Author witnesses sale of men, women and children

Swedish author Fredrika Bremer visited New Orleans as a part of her 1850s tour of America, reported in “The Homes of the New World: Impressions of America.”

She used the occasion to examine slave auctions and other public institutions, discovering and reporting that even slaves who were well-treated by “good” masters were not safe from injustice.

“Dr. D. and I entered a large and somewhat cold and dirty hall, on the basement story of a house, and where a great number of people were assembled. About twenty gentlemen ... stood in a half circle around a dirty wooden platform, which for the moment was unoccupied.

“On each side, by the wall, stood a number of black men and women, silent and serious. The whole assembly was silent, and it seemed to me as if a heavy gray cloud rested upon it.

“A tall, stout man, with a good-tempered aspect ... ascended the auction platform. I was told that he was an Englishman. ... He took the auctioneer’s hammer in his hand, and addressed the assembly much as follows:

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“ ‘The slaves which I have now to sell, for what price I can get, are a few home-slaves, all the property of one master. This gentleman having given his bond for a friend who afterward became bankrupt, has been obliged to meet his responsibilities by parting with his faithful servants.

“ ‘These slaves are thus sold, not in consequence of any faults which they possess, or for any deficiencies. They are all faithful and excellent servants, and nothing but hard necessity would have compelled their master to part with them.’

“After this he beckoned to a woman among the blacks to come forward, and he gave her his hand to mount upon the platform, where she remained standing beside him. She was a tall, well-grown mulatto, with a handsome but sorrowful countenance, and a remarkably modest, noble demeanor.

“She bore on her arm a young sleeping child, upon which, during the whole auction ceremonial, she kept her eyes immovably riveted, with her head cast down. She wore a gray dress made to the throat, and a pale yellow handkerchief, checked with brown, was tied round her head.

“The auctioneer now began to laud this woman’s good qualities, her skill, and her abilities, to the assembly. He praised her character, her good disposition, order, fidelity; her uncommon qualifications for taking care of a house; her piety, her talents, and remarked that the child which she bore at her breast, and which was to be sold with her, also increased her value.

“ ‘Now, gentlemen, how much for this very superior woman?’ ”

The auctioneer pointed from one bidder to another as he continued.

“ ‘Do you offer me five hundred dollars? Gentlemen, I am offered five hundred dollars for this superior woman and her child. It is a sum not to be thought of! She, with her child, is worth double that money. Five hundred and fifty, six hundred, six hundred and fifty, six hundred and sixty, six hundred and seventy. My good gentlemen, why do you not at once say seven hundred dollars. ... Seven hundred dollars — it is downright robbery!’

“The hammer fell heavily; the woman and her child were sold for seven hundred dollars to one of those dark, silent figures before her. Who he was; whether he was good or bad; whether he would lead her into tolerable or intolerable slavery — of all this, the bought and sold woman and mother knew as little as I did, neither to what part of the world he would take her. And the father of her child — where was he?

“Next, a very dark young Negro girl stepped upon the platform. She wore a bright yellow handkerchief tied very daintily round her head, so that the two ends stood out like little wings, one on each side. Her figure was remarkably trim and neat, and her eyes glanced round the assembly both boldly and inquiringly.

“ ‘How much for this very likely young girl?’

“She was soon sold, and, if I recollect rightly, for three hundred and fifty dollars.

“After her a young man took his place on the platform. He was a mulatto, and had a remarkably good countenance, expressive of gentleness and refinement. He had been servant in his former master’s family, had been brought up by him, was greatly beloved by him, and deserved to be so — a most excellent young man!

“He sold for six hundred dollars.

“After this came an elderly woman ... whose demeanor and general appearance showed that she too had been in the service of a good master, and, having been accustomed to gentle treatment, had become gentle and happy. All these slaves, as well as the young girl, who looked pert rather than good, bore the impression of having been accustomed to an affectionate family life.

“And now, what was to be their future fate? How bitterly, if they fell into the hands of the wicked, would they feel the difference between then and now.

“No sermon, no anti-slavery oration could speak so powerfully against the institution of slavery as this slave-auction itself!

“The master had been good, the servants good also, attached, and faithful, and yet they were sold to whoever would buy them; sold like brute beasts!”

Later, while touring New Orleans prisons, Bremer “visited some rooms where women accused of capital offenses were confined. Their dress spoke of circumstances far removed from poverty, but their countenances of the prevalence of violent and evil-passion. Among them I remarked one in particular, a lady charged with the murder of her husband.

“All these women declared their innocence, and complained of injustice. Each one had her own apartment, but might avail herself of companionship in the piazza which surrounded the building within a court. There sat under this piazza a group of Negro women, apparently enjoying the sun, which was then shining warmly. They looked so good and quiet, and they all, especially two young girls, bore so evidently the stamp of innocence and of good disposition, that I asked, with no small degree of astonishment.”

Bremer inquired why these Negro women were confined with the accused murderers.

“ ‘They have committed no offense whatever. ... But their master having given security for a person who is now bankrupt, they are brought in here to prevent their being seized and sold by auction to cover the demand, and here they will remain till their master finds an opportunity of recovering them.’ ”

Bremer was not satisfied with the explanation that the slaves were being held in prison for their own benefit.

“ ‘How long will they probably remain here?’ inquired I, (wondering) what particular advantage could be derived by the innocent from that daily association with these white ladies accused of the darkest crimes.

“ ‘Oh, at furthest, two or three weeks; quite a short time,’ ” replied the lawyer who served as Bremer’s guide.

“One of the young Negro girls smiled, half sadly, half bitterly. ‘Two weeks!’ said she; ‘we have already been here two years!’

“I looked at the lawyer. He seemed a little confounded.

“ ‘Ah!’ said he, ‘it is extraordinary ... an exceptional case; very rare!’ And he hurried away from the place.

“Again, and always this injustice against human beings whose sole crime is a dark skin.”

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