last he determined to get an overseer.
Now, the overseer system is one of the evils of slavery. The slaves dread overseers, because they are generally cruel, and hard-hearted men, who only aim to gain a name with the master, by driving the slaves so as to force a crop. Many of these men too are from the North, and seem to feel that they must show their zeal by being strict and severe with the slaves. They are like a man who has charge of a fine team of horses, but has no qualification as a driver, but to handle the whip. These two evils then come upon the farm hands almost together.
        
I need not tell my readers here that a drunken master is a curse to a slave, as well as a drunken
but a drunken master is a sevenfold greater curse to a slave than a drunken husband can be to a wife, since he has the power of life, liberty, work, food, and clothing, without any remedy at law.
        
No vice, therefore, that slaveholders has, involves a slave in more evil than drunkenness. I have ever since a deep abhorence of the habit of drunkenness. If I see a man who is fond of drink, I make my mind up to have as little to do with him as possible. The overseers as a class are the most despised men of the S the masters employ them for the mere purpose of watching a they do not respect them nor regard them as a they will discharge them as quickly as they sell a slave for c and, on the other hand, the slave feels a contempt for the overseer as &poor white trash,& who would be somebody if he could.
        
I have already stated that all went on well while my father was simply the leader of the hands. Every one aimed to do his duty. The very fact, therefore, that an overseer was introduced over us for the first time, was very disagreeable to us all. The overseer was not a bad man, but he was in a position where he had to drive all up. We had had a leader, but no driver. As to flogging, he did not attempt to s
but there were several young females on the farm, besides boys, and these he was severe upon, which goes to show the effect that slavery has upon some men, who are not so badly disposed. The overseer is under the eye of the master, and in turn he has unde and it often happens that when he does not strike the men he storms and blusters at the females and boys, and seeks to drive others in that way, But is it not an evil to abuse the weaker party in order to use the stronger?
        
At this rate things went on, and did not improve, but rather grew worse. My master soon found that he did not realise his object in the empl his profits did not come up he sadly complained that it was the fault of the overseers, and he chang but every change seemed only for the worse. His embarassments increased, and it soon became evident that, although he had the name of being a wealthy slaveowner, he was a poorer man, so far as money was concerned, than when he owned but three slaves, and worked side by side with him in the field. His habits of intemperance strengthened on him. He became more and more peevish and fretful. Here we slaves were called to share the evil effects of his intemperance and improvidence.
We could see whither matters were tending. Sadness brooded over our prospects. We had seen around us large estates broken up, and slaves sold for debt, &c. Reasoning in this way, we could see in the near future the breaking up of our own circle, and the scattering of families.
        
There is a great moral here in regard to slavery. Men who suppose that slavery enriches slaveholders are greatly mistaken. Stolen goods never permanently
enrich the thief, inasmuch, as he is liable to loose fourfold the amount which he steals. Besides, he that leadeth into captivity, shall go into captivity,--so says
the Word of God. If a man takes my life, he forfeits his own. If he takes my fortune, he endangers his own. If he takes my liberty, he endangers his own. This is the law of consequences ordained of God, and firmly incorporated i and, of all other men, the slaveholder and his children feel the effects of of this law.
        
Under these circumstances, master, in the space of between two and three years had no less than four different overseers. After this, he again changed his mind, and gave up employing overseers altogether, saying that it did not pay, and also became convinced that he did not get as much work done with the aid of salaried white men as he did under the leadership of my father.
        
But still his fortune had so far decayed that he felt necessary to resort to another
and, reader, what do you think that plan was? Having thus given up employing overseers, he acted as his own boss, and, whenever he found himself in pressing need of cash, he would sell off a slave. He turned off his last overseer in the spring, and in the next fall, he so one was my sister Charlotte, whom I loved most dearly. Reader, you may judge how I felt to see my sister leave me well and hearty, and to think I should never see her again!
        
My dear mother and father witnessed the same, and were most deeply moved at the sight. My mother, indeed, seemed to show all the symptoms of a distracted mind and a broken heart. And, what wonder--to see a beloved daughter separated from her embraces in her declining years, was almost too much for her reason, This sister was about nineteen years of age. She was one year older than myself. She was sold to the far South, and for no crime. We never heard from her, and cannot tell whether she is dead or alive, or if dead, where her bones lie.
        
My father did not say much in this trial, but he
laboured under great distress. My master could see in his daily deportment that he was greatly troubled. So one day, he asked my father, what was the matter with him? He said--&I do not see any use in telling you what you know as well as I do myself.&
&Novel,& said master, &is that the way to answer me?&
&How am I to know your feelings?& Ans.-- &Why, master, if I should see one of your daughters sold away from you, and you did not ever expect to see her again in this life, I could give a pretty clos and now, if you can just place yourself in my stead, and think how you would feel at a separation such as I had to endure, and then my other children weeping around me, you can tell what the matter is with me.& Ans.--
&Well, Novel,& said he, &it is distressing, I have no doubt, but you know my situation. I they have got to be paid, and I cannot raise the money off the farm, and if I do not sell some of you, the sheriff will sell you for me.& Ans.--&If you had the money you paid overseers to abuse your people, you would not have owed these debts. I knew sometime ago that you would find out your mistake when it was too late.& Master--&I have been losing ever since I employed the overseers: I have been falling back every year.&
        
At this my father went on to remind him how faithfull he had been how he had laboured for his benefit, and then to think that he would take his children and sell them before his face, was enough to break a heart of stone! Master--&Very true, you have bee but if I have to sell, and must sell, I have to sell to the best advantage.& My sister, being therefore one of the most valuable, and bringing the heaviest price, she and another friend had to go first, this was what he meant. My father replied--&If you are going to be selling off my children, one after another in this way, I rather you would sell me at once, for I do not wish to witness the selling
of my children.& My master said to him--&You and I have been raised together, and therefore, I do not wish to part with you, unless you do some heavy fault.& My father answered him to this effect--&If you have no more regard for my children than to sell them off, I do not believe you have much regard for me. If I were now a young man, and more valuable on that account, and, like my daughter Charlotte, would bring a
heavy price, I believe you would sell me as quickly as you would any of them, for you have just told me that
you 'must sell to the best advantage,'--so I see it is not my advantage you are seeking, nor that of my family, but your own. It is of very little consolation to me that you now profess to feel such an attachment to me on account of our having been brought up together--that you are unwilling to sell me unless I commit some crime, when you take my children whom I have brought up, and who have committed no crime, a and, besides, as you have never known me to commit a crime, light or heavy, it is still a poorer consolation to tell me that you do not wish to sell me, where I cannot witness the selling of my children, unless I commit some heavy crime! Do you wish to tempt me to commit some crime?& This was a puzzler for master to answer.
        
The reader will understand, and be fully assured, that I witnessed all that I have just stated--that it is all tru for at this period of the history of our family, and that of master, not a daily occurence passed without the most strict and painful notice of us all, as we were fully aware that we were passing through a crisis.
        
The telegraph, which by the speed of lightning carries news from one end of this land to another, does not more certainly report news than the slaves do one to another. And, in our families, when one member suffers, all suffer with that member. So it was with us. All eyes were at first turned to that beloved sister,
who was bound in chains, and led away South. Then our mother's de and then our father's silent, manly, but solemn sorrow, which commanded even the attention of the heartless wretch, who for gain had pocketed the proceeds of his daughter. Alas! what shall be said of American slavery, in the face of such facts as these?
        
And now to continue what passed between master and father.
        
Master said--&I do not see that there is any use in making any apologies to you, for you will not give in to what is right.&
        
My father answered him by saying--&Sir, if you can show and convince me that anything I have said is wrong or unjust, I shall b but I believe that I have spoken just as you would have spoken if you were in my situation and I were in yours, and if you were pleading with me in behalf of your daughter.&
        
It will be seen here, that my master was not speaking to my father on account of the sympathy he felt for him, but to quiet him for the time.
        
My master then seemed to be evidently displeased with what my father said to him, and broke off by saying--&Well, if you will not be pacified, you can talk as you please, and I will do as I and I can tell you that more of your children will be sold before you are aware of it, so that your talking will not save them from being sold.&
        
My father answered him and said--&You will not be able to sell them before I am aware of it, for I am fully aware that the state of things is such that my own children, or some others, will be sold soon. You have said to me that you have debts which must be paid, and that you cannot raise the money off the farm, which means you cannot raise the money to pay your debts wi and, when you speak of selling them to the best advantage, you must mean to
sell the most valuable first, or the young. It is useless for you to attempt to blind me about that.& My master then came out plainly and said--&Yes, I will sell them, that I think will pay best.& I then felt so strongly that I took up the question and continued to reply to him. I said--&Master, I think I will pay as well as any of your slaves, and, when you sell the next parcel I wish to be in the midst of them.& He replied to me by saying--&You are about nineteen years of age, and the most valuable man I have on the farm, I cannot spare you, but I have more young women than I need. I must sell some of them.& I said to him--[&]I do not doubt that you consider me the most valuable man you have, and that you would find it diffic but, if you mean to sell my sisters and other friends and will not sell me, I shall leave you, for I do not mean to witness it.&
        
My master said to me--&Ah! you will leave me, eh?&
        
My answer was--&Yes, sir, I will.&
        
My master asked--&Where will you go to?&
        
My answer was--&I will go and live in the woods, if I cannot get any other place, before I will live in such trouble.&
        
He said--&Well, you had better try that awhile, and see how you will like it.&
        
Seeing that he seemed to think I could not get along without him, I said to him-- &Master, you have had a number of your men run away from you, and go into the woods, to be gone awhile, and when they became hungry and thirsty, they have come home, a but I can tell you, master, that if ever I move my foot off your farm, with the intention of running away, I shall never come back of my own accord, nor will I ever be brought back unless I am overpowered.&
        
This answer seemed to have deep effect upon his mind, and he evidently reflected upon it a few moments.
        
My master then asked me--&Why do you wish to run away from me? I have always treated you well. You and your father are the only two men on the farm whom I have never whipped with the cowhide. Have I ever crossed you with the cowhide? If I have, tell me?&
        
I said to him--&I do say, that you never gave me, what is called a whipping with the cowhide since I have been a field hand, because I have always aimed to do my work, so that no fault co but I remember you giving me a severe spanking on account of Master Alexander, because I would not let him impose upon me.&
        
He then asked me--&If I did not know that I was bound to be under Master Alexander?& I told him--&I supposed that when we became of age I but while children, I did think that one should not be allowed to impose upon another, for if they got in the habit of it, they would grow up in the same, and lead to worse consequences.&
        
He said--&Well, if I have not whipped you since that, and, I have thought a great deal of you, and dont want to sell you, I do not see why you should wish to give me trouble by running away from me.&
        
I said to him--&If you do not wish to have me give you trouble by running away from you, the only way you can prevent it is either to sell me, or stop selling any more of my sisters and friends.&
        
He then came to the conclusion, that my father had spoiled me, by talking to me and making me believe that I was treated badly. This is very common in such cases. A slave mother or father is expected to impress upon their children the necessity of strict servility to the master, mistress, and their children, no matter what their suffering may be, otherwise they are blamed for any spirit or desire manifested by their children for relief.
        
I told him, however, that the blame need not be laid
on my father, but my own judgment, feeling, and observation convinced me that I had been treated wrongfully. I told him, moreover, that I did not need any one to tell me when I and, also, that I was old enough to speak for myself in regard to the matter. At this he became enraged, and said--&Then I shall not attempt to please any of you, but I will put you all in my pocket, where you will be no f this is what I ought to have done many days ago.&
        
I said to him--&Even that, master, would be a relief. Let us all go at the same time, and those of us who do not go together will have the consolation of knowing that they will not again witness the selling of the others.& T but he did not seem disposed to pursue the conversation any further, for, with a significant shake of the head he walked away.
        
The reader has the termination of this protracted conversation between my father, master, and myself. Each party expressed himself with freedom and boldness, and separated, though not satisfied, yet better acquainted than before. Master, now knew that he had a man and his son who would speak of their wrongs, and we knew that we had nothing better to look for at his hands.
CHAPTER III.
        
CONTINUATION OF FAMILY EVENTS.--THE SELLING OF MY SECOND SISTER, ETC.
        
AFTER what I have stated in the last chapter matters went on for about eight months quite well: with the exception of the recollection of my sister Charlotte, who had been sold away, nothing occurred to make any unpleasant impression upon us, and we began to think that our family would not again be invaded by the barbarous &soul driver,& or the &Georgia man.&
        
But while we were indulging in this hope the thing I much dreaded came upon me. I had a sister, named Martha, then about seventeen ears of age. As my sister Charlotte was next older than myself, so Martha was next younger. I loved my sister Charlotte, but Martha seemed still more dear to me, and hence I felt more severely her loss. And then, too, the disappointment! We were hoping for a change. But, above all, the mean way in which the thing was done by master. The parents of the other two girls both belonged to him. So he went to those parents and attempted to pacify them by telling them that he would get good places for their daughters where they could write and hear from them. He also came to my father and me and told us that he would get a good place for my sister, in Gardensville, a place on the Richmond, about sixty miles distant from us, so that when I went to Richmond, as I did once a year, to drive cattle to market, I could see her. This l but we doubted
it. However, there was no help. My dear sister Martha, and two other young female friends wer not by death--not by the officer who punishes for crime, which they had not committed--but by the very man who told my father eight months prior that he would do as he liked, and sell to the best advantage. This was keeping his prom so we felt it to be at the time, and so I feel at this moment.
        
Hitherto, I had been made to feel sad by a sense of my wrongs and oppression. I often dwelt upon the subject of my condition, until reason almost seemed to be lost in the reveries of the past, and the gloomy prospects of the future. But at this time my indignation was stirred
my master often assuring me that he would get my sister a place in Gardensville, where I could see her once a year. He went with my sister and the other two girls, and after being gone about ten or twelve days, he came home and told me that he had sold my sister Martha to a man in Gardensville. He told me the name of the man, and th but I did not believe him, and, therefore, I determined to take the first chance to find out the truth about the case.
        
I knew a white man of the name of Kyte,--a friendly man, who was acquainted with our family and my master and all his slaves, and, of course, would know the girls that were sold by my master. He was also acquainted in Gardensville. As my friend Mr. Kyte was going to Gardensville, I asked him to make inquiries about my sister Martha, and whether she was in the place. On his return he informed me that my sister was not in G that master had sold her to a man in that place who is a nigger trader, and who took her to Richmond and sold her to the highest bidder
and said your master knew at the time he sold her that the man did not mean to retain her.
        
As soon after this as I got a chance, I said to him--&I know that my sister is not in Gardensville.& He said--&Who told you so?& I told him--&Mr. Kyte told me so.& He asked me--&Has he been to Gardensville?& I said--&Yes, sir.& He asked me--&Did he go to the house of the man I sold her to?' I said--&H and he was told my sister had been sent to Richmond and sold.& He said--&Well, Maherden told me he bought all the girls for his own house service.&
        
This Maherden was a notorious man as a negro trader, who kept a tavern for the accommodation of those of his class, and also what is called a trailer's gaol, for the purpose of securing their slaves while on their way to the Richmond market. He had no farm to work, and therefore had no need of any number of slaves for his own use. These facts put together satisfied me that what master said about Maherden purchasing my sister and the other two girls for his own domestic service was false. Hence I felt indignant at the thought that the man should add insult to injury. He had inflicted an irreparable injury upon me by selling first my sister Charlotte and then my only remaining and dearly beloved sister Martha. He did it all for his own gain and for his own advantage. He did it without regard to my known an he did it with the full knowledge that it would be like sending
he did it knowing that my aged parents would feel the shock. This was injury enough surely? Why then add insult to injury, by telling a bare-faced lie? A useless, mean, unmanly lie, which he must have known would come to light. If a poor coloured man, under some powerful temptation, deviates from the truth it is put down as an evidence of the moral inferiority of the race, and no excuse is admitted in extenuation, But Southren white men may tell lies for the accommodation of their own pockets, and yet it is all well. The slave is his property, and he may deceive him as he
there is no law to punish him for defrauding or perjuring himself to his slave.
        
Will the Christian merchants of the world continue to uphold such a system through the medium of the cotton, sugar, or rice trade?
        
Some time after the last conversation related between master and myself, I met him and Mr. Kyte in company, and being, as I said, not satisfied that his statement was true, and wishing to prove to him what Mr. Kyte had told me, I took courage, though I knew at some hazard, and asked Mr. Kyte, in my master's presence, about the matter. I said--&Mr. Kyte, did you not tell me that my sister Martha was not in Gardensville?& Mr. Kyte said--&I I was in Maherden's house and he told me that he bought her, but had sold her in Richmond the next day.& At this my master seemed much enraged, and ordered me off to my work, with the threat that he would have us all in Richmond before a great while.
        
Reader, you may form your own opinion how I felt at that moment. I shall not attempt to describe my feelings further than to say that this occurrence opened to me a new and astounding view of the man's character. Driven from one after another of his false pretences, when finding that I proved the like upon him, he comes out plainly as a tyrant, and, instead or acting the man by making some reparation, he stamps his foot and orders me away.
        
How was it possible for me to respect or even to fear such a being--I but a being in the shape of a man? I could not--I co and though I was in his power, yet I I should have felt my manhood degraded.
        
The history or Charles L. Yancey's career as a slaveholder is quite worthy of note, as going to show the working of the system in Virginia. By degrees his lands failed, because he did not cultivate with care. As the lands thus failed, he took to trading in the increase
of his slaves. H but having six families of slaves, or six men and their wives, he sold their children as they grew old enough to bring the desired
prices in the Southern market. In this way he made out and held his lands to keep his own family. But it cannot be sa for there was no evidence of thrift abou but on the contrary there were increasing signs of decay. The neglected acres of land showed these signs. The unrepaired buildin and in short the whole aspect of things gave proof that there was no real prosperity. The wealth of slaveholders is thus shown to be of a very uncertain character. They force their lands till they refuse to yield, because not properly supplied with nutriments, and then they seek to convert into merchandsie the labourers who would thus there is a violent separation of the two great producing elements. Had Charles L. Yancey treated both his lands and his labourers differently, he might have enjoyed a better fortune. But it will be seen hereafter that he reaped the bitter fruits of his own folly.
CHAPTER IV.
        
INCREASING TROUBLES AMONG US.--GENERAL FEELING OF UNEASINESS ON THE PLANTATION.--THE BRUTAL BEATING OF MY MOTHER BY MASTER.--HIS SICKNESS AND DEATH.
        
AT this time matters on the farm had reached a most deplorable state as regarded the mutual feeling of disaffection between master, his family, and all his slaves.
        
The selling of the girls had the effect to create a deep feeling of melancholy
we felt that we were all involved in the same dangers and miseries, and that not one of us was exempt from their fate.
        
Yancey was aware of this, and tried to dissipate it by being more exacting and positive in his manner. He saw that every one wore a gloomy countenance, that betoke and he made use of harsh language in giving orders. He complained and he used every effort to drive us up to the mark. But there
and the more he scolded for we got so that we did not care whether we did our work to please him or not. We h for though never contented with our condition as slaves, yet we made a point to do our tasks faithfully, as a matter of slavish pride. We considered it disgraceful to be driven. But Yancey having utterly failed to reciprocate our faithfulness, we felt that we were absolved from all obligations to yield cheerful and ready obedience to him.
        
This universal disaffection among us was the subject
of rema and they very naturally sympathized with him in his stringent measures to subdue us.
        
I had another trying scene to witness after this. My mother was master's cook, and had been for years.
        
It was usual to have a butchering every year of the hogs that were raised on the farm. This year we had some fifty hogs to kill. The killing would commence about twelve o'clock at night, so as to get all done before sunrise in the morning, and to have the pork properly cooled and taken in by night. All the women were required to assist to strip the fat off the entrails as fast as they were taken out, my mother with the rest. About five o'clock in the morning, after being thus engaged, as I have said, from twelve o'clock, she went into the kitchen to attend to the duty of getting master's breakfast ready. But while engaged in kindling up the fire the mistress came out, and commenced by finding fault with her for not having breakfast earlier. My mother told her that she had been engaged in the hog killing yard since twelve o'clock, and that she had on former occasions continued till about the same time, and it would be nothing amiss on this occasion.
        
Her mistress charged her that it was a plan among us to neglect every thing, and make all the trouble we could, and still continued to censure my mother in the severest terms.
        
&Well,[&] said mother, &mistress, it is hard for me to please you, do what I may.& &Who are you jawing at?& said her mistress. My mother said--&I am not jawing you, I have only said I could not please you.&
        
She then drove my mother out of the kitchen, and ordered her back to
and after calling another woman to come and get the breakfast ready, she went out to the gate entering the yard, and called to master who was in the yard, and told him to give my mot that she had given
her the greatest jawing that a nigger ever gave to a white person.
        
Yancey hearing this, and being at the time quite under the influence of liquor, was prepa and being governed by strong liquor and a bad tempered woman, what was my poor mother to expect at his hands?
        
Having a walking stick in his hand, he demanded of her to know what she had been jawing her mistress for. My mother attempted to explain that she only spoke to her respectfully. But not satisfied he aimed a blow at her person, which mother trying to fend off, caught the blow on her arm, which brought the arm powerless to her side. He continued the brutal assault by another blow, which he levelled at her defenceless head. This took effect and brought her to her knees. In this helpless state, she in a most piteous manner implored him to spare her further beating. But there was no abatement of the rage of the barbarous drunken wretch. He continued to ply the stick till my mother was completely prostrate upon the ground, and unable either to resist or to speak.
        
My father being a short distance off, and seeing what was passing, left off dressing the hog he was engaged upon, and came to rescue his wife from the merciless human hog.
        
This, of course, was offensive, and his master ordered him back to his work, with a threat that if he did not go at once he would get the cane also.
        
My father replied to him that he could not stand and see his wife knocked and beaten in that way, that he must help her up. H and finding that she was seriously injured, he started to lead her away to her cabin. Yancey again interfered, and told my father to go to his work, or he would give him the same. My father
he would rather take it himself than to see his wife beaten. He said to mother--&Go to your work.& She told him that she
had no strength in her arm to do anything. He said it was nothing but deceit. She continued to assure him that she was disabled. He then stepped up and asked her where she was hurt, when on her arm he found a lump as large as a hen's egg, and also on her head several wounds which he inflicted with his stick.
        
Finding now that he had nearly killed her, he could do no other way than to allow my father to proceed w which he did, and there she was confined from the effects of this barbarous beating for about six weeks before she recovered. There was nothing lacking now to fill up my cup of wretchedness and misery. My experience was perfectly terrible for one of my age. Many a man, fifty years old, had not seen and felt what I had before my twentieth year. I had seen my siste my mother beaten
and heard my father threatened with beating. Could there be anything more to add to the condition of woe, wretchedness, and misery, which is the lot of a slave?
        
Tell me not about the condition of the poor whites, in comparison with that of the slave. I have walked the streets of cities in A I have sailed across the ocean in one of your emigrant steam- I have walked the streets in this country, said to be teeming with sin, and I have seen sights and heard sounds that have surprised me. I I h but I have not seen or heard anything to compare with what I saw, heard, and felt on the plantation of Charles L Yancey, in Rockingham county,
Virginia, in my early youth. I have not seen your daughters and sisters sold. I have not seen your mothers beaten with a walking cane by drunken men. I have not heard an affectionate husband threatened with a cowhiding for raising his stricken down wife from the ground. But all this I did witness on the plantation of Charles L. Yancey.
        
Immediately after the above distressing and disgraceful
occurrence, and even while my father had gone to conduct my dear, poor, beaten, wounded, and bleeding mother to her cabin, I went boldly to master, for I could not wait, and I asked him--&Master, what is the matter? and what is to become of us all? we cannot live in this way?& His answer was--&I dont want to hear any more I am master, and I will do as I please. Go to your work. I would rather be in hell than to be bothered with you as I am.& Two or three days after this it was found that master began to linger about his house, and did not go out as usual. He
and in a few days more a physician was called to attend him. Still he grew worse, until he was unable to leave his bed.
        
And now, reader, come to the sick and dying bedside of an im or listen to me and I will tell you as a truthful man what I saw and heard in Charles L. Yancey's sick and dying room.
        
As he declined it became necessary for us slavemen to take our turns in watching with him at night. By day big lads performed the same duty. Being now numbered among the able-bodied men of the farm, I, of course, took my turn in watching by his sick bed.
        
I saw that he was a sick man, and that death was looking him in the face. I watched every symptom both of body and of mind to see how he was li and he seemed to be aware that I was watching his symptoms. At one time he would ask me--&How is your mother?& I said--&She is feeble.& &What does your father think of my whipping your mother?& I said--&He thinks very hard of it.& He said--&Well I never thought I would strike your mother in that way.&
        
On another night when watching with him, he asked me--&If I would forgive him for selling my sisters?& I said to him--&I suppose I must forgive you.& He said--&I I regret I and I shall make my will so that no more of you
shall be sold out of the family.&
&Well,& said I, &that may be your will, but how long will it stand with your children?[&]
        
The last days of my master were truly mournful. He was not a member of any church. He sometimes attended the M and about eight months after he was first taken sick, he sent me to call in the Methodist minister to see him. It was evident now he could not get well. But there did not seem to be any change in him for the better. Those who watched with him were charged with the duty of rousing him up every few minutes, as he was afraid of dying while asleep. He was constantly inclined to sleep. Slept with his eyes staring wide open. He had a pole or a stick by his bed, and whenever the watcher allowed him to sleep too long, he would as soon as he awoke up strike him with it. If the watcher retreated beyond the reach of his pole, he would threaten what he would do when he got well. After this he was constantly dilirious, and imagined often that he saw numbers of large dogs in his room, and would give orders for them to be driven out. In this way he ended his days on the 17th January, 1852. Such was his end. He died without being square with this world, or prepared for the next. And what impression his death left upon my mind, you, reader, may judge--knowing the man' his cruelties, injustice, and standing by his sick and dying bedside, night after night, hearing his words, and watching his decline. I saw him in life, and I but he left me in chains. There was no &loosing the bond of wickedness&--no undoing &the heavy burdens&--no letting &the oppressed go free&--and no breaking &every yoke.&
        
My master's will provided that my father and mother, and their two youngest children, together with other slaves and the old farm, sh but all the other slaves were to be hired out till his debts were paid, and then to be div
